Coachella Valley Independent January 2019

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT | JANUARY 2019

P

VOL. 7 | NO. 1

AG

4 1 E

Schools in Trouble A new report card shows that 37 percent of local schools are failing in at least one category

2 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

Deals available ONLY in the Independent Market in January

Get a $25 gift card to Lulu California Bistro for 25 percent off!

Get a $25 certificate to Broken Yolk for $12.50—a savings of 50 percent!

Get a $25 gift certificate to Shabu Shabu Zen for $12.50—a savings of 50 percent!

Get a $25 gift card to Acqua California Bistro for 25 percent off!

Get a $25 certificate to Moxie Palm Springs for $12.50—a savings of 50 percent!

Get a $25 gift card to Fresh Juice Bar for $15—a savings of 40 percent!

Get a $25 gift certificate to the Purple Room for 50 percent off!

Get $35 gift certificates to HOTN Cultivation Company for half off!

Get a $40 gift certificate to Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill for $20, or a $20 gift certificate for $10—a savings of 50 percent!

Get a $40 gift certificate to Johannes for $20, or a $20 gift certificate for $10—a savings of 50 percent!

Deals available only at CVIndependent.com.

Limited quantities available. Look for more deals to be added during the month!

Want your business in the Independent Market? Call 760-904-4208, or email jimmy@cvindependent.com.

CVIndependent.com

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 3

JANUARY 2019

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR As the Independent begins its seventh year with this issue, I want to talk about something important: Charts.

Yes. Charts.

We originally had a different cover story planned for this print edition. However, the piece got delayed, so we went to Plan B—an intriguing piece about the California School Dashboard (caschooldashboard.org), the recently updated school-ratings system from the California Department of Education.

The story came to us from our partners at CALmatters, “a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how Editor/Publisher California’s state Capitol works and why Jimmy Boegle it matters.” (It’s a fantastic organization, and I highly recommend supporting Assistant Editor CALmatters with a few bucks if possible; we run one or two stories from them per Brian Blueskye week at CVIndependent.com.) However, the piece was written for a statewide coveR and feature design audience—and as you may have noticed, Beth Allen California is kind of big, what with the 39.5 million people and stuff.

Contributors Therefore, we decided to take the statewide piece; add local data from Stephen Berger, Max Cannon, Ricardo the California School Dashboard; and Cano, Kevin Carlow, Katie Finn, Kevin figure out a way to present said data in Fitzgerald, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, a compelling, easy-to-understand way. I Robin Goins, Bob Grimm, Michael called Beth Allen, our fantastic cover/cover Grimm, Alex Harrington, Dwight story designer, to discuss the matter.

That’s where the charts come in.

Hendricks, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Making charts like this is no easy task.

Brane Jevric, Keith Knight, Brett Newton, The data has to be pulled from the website, Dan Perkins, Guillermo Prieto, James checked, compellingly designed, and Reel, Anita Rufus, Jen Sorenson, Robert checked again. Given there are 78 schools Victor within the three local school districts, and the state measured four to six criteria for each, that means there were about 350 data The Coachella Valley Independent print points we had to track. (In order to keep our edition is published every month. All sanity somewhat in check, we pulled and content is ©2018-2019 and may not presented the data from only the schools be published or reprinted in any form within the three school districts here.) without the written permission of the The most taxing portion of this work fell to Beth—and not only did she refuse to publisher. The Independent is available free of charge throughout the Coachella complain; she was excited about it, because she understood how compelling and Valley, limited to one copy per reader. important this data is. As we discovered, Additional copies may be purchased 37 percent of the schools within our local for $1 by calling (760) 904-4208. The districts had the lowest rating in at least Independent may be distributed only by one category. That’s not good.

We felt this is information our readers the Independent’s authorized distributors. should know. That’s why we spent all The Independent is a proud member and/or supporter the time pulling the data, crunching the of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, numbers, getting the extra print space CalMatters, Get Tested Coachella Valley, the Local to present the data, laying it all out, and Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert checking it all. This is not easy work—but Business Association, the LGBT Community Center of good journalism isn’t supposed to be easy, the Desert, and the Desert Ad Fed. is it?

See the results for yourself on Page 14.

Welcome to the January 2019 edition of the Coachella Valley Independent. As always, thanks for reading, and let me know if you have any questions, concerns or feedback; my email address is below.

Mailing address: 31855 Date Palm Drive, No. 3-263 Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 904-4208 www.cvindependent.com

—Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com CVIndependent.com

4 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

THE THIRD ANNUAL JAN. 25-FEB. 2, 2019

Join us as bars and restaurants across the Coachella Valley offer special craft cocktails at a discount throughout the week—and donate a portion of the proceeds to two amazing charities.

On Wednesday, Jan. 30, some of the valley's top bartenders will battle to be crowned the Craft Cocktail Champion at Moxie Palm Springs, 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive. Admission includes tastes of all drinks and bites of food.

Tickets are just $35 presale through Jan. 16; $40 after; $45 at the door.

For tickets or more information, call 760-904-4208, or visit PSCraftCocktails.com

CVIndependent.com

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 5

JANUARY 2019

OPINION OPINION

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS A

BY ANITA RUFUS

t 69, Gina Bikales is the embodiment of the word “indefatigable”: She’s seemingly incapable of being tired out.

Gina leads Script2Stage2Screen (S2S2S), the theater company which presents staged readings of new works at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rancho Mirage. (Disclosure: I have acted with S2S2S before.)

“We (the Coachella Valley) have theater going on year-round now, (as opposed) to when I came to the desert in 2000,” Bikales says. “(We have) community theaters presenting ‘chestnuts’ (older hit plays that always attract an audience); professional companies doing edgier works; three great full-time companies; and S2S2S taking it a step further, doing only new, unpublished works. We were associated with it not being a ‘feminine’ want scripts that speak to current issues.” thing to be good at. Anyway, my college adviser Bikales came to her role with S2S2S— literally stood in front of his office door and running the program as well as casting, said, ‘You can’t leave until you declare a major,’ directing and occasionally taking a role so I focused on theater education. After college, herself—with a lifetime of connection to I left Kansas City for North Carolina to teach at the arts. Born in Topeka, Kan., and raised a prep school.” in Kansas City, Gina graduated from the Bikales subsequently married and moved University of Kansas with a degree in theater to Santa Clara in the Bay Area, and “put my education and language arts. husband through law school.” She later divorced “I came from an artsy family,” she says. “My and returned to Kansas City to raise her mom was a sculptor, and my dad, although three sons, all of whom are now professional a psychiatrist by profession, always designed musicians. and made jewelry. They provided an artistic “I worked as a teacher, but the arts were education for all of us (an older brother, and a always an important part of my life,” she says. younger brother and sister). We started piano “At 16, my first summer job was teaching at at 5, and by second-grade, we could choose a the only performing-arts camp at that time second instrument to learn. in Kansas City, Camellot Academy. Just after “I’ve done theater since I was young. At 12, I college, they asked me to take over running it, signed up to go to the Midwest Music and Art and until about 2005, I went back to Kansas Camp. Once there, I hurt my foot, and there City and ran Camellot every summer.” was no way I could dance, so my dad talked to Bikales left Kansas City after marrying “a them and got me into the theater group. I was desert guy” and has been in the Coachella Valley the youngest one, but they took me under their since 2000, currently residing in Palm Desert. wings, and I fell in love with it.

“Much to my surprise, I fell in love with the “When I got to college, I thought I wanted desert and decided to stay after that marriage to be a doctor, because I loved science, but I ended,” she says. “I was basically a retired hated math. When I realized how much math lady, but one day, I went to a local meeting was required, I didn’t want to go forward. I of the Coachella Valley Alumnae Panhellenic now realize part of my feelings about math Association. I was seated with Jeanette Lyons and Lynn Talbot, who were doing a show at the Joslyn Center. I got cast, and from then on, I’ve been involved in theater here.

“Acting came easily for me, and I loved it.

The first time I did it, I was hooked. I put acting on hold when my kids were young, but began doing community theater once they were old enough to be left at night.

“Once I left Kansas City and came to the desert, I still returned to the Camellot program, but I was ready to work with adults. Ron Celona had been running the theater at Joslyn Senior Center, and when he left, they asked me to take his place. I said, ‘Absolutely!’ Meanwhile, my divorce attorney was saying, ‘You need to get a job.’ His partner was development director with the Visiting Nurse Association, and he hired Gina Bikales.

Meet Gina Bikales, the woman running the show

me as development manager to support the hospice program. You can’t get a better reason to be willing to ask people for money.”

Bikales’ experience as a teacher, actor and manager has influenced her ability to direct.

“When you’re acting, your primary focus is on character, and how that character relates to others on the stage,” she says. “When you direct, you have to pick up lots of other threads and concerns in a script: lighting, costuming and the ability to tie it all together with a bow so it works to communicate what the playwright intended. A show needs to look seamless and effortless to the audience. It’s both a creative and management kind of position.”

S2S2S began as a project to feature the work of gay Coachella Valley playwrights. Bikales began working with the group in its first season. After the two founders retired, she was asked to take over the program.

“We have so much talent here, from retired actors to accountants who’ve always wanted to act,” she says. “We have people who’ve never been onstage before, and some who’ve won awards for performing. Being in an S2S2S

LOVE is in the HAIR

production only requires three weeks of evening rehearsals, and it’s fun.”

S2S2S, now in its 10th year, may be the most economical theater experience in the valley, at only $10 a ticket. Usually the playwright is in the audience to gauge reactions, as well as take questions and comments after the production.

The number of shows presented each season depends on how many plays are submitted and considered worthy of a first outing. Playsubmission information is at the website, www. script2stage2screen.com.

“It’s been my mission for the last few years to push women, especially women of color, into directing. For some reason, it’s difficult to find women who want to direct,” Bikales says.

Gina Bikales is, indeed, indefatigable.

Anita Rufus is also known as “The Lovable Liberal.” Her show That’s Life airs Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to noon on iHubradio, while The Lovable Liberal airs from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Email her at Anita@LovableLiberal.com. Know Your Neighbors appears every other Wednesday at CVIndependent.com.

Country Club and Cook Palm Desert 760-340-5959 jasondavidhairstudio.net CVIndependent.com

6 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

Coolio Vanilla Ice

DIRECT FROM BROADWAY

C+C Music Factory _

Tone Loc

Story of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley

JAN 12

TEMPTATIONS & THE FOUR TOPS

THE

JAN 24

JAN 19

KENNY G

BOYZ II MEN

JAN 25

FEB 8

THE BEACH FEB 1

BOYS MARIE & THE

OSMONDS FEB 2

Righteous Brothers FEB 15 Snoop Dogg FEB 16 Pitbull FEB 23 Michael McDonald MAR 1 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons MAR 2 Terry Fator MAR 8

800.827.2946

â–

www.FantasySpringsResort.com

Management reserves all rights.

CVIndependent.com FANT-50889 CVI FullPg Jan19.indd

1

12/20/18 12:09 PM

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 7

JANUARY 2019

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

DISTRICT RECONSTRUCTED A

The whole valley is finally part of the Desert Healthcare District—and the expansion means there’s a lot of work to do

by kevin fitzgerald

n Election Day decision by eastern Coachella Valley voters could have a positive impact on all valley residents’ access to quality healthcare moving forward.

Voters overwhelmingly approved Measure BB—written by the Desert Healthcare District in conjunction with the Riverside County Board of Supervisors—as the final step required in the DHCD’s efforts to expand its borders east beyond Cook Street. While the expansion of services to some of the valley’s most-underserved communities may have seemed like a no-brainer during the run-up to the election, the process did not get this far without a lot of work.

“I think it’s important to note that this has been an extremely robust, kind of overwhelming process just to get to this point,” said interim DHCD CEO Chris Christensen during a recent applicants of interest to the board will be phone interview. “There were times when interviewed and considered. By the meeting’s there was concern whether the public would conclusion, two new board members will be potentially (be able to) vote for passage of appointed, with one serving a term ending in the measure. With all of the polling, the focus groups, the negotiations with the county Board December 2020, and the other serving until December 2022. of supervisors and all the effort that has gone “Obviously we’re looking for individuals into this over the last year and a half, it was who have a passion for our mission and what extremely close that this would not have made it onto the ballot this year. … I was told that no we’re doing,” Christensen said. “We’re willing to hear from anyone. But whether the board other health-care district in the state has ever chooses to hear from all the applicants during had to go through this process of expansion, the meeting interview opportunity will be at so it’s unprecedented. Our next step is to get its own discretion. There are some limitations the funding and continue the good things the where a candidate cannot have worked in district does.” management, or as an executive, at the Desert The Desert Healthcare District was created Regional Medical Center or other hospitals in by the state of California in 1948. Today, our region. the DHCD provides support to a variety Doug Morin, the executive director of of organizations (such as Find Food Bank, Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine in Volunteers in Medicine, Coachella Valley Indio, welcomed the forthcoming expansion, Rescue Mission, etc.) that provide health and while taking a realistic view of the overall wellness services to residents. However, the process. district’s boundaries stopped at Cook Street— “Though this has passed, I don’t know that until the passage of Measure BB finally the district really understands fully yet how expanded the district valley-wide. they’re going to proceed,” Morin said. “Nobody The fundraising challenge ahead for the has come to us to say, ‘Hey … you’re going to DHCD is daunting—more about that later— get access to more money.’ None of that has and a number of milestones need to be happened yet. For many of us agencies, we’re achieved soon to keep the bureaucratic end of all very pleased and excited, because the valley this process on track and on time. One of the is the valley. It shouldn’t be eastern valley and first requirements stemming from the voters’ western valley; it’s one valley. … It certainly expansion approval is the appointment of two is the beginning of treating everyone in the new DHCD board directors who live in the valley equally regardless of where you live.” annexed areas. According to a current DHCD A first step toward that end will be the timeline, the board must adopt a resolution creation of two new zones of service, which to increase the number of its members from will get under way in February 2019. It five to seven by no later than Jan. 2, 2019. will require the redrawing of boundaries Once that commitment is confirmed, the for the existing five districts, as well as the board will start to accept applications from establishment of new boundaries for the east valley residents who would like to serve. annexed area zones. According to the DHCD Any interested residents will have until Jan. informational materials, a resolution to be 8 to submit an application. During this same passed in February will call for the new zones period, the DHCD staff will be managing a to be properly established; outline a publicmulti-pronged information-outreach effort to outreach process; explain the zone-creation the annexed communities. process and encourage public participation; This candidate search will culminate at a and offer a schedule of public hearings public meeting of the board on Jan. 15, where

Interim DHCD CEO Chris Christensen speaks at a post-election board meeting. Kevin Fitzgerald

regarding the new maps. A vote to adopt a final map of the seven new zones is set to take place sometime in October.

“We will be making concerted efforts in community relations in the expanded areas to better understand what the needs are, and how to provide access, program services, facilities or whatever options there are that make the most sense relative to the resources we have available,” Christensen said. “Obviously, we’re planning to increase those resources to provide additional opportunities. We’ll establish an office presence in the expanded area. We’re currently looking at a property where we would set up a satellite office so that we can have access to the community members there. We don’t want them to feel that they have to go all the way to Palm Springs to talk with staff or communicate with the board.”

As for that aforementioned fundraising challenge: The DHCD is currently facing an estimated budget shortfall of roughly $3 million in order to service the new zones completely.

“At the end of the day, it’s certainly our goal to match the funds currently available in

the existing districts (roughly $3.5 million) to provide services in the new districts,” Christensen said. “Ideally, it would be nice if we could hypothetically receive the same allocation of property taxes from the expanded district residents as we currently get from district residents. That would be neat and simple.”

Last summer, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors turned down a request from the DHCD to receive a portion of county property taxes collected from the annexed zones’ residents, as has been the case in the previously existing districts. The Board of Supervisors may re-examine the question now that Measure BB has passed.

“We’ve got our backs against the wall in the sense of developing funding,” Christensen said.

“First and foremost was to get the measure passed to approve the expansion. Now we have to address additional funding sources. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be up to the new board. We’ll have three new board members come January, with new thoughts and ideas that might come to play in helping to further the fundraising.”

CVIndependent.com

8 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

From Botox to Cosmetic Surgery and Everything in Between

www.GayAndLesbianPages.com SPECIAL THANK YOU!

FREE • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Defending Marriage Equality! It’s The Law! Your Family Hardware Store Since 1947!

EUROWÜRX

Hardware • Electrical • Plumbing Locksmith • Screens Glass - Repairs & Custom Orders Drywall • Computer Color Paint Matching & Much Much More!!

the truth in european automotive tuning Audi – BMW – Mini – VW All Factory Scheduled Maintenance APR, Neuspeed, BBS, Bilstein, Brembo Our Technicians are Former Dealer Techs Over 40 Years of Combined Experience

EMIL’S

HARDWARE

COX PAINT

Shop Online @ www.EmilsHardware.com

SINCE 1945

Free Shipping on Ship to Store Orders!

We Carry Environmentally Friendly Paints

(310) 839-8571

509 South Victory Blvd. • Burbank, CA 91502 vic@eurowurx.com

2525 South Robertson Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90034

www.EurowurxAutoBurbank.com

Entrance on Corner of Robertson Blvd. & Beverlywood St. (1 Mile South of Pico Blvd. or 1/2 Mile North of Santa Monica Freeway Exit)

Marc Berton, Agent

YOUR HOME TOWN VETERNARIAN

Insurance Lic. #: 0630665

Bus: 818-905-1911 Toll Free: 800-924-4459 Bus: 323-872-0482

MEDICINE - SURGERY - DENTAL CARE - FLEA CONTROL - X-RAYS

HOLLYWOOD CAT & DOG HOSPITAL

S

Fountain E Lexington

www.marcberton.com

1146 N. La Brea, LA 90038 (North of Santa Monica Blvd.)

Across the Street from McDonald’s on La Brea Supporting the Gay Community

We all feel the same commitment to care for our families. Helping you meet your insurance needs is part of my commitment to you.

Queen Adjustable Bed

20%

So Comfortable, You’ll Never Count These Guys Again.™

OFF

All Serta products with this coupon

HOT BUY

399

$

Not good with any other discounts.

Self Storage 760-318-9166 www.palmspringsselfstorage.com

50 BUSINESS

$

PLUS YEARS IN

599

We don’t need Holidays, Gimmicks or Package Deals...

“Just Everyday Low Prices”

Limit 2 per customer

Starting and ending at the steps of L.A. City Hall

818.766.4289

Mon-Fri Mon-Fri10am8-pm 10am-8pm Sat • Sun 10am6-pm Sat10am7-pm 10am-7pm • Sun 10am-6pm

WEBSITE: WWW.ALSDISCOUNTFURNITURE.COM

aidswalk.net

Special thanks to Essential Gay & Lesbian Directory

www.SHGEsq.com

Gourmet Cupcakes, Chocolates and Other Tantalizing Desserts Custom-Designed Cakes for All Occasions Visit our website at: www.CakeandArt.com 8709 Santa Monica Blvd.

318-9166

7 6 0

Fall 2017

www.palmspringsselfstorage.com

West Hollywood, CA 90069

RV Units - 13’ x 50’ & Up to 90’ x 60’ Warehouse Size Units Purchase or Lease Starting at $97,500 Washer & Dryers Ice Machine Limited RV Supplies

BENEFITING

213.201.WALK

3690 Airport Center Drive Palm Springs, CA 92264

760-318-1105 Right next to Palm Springs Airport Self Storage

Created and produced by MZA Events. AIDS Walk Founder/Senior Organizer: Craig R. Miller. © MZA Events, 2017

310.641.8259

NORTH HOLLYWOOD (NOHO Art District) - 4900 Lankershim Boulevard

“The Edible Art Experience”

Palm Springs Wine Storage

3950 Airport Center Drive Palm Springs, CA 92264

WALK

OCT. 15, 2017

7601 Goddard Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90045-3219

Queen Mattress

The Best Buy Seal and other licensed materials are registered certification marks and trademarks of Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, used under license. For award information, visit ConsumersDigest.com.

AL’S DISCOUNT FURNITURE 1-800-RING-ALS •

Cake and Art

Temperature & Humidity Controlled 55 - 58 Degrees 70% Humidity Controlled Access Deliveries upon Request

EMPOWERMENT • EXCELLENCE • EMPATHY • EFFECTIVENESS

310.657.8694 order@cakeandart.com

Celebrate your day to remember surrounded by your closest friends and family and leave the details to us.

Palm Springs has ideal wedding weather and the Riviera Palm Springs is the perfect backdrop, offering luxurious and contemporary indoor and outdoor weddings.

Say “I do” in your style.

1600 North Indian Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.327.8311 rivierapalmsprings.com

Plug and go without worries till your next trip

NOBODY TAKES CARE OF YOU LIKE STATE FARM®.

Open 7 Days a Week

JULY

At State Farm® you get a competitive rate and an agent dedicated to helping you get the coverage that’s right for you and the discounts you deserve. I’d love to take care of you too. Call me today.

OurGayApp.com

GLPages.com

Proudly Representing the LGBT Community and Everyone for Equal Justice for Over 30 Years Client Testimony - “It may sound dramatic but I owe my legal motherhood to David Moore. During a tenuous legal time, I began working with him in 2005. His attentiveness to my queer identity, my relationship with my daughter and family dynamics assured me in a way for which I will be forever grateful.”

Frankie Travis “non-bio” mother

• Adoptions • Child Visitation • Divorce • Litigation • Restraining Order

• Asset Divisions • Child Custody/Support • Alternative Dispute Resolution • Dissolutions • Domestic Partnerships • Real Property Divisions • Pre/Post Nuptial Agreements • Estate Planning • Mediation/Negotiation • Wills & Trusts

Equality and justice using our laws and court systems demands representation by an experienced legal representative who knows the law, understands the application of the law, and that is capable of overcoming legal inequities that sometimes exist for Community members.

Using my legal experience, knowledge of the court system and dedication to justice for all, I lead my clients through family law litigation, negotiation, and collaborative agreements. In addition my office provides mediation and alternative dispute resolution, custody advice, and other valuable services to address client’s individual legal needs.

Los Angeles, Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties

(323) 680-0210 • (805) 643-1671 • (805) 660-8066 Vivian Lee Arber M.S./M.P.S. • Alternative Dispute Resolution • (805) 746-4586 www.DivorceCalif.com

Se habla español

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

Palm Springs Airport Individually Alarmed Units 24 Hour Video Surveillance Gated On-Site Security Environmentally Controlled Wine Storage Air Conditioned Units Same Staff for Past 12 Years Best Gate Hours in Town 6am - 10 pm Open 7 days a Weeks

Law Office of David Lee Moore

Spectrum Quality Paint Woodkote

Kelly-Moore Paint

• Wrongful Termination • Employment Discrimination/Harassment • Workers’ Compensation • Sexual Harassment • Work Place Civil Rights Issues • Serious Personal Injury Please e-mail your concerns or questions at: shg@shgesq.com

12 Months Same as Cash!

As Low As

Proudly Serving Our Community Since 1982 ‘Sustaining Donor’ LA LGBT Center

Pratt & Lambert Purdy

Farrow & Ball Fine Paints of Europe Frescatti Modern Masters

Over 30 Years of Dedicated Trial Experience on Your Side

Civil Trial Practice

CALL ME TODAY.

• Auto • Business • Life • Homeowners

Featuring These Fine Paint Products: Benjamin Moore Donald Kaufman Color

Law Offices of

Stuart H. Garrison

Queen Mattress Starting at

0907504

AIDS

310.838.2284 Hours: Monday to Friday 6:30 - 5:30 Saturday 7:00 - 4:30

www.coxpaint.com

Same Sex

Santa Monica

DR. PAUL GIRGIS, D.V.M.

(323) 469-3000 www.HollywoodCatDog.com

LOS ANGELES

Cox Paint - Culver City 11153 Washington Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90232 (1/2 Block East of Sepulveda)

310.393.7208 Hours: Monday to Friday 6:30 - 5:30 Saturday 7:00 - 5:00

Family $199 is why we do it all.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Sunset

N. La Brea

N

Sycamore

W

Highland

Detroit

FULL BOARDING FACILITIES • LOW COST VACCINATIONS ON WED. & SAT. • SPAY • NEUTER BATHING • ULTRASOUND • MICRO CHIPPING • LASER THERAPY • X-RAY • SURGERY • DENTAL IN-HOME EUTHANASIA • HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL Come See Our Newly Remodeled Hospital!

Call For Doctor’s Hours

Cox Paint - Santa Monica 1130 Santa Monica Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 90401 (Corner of 12th St.)

CERTIFIED SERVICE & REPAIR

Like Us on Facebook for Upcoming Sales and Special Offers

ONE ON ONE SPECIALIZED CARE

FULL SERVICE VETERINARY CLINIC

Office Hours: Mon-Sat: 8am – 6pm Sun: Closed

Specialist in Custom Blended Colors Two Convenient Westside Locations:

818.843.4400

MON-FRI 8AM-5:30PM • SAT 8AM-5PM • SUN 9AM-1PM

B.G Loan & Jewelry ..................................13 years Cal Pet Crematory .................................... 13 Years Ed’s Coffee Shop .......................................13 years Eurosport German Auto Performance ...13 years Greg Cash Tax Plus ................................... 13 Years Hollywood Cat & Dog Hospital ............... 13 Years Hollywood Divers .................................... 13 Years Jeffrey Greathouse Attorney ................... 13 Years Sea View Optometric ............................... 13 Years Signal Hill Pet Hospital ............................ 13 Years Twenty Four 7 Cleaning ........................... 13 Years Canyon Interiors ...................................... 12 Years Cox Paints ................................................. 12 Years Done Right Discount Flooring ................ 12 Years Emil’s Hardware ....................................... 12 Years Gregory Cason Psychologist ................... 12 Years JR Hardware Sash & Door ........................ 12 Years KFK Jewelers ............................................. 12 Years Marc Berton Insurance ............................ 12 Years North Hollywood Hardware .................... 12 Years Paragon Cleaners ..................................... 12 Years Rush Hour Jewelery .................................. 12 Years Stuart Garrison Attorney .........................12 Years The Mail Box ............................................. 12 Years Venice Beach Suites ................................. 12 Years Abe’s Garage Door ................................... 11 Years Alcid Hair Design ..................................... 11 Years Animal Dermatology ............................... 11 Years Barak Chiropratic ..................................... 11 Years Dana Bruce Attorney ............................... 11 Years Elliott Salter Pawnshop ........................... 11 Years Jaguar Car Service ................................... 11 Years Japanese Auto Center .............................. 11 Years Larry’s Custom Furniture ......................... 11 Years Max Muscle of Long Beach ...................... 11 Years New England Divers ................................. 11 Years Santa Monica Yoga ................................... 11 Years

2018

$75 - 4 Wheel Alignments $50 - 2 Wheel Alignments (Most cars) Car - Truck - Boat - RV

Auto Fire Business Life • Health

Kristin Brinkema

$26.75 + Cert.

3449 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. • Signal Hill, CA 90755

Toll Free 877-226-2668 Fax 562-597-0249

www.signalhillpethospital.com

Agent

850 Colorado Blvd, Suite 204 Eagle Rock, CA 90041-1733

Ragi Boctor, D.V.M. Mirette Attalla, D.V.M.

323-256-2251

Complete Service Hospital & Boarding Facility General Medicine • Internal Medicine • Orthopedic Surgery General Surgery • Laser Surgery • Dentistry • Radiology • Ultrasound

Fax 323-256-6339

www.kbrinkema.com kristin.brinkema.c8o8@statefarm.com

• Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic on Wednesdays • Low Cost Vaccinations Every Day Extended Hours for Easier Drop Off/Pick Up Mon-Fri. 7am-7pm • Sat. 7am-4pm • Sun. 9am-4pm

Most Cars from 1996 to Today Not valid with other offers.

Coupon Required $30 off regular price.

Most cars & light trucks

$50 OFF Not valid with other offers.

Coupon Required

$50 off regular price.

Most cars & light trucks

$40 OFF

$50 OFF

Transmission Service

Brake Service

Not valid with other offers.

Coupon Required

Not valid with other offers.

Coupon Required

$40 off regular price.

Most cars & light trucks

$50 off regular price.

Most cars & light trucks

$24.95

FREE Inspections

AC Service & Inspection

• FREE Tire Inspection • FREE Belt & Hose Inspection • FREE All Fluid Inspection • FREE Brake Inspection • FREE Estimates on Repair Jobs • FREE Filter Inspection • FREE Body Work Estimates

OIL CHANGE SPECIAL

• Oil Drain & Fill • Perform Multipoint Inspection • Including Filter & 5 Quarts Oil • $5 Extra for Each Additional Quart • Syntetic Extra • On most cars

(323) 462-8383 • (323) 462-2764 1787 North Highland Ave. Hollywood, CA 90028

www.FSARepair.com

Support Those Who Support Our Rights!!

2017-2018 www.GLPages.com

SERVING THE LESBIAN, GAY, BI-SEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY

13th Edition

Facebook.com/GayYellowBook Twitter.com/GayYellowPages YouTube.com/GayYellowBook

Before

After

Look younger with no telltale scar with Neograft at Revive.

Read our reviews and call to book your appointment.

A FINANCIAL PLANNING & INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FIRM

YOUR FIDUCIARY ADVISOR Call us today to schedule a complimentary consultation and get acquainted with an independent, Fee-Only financial planning firm located here in the Coachella Valley.

Allow us to show you the benefits that result from a financial plan tailored to your specific retirement needs.

353 S. Palm Canyon Dr. (760) 325-4800 Torrance Office: (310) 375-7599 Irvine Office: (949) 586-9904 www.revivecenter.com

Ranked #60 in the nation for advanced medical aesthetics CVIndependent.com

CoMPass rose FiNaNCiaL PLaNNiNG 760-322-5200 • www.compassrosefp.com

333 N Palm Canyon Dr, Suite 112-A, Palm Springs, CA 92262

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 9

JANUARY 2019

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

CHIEF COMMUNICATOR C

by BRANE JEVRIC

athedral City Police Chief Travis Walker stood tall—he’s at 6 foot 4, after all—in December when he dedicated the Fallen Police Officer Memorial next to the police department building.

Among the speakers honoring the ultimate sacrifice by Officers David Vasquez and Jermaine Gibson—who lost their lives in 1998 and 2011, respectively—was Rep. Raul Ruiz. He was joined by representatives of other nearby law-enforcement agencies.

Walker unveiled the memorial along with the officers’ families. “We pray we’ll never have to add any new names to this memorial,” he said.

The memorial’s unveiling was the latest event in a busy first year as police chief for Walker, an accomplished law-enforcement veteran with 23 years in service—including a stint as the tactical commander during the 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino.

During a recent interview with Chief Walker, we discussed topics ranging from the city’s recent removal of red-light cameras to his favorite basketball player, Magic Johnson.

“Magic was the best team player ever,” Walker said. “The game was not about him, but the team.”

Walker—the first black police chief in Cathedral City—said recent data shows the city has not been the site of any hate crimes since 2012.

“This is a very tolerant community for as diverse it is,” he said “… People may feel that there was a hate crime, but there are specific criteria that define truly what a hate crime is.”

Walker joined the Cathedral City Police Department as deputy police chief in 2016.

“I led a very blessed career that prepared me for making some decisions that you have to make from this office,” he said. “As law enforcement pros, we spend our careers preparing for different positions.”

The new Fallen Police Officer Memorial in Cathedral City. brane jevric

One of the most buzzed-about ideas Walker implemented in his first year is the “police cab”—a decommissioned police cruiser painted as a half-police car, half-taxi cab that can be found on the streets of Cathedral City, sometimes parked in front of prominent local bars.

“We’re trying to give that final message. No matter how drunk you are, you still recognize the police car, and on the side of it is a statement: Chose your ride! Think before you drink!” Walker said. “You can get an Uber drive home for $10 to $15, or you can pick up a DUI that can cost $10,000 to $15,000!

“Sadly, the DUI drivers often don’t kill themselves; they kill innocent people.”

Walker said he’s proud of the fact that the city’s done so well at discouraging accidents that it did not receive extra grant money for DUI checkpoints this year.

“We did an effective job and work very hard, and we have reduced our traffic fatalities, so the funding is converted to another community,” he said.

That does not mean, however, that people are no longer driving drunk.

“No matter how much education you put out there about DUI … it’s still a struggle here in the community, and you still have drivers crashing under the influence,” Walker said.

Walker said he recommended the removal of the notorious and controversial red-light cameras that had been at three of Cathedral City’s busiest intersections “I had motor officers who were sitting down and reviewing hundreds of images. For me, that’s not a good use of an officer’s time,” he said. “There is more going on throughout the city than at those intersections, and it was my recommendation to the City Council to remove the cameras—and we removed them.”

While Cathedral City has a reputation for gang violence, Walker said the city of 54,000— with a police force of 52 sworn officers—is heading in the right direction.

“Public safety has been a priority for the City Council and the city manager in recent years,” he said. “Year to date, we are already at (crime

Cathedral City police head Travis Walker marks a busy first year on the job

being) 10 percent down from last year.”

When I mentioned the 2015 San Bernardino terror attack, Walker said good training helped the police do their jobs. Sixteen people (including the two perpetrators) were killed, and 24 were injured in the mass shooting and attempted bombing.

“Dec. 2, 2015, was a tragic day that I wish had never happened … and I don’t think that day defines who I am today,” Walker said.

“What made a difference that day was that I had good people who worked for me, and the training we received in dealing with an active shooter.”

Walker is a big believer in community engagement, including the use of social media.

“I’m big on marketing the work that the men and women of this organization do,” he said.

“If you have a Twitter account or a Facebook account or an Instagram account, you can see that we’re very active, and we’re very engaged with the community. Social media … allows us to tell the story of the Cathedral City Police

Department.”

Walker said it’s important the police department touts the positive—because it’s the negative that receives the vast majority of attention.

“There are many positive, comical, heartwarming stories that are not reported Chief Travis Walker publicly—hence the department’s social media campaign,” he said. “… My Twitter feed (@CCPDWALKER) is my own feed; my Facebook (CCPDChiefWalker) and my Instagram (ccpdchiefwalker) are my own, but I have a staffer that does the social media for the department. It’s a sergeant, who as a part of his duty puts the department’s pics and stories out there on social media.

He’s extremely engaging, extremely funny and extremely clever.”

CVIndependent.com

10 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

SPONSORED CONTENT

Filling the Valley’s Health-Coverage Gaps Desert AIDS Project is now offering care to everyone, regardless of HIV status—but the organization needs your help to meet the demand

D

esert AIDS Project has started construction on the largest expansion since it moved into its current campus in 1998—a $20 million project, slated for completion in 2020, that will more than double the organization’s patient capacity.

This news about the expansion, called D.A.P. Vision 2020, may make some people wonder: Why such a large expansion? And why now?

Darrell Tucci, Chief Development Officer for D.A.P., says one word can answer these queries: Need. Specifically, there’s a huge need for quality health-care services in the area— and D.A.P. is stepping in to fill that need.

“This expansion is vital, because more than half of our neighbors in the Coachella Valley live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (or about $24,000 per year, per person), and many of those people live without access to quality health care,” Tucci said. “We will be able to serve more people, regardless of their HIV status, without compromising our original mission of ending the epidemic of HIV in the valley. We’re not exchanging one for the other.”

While helping men and women dealing with HIV and AIDS has always been at the core of D.A.P.’s mission, the organization today serves everyone and anyone in need of quality medical care, regardless of HIV status, because it is now a Federally Qualified Health Center. Anyone in need of primary medical care can walk in D.A.P.’s doors and become a client—getting access to doctors, prescriptions, dental care and behavior-health care. In fact, roughly half of D.A.P.’s clients today are not living with HIV. With the existing facilities, D.A.P. is strug-

CVIndependent.com

By J. Allen

gling to fill this massive need—hence the expansion, which includes purchasing the county health care building next door, and joining it with the current main D.A.P. building. When the expansion is complete, D.A.P.’s 60,490-square-foot campus will be able to serve 8,000 patients, up from 3,900 in 2017.

The dental clinic will be able to help 1,700 people, compared to 814 in 2017, while the behavioral-health-patient capacity will rise from 583 to 1,200.

The expansion will also include a 76 percent increase in the number of apartment units for low-income individuals on the D.A.P. campus, from 80 to 140 units. There is currently a three-year waiting list for such housing.

While the scope of the current Desert AIDS Project expansion is unprecedented, the organization has a long history of adjusting to meet the needs of both its clients and the entire Coachella Valley: • In 1994; D.A.P. opened a satellite office in Indio to offer HIV and hepatitis C testing; D.A.P. also offered, and continues to offer, intervention and case-management services to the east valley’s underserved, largely low-income and Latino communities via its Indio facility.

• In 2001, recognizing that many people living with HIV were suffering from nutritional challenges due to a lack of steady employment, D.A.P. opened the Morris and Lila Linsky Food Depot to provide healthy food, grocery-store vouchers and nutritional guidance to clients in need.

• Due to the lack of affordable housing for people living with HIV and other chronic con-

PHOTO BY MARK DUEBNER

ditions, D.A.P. in 2007 opened the Vista Sunrise Apartments on the D.A.P. campus, with the support of philanthropist Philip Caplin.

• The following year, D.A.P. opened the first HIV-specialty dental clinic in Riverside County, on the D.A.P. campus, later expanded by philanthropists Georgia and Gerald Fogelson.

• In 2012, Annette Bloch—who continues to be one of D.A.P.’s most generous supporters—provided the funding for D.A.P.’s Cancer Care Center, dedicated to HIV-related cancer research, screenings, treatment and prevention.

• Due in part to the fact that the Coachella Valley’s rate of HIV infection is more than twice the federal rate, D.A.P. in 2014 launched Get Tested Coachella Valley, the nation’s first nonprofit-led, region-wide initiative featuring HIV testing, prevention, education and linkage to care. More than 81,000 residents have been tested to date.

• Since a lack of access to sexual-wellness information was contributing to an increase in sexually transmitted infections in the area, D.A.P. in 2015 opened The Dock, a walk-in, no-appointment-needed clinic offering HIV and STI testing, as well as linkage to care, and access to PrEP—a medication which helps prevent HIV—and PEP, which helps people who have been exposed to HIV. Construction on the $20 million expansion is under way due to the generosity of many local businesses and individuals; in fact, D.A.P.

has received approximately $13.15 million in funding commitments so far. However, that means D.A.P. still needs to raise nearly $7 million in order to make the complete expansion a much-needed reality.

Tucci said it’s in the entire community’s best interests to support D.A.P.’s expansion.

“If you know people affected by HIV, you should support us as we continue to expand as the region’s largest service provider supporting those who live with HIV,” he said. “If you don’t feel like you’ve been directly affected by HIV, you should support us because of the 40,000 or so people in the Coachella Valley who are without a primary care physician, because we can offer many of those people a medical home.”

The time for the expansion is now, he said, since advances in medical care and support services have made it so people who live with HIV can not only survive, but thrive.

“Short of a cure, we can stop the spread of HIV completely by identifying everyone with HIV and getting them proper health care, including medications that make (their HIV) undetectable and therefore not infectious,” Tucci said.

For more information, or to donate to the D.A.P. Vision 2020 expansion, call Christopher Ruetz, D.A.P.’s Director of Major and Planned Giving, at 760-656-8450, or email him at cruetz@desertaidsproject.org. For more information, visit dapvision2020.org.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 11

‘‘ 2

JANUARY 2019

‘‘

O 2 O

WE ARE A HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION REMOVING ROADBLOCKS TO HUMAN POTENTIAL.

2 VISION 2 O

DAVID BRINKMAN / CEO / DESERT AIDS PROJECT

JOIN DESERT AIDS PROJECT IN OUR BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE. YOUR GIFT CAN OPEN DOORS WIDER TO COMPASSIONATE CARE.

DAPVISION2020.ORG

CVIndependent.com

12 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

CVIndependent.com

JANUARY 2019

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 13

JANUARY 2019

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

JANUARY ASTRONOMY T

The first month of the new year brings

Planets and Bright Stars in Evening Mid-Twilight planetaryFor pairings and a total lunar eclipse January, 2019 This sky chart is drawn for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

N

By Robert Victor

he opening month of 2019 features outstanding sights for the unaided eye, as well as the eye aided with binoculars and telescopes.

Who would fail to wonder at the sight of brilliant Venus near a predawn crescent moon?

Separated in time by about a month, we have close pairings on Jan. 1 and 31, providing two easy chances to locate Venus in the daytime with the unaided eye and binoculars. Telescopic views reveal Venus’ changing phase, from 48 to 62 percent this month, and its shrinking apparent size as the planet moves from the near side toward the far side of its nearly circular orbit around the sun.

Venus in January shines at magnitude -4.6 to -4.3, faded some since its peak in early December, but still at its best for 2019. It remains impressive!

Another astronomical highlight is a total and higher each morning, Saturn within a few lunar eclipse, on Sunday, Jan. 20, during days will become easy to see with unaided eye, convenient evening hours. The partial phase of and we’ll again see three naked-eye planets. the eclipse gets under way at 7:34 p.m. as the From late January through mid-February, their moon begins to encounter the umbra, or dark arrangement from the upper right to the lower central core of Earth’s shadow. After several left will be Jupiter-Venus-Saturn. minutes, the curvature of the shadow’s edge The pairing of Venus and the crescent will become obvious. At 8:41 p.m., the eclipse moon on Thursday morning, Jan. 31, will be becomes total, and remains so for 62 minutes, unusually close and very striking, before dawn until 9:43 p.m. See our separate article on the and for long after sunrise. From the Coachella eclipse at CVIndependent.com.

Valley, the angular distance between Venus Planets at dawn: On New Year’s morning, and the center of the moon’s disk will be just Jan. 1, around 6 a.m. in the Coachella Valley, 1.5 degrees and closing at 5 a.m. By 6 a.m., the face southeast to enjoy a predawn lineup of the distance closes to 1.2 degrees. Sunrise occurs crescent moon with three planets to its lower in Palm Springs at 6:43 a.m., with Venus just left, in order: Venus, Jupiter and Mercury. more than a degree from the moon’s center, or Venus then is within 4 degrees to the lower left three-fourths of a degree from the moon’s edge. of the crescent moon, with Jupiter 18 degrees The closest approach of the moon and Venus to the lower left of Venus; and Mercury 13 occurs in daytime hours, between 9:45 and 10 degrees to the lower left of Jupiter. When the a.m., with Venus about 0.4 degrees—less than moon reaches its highest point in the south, the moon’s half-degree width—from the moon’s around 8:22 a.m. that day, Venus is an easy find northern cusp (the upper point of the crescent). within 3 degrees to the moon’s lower left—even At dusk: Mars is high in the south-southwest though it’s daytime. Watch the waning crescent to southwest at dusk, halfway or more from moon slide downward past three planets before horizon to overhead. Although fading slowly sun-up Jan. 1-4. from magnitude 0.5 to 0.9, Mars shouldn’t be On Thursday, Jan. 3, Jupiter appears 4 confused with any star while the red planet degrees to the upper right of the moon, while passes through the background of Pisces, which Mercury appears 12 degrees to the moon’s lower includes no stars brighter than magnitude 3.6. left. On Jan. 4, Jupiter appears 16 degrees to In early January at dusk, the Summer the lower left of Venus, while the thin old moon Triangle of Vega, Altair and Deneb is still appears the same distance to the lower left of easy to see, with Vega and Deneb above in the Jupiter, with Mercury, in turn, 2.5 degrees to northwest, and Altair in the west. Fomalhaut, the lower right of the moon. Mercury is getting mouth of the Southern Fish, is in the southlower each morning. Its departure after a few southwest, and the earliest stars of winter— more days leaves two bright planets remaining.

Capella in the northeast to east-northeast, Masquerading as the two brightest “stars” in and Aldebaran in the east—are prominent. the entire predawn sky, the Venus-Jupiter pair Although Aldebaran marks the eye of Taurus, becomes ever more striking as it closes to 10 its Arabic name means “The Follower,” of the degrees apart on Jan. 11, 5 degrees on Jan. 17, Pleiades star cluster 14 degrees above it. and a shortest distance of 2.4 degrees on Jan. By early January, Orion’s Betelgeuse and 22. On the latter date, use binoculars to try to Rigel, with his vertical three-star belt between see Saturn just emerging from the morning them, have appeared above the eastern horizon. twilight glow, 28 degrees to the lower left of Two more of winter’s bright stars soon follow: the bright pair. Rising longer ahead of the sun Watch for their risings in twilight, by mid-

January's evening sky chart.

ROBERT D. MILLER

Pollux Castor

Vega

Capella

Deneb Procyon

E

Betelgeuse

Aldebaran

W Altair

Rigel 1

Sirius

8

15

22

29

Mars

Fomalhaut

Evening mid-twilight occurs

January—first, in the east, and finally when Procyon Sun is 9o below horizon.

1: 43 minutes after star, sunset.

Sirius, the Jan. brightest nighttime in the east15:and 42 in " line " with " Orion’s belt. southeast, below 31: 42 " " " Sirius completes the nearly equilateral Winter Triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse. When Sirius first appears low in the east-southeast, Altair is still visible, very low just north of west (if no mountains block your view), and both the Summer and Winter Triangles can be seen.

The waxing moon returns to the early evening twilight scene as a thin crescent low in the southwest to west-southwest on Jan. 6; passes Mars on Jan. 12; skips past Aldebaran Jan. 16-17; and appears full to the lower right of the “Twin” stars Pollux and Castor on Sunday, Jan. 20, the same evening as the total lunar eclipse.

The website of the Astronomical Society of the Desert (www.astrorx.org) has a listing of our evening star parties at two locations. Sawmill Trailhead, our high-altitude site (elevation 4,000 feet), will have a star party starting at dusk on

S

Stereographic Projection

Saturday, Jan. 5. Our primary, more-accessible Map by Robert D. Miller star-party site is the Visitor Center of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, on Highway 74, within 4 miles south of Highway 111 in Palm Desert. Our next monthly star party there is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. Also, check the Impromptu Star Parties link.

On Friday, Jan. 18, I’ll present a preview of 2019’s sky events, including Sunday’s total lunar eclipse, and the year’s beautiful planetary gatherings. The talk begins at 7 p.m. at the Portola Community Center, 45480 Portola Ave., in Palm Desert.

Wishing you clear skies!

Robert C. Victor was a staff astronomer at Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. He is now retired and enjoys providing sky watching opportunities for a variety of groups in the Coachella Valley.

CVIndependent.com

14 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

Schools in Trouble A new report card shows that 37 percent of local schools are failing in at least one category

LEGEND LOWEST PERFORMANCE

If a

HIGHEST PERFORMANCE

is missing for a category, the state did not issue a school rating

HIGH SCHOOLS College/ Career Prep

By Ricardo Cano, CALmatters

So many school

districts are struggling to deliver the basics of an equal opportunity for education that one in three statewide has been targeted for special assistance, according to a comprehensive state report card recently released by the California Department of Education.

The state identified 374 school districts out of roughly 1,000 that qualify for additional help— more than 60 percent more than last year, when the state issued its first set of ratings under the new “school dashboard” system.

School districts that qualify for the so-called “State System of Support” show such low scores or so little progress among student groups that they fall into a “red zone” on two or more educational indicators, from test scores to suspension rates and chronic absenteeism. Last year, the state identified 228 such districts, but critics questioned those numbers, noting that test scores pointed to CVIndependent.com

COACHELLA VALLEY UNIFIED a far more widespread need for assistance.

Since then, the dashboard has been tweaked.

None of the three Coachella Valley school districts had any overall ratings in the red zone—but 29 of the 78 schools within the local school districts (37.2 percent) fell into the red zone in at least one of the six categories measured this year.

Carrie Hahnel, interim co-executive director of Education Trust-West, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on closing student achievement gaps, said many of the state’s districts “are struggling with equity.” “(This) should create a tremendous urgency for our newly elected state leaders and local leaders to start to do something dramatically different to support our students so that several years from now, far fewer schools are struggling to create opportunities for all students,” Hahnel said.

The California School Dashboard (caschooldashboard.org), intended to offer a more holistic assessment of public-school performance, was created in part to help the state

Coachella Valley High Desert Mirage High La Familia Continuation High West Shores High

DESERT SANDS UNIFIED Amistad High (Continuation) Horizon Indio High La Quinta High Palm Desert High Shadow Hills High Summit High (Continuation)

PALM SPRINGS UNIFIED Cathedral City High Desert Hot Springs High Desert Learning Academy Mt. San Jacinto High Palm Springs High Rancho Mirage High

Graduation Rate

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 15

JANUARY 2019

LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON THE DASHBOARD COACHELLA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Chronic Absenteeism

Suspension Rate

English Language Arts

Mathematics

DISTRICT OVERALL Bobby Duke Middle Cahuilla Desert Academy Jr. High Cesar Chavez Elementary Coachella Valley High Coral Mountain Academy Desert Mirage High John Kelley Elementary La Familia Continuation High Las Palmitas Elementary Mecca Elementary Mountain Vista Elementary Oasis Elementary View Elementary I know IPalm should explore solar, but I’vePeter beenPendleton procrastinating.

What will Elementary motivate me to take the next Saul Martinez Elementarystep?

The best motivation should be the Sea View Elementary savings you can expect with solar. In Toro exchange for justCanyon a little Middle bit of your time, you canValle reduce average electric bill del your Sol Elementary anywhere from 25-50 percent—and just Valley View Elementary keep that money in your pocket each Shores month. Then West you can take High your time deciding what to doElementary with the savings!

Westside If you decide to move low-performing forward identify school districts and help them. your It also replaces the state’s old stanquickly, dardized-test-based system can be system as a way for communities see how their schools are doing. up andto running To thatthe end,huge this year’s dashboard paints before a somewhat chaotic picture, reflecting both summer bills the California school system’s vast size and its hit.

If you lease, vast mission. Like the aggregate data earlier you’ll enjoy this year on standardized test scores—which no money showed a majority of California students down; free underperforming in basic subjects, and little orinstallation; no progress in closing the achievement and, with affluent and underprivileged gap between Renova andcolor-coded SunPower,charts fixed are payments children—its a call for for 20 years, which means as electric action and dispiriting. prices continue go up, yourpublic savings Only 40 percent to of California’s schools receivedas “passing” will increase well! marks in English

Solar Q&A

system, and if you lease, the company you lease from takes it, lowering your monthly payment. Solar companies also have some panels in stock now that were here before components and/or panels were subject to the new tariff—so that means you have great pricing right now.

Wow. How much time are we talking?

Give Renova a call, and we’ll look at your roof while you’re on the phone and give you an initial evaluation. proportion of students whoAssuming actually meet requirements to graduate. things look The dashboard itself alsogood, remains a somea site what controversial work in progress. one survey atOn your hand, its trove of data on multiple barometers home will is far more three-dimensional than detailed the old collect system. Schools no longer receive a single information overall rating by the state, and theroof new sysabout tem takes into account not only a school’s dimensions, performance, but whether it improved or declined from the prior year.tilt and shade, as well as a few other items, like the condition of your electric panel. in that it’s confusing, even with adjustments We alsoyear get and on the with youindithiscan second thephone addition of new and SCE to get your past usage; that, cators to deepen the picture.

The dashboard rates schools’ performance on anwill indicator combined with the site survey, using us fivetodifferent Red is the lowest allow create acolors. precise, customized achieving that mark, followed by orange, yellow, proposal will show you exact costs green and, finally, blue, the highest rating.

A and savings. school considered to have favorable mark That’sis it!

If you decide toamove if they areinstallation rated greentakes or blue on an forward, only 2-3indicator, days, though the state’s rubric does not explicitly depending on the size of your system.

But critics complain

language arts last year—and only 33 percent met the state’s targets in math.

More than OK—pretty good points.

Anything else? half of the state’s schools were in or near Yep! The full 30 percent Federal Tax the “red” zoneison chronic and end even Credit still in fullabsenteeism, effect until the supposed such as graduation of 2019.bright If youspots, purchase, you receive rates, were clouded by the state’s widespread the Tax Credit to lower the cost of your spell that out. use of online “credit recovery” courses and fact,by the state’s color labels in general other techniques by districts to deter Paidused advertisement brought to Inyou have broad interpretations, to the point that dropouts, and perhaps artificially inflate the

it can be difficult to deduce the significance of a rating. For example, a school that has a middle-of-the-pack yellow rating in math could either have posted very high scores this year that significantly dropped compared to the year before, or achieved very low scores that significantly improved from the previous year.

And a green rating does not necessarily mean that a majority of a school’s students are meeting grade-level expectations. It doesn’t even mean that all of its various student sub-groups aren’t in the yellow, orange or red.

That said, analysis by CALmatters and the Independent of schools’ performance ratings found widespread room for improvement:

• Chronic absenteeism: About 3,600

elementary schools across the state-—about 47 percent—received red and orange ratings on this indicator, meaning that more than 10 percent of their students missed 18 days or more out of the school year. Officials say this statistic is important, because it helps indicate a student’s engagement and whether continued on next page

WE NEED YOU; YOU NEED US READ US. FOLLOW US. ADVERTISE WITH US. SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS. BECOME A SUPPORTER OF THE INDEPENDENT. GET MORE INFORMATION BY CLICKING THE SUPPORTERS LINK AT CVINDEPENDENT.COM OR CALLING 760-904-4208

CVIndependent.com

16 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

continued from Page 15 they’re likely to drop out of school. Of the 64 schools within the valley’s three school districts receiving ratings in this category (high schools were not measured), 16 were in the red zone, with 34 in the orange zone.

That means just 14 received yellow or better ratings.

• School suspensions: More than

5,000 schools, or roughly 53 percent, received

green or blue ratings in this indicator (including 56.2 percent locally). About 30 percent were rated red or orange (35.9 percent locally). While school officials are generally optimistic about the state’s direction in this category, many schools continue to have disparities in school suspensions that negatively impact black and Hispanic students.

• Graduation rates: One of schools’

overall top-performing indicators, more than 1,000 high schools, or about 58 percent, were

rated green or blue for their graduation rates (including 11 of 17 locally). This backs the state’s record graduation rate touted by many school officials. But there’s the aforementioned credit recovery asterisk, and ...

• On college/career readiness,

schools are faring worse. One of the new indicators on the dashboard measures how well California’s high schools prepare students for postsecondary careers. About 675 schools, or 38 percent, were rated green or blue in this

DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Chronic Absenteeism DISTRICT OVERALL Abraham Lincoln Elementary Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International Studies Amistad High (Continuation) Andrew Jackson Elementary Benjamin Franklin Elementary Carrillo Ranch Elementary Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle Desert Ridge Academy Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy Dwight Eisenhower Elementary Gerald R. Ford Elementary Harry S. Truman Elementary Herbert Hoover Elementary Horizon Indio High Indio Middle James Earl Carter Elementary James Madison Elementary James Monroe Elementary John F. Kennedy Elementary John Glenn Middle School of International Studies La Quinta High La Quinta Middle Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary Martin Van Buren Elementary Palm Desert High Ronald Reagan Elementary Shadow Hills High Summit High (Continuation) Theodore Roosevelt Elementary Thomas Jefferson Middle CVIndependent.com

Suspension Rate

English Language Arts

Mathematics

category—but just four of 17 local schools were rated green, with no blue ratings. The state gave nearly half, 47 percent, of high schools a red or orange rating.

A closer look underscored the diversity of California, where more than 6.2 million students are enrolled in some of the most elite and most challenged public schools in the nation.

The three Coachella Valley school districts received mediocre overall ratings. The east valley’s Coachella Valley Unified School District—where 91.3 percent of students are considered socioeconomically disadvantaged, and 46.3 percent are English-language learners—received overall middle-of-the-road yellow ratings in all of the categories, save graduation rate and chronic absenteeism, where the district received even worse orange ratings.

The west valley Palm Springs Unified School District—where 88.5 percent of students are considered socioeconomically disadvantaged, and 32 percent are Englishlanguage learners—received green ratings in the graduation rate and college/career categories, but orange ratings in the other four categories.

None of the three Coachella Valley school districts had any overall ratings in the red zone— but 29 of the 78 schools within the local school districts (37.2 percent) fell into the red zone in at least one of the six categories measured this year.

The Desert Sands Unified School District— with 71.6 percent of students considered socioeconomically disadvantaged, and 23.8 percent English-language learners—earned green ratings for graduation rate and suspension rate; a yellow rating in the college/career category; and disappointing orange ratings in the other three.

Elsewhere in the state: West Contra Costa Unified, where 72 percent of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged and onethird are English language learners—and where California’s new superintendent of public instruction, Tony Thurmond, was once on the school board—rated orange in reading and math and orange in student suspensions.

Meanwhile, in Kentfield Elementary, an affluent Marin County district of 1,200

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 17

JANUARY 2019

PALM SPRINGS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Chronic Absenteeism

Suspension Rate

English Language Arts

Mathematics

DISTRICT OVERALL Agua Caliente Elementary Bella Vista Elementary Bubbling Wells Elementary Cabot Yerxa Elementary Cahuilla Elementary Cathedral City Elementary Cathedral City High Della S. Lindley Elementary Desert Hot Springs High Desert Learning Academy Desert Springs Middle James Workman Middle Julius Corsini Elementary Katherine Finchy Elementary Landau Elementary Mt. San Jacinto Elementary Nellie N. Coffman Middle Painted Hills Middle Palm Springs High Rancho Mirage Elementary Rancho Mirage High Raymond Cree Middle Rio Vista Elementary Sunny Sands Elementary Two Bunch Palms Elementary Vista del Monte Elementary kids whose residents include Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, the dashboard scores were an upbeat mosaic of blues and greens. Only about 10 percent of Kentfield Elementary kids come from low-income households.

Los Angeles Unified, the nation’s second-largest school district and California’s largest, ranked yellow in both reading and math, with a blue for its low suspension rate of 0.5 percent.

And at all three of these districts elsewhere, their wildly different academic performance ratings notwithstanding, the rating for chronic absenteeism was a glaring orange.

Michael Kirst, the president of the California State Board of Education, which developed the school-accountability system, said in a statement that the dashboard “shows us which students have the greatest needs and which areas of our educational system need the most attention, which is exactly what it was designed to do.

“Challenges that once may have been hidden, such as how poverty, homelessness and disability affect student learning, are now in sharp focus,” Kirst said. “Conversely, it also shows us which school districts are succeeding so they can serve as models for others as we build professional sharing networks throughout the state.”

Hahnel, of EdTrust-West, said the new dashboard is “a big facelift” from its first version, but that “there are still issues with accessibility.”

“There’s a lot of data to explore, and that’s great,” Hahnel said, “but it’s not always intuitive, and it does take some digging and deciphering to make sense of it all.”

While this year’s dashboard measures more data than it did the year before, it’s drawn some criticism for what it’s left out. The dashboard now measures schools’ performance in addressing chronic absenteeism, but not at the high school level, where data is more

likely to show higher rates of absences among older students.

Samantha Tran, senior managing director for education policy at Children Now, an Oakland-based nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group, said it’s “really unfortunate” that the dashboard lacks chronic absenteeism for high schools. The metric, Tran said, helps you find “kids who are not engaged fundamentally” in school and who would be less likely to graduate.

“You really should have it on the dashboard, color code it and make sure districts are looking at it,” Tran said. “(Chronic absenteeism) is one of those leading indicators where you can really turn around what’s happening for a kid.”

CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics. The Independent’s Jimmy Boegle contributed to this story.

NO, REALLY: WE NEED YOU; YOU NEED US

All of our content is offered for free—and it always will be. We don’t have pay walls, and we don’t sell subscriptions. However, this month, we're asking you to become a member of our Supporters of the Independent program.

Membership gives readers like you a chance to contribute directly to the Independent and our mission: being the valley’s honest, ethical source of independent news, arts coverage, commentary and culture.

CLICK THE SUPPORTERS LINK AT CVINDEPENDENT.COM OR CALL 760-904-4208

CVIndependent.com

18 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

CVI SPOTLIGHT: JANUARY 2019 Luck Be a Lady: A Chat With the Director of Palm Canyon Theatre’s ‘Guys and Dolls’

T

he Great Depression-set musical Guys and Dolls is a classic—and the Palm Canyon Theatre is bringing the show, which initially premiered on Broadway back in 1950, to its stage in January and February.

During a recent phone interview, director/ choreographer Derik Shopinski explained why the Palm Canyon Theatre decided to include Guys and Dolls in this year’s schedule.

“It’s been a number of years since we’ve done the show,” Shopinski said. “The timing felt right. It’s in a good time slot for us, given the snowbirds really love the older shows that they know—and this one has gotten a huge response already with ticket sales.

“It’s a fun, feel-good show. It does have a message at heart, but it’s still a fun show.”

Shopinski elaborated on what’s fun about Guys and Dolls.

“At its heart, it’s two different love stories—the contrast between the Salvation Army girl and her bootlegger-gambler boyfriend, and the other couple, with the nightclub star and her gambler boyfriend who have been engaged for 14 years. It’s about the problems that they face, how they arrive at the end of the show, and how they tie it all up,” Shopinski said. “It has one of the best musical scores. … There’s so much about it that’s fun to watch, fun to look at and fun to listen to. We also have some amazing talent in the show, so that’s going to be very exciting for me, working with this very talented cast.”

That cast will contain some faces familiar to those who have attended Palm Canyon Theatre shows before, as well as some new talent.

“I have Paul Grant, who is playing Nathan Detroit, and Se Layne, who is playing Miss Adelaide, his love interest,” Shopinski said.

“The other couple is married in real life— Nicholas Sloan and his wife, Jamie Leigh

Walker, are playing Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown. I’ve worked with them both separately on other projects, and they are a dream to work with; they are incredibly professional, and they work well together, because they’ve done shows together since before they were married and while they’ve been married.”

Shopinski said the song that stands out to him comes toward the end of Act II. “‘Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat’—it really wraps up the show in so many ways,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest ensemble numbers for all of the men and the band members. It’s a high-energy dance number that ties everything together.”

Bringing older musicals to the stage today may seem like a challenge to some—but Shopinski said he doesn’t see things that way.

“I really know these kinds of shows, given I grew up with them,” he said. “I know the music, and when you get into directing them, you can really dissect the story. While it’s historical … it’s necessarily telling historical events, because it’s taking place in another time. This was when they didn’t have all the television shows, and there wasn’t an internet. All you had was film and theater.

They were three hours long, and it was what you did for entertainment. You went out to dinner, and then you went to the theater.”

The Palm Canyon Theatre finds success and is able to do a wide variety of shows thanks in part to its casting process, Shopinski said.

“Our casting process is very diverse,” he said. “We cast people of all backgrounds and all ages. Any given show, we’ll have 16-yearolds performing with our veteran performers.

That, in turn, brings in the younger members’ friends to experience the shows. Our audience is as diverse as our cast members.”

Guys and Dolls will be performed at 7 p.m., Thursday; 8 p.m., Friday and

Show this ad, and get one free Moxie Palm Springs appetizer!

Show this ad; buy one Broken Yolk entree, and get the second free!

CVIndependent.com

Broken Yolk Cafe • Moxie Palm Springs 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive Broken Yolk Cafe La Quinta 78430 Highway 111

Paul Grant and Se Layne in Palm Canyon Theatre’s Guys and Dolls.

Paul Hayashi

Saturday, and 2 p.m., Sunday, from Friday, Jan. 18, through Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Palm Canyon Theatre, 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Tickets

are $32 to $36. For tickets or more information, call 760-323-5123, or visit www.palmcanyontheatre.org.

—Brian Blueskye

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 19

JANUARY 2019

Thanks for voting us

THE BEST of Coachella Valley!

Use your Unlimited Car Wash membership at any of our 5 valley locations.

Wash all you want starting today for as little as

$19

99 month

QuickQuack

@QuickQuack

QuickQuackCarWash

Visit DontDriveDirty.com 888-772-2792

CVIndependent.com

20 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

ARTS & CULTURE

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE

IMPORTING OPERA I

By James reel

n a world where Coachella Valley residents must drive an hour or more to see a full-scale opera, several local movie theaters dare to screen wanton warblers and bronzed barihunks performing live at New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

This season, the Mary Pickford 14 and a handful of local chain-owned multiplexes are projecting real-time performances from the Met in high-definition video transmitted by satellite.

The theaters are among around 2,000 movie that the Met program would steal audience from houses in 66 countries picking up the live local, live productions. The Met countered that operacasts. Each season, the Met offers 10 of by taking its world-class presentations to the the two-dozen opera productions it keeps in provinces, at a price lower than that charged by its annual repertory to movie-house audiences, opera houses ($23.50, in the case of the shows splitting the profits from admission with the at the Mary Pickford 14), it would actually local theaters. generate more interest in local live efforts.

The sampling is usually a good representation After 12 years, there’s no hard data to of the Met’s fare, this season ranging from the support either claim. But the question is ever-popular Carmen and La Traviata through moot in the Coachella Valley, a veritable such edge-of-repertory items as Adriana operatic desert. The Palm Springs Opera Guild Lecouvreur. undertakes an extensive education program, The satellite transmissions began in late 2006 but its annual Opera in the Park affair in Palm and initially stirred some controversy. Opera Springs (next scheduled for April 7, 2019) is companies in mid-sized communities fretted a concert of operatic greatest hits rather than

CVIndependent.com

Movie-theater broadcasts of shows from The Met fill a genre void in the Coachella Valley

a full-scale production of a single work. And while Palm Desert’s McCallum Theatre hosts an array of ambitious touring shows, opera tends not to be among them—unless you count Rent, a rock treatment of the tale told in Puccini’s La Bohème.

Damon Rubio, the owner of D’Place Entertainment, which manages the Mary Pickford 14, said he brings in The Met’s opera series to fill the Coachella Valley’s operatic void.

“It’s a really unique way to experience these amazing productions that you can’t otherwise experience unless you get on a jet and fly to New York,” Rubio said, Five productions remain in this season of the series formally known as The Met: Live in HD. All of the productions will be broadcast on Saturday mornings, with encore showings the following Wednesday afternoons (and some evenings).

Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur (9:55 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 12; encore at 1 and 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 16) is one of those edge-ofrepertory staples familiar to hard-core opera lovers, but known mainly for a single aria to less-obsessive fans. It’s a late-Romantic effusion notorious for its confusing plot revolving around the poisoning-by-violets (hey, it’s Italian opera) of a famous actress. Anna Netrebko brings star power to the title role.

Bizet’s Carmen (9:55 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 2; encore at 1 and 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6) is probably the best opera for newbies. The story is easy to follow; the characters are colorful (a gypsy who draws an impetuous Spanish army officer into a ring of smugglers, but dumps the poor schmuck for a celebrity bullfighter); and it contains the most hummable tunes ever (which were the basis of the only good episode of Gilligan’s Island). The Met is using this as a showcase for mezzo Clémentine Margaine, who seems to sing hardly anything else.

Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) (9:55 a.m., Saturday, March 2; encore at 1 and 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 6), despite the preponderance of soldiers onstage, is actually a light romantic comedy that nevertheless challenges the vocal abilities of the lead soprano. In this case, the aptly named Pretty Yende is the titular daughter in a production that has been updated from the 19th century to World War I. Perhaps the most intriguing element is a non-singing cameo by actress Kathleen Turner.

Wagner’s Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) (9 a.m., Saturday, March 30; encore at 12:30 p.m.,

Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczała in Adriana Lecouvreur. Vincent Peters/Met Opera

Wednesday, April 3) is known to generations of cartoon-lovers as the source of the Elmer Fudd aria “Kill the Wabbit.” It’s everything about opera that the animated short skewers: women sporting breastplates and spears, heroes who aren’t all that smart, dark and craggy settings, a beefy orchestra, and a whole lotta hootin’ and hollerin’. Oh, there’s also incestuous love, and a woman whose Norse god of a father strips her of her immortality and traps her in a ring of fire. Always the big question with the Met’s productions of Wagner’s Ring operas: Will the enormous, complex stage machinery break down?

Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites (9 a.m., Saturday, May 11; encore at 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 15) is set in a convent during the darkest days of the French Revolution and ends with one of the most compelling choral scenes in all opera: One by one, each of the nuns is silenced as she falls victim to the guillotine. The work dates from the late 1950s, but aside from a few piquantly sour harmonies typical of Poulenc, it is not dense and atonal, as was common at that time. The versatile Isabel Leonard, a Met stalwart for the past 10 years, takes the lead role.

While some may dismiss the experience of watching a live show broadcast on a screen, Rubio said the Live in HD series is actually a superior experience in some ways.

“When you’re seeing it on the big screen, it’s like you have a front-row seat every time,” Rubio said. “The sound quality is great, and that lends a ‘wow’ factor. I’m actually more appreciative (of these shows) after watching them on the big screen. I am blown away by the production values.”

For more information on The Met: Live in HD, visit www.metopera.org/season/in-cinemas. For more information on the Mary Pickford 14, visit dplaceentertainment.com/location/mary-pickford.

Jimmy Boegle contributed to this story.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 21

JANUARY 2019

Jersey Boys Tue-Fri, January 15-18, 8pm Sat, January 19, 2pm & 8pm Sun, January 20, 2pm & 7pm

Exploring Mars

Presented through the generosity of Jerry & Sarah Mathews and Harold Matzner

Mon, January 21, 7pm

Ben and Noel Haggard Tribute to Merle Haggard Tue, January 22, 8pm Presented through the generosity of Jackie Autry

Kobie Boykins

The Wizard of Oz Fri, January 25, 8pm Sat, January 26, 2pm & 8pm Sun, January 27, 2pm & 7:30pm Presented through the generosity of Jan. 25 - Annette Bloch Jan. 26 - Robert & Sharlene Britz

Golden Dragon Acrobats

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Mon, January 28, 7pm

Tue, January 29, 8pm

Linda Eder Thu, February 14, 8pm

Order tickets by phone

760-340-2787

Rob Lowe Stories I Only Tell My Friends: LIVE! Fri, March 29, 8pm

Order online

mccallumtheatre.com

73000 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT • BOX OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY, 9:00am-5:00pm

Follow us CVIndependent.com

22 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

ARTS

SIMPLE SECRETS ON HOW J.LO @ 49 AND CHER @ 72 ARE ‘TURNING BACK TIME’

By Shonda Chase, FNP Nurse Practitioner, Co-owner, Artistic Director and Advanced Aesethetic Injector at Revive Wellness Centers in Palm Springs and Torrance, and Medweight, Lasers and Wellness Center in Irvine n 2018, I had the privilege of seeing Jennifer Lopez’s and Cher’s live concerts.

J.Lo was as ac�ve during her performance as any of her dancers, who probably averaged at least 20-25 years younger than she. They both looked and sounded fantas�c.

My pa�ents ask me all the �me: What are these two women who are re-inven�ng the expecta�ons of aging doing?

Besides just having “one” name, there are things that they are both doing to look their best: • Regular exercise with a trainer DVSROSS FLICKR • Glycolic peels for J.Lo and Re�nA for Cher • Ea�ng a healthy diet (nobody gains weight ea�ng broccolini).

• Don’t smoke, and never consume alcohol, caffeine or drugs.

• Get adequate sleep.

I

Secret No 1: Be regular with Botox and dermal fillers.

Unique to J.Lo: • Eat protein to combat cravings • Always wear sunblock … and no tanning • Look your best when you’re out.

Unique to Cher: • Use high-energy skin-care products (Secret No. 2: I know that Cher has been using 302 Professional topical drops for years, which adds energy to our skin.)

• Good plas�c surgeons.

RENAN KATAYAMA

J.Lo has made 49 the new 29, and Cher has made 72 the new 50. They’re both examples of the principle that age is no longer the barrier to looking great. Everyone can be a “head turner” in a number of ways by regularly “turning back �me” and improving what they’re born with. Now that we have new medical laser energy treatments, as aesthe�c experts, we can accomplish more than ever before.

You can email your individual ques�ons to Shonda Chase FNP or Allan Y. Wu MD, Revive’s cosme�c surgeon, at info@revivecenter.com.

CVIndependent.com

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE

A MOVIE GOES MISSING ‘Shirkers,’ being shown as part of the PS International Film Festival, is a true story about loss and relief

I

By Brian Blueskye

magine you’re a young filmmaker. You write, plan and shoot an entire movie—and then someone you trust takes all of the footage and completely disappears.

That’s the real story of the documentary Shirkers, which was first screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018, before being picked up by Netflix and released on the streaming service. It will be screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan. 4, 5 and 12.

In 1992, a Singapore teenager obsessed with cinema, Sandi Tan, gathered her friends and set out to make a film she’d written called Shirkers. Georges Cardona, an American living in Singapore, was Tan’s film teacher and the director of the film. When the film was finished, Cardona vanished.

Years later, after Cardona’s death, the film canisters were found and returned to Tan, but without the audio tracks. The documentary starts off as an unsolved mystery, as Tan explains the story, shows scenes from the film, and sets out on a quest to try to understand Cardona’s life and what really happened.

During a phone interview with Tan, who now lives in Los Angeles, she acknowledged that her story is rather strange.

“I’ve lived with it for so long that it’s been a big part of my life,” Tan said. “It’s the secret I’ve had to suppress for so many years that belief is not even part of it. … It seems like a story that’s stranger than fiction.”

Singapore has a notoriously authoritarian government, and Tan said there wasn’t an outlet for independent filmmakers back when she shot Shirkers.

“We were really the only people making an independent film, which is why it was such a revolutionary act,” she said. “… It’s a huge chunk of history that was stolen along with it, along with our dreams. … We just did it without any support or permission. We just shot it.”

Tan at the time was a punk-rocker and artist who found a way to get her hands on material that inspired her.

“I was part of the whole mail-art thing where you’d send your collages and zines to people around the world, trading with them, and you could make mixtapes and send them to another friend somewhere else,” she said. “My cousin in Florida was sending me videotapes of movies I wanted; I’d send her homemade T-shirts as trade. It was our version of the internet. My cousin would rent movies from Blockbuster

and copy them onto a VHS tape—things like Blue Velvet and Raising Arizona. I was really into David Lynch and the Coen Brothers. I was also obsessed with Tim Burton. I loved Jane Campion’s An Angel at My Table; that was a very inspiring film for me.”

The original Shirkers has never been released; the only parts ever publicly shown are the scenes included in the documentary. The fact that the audio has never been found presents a challenge.

“We could put together a silent version of the film in a creative way, but with creative sound,” Tan said. “I’m not sure about dubbing, which is kind of tacky. I really think it could work as a silent movie with subtitles with creative sound and music. A lot of people want to see the original film, and I’m sure there’s some way we could get that done someday.”

She remembered the first time she watched the footage after it was found and returned to her.

“The strange thing is it was exactly the way I remembered it,” she said. “I was very relieved that I wasn’t imagining all this stuff. All the colors, all the locations, the expressions on people’s faces and everything was exactly as it was in my head, but I had no proof of it, and couldn’t tell anyone.

“When I saw the footage in Burbank with someone who was seeing it for the first time and had no idea what the story was, his jaw just dropped. I knew we had something that was extraordinary and a story that had to be told.”

Shirkers will be screened as part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival at 1:45 p.m., Friday, Jan. 4, at the Annenberg Theater, 101 N. Museum Drive; 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Regal Palm Springs Stadium 9, 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Road; and 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Camelot Theatres, 2300 E. Baristo Road.

Tickets are $13. For tickets or more information, visit www.psfilmfest.org.

A scene from Shirkers.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 23

JANUARY 2019

Help protect the life you love <NAME> Tony Gangloff <(XXX) XXX-XXXX> 760-428-2096 <email@us.aflac.com> anthony_gangloff@us.aflac.com CA License #0M19070 <CAInsurance writing number>

Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, Georgia 31999 Z180082

EXP 1/19

Solar Q&A

I had someone knock on my door and present what I thought was a pretty compelling case about solar. What should I do next?

First of all, it’s rude for someone to knock on your door or call you uninvited.

Sorry to say, but many times, the people knocking are only trying to set appointments for salespeople and can use tactics that are quite annoying. In addition, often they’re not licensed with a background check from the California Contractors State License Board, and the companies may not even have a permit from the city allowing them to do this. Also, the companies that use these methods to acquire new customers may subcontract the actual installation to the lowest bidder. Is that who you want in and on your home, and running high-voltage electrical conduit? It’s a big purchase or a long contract—and you wouldn’t buy a car that way.

OK—good points. But now I am interested in solar.

There are many good local companies

A comic tale of closeted lives by Topher

Payne

Perfect Arrangement

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AFLAC, CONTACT:

The ‘50s were only

fabulous

when no one was looking.

from which you can get competing bids—companies that are based here and have great Yelp reviews and good, local references. These local companies, like Renova, also use highly rated namebrand panels including SunPower, so you can be assured you’re getting a great product with a terrific warranty.

Don’t fall for a low upfront price; you’ll regret it later. And to compare it to a car again: You wouldn’t buy or lease a car without visiting at least a couple of dealerships, so why would you buy from the first company for solar?

I’m convinced—no door-knockers or phone-callers. What should be my next step?

Visit some websites for local companies.

Look at reviews on solarreviews.com or Yelp. Reviews can’t be purchased or changed on either site, so you know you’re getting thoughts from real people.

If you have the NextDoor app, check with your neighbors. It’s likely that Renova will be one of the companies on your list, so they’re a good one to start with.

Paid advertisement brought to you by

JANUARY 11-20

PEARL McMANUS THEATER, DOWNTOWN IN THE HISTORIC PALM SPRINGS WOMAN’S CLUB

TICKETS: $30-45 • (760) 322-0179 • DEZARTPERFORMS.ORG sponsored by

and ELBER AND LUDIM CAMACHO “PERFECT ARRANGEMENT” IS PRESENTED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

CVIndependent.com

24 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

CVIndependent.com

JANUARY 2019

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 25

JANUARY 2019

FOOD & DRINK

ON COCKTAILS T

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

There are plenty of hangover tipple options that go beyond the basic Bloody Mary

BY kevin carlow

his time of year is a whirlwind, of sorts—as I suppose it is for everyone.

Friends and family in town … work … the disappearing and reappearing illnesses— the onset of winter is tough. Since it’s not going to get any easier as the season winds up, I figured I would focus on the much-loved and oft-maligned corner of cocktail culture: the breakfast tipple!

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I don’t care for Bloody Marys. This wasn’t always the case, but somewhere along the line, I started finding them to be too aggressively savory for morning consumption. Most of them are so shoddily constructed that they aren’t fit for consumption at all; a glass of congealed horseradish and tomato soup just isn’t what I want when I have a hangover. And don’t get me started on most of the commercial mixes out there!

But when friendship calls, I answer, and I had a very hungover houseguest the other day who happens to love Bloody Marys. So we jumped in my car and headed out to Sloan’s in Indio, the home of the “Frankenmary.”

As the bartender put her gloves on and proceeded to assemble the veritable appetizer samplers precariously sitting on top of 32 ounces of my nemesis—the entire bar watching and glancing occasionally at the two gluttons in the corner who ordered them—I started second-guessing the whole idea. Then the two monsters arrived at the table in the hands of the smiling and proud bartender. Imagine me, local cocktail snob and curmudgeon, faced with this tower of excess.

The beverage itself was too much, a giant flagon of breakfast booze. Sticking out at all angles was a collection of various bar favorites: chicken wings, cocktail shrimp, mozzarella sticks, bacon, a slider, various cocktail-tray garnishes … and a piece of asparagus. You gotta eat your veggies!

So, I hate this, with every atom of my being, right? Actually … I thought it was fun.

Sometimes you have to put your inner critic aside and embrace your inner Guy Fieri.

Why is all the food hanging off the drink?

Isn’t this just the same as getting three Bloodys and an appetizer sampler on a plate, like a (somewhat) normal person? Answers: I have no idea, and basically, yes. But there was something so classically Americana about the whole thing. It doesn’t make any sense, but we create something like this because we can, dammit! If a screaming eagle had driven by in a monster truck painted red, white and blue, I wouldn’t have been surprised. It felt silly, and excessive, and just plain fun. Any time you can bring an element of fun to fixing a hangover, or just to our current milieu in general, I am all for it.

Do you prefer a little less drama with your

restoratives? Well, there are plenty of other options out there, but you might have to make them at home, as I haven’t seen many on local menus. So … let’s start with the Red Snapper.

Originally from the Hotel Regis in New York in the 1930s, the Red Snapper was more or less a plain old Bloody Mary with a different name; it seemed some of the guests found the name more palatable. These days, if you order a Red Snapper, you’re going to get a Bloody Mary with gin instead of vodka … or you’ll get a strange look. This might be a time when you get to educate your bartender (gently, please), as I have found this baby to be a little obscure.

Less obscure is our Canadian neighbors’ contribution to the field, the Bloody Caesar.

The drink, widely considered the national drink of Canada, it is generally said to have been created in 1969 in Calgary, Alberta, by Walter Chell, for the opening of an Italian restaurant. Having tended bar in two places incredibly popular with Canadian tourists— Palm Springs and Boston—I have seen the general confusion caused by the similarities and differences in the drinks.

The Caesar, although there are many variations, is defined by the Clamato and vodka that make up its base. Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce are also included—but leave out the horseradish, please! Canadians enjoy drinking this one anytime and anywhere—morning, night, at the beach, whenever. We in the States consider ordering a Bloody after 3 p.m. a faux pas, leading to a lot of dirty looks from bartenders when a savory tomato-juice drink is ordered in a busy nightclub. Canadians tend to think the Caesar is a superior drink, and they just might be right—but if you are going to drink one at night, it might be best to do it at home. Your bartender (and the rest of the bar) will judge, and hard.

Another fun variation on the Bloody is the Bull Shot. If tomato juice isn’t savory enough for you, the Bull Shot replaces the tomato juice with beef broth! This one became the celebrity brunch drink of the ’60s and ’70s, only to fall off the map in the ’80s. Years ago, I came

The Frankenmary at Sloan’s Restaurant. KEVIN CARLOW

across an original menu from a restaurant in Boston where I was working, from when it was a ’70s local celebrity hangout. I was intrigued to see they had not only a Bull Shot prominently on the menu, but also a chicken-broth variation, and a mix of the two!

I would love to see this one come back, with the bone-broth trend still chugging along.

If any bartenders working at a daytime spot get cracking on it, I will come check it out!

Basically, it has the same recipe as a traditional Bloody: Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, celery salt, black pepper and a little lemon perhaps; just substitute the broth for the tomato juice.

It’s not advisable for those with hypertension.

The Bloody Bull is mostly forgotten, but is perhaps the king of this family of drinks.

It traces its origins to New Orleans, as do so many cocktails, and specifically to Brennan’s.

As with most cocktails, the history is murky, but not as murky as this beauty actually is.

Basically, take a traditional Bloody Mary, and a substitute a little of the tomato juice for a slug of good, rich beef broth. It’s all in the proportions, but an ounce or so should do it.

This is a drink that should make everyone but the vegetarians happy, featuring the nose-

opening pungent-ness for the Bloody fans, and the extra-savory brothiness for the Caesar adherents.

Now, about those garnishes! While I don’t suggest using a whole appetizer plate on skewers, pickled vegetables are always nice; I prefer green beans or asparagus. The traditional celery adds a nice aromatic as you crunch; olives are OK, too, but celery, in my opinion, adds more to the drink. If you are using bacon (or a hot wing!), make sure you skewer it over the drink; nobody wants wet bacon or greasy cocktails. My companion on the Frankenmary expedition was famous for adding a freshly shucked cherrystone clam to make an ersatz Caesar that we derided as “The Yucky Jeff,” but it sold like crazy, so it seems the sky’s the limit with garnishes. I am also fond of the fizzy beer sidecar popular in Wisconsin; a little beer sip here and there does wonders to break up the spice and salt.

New Year’s Day is nearly upon us … so however you decide to recover, garnish with abandon.

Kevin Carlow is a bartender at Truss and Twine and can be reached at krcarlow@gmail.com.

CVIndependent.com

26 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

FOOD & DRINK

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

CAESAR CERVISIA W

By brett newton

inter has mercifully descended upon the desert, and the nights are what we full-time desert denizens call “cold.” This is our opportunity to dust off long-sleeved tops and jackets, and enjoy some hearty winter ales by the hearth.

Not that many desert homes have a hearth. But still …

Winter beers are among my favorite seasonals, and while I look forward to trying new iterations of them, I love finding my old friends from years past. What follows are five wholehearted recommendations for beers to warm the cockles of your sort-of-cold heart.

Winter Welcome Ale, Samuel Smith Old Winter versions of Belgian abbey ales are Brewery: The wassail (pronounced wahss-uhl) not uncommon and are among my favorite is an English tradition that extends back before seasonal beers. (This is unsurprising, really, the Norman Conquest. In the context of beer, since many of my favorite beers are Belgian or in medieval times, a traditional winter wassail Belgian-inspired.) consisted of hot strong ale, sugar, spices and This Belgian dark strong ale clocks in at 10 roasted apples. It came to America as the percent ABV, but like any well-made abbey “Winter Warmer” and usually consisted of a ale, the alcohol is well-hidden in the aroma stronger English ale that, if not spiced, gave and flavor. This is due to the widespread hints of spice from the malts and hops used. use of candy sugar that adds alcohol during This is my favorite incarnation of the fermentation but, due to its lack of proteins, wassail (that I can find, of course) and has doesn’t also add body as malt sugars would. been for a very long time. If you haven’t This leads to deadly drinkable beers with tons experienced the beer of Yorkshire, England’s of flavor. In this particular beer, I picked up own Samuel Smith Old Brewery, you should; a slightly floral note, plus apple, spiced plum, they are pretty widely available here, and I clove and a hint of banana. That is followed cannot recommend them enough. This beer up by a lovely warmth in the chest as it goes gives the distinct English malt nose of treacle down, but not so much as to prevent the next and caramel, with earthy, woodsy hop notes sip. If you’re a beer drinker but haven’t tried from the Fuggles and East Kent Goldings Belgian ales, you need Jesus. hops. There is a lingering flavor of plum, and Christmas Ale, Brouwerij St. Bernardus as it warms a little, you can pick up apple NV: Here’s another dark Belgian Christmas esters from the English yeast. It warms my ale from one of my favorite Belgian breweries. heart more than my chest, even though it has This brewery is unique, not just because of the a respectable 6 percent alcohol by volume—a exceptional quality of all of its beers, but also medium-high level of alcohol as English ales because of the character of its yeast. It contains go. I may use a bottle of this to attempt a many of the characteristic esters and phenols traditional wassail drink. Wish me luck. found in other Belgian ales, but also a unique Delirium Noël, Brouwerij Huyghe: No, hint of licorice. I don’t even like the flavor in I didn’t just pass out on my keyboard. That’s the wild, but when it’s embedded among other the name of the Belgian brewery that also flavors expertly, it’s very satisfying. Such is the brings you its flagship beer, Delirium Tremens. case with this Christmas ale.

These five winter beers will please your palate—and make whatever you’re doing just a little more festive

This very dry 10 percent ABV with dark fruit, banana, clove and, of course, a hint of licorice is balanced by a medium-bitter spice finish. Am I making it plain enough how much I love Belgian ales yet?

Jubelale 2018, Deschutes Brewery: From closer to home comes a beer from a beloved beer-maker in Bend, Ore. This is their version of the wassail, and while at a traditional 6.7 percent ABV, it is true to American versions of Old World styles and is hoppier. I usually decry this lack of imagination when it comes to such American recreations, but here, it suits the beer.

Cocoa powder, prune, coffee, a hint of cherry, raisin and a lovely toasted quality are all in play with this one. It has a medium-bitter finish and medium body; the extra hops not only contribute flavor, but balance out all of the malt flavors, making it actually thirstquenching.

Rise and Pine, Uinta Brewing Company: This beer is a recent favorite of mine from a Salt Lake City brewery whose beers I’ve happily sampled for a decade. I first tried Rise and Pine last year and fell in love. This is described as a “hoppy dark ale” with juniper and piney hops—and it delivers just that. I wondered why it wasn’t considered a black IPA until I saw the malt bill on Uinta’s website and noticed it didn’t include any pale malt.

Mystery solved.

Aromas and flavors of prunes, pine and grapefruit predominate. It has a medium body but is crisp enough to be very drinkable despite the 7.5 percent ABV. I took a can of this on each of my biggest hikes last year and enjoyed them tremendously. (You might think it foolish to have a beer after a big hike, but for my cousin Josh and me, it almost immediately relieved all of the aching in the legs.) Especially

Mom! Celebrate

*

* D O W N T O W N PA L M S P R I N G S 760 327-LULU (5858) L U L U PA L M S P R I N G S . C O M

CVIndependent.com

“BESTS” AWARDED TO

LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO

Caterer Breakfast Sunday Brunch American / Californian Cuisine Continental / International Dining Outdoor Dining Casual Dining Dinner Deal Happy Hour Late Night Bites Vegetarian / Gluten-free Pet Friendly Dining Classic Cocktails

The Winter Welcome Ale from Samuel Smith Old Brewery is a wassail worth your time. Brett Newton

after hiking up to the Palm Springs tram, this beer was a fitting end to a very rugged trek.

I hope I’ve portrayed how much I love these beers and look forward to greeting them every year, like friends I haven’t seen since last winter. Give them a try, and see what you think—preferably beside a fire with friends and/or family around.

Brett Newton is a certified cicerone (like a sommelier for beer) and homebrewer who has mostly lived in the Coachella Valley since 1988. He currently works at the Coachella Valley Brewing Co. taproom in Thousand Palms. He can be reached at caesarcervisia@gmail.com.

THE DESERT SUN’S BEST OF THE VALLEY 2018 AWARDED TO

*

ACQUA CALIFORNIA BISTRO New Restaurant Happy Hour Weekend Brunch Romantic Ambience Pet Friendly Dining Martini

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 27

JANUARY 2019

FOOD & DRINK

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

VINE SOCIAL

The first Palm Springs Wine Fest was an amazing event that proves a wineawakening is finally happening in the desert

JASON DAVID HAIR STUDIO

By KatieLOVE finn YOUR

I

HAIR

me was a riesling. As with Abe and his unique approach to wine-making, these guys do it a little differently, too. This riesling is made by carbonic maceration. If you’ve stuck with me this far, this might be where I lose you … but if you’re a wine geek, you just shouted out loud: “A RIESLING?! CARBONIC MACERATION?!

WHAT?!” Yup. It’s 100 percent carbonic, whole-cluster pressed, unrefined and unfiltered from only 40 vines located in the pinot noir dominant Langley Vineyard in Anderson Valley. Just enough for one barrel. I’m choking up a little; it would be impossible for me to love a wine more. That said, this darling wine didn’t overshadow the stunning Feliz Vineyard Carignane—also 100 percent carbonic and 100 percent mouthwateringly delicious—or their velvety-rich malbec from the famed Alder Springs Vineyard. The unbridled happiness I feel knowing these wines exist is only shattered by the fact that everything they make is sold out, and I can’t get any.

Field Recordings from Paso Robles has long been a favorite of mine, and I had the pleasure of tasting their orange wine called Skins. This is a blend of chenin blanc, pinot gris and verdelho, and the result is a wine that, unlike a lot of other orange wines I’ve tasted, is full of bright acidity with that savory, cidery aroma and textured mouthfeel, without the bitter wood varnish component that can sometimes be too overpowering.

I think I hung out at the Red Car table for about an hour. The founder, Richard Crowell, and I discussed our mutual sentiments regarding scores; the beauty of syrah and why everyone should drink it all the time; and the rugged and picturesque vineyards from which the fruit for their insanely balanced and elegant wines comes. He was like a friend you’ve known

’m now going to gush about the best wine-tasting I’ve ever been to—ever. I am going to spend the next 900 words or so name-dropping winemakers you’ve probably never heard of, and describing wine-making techniques that will bore you to tears. Consider yourself warned.

Earlier this December, the incomparable desert wine goddess, Christine Soto of Dead or Alive bar Country Club and Cook Street in Palm Springs, did what no one in this industry thought wasPalm possible: She managed to convince De sert a laundry list of the best and brightest winemakers in California to converge at the Ace Hotel for one day of wine-tasting fun in the sun, for the my hometown, I suddenly manufactured the 760-340-5959 first Palm Springs Wine Fest. You might think confidence to walk right over to him, introduce that wouldn’t be such a difficult task, given the myself (again) and immediately dive into a www.jasondavidhairstudio.net beauty of our desert this time of year. I mean, conversation about the gloriously strange who wouldn’t want to come to sunny Palm glass of white wine from his table. It’s called Springs in December for a little work/play? Well, La Géante, and it’s a blend of a couple of white the truth is the desert has not exactly been on varietals, none of which I can remember, except the forefront of cutting-edge food and wine there’s 1 percent gewürztraminer in there, and concepts. The wine scene here has always been a I think he said something about skin-contact little conservative, if not staid and out of touch. sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. But what So, to have a venerable list of the coolest “kids” makes this wine so crazy is how he’s making it. making wine in California right here in our back Abe proceeded to tell me about some friends yard was not only pretty damn exciting; it had of his at Hiyu Wine Farm in Hood River, Ore., never been done. making a solera red that blew his mind. So he When I first walked in to the open-air event decided to try his hand at it with some white space at the Ace, it was a little overwhelming. wines. If you’re curious about the solera process, There was a live band and throngs of people it’s chiefly used in sherry and other fortifiedwedged between rows of tables. It was hard to wine production, and it creates a multi-vintage even know where to begin. From across the aged product by fractionally blending the liquid room, I saw Abe Schoener of Scholium Project. through a series of barrels from top to bottom, I hadn’t seen him in years, and I was certain with the oldest liquids being in the barrels on he wouldn’t know me from Adam. Back in the ground. Fascinating stuff, right?! The wine my Napa days, I would sit at the bar of a local was beautiful and complicated and fearless. I hotspot called Norman Rose and hope to get was off to a good start. a seat next to him so I could eavesdrop (in a From there, I looked for any table that had non-threatening fangirl kind of way) on all an opening. I needed to regain a little personal the cool wine stories he and his buddies would space from the shoulder-to-shoulder New York share. I introduced myself to him a couple of City sidewalk vibe and blissfully found a spot at times—each attempt a little more awkward the Minus Tide table. Best discovery of the day! and pathetic. But he is such a sincerely nice guy These guys released their first vintage in 2015, that I think he just pretended not to notice my with the focus being the cool-climate wines social ineptitude. But here at this tasting, in of Mendocino. The first wine they poured for

3-course

feast

$19

EvEry day aftEr 11am

99 per person plus tax

five-star

4-course menus

5 appEtizErs 13 EntréEs 6 dEssErts!

******

Early Bird spEcial

3pm– 5pm 99

$16

per person plus tax

5 superb soups 8 amazing appetizers & salads 15 exciting entrées, 8 decadent desserts

$2999 / $3999

for years, and our conversations were my high point of the day. If you haven’t tried Red Car, go to Eureka! in Indian Wells right now, and have a glass of their rose. Oh hell, just have a bottle.

I did.

I hopped from table to table, tasting one gloriously foot-trodden wine after the next.

More often than not, these wines are naturally fermented, and generally left un-fooled-around with by the hands that made them. All of these winemakers were there to tell a story, and what I found so endearing is that they were all so happy to be here in our desert. Many of them had vacationed here as children or had been here years ago without much reason to return … until now. The energy in the room was palpable, and everyone there, whether they were pouring or drinking, was genuinely excited to be there.

There is a wine awakening happening here in the Coachella Valley. Go buy a bottle of something fun and be a part of it.

Katie Finn is a certified sommelier and certified specialist of wine with more than 15 years in the wine industry. She can be reached at katiefinnwine@gmail.com.

award-winning

*

award-winning

Delights from the Red Car table. Katie Finn

breakfast 8 –11 am

am EvEry day

lunch & dinner from

11am

“THE BEST BRUNCH in CALIFORNIA!” —— T R I P P I N G . C O M

brunch 11am 99 –3pm $19

per person plus tax

namEd lulu onE of thE

Best 100 restaurants for Brunch in America!

sunday at lulu saturday & sunday at acqua

CALIFORNIA BISTRO

AT T H E R I V E R , R A N C H O M I R A G E 760 862-9800 ACQ UA R A N C H O M I R AG E .CO M

CVIndependent.com

28 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

A TASTE OF MÉXICO CITY IN PALM SPRINGS

$5 Margaritas All Day • $14 Lunch Special—Soup and Salad Included A sophisticated Mexican dining experience like no other

1107 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs 760-537-1279 • Alebrijeps.com

CVIndependent.com

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 29

JANUARY 2019

the

FOOD & DRINK INDY ENDORSEMENT This month’s guilty pleasures: a yummy breakfast tart and a homey meatloaf sandwich

By Jimmy Boegle

WHAT The cinnamon brown sugar breakfast tart WHERE Wilma and Frieda’s, 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; also at 73575 El Paseo Drive, Palm Desert HOW MUCH $4.95 CONTACT 760-992-5080 (Palm Springs); 760773-2807 (Palm Desert); wilmafrieda.com WHY They’re delicious—and very affordable.

When I heard that Wilma and Frieda’s was going to be taking over the former location of The Falls—one of the most beautiful restaurant spaces in the valley, overlooking the La Plaza area in downtown Palm Springs—I was elated.

For five years, Wilma and Frieda’s, located on El Paseo in Palm Desert, has been serving up some of the valley’s best breakfasts and lunches. Not only was I excited about the fact that one of the area’s most renowned restaurants was expanding to the west valley; I was intrigued by what the owners would do with the large, second-story space.

Well, it seems my excitement was justified: The new Wilma and Frieda’s is gorgeous, and the owners have expanded the offerings at the Palm Springs location beyond 3 p.m.: The bar is currently open until 9 p.m. most nights, and full dinner service is coming soon.

I stopped in one recent Saturday after an early-ish dinner to see the new space and try a cocktail. Since it was after dinner, I was craving dessert … and Wilma and Frieda’s (at both locations) has an amazing selection of housemade sweets, including brownies, bars, cookies, cakes and “breakfast tarts”—you know, like those store-bought frosted pastries that you pop into the toaster, but presumably a lot better.

Being a fan of all things containing brown sugar, I decided to try the cinnamon brown sugar breakfast tart. Not only did it sound delicious; it was only $4.95—and where else can you get a fresh-baked dessert for that price in this town?

The tart exceeded my expectations: It was warm, crispy out the outside and gooey on the inside—and it was yummy.

Welcome to Palm Springs, Wilma and Frieda’s. I can’t wait to see what you do next.

WHAT The Meatloaf Sandwich Meal WHERE The Desert Queen. 35400 Date Palm Drive, Cathedral City HOW MUCH $10.99 CONTACT 442-615-0344; thedesertqueen1.com WHY It mended my broken heart.

When the server came to take my order, she broke my heart.

My heart was set on having biscuits and gravy. I’d seen a couple of online raves about this down-home dish at The Desert Queen, a new Southern-style restaurant in Cathedral City, and as lunchtime approached, biscuits and gravy sounded freaking amazing. So I put The Desert Queen’s address in my GPS, and off I went.

After I arrived and seated myself, I perused the menu and instantly spied what my heart desired: the biscuit and sausage-gravy meal ($11.99). Then the server came to take my order. I said what I wanted; she politely pointed at a line on the menu my eyes had heretofore not seen: BREAKFAST ENDS AT 11 A.M. It was 11:46 a.m.

As my heart sank, I looked over the handful of lunch options. I quickly selected the meatloaf sandwich (which came with a drink and a side; I chose coffee and the homemade chili, respectively).

After my order came, I poked at the chili before unenthusiastically taking a bite of the sandwich. As I chewed … my broken heart began to take notice.

I took another bite. The meatloaf was dense enough to stand up to being inside a sandwich, while being neither dry nor greasy. It tasted great, and the wheat bread was perfect for such a sandwich: It was crispy on the outside, but still soft enough on the inside to hold things together. The word that comes to mind when I think about each bite is pleasing.

By the time I finished my meal, my heart was no longer broken; the delicious meatloaf sandwich had mended it. That’s not to say I wasn’t still craving biscuits and gravy … but I was OK with waiting to have that on my next visit to The Desert Queen.

Creative Chef Johannes Bacher

Voted “Best Chefs America”

Voted “Best Continental Restaurant”, “Best Martini”, and “Best Romantic Dining” by Palm Springs Life Readers.

BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/JohannesRestaurant

GREGG FELSEN

johannespalmsprings.com

OPEN FOR DINNER AT 5 PM | CLOSED MONDAYS | PRIVATE DINING | AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS | SPECIAL EVENTS

196 S. INDIAN CANYON DRIVE, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262

(760) 778-0017

CVIndependent.com

30 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

Ingredients your body

can recognize and utilize!

The Desert ’s Origina Juice B l ar

SMOOTHIES, GREEN SMOOTHIES, PITAYA BOWLS, AÇAI BOWLS, ORGANIC JUICE CLEANSES Superfood Menu All Natural/Whole Foods Fast and Fresh No Purées or Syrups Everything Made to Order

FreshJuiceBar.com | PALM SPRINGS PALM DESERT RANCHO MIRAGE LA QUINTA CVIndependent.com

Restaurant NEWS BITES

By Jimmy Boegle PURPLE ROOM PALM SPRINGS LAUNCHES ‘FRANK’S BOURBON BAR’ Since it’s an oddly slow month as far as restaurant news is concerned, I am going to take some space to discuss something near and dear to my heart: delicious, heart-warming bourbon. Specifically: The Purple Room Palm Springs, at 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, has introduced Frank’s Bourbon Bar, with more than 50 premium bourbons on offer.

The bar—named after Frank Sinatra, a well-known lover of bourbon—is offering bourbon flights starting at $25. The crown jewel of flights, however, will set you back $55: It includes Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year, and the Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year bourbons. (You can sub in other premium bourbons if you so choose.) That’s actually a pretty good deal.

If you’re a fan of whiskeys that aren’t bourbon, two things: 1. Get your head examined, because something’s wrong with you; and 2. Head to the Purple Room anyway, as the good folks there are offering non-bourbon whiskey flights, too, also starting at $25.

Get the full list of Frank’s Bourbon Bar offerings and a whole lot more information at www.purpleroompalmsprings.com/liquor.

NEW: THE DEL REY RESTAURANT INSIDE THE VILLA ROYALE New to Palm Springs: The Del Rey restaurant, which is already gaining some fantastic buzz inside the Villa Royale hotel, at 1620 S. Indian Trail.

The former Europa Restaurant has been transformed into a gorgeous dinner/bar space, featuring food from chef Louis Martinez. Check out this amazingly flowery description on the Del Rey website: “Housed inside stucco walls accented with original, large format oil paintings produced by Juan Casas, Villa Royale’s intimate bar and eatery, Del Rey, offers up a 12-seat oak and marble bar, tufted green vinyl booths and an outdoor patio equipped with a firepit for long nights under the desert moonlight. Inspired by Spanish and Mediterranean flavors, Del Rey’s playful menu is served in a small-plate format akin to taperías that flourish near the Mediterranean Sea.” Fun! More info at delreypalmsprings.com.

IN BRIEF Last month, we reported that Bongo Johnny’s—closed by a fire that destroyed the kitchen at 214 E. Arenas Road back in March—“could be open by January” in its new digs at 301 N. Palm Canyon Drive (which was recently occupied by Café Europa/jusTapas). Well, here’s a shocking development: As of our press deadline, Bongo Johnny’s was planning a soft opening earlier than we expected, on Dec. 29. Watch www.facebook.com/bongojohnnys for more information, including a date for the “official” grand opening. … New to Palm Springs: Monster Shakes, at 425 S. Sunrise Way, No. H-7, in the spot formerly occupied by Yogurt at Its Best. If you like big shakes served in mugs, dairy-free desserts or Dole Whip, head on over to the Ralph’s shopping center to check it out; more info at www.monstershakesps.com. … Wexler’s at Arrive, located at 1551 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, just began dinner service. You’ll find some of the offerings from the breakfast and lunch menus, plus brisket, schnitzel, matzo ball soup and more. Watch wexlersdeli.com/wexlers-arrive-palmsprings for updates. … Tipper’s Gourmet Marketplace, at 276 N. Palm Canyon Drive, has closed. The proprietor, the fabulous Felix Tipper, sold the storefront to focus on his catering business. I am already missing his amazing breakfast sandwiches. … L’Atelier Café, at 129 La Plaza, in Palm Springs, has new owners. Charlotte and Raphael Farsy, the original proprietors, decided to move back to France—but only after handing off the restaurant to new French owners, Angelique and Christophe Robin, who are tweaking the menu and hours, but keeping the spirit of the lovely spot alive. Watch www.facebook.com/Lateliercafe for updates. … New to downtown Palm Springs: Lolli and Pops, a fancy chain candy store, at 111 N. Palm Canyon Drive. Details at www.lolliandpops.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 31

JANUARY 2019

34 35 35 36

John Marek’s Plastic Ruby celebrates the release of its first EP No Small Children leaves the elementary school behind the debut of alex harrington’s subatomic column the lucky 13: two up-and-comers—a vocalist and a comedian

The Blueskye REPORT January 2019

By Brian Blueskye

www.cvindependent.com/music

MORE MINUTES TO PRAY

Bell Biv DeVoe

The Flesh Eaters’ classic lineup plays at Pappy and Harriet’s and releases a new album on the same day

33 photo by sharon steele

After the holidays, you may need some excitement to perk you up and recharge your batteries. Well, January features plenty of exciting events to help rejuvenate your spirit.

The McCallum Theatre has some great post-holiday hangover-busters. While many shows are sold out, tickets are still left for these shows as of our press time. Back by popular demand, at 3 and 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 13, the Capitol Steps will be performing.

The Capitol Steps is a troupe of former congressional staffers who perform a comedy show based on current affairs. It’s a lot of fun.

Tickets are $30 to $70. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, the sons of the Okie From Muskogee, Ben and Noel Haggard, will be performing.

Ben and Noel will be paying tribute to their late father in an intimate performance. Ben played in his father’s band, while Noel struck out on his own; this should be a great show and tribute. Tickets are $25 to $65. You have to love the amazing diversity of shows the McCallum offers; for example, at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 28, prepare to be mesmerized by the Golden Dragon Acrobats. They are the premier Chinese acrobatic touring company and have performed for audiences all over the world. Tickets are $22 to $48. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino has some great stuff going on. Do you miss the ’90s?

Sure ya do, so mark your calendars for 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, when you can go Back to the ’90s with Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Tone Loc and C&C Music Factory! Go rollin’ with your homies to this one, and get down during the ninja rap. Tickets are $39 to $69. Do you like to party … hard? At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, party hard to the smooth sax of Kenny G. I would think that being Kenny G requires a sense of humor, and he does indeed seem to be a good sport; all kidding aside, he’s one hell of a musician. Tickets are $39 to $69.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www. fantasyspringsresort.com. continued on Page 34 CVIndependent.com

32 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

MAKE THE EASY CHOICE

THE #1 CHOICE COMFORT AIR WE'RE #1 FOR A REASON

ASK US

ABOUT OUR 0% FINANCING

Weekly Entertainment No Ticket / No Cover from 6:30pm-9:30pm

Tuesdays Rose Mallett

Awarded Best AC Repair Company

By Coachella Valley Independent Up to $1000 Off + Special Financing On A New HVAC System HIGHEST QUALITY EQUIPMENT EXTENSIVE WARRANTIES

BEST PRICE GUARANTEED 24/7 LOCAL SUPPORT

SAVE UP TO

60% ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL*

LENNOX SIGNATURE SERIES SYSTEM

*SAVINGS AND RESULTS MAY VARY

CALL TODAY FOR DETAILS! CVIndependent.com

760.320.5800 comfortac.com

Jazz Legend Sings The Music Of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Duke Ellington & More

Wednesdays Michael Holmes & Kate Campbell

Swinging To The Music Of The Rat Pack Era Special Date Night Menu

Thursdays Sharon Sills Sass, Sex and Songs One Of The Desert’s Most Popular Performers

Join Us For The Desert’s Best Live Jazz Happy Hour

Happy Hour

Tues, Wed, Thurs 4 - 6pm

Weekend Happy Hour

Fri & Sat 4 - 6pm | Sun 4 - 5pm

Mark Kahny

Trish Hatley

Reservations: (760) 322-4422 or PurpleRoomPalmSprings.com

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 33

JANUARY 2019

MUSIC MORE MINUTES TO PRAY W

By Brian Blueskye

hen the Flesh Eaters first hit the Los Angeles punk scene in 1977, the band instantly stood out among its contemporaries.

After breaking up in the early ’80s, resurfacing in the early ’90s and reforming once again in 1999, the Flesh Eaters now feature a reunion of frontman Chris D. and the 1981 lineup heard on the album A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die, including Dave Alvin (The Blasters), Bill Bateman (The Blasters), John Doe (X), D.J. to more-trained musicians who know what Bonebrake (X) and Steve Berlin (The Blasters, they’re doing with their instruments.”

Los Lobos). In fact, the reunited superteam He talked about the early days of punk’s is releasing a new album on Jan. 18 titled evolution in Los Angeles.

I Used to Be Pretty—and on that same day, “Sometimes, like when hardcore was really the band will perform at Pappy and Harriet’s mushrooming in the early ’80s, we were billed Pioneertown Palace with Mudhoney. on hardcore shows,” Chris D. said. “In that During a recent phone interview with Chris lineup playing to hardcore audiences, I would D. (Desjardins), he said the recent reunion think, ‘We should play the melodies a little shows have been a lot of fun. faster than we usually do.’ In retrospect, I ask “We did five shows in 2015, and we did myself, ‘How chickenshit is that?’ Even when eight back in January (2018), and it always we’d do that, we’d connect with a majority of feels good to play with these guys,” Desjardins them, but there was a contingent that was very said. “They are some of my oldest friends, and off-beat. The one good thing is that a lot of they are certainly my longest-held musician the writers who heard the Flesh Eaters records friends. We just seem to have a good chemistry through the years seem to get that there were when we play together. Everybody has fun, and a lot of different influences. I could probably it’s great to do it again.” count bad reviews on three or four fingers.

Desjardins has worked in the film industry, Most of the write-ups we got from 1979 on released poetry, and written books, linear have been really good reactions. notes and commentary tracks for DVDs of “Occasionally, people criticize my vocal style, various films. However, he’s not a formally but when I first started out, I didn’t know what trained musician. the fuck I was doing.”

“I tend to get musical ideas very easily, and I Used to Be Pretty will include the song I don’t know where they come from,” Chris D. “Black Temptation,” which was originally said. “I come up with vocal melodies for the included in Desjardins’ writing anthology A guys who know how to play the instruments, Minute to Pray, A Second to Die, released in and we build up the songs in that way. I could 2009. He said he never thought he would be always hear three or four different influences, able to record it as a song. and didn’t realize at the time I was working on “It was kind of strange, because I had the the song. I’m just grateful in doing this that vocal melody in my head, and when I tried to I’ve learned how to convey those musical ideas work it up in the early 2000s to record when I did that Miss Muerte album with the other Flesh Eaters lineup … it was too complicated to get into,” he said. “When we worked it up this time with this lineup, we had a similar problem. We hunkered down. ‘Black Temptation’ is pretty structured, and we had to really work on it. Initially, before we did the overdubs and mixed it, I wasn’t really sure if it was sounding like what I had heard in my head, and it wasn’t until it was completely done and mixed that I was going, ‘Oh, OK! Now I hear it the way it’s supposed to be.’ In the end, it came out great.”

The new album also features a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown).”

“We were trying to figure out another cover to put in the set, and I had several other The Flesh Eaters. Frank Lee Drennen

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

The Flesh Eaters’ classic lineup plays at Pappy and Harriet’s and releases a new album on the same day

different ideas. We’re still intending sometime in the future—if good fortune shines upon us, and we continue to do this for another couple of years—a cover of ‘Dead Souls’ by Joy Division,” Chris D. said. “Since I originally had that idea, I heard that Nine Inch Nails did a cover of it, which I haven’t heard. I knew John (Doe) had this Stooges song in mind from the Fun House album called ‘T.V. Eye,’ and there were several other covers. Dave (Alvin) and I wanted to do ‘Green Manalishi,’ because we really appreciate how great of a guitar-player (Fleetwood Mac founder) Peter Green is, and I loved how mysterious the lyrics were. They were informed by a really bad acid trip he’d been on when he was in Germany when his schizophrenia got triggered.”

The Pappy’s date is one of two shows the Flesh Eaters will perform with Mudhoney. “(The members of Mudhoney) are great guys, and they’re the guys who were responsible for getting us back together for some reunion shows in 2006,” Chris D. said.

“They were playing the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in England and got to pick the bands they wanted to play with on the day they were headlining. They got in touch with John Doe and me, and said, ‘We’d really like the Flesh Eaters to play with us, and any of the lineups would be good, but if we could get the Minute to Pray lineup, that’s what we’d like the most.’

John and I went out to the other guys, and everyone had time in their schedule. It was a great experience, and we did three warm-up shows in California before we went over there.

We almost did more shows in 2007 and 2008 in California, but those always fell through before they got announced, because people’s schedules got in the way.”

The Flesh Eaters will perform with Mudhoney at 9 p.m., Friday, Jan. 18, at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, in Pioneertown. Tickets are $35. For tickets or more information, call 760-365-5956, or visit www. pappyandharriets.com.

Homemade NY Style Pizza • Burgers Hot Dogs • Sandwiches • Salads • Appetizers Beer • Wine • Cocktails Happy hour daily 2-7 p.m., all day/nite Tuesday Nightly entertainment • Open at 11:30 a.m. daily 74360 Highway 111, Palm Desert • (760) 636-5220 www.facebook.com/HoodBarAndPizza CVIndependent.com

34 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

MUSIC

The Blueskye REPORT continued from Page 31

Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa has two great events taking place at The Show. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, singer-songwriter Burt Bacharach will be performing.

Bacharach is a legend; like Neil Sedaka, he’s penned a lot of great songs that have become hit songs for others—and for himself. Tickets are $40 to $60. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, the Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo will be doing her thing. Caputo is a fascinating figure, given she’s managed to stay wildly popular and usually sells out shows. Tickets are $75 to $120. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.hotwatercasino.com.

Spotlight 29 will have a residency every Saturday night in January at 9:30 p.m. by Banda SN LA Sin Nombre at En Vivo. There is a $15 cover at the door. Over in the Spotlight Showroom, at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, Queen Nation will kick off a weekly series of tribute bands called The Next Best Thing. Tickets are $10 to $102. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www. spotlight29.com.

Morongo Casino Resort Spa has a fun show in January to mention. At 9 p.m., Friday, Jan. 4, ’90s R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe will be performing. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s basically three members of New Edition: Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. They had that fantastic song “Poison” that you still hear on the radio. Tickets are $49 to $69. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www. morongocasinoresort.com.

Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace has some big things going on in January.

At 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, Dirtwire will be performing. Trying to explain Dirtwire is not easy, but I’ll give it a shot: It’s a fantastic band that fuses world music and bluegrass.

The group has played around the world in some very odd venues, including a festival in Kazakhstan. There are a lot of different sounds incorporated, and the result is highly enjoyable. Tickets are $15. At 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17, the grandson of Bob Dylan, Pablo Dylan, will be performing. Pablo Dylan has done a lot in music, especially in hip-hop—he was proclaimed “Bob Dylan’s rapping grandson” by some publications. He’s a great songwriter in his own right, and he’s moved on to a more folk-music kind of style.

Best part about this show: Admission is free!

At 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, murderfolk performer Amigo the Devil will take the stage. I highly suggest checking him out; he’s the darkest country music singer-songwriter you’ll ever hear, and he’s armed with a banjo.

He’s a performer who can get a whole room of people to sing along to lyrics of “I Hope Your Husband Dies.” Tickets are $15. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 CVIndependent.com

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

A JEWEL OF A BAND John Marek’s Plastic Ruby celebrates the release of its first EP

J Sherry Vine and Jackie Beat

Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-365-5956; www.pappyandharriets.com.

The Date Shed has a January event worth noticing. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, reggae band The Green will be performing. Originally from Hawaii, this reggae band has traveled all around the world, playing dub-heavy roots reggae and combining it with Hawaiian roots. Tickets are $20 to $25. The Date Shed, 50725 Monroe St., Indio; 760-775-6699; www. facebook.com/dateshed.

The Purple Room Palm Springs has plenty to offer in January. At 5 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 6, Purple Room owner Michael Holmes’ regular Sunday The Judy Show will be a fundraiser for our friends at the Desert Ensemble Theatre Company. Enjoy tons of laughter as Holmes performs as Judy Garland—for a good cause.

Tickets are $25 to $30. At 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 11, actress and singer Renee Olstead will be performing. Olstead is probably best remembered for the television shows Still Standing and The Secret Life of the American Teenager, but she’s also a talented singer who has released three albums. Tickets are $35 to $40. Do you like a good battle? How about a Battle of the Bitches? At 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, drag stars Jackie Beat and Sherry Vine will be performing. These two are known for their epic insult wars with each other through song. It’s hilarious, fun and no holds barred. Tickets are $25 to $30. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www. purpleroompalmsprings.com.

Toucan’s Tiki Lounge and Cabaret will be having a fun event in January. At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, cabaret singer Tori Scott will be performing. Scott is a big name in New York’s cabaret scene and is considered one of the top cabaret performers in the country.

She’s also sang on shows such as Sesame Street and Cathouse: The Musical. Tickets are $25 to $35. Toucans Tiki Lounge and Cabaret, 2100 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760416-7584; reactionshows.com.

By Brian Blueskye

ohn Marek is a jewel in the local music scene. Not only is he a great guitarist and songwriter; he’s also one a hell of a showman.

In recent years, Marek played in War Drum, and he had a band called Ideation. Now he’s with his new band, Plastic Ruby, which includes Isidro Corrales (guitar/keyboards), Julio Corrales (bass) and Eddie Airada (drums).

Plastic Ruby released its first, self-titled EP earlier this month and has been playing shows locally since mid-2018. The band has a classic rock ’n’ roll sound—with some psychedelic groove to it. Whether you like to dance or simply enjoy musical fusion, Plastic Ruby is a band you’ll appreciate. even if it didn’t come out exactly the way he During a recent phone interview with wanted it.

Marek, he discussed his reasons for ending “I’ve recorded most of my own stuff, even Ideation. for the publishing deal that I had. This one was “I just wanted to start all over,” Marek said. mixed by professionals,” Marek said. “I’m not “I developed a new sound over time.” into spending a whole bunch of money. I’m Considering Ideation had some fantastic definitely trying to keep it as cheap as possible, songs that showcased Marek’s songwriting but I don’t think it cheapens the music. … I talents, I asked him if any of that material have one good microphone that I use to record might resurface with Plastic Ruby. everything, and it definitely gets me by.”

“Possibly, but probably only when I run More new material is on the way soon, out of ideas or something,” Marek said with a Marek said. laugh.

“We’re probably going to release a single in Since Plastic Ruby started playing live a few months, and I have close to half of a fullshows, the band has gotten tighter and tighter. length album ready to record,” he said. “There’s When Marek is performing, you can feel the tons of material for this band that needs to get passion in his voice. out.”

He explained how each of the other The Coachella Valley music scene is members of the band made their way into something that confuses Marek, he said.

Plastic Ruby.

“I honestly feel like this place doesn’t even “Julio was in Ideation with me, and I’ve have a music scene. I feel like there are just a known that dude for over a decade now,” whole bunch of different-sounding bands,” he Marek said. “I knew Eddie when he was in said. “Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss and all Deadend Paradox, and I’d play shows with that stuff was a scene. There were quite a few them. We hadn’t actually spoken to each bands that had a particular sound. Nowadays, other in years, and we sort of rekindled you have a punk band here, a ska band there, our friendship, and he joined the band and a rock ’n’ roll band here, and there is no scene. adapted super-quickly. Isidro is actually Julio’s There’s still a well of talent, but it’s a whole cousin, and I brought him in because we were bunch of different sounds.” looking for an extra person to do keyboards and guitars, and he fit in just fine.”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ Marek said he’s satisfied with the new EP— plasticruby.

Plastic Ruby.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 35

JANUARY 2019

MUSIC

Subatomic

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

by alex harrington

ROCKIN’ TEACHERS

The members of No Small Children leave the elementary school behind to make their desert debut

W

By Brian Blueskye

hen you watch all-female band No Small Children perform, you’d never guess that by day, all three members are schoolteachers in Los Angeles.

They’ll be playing in the Coachella Valley for the first time at The Hood Bar and Pizza at the CV Independent Presents show on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Since the band’s start in 2012, No Small Children has released three full albums and an EP, covered the Ghostbusters theme for the 2016 version of the film, licensed various music to television shows and video games, and toured nationally. In September, the band played at Riot Fest in Chicago with Bad Religion, Beck, Suicidal Tendencies and many others.

During a recent phone interview with three of us, and our motto was, ‘Say Yes to New drummer Nicola Berlinsky, she explained how Life Opportunities.’ she and her bandmates—Lisa Pimentel (guitar “We don’t hide the fact that we’re not in our and vocals) and Joanie Pimentel (bass and 20s. The beautiful thing about being older is an vocals)—entered the teaching profession as awareness of time. In the beginning, it was more musicians. about seizing life opportunities and experiences.

“I studied music in college—not just We always equate it to falling in love and that drumming, but also modern composition,” high that you feel; it drove us through working Berlinsky said. “I was in the process of full-time, writing and playing. As we kept going, applying to go to graduate school, and my we eventually had to say no to some things and sister said, ‘This is so cool! Just think about choose what we do. Instead of playing every something practical (like teaching) while you’re night in Los Angeles, we’d play once or twice doing this.’ In my early days, I was a student in town and have bigger and better shows, and instructor. I would always be teaching, and it try to get out of the city once in a while, too. felt really enjoyable.

Now we have game plans for the year, and it’s “Lisa is probably the same way. She studied still about creating new life opportunities—new music, but she’s a natural teacher. Joanie’s story places to go and play music, meeting new people is a little different, because she entered as a and things like that.” private teacher, as a vocal coach and as a cellist; Riot Fest was a new life opportunity. only in more recent years, she’s been at an “It was truly amazing. It was great to be able elementary school. She had her own daycare at to play on such a big stage and with people who one point when she was raising her sons.” we’ve been listening to for so long,” Berlinsky The members of No Small Children have said. “As much as we loved playing it and found their success to be a pleasant surprise. meeting new people, you also get these passes “When we started, it wasn’t with any and stand on the stage, watching people you intention of a plan of what we hoped for it to love playing to a huge crowd of people. That was be; we just knew we had to play for our own a great experience to have. We loved everything gratification, and we needed a way to balance about it, and they were so good to us.” out life and be in the moment,” Berlinsky said.

No Small Children will be playing two sets at “There was always so much energy between the The Hood on Jan. 26.

“We know that we have people from that area who drive all the way to Los Angeles to come see us, so we’re hoping they will come out,” Berlinsky said. “We absolutely love our friends in GayC/DC, and they recommended The Hood Bar and Pizza to us, and we love them so much that we respect their opinion on that. We can’t wait to come out.”

No Small Children.

No Small Children will perform with Sunday Funeral at 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, at The Hood Bar and Pizza, 74360 Highway 111, in Palm Desert. Admission is free. For more information on the show, visit www.facebook.com/ events/563549527410445.

Alex Harrington. Hans Apuli

H

ello, readers! My name is Alex Harrington, and I am a music producer and DJ based in the Coachella Valley. I have been playing music for more than 16 years, and I’ve been a DJ for the last six. I’ve been fortunate enough to play at venues across the valley, from downtown Palm Springs to Old Town La Quinta. This has helped me develop my sound—and inspired me to dive into the local scene to find the best spots to enjoy music.

I consider Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley to be an internationally influential location. What does that mean? It means people visit us from all over the world. There is no universal culture here; we’re truly a mixing pot. Still, while the valley has grown, it feels like the music scene has stagnated at times.

Is that because of a lack of talent in our scene? No, it’s not. I know many people out here, true artists, who offer something different—and I think that bodes well for the future of our scene. The valley is home to some artists who provide listeners with a truly unique experience—something people will fly home and talk about. The Flusters are a great example of a band who entertains and tells a story in an original way.

This stagnation has not just been limited to bands. The “producer” and “DJ” monikers have been thrown around a lot in recent years.

It’s true that many people can get into DJing, but it’s not necessarily easy to translate this “passion” into something people can actually enjoy. It’s not just about playing the hits;

that’s why some people choose to visit places off the beaten path. It’s about having options and variety. Look at Los Angeles, Miami, New York, London and Tokyo. What do all of these places have in common, music-wise? Nightlife and scenes with creative people bringing it to the masses.

I don’t see our valley—and Palm Springs specifically—as being too far removed from those locations. Why? Again, we have a valley full of people from all over the world, both visiting and living here. It’s also no secret that many people here enjoy nightlife, no matter their age or class. So shouldn’t there be more choices when it comes to hearing music? We have great places to hear reggae, hip hop, Top 40 and rock … but what about house, disco, funk, indie and dance? I’m not talking about a disco throwback playlist being played; I’m talking about DJs who dug for tracks and worked them into mixes everyone can enjoy.

Many other cities, and even towns, have numerous lounges and bars that provide DJ entertainment—and people love them. This inspires me to stay original and strive to bring my listeners something fresh. It’s also why I wanted to start this column!

In this space every month, look forward to interviews, in-depth discussions, local artist features and more. In the meantime, you can hear me play at the Landmark Lounge in La Quinta every Friday and Sunday night, playing the best in funk, soul, house and more. Details can be found at alexharrington.co.

CVIndependent.com

36 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

MUSIC

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

the

LUCKY 13

Meet two up-and-comers—one a lead vocalist, the other a comedian

By Brian Blueskye know where they are in a song (when) they are just jamming with no singer.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

Rod Stewart at Copacabana 1984, from the side of the stage.

NAME Jeremy Parsons GROUP Mega Sun MORE INFO Jeremy Parsons is the lead vocalist of Mega Sun—even though his girlfriend tells me he hates being in the spotlight. Thanks in part to his low-chugging bass tone and unique vocal style, Mega Sun has become one of the best bands to arrive on the music scene in recent years; www.facebook.com/ megasuntheband.

What was the first concert you attended?

If you want to call it a “concert,” the first time I went out and saw a show was back in 1994 at Nona’s—I could be wrong about the name— which was out by the Del Taco and AM/PM in Cathedral City. I’d just started playing a guitar that I got from Aloha Music, and The Agents were playing. That was the first live band I’d ever seen. I remember thinking: “Wait a minute. You can just get a band together and go play shows?”

What was the first album you owned?

My mother was quite the garage-sale entrepreneur up in the La Quinta Cove, buying things from other garage sales just to sell at her garage sales. We ended up at a spot where I bought, at the same time, Michael Jackson’s Thriller and the Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits.

What bands are you listening to right now?

Lately, not much other than local music, and too many bands to mention. One band I had always heard of and never listened to was Dinosaur Jr. Over the last couple of months, I have been putting them on from time to time, and I’m still trying to figure out if I like them.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

Jazz, I guess. I can’t understand how they CVIndependent.com

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

Rat Pack stuff.

What’s your favorite music venue?

I really like Pappy and Harriet’s. I like the small places with a big history.

What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?

“He hung himself with a guitar string,” Beck, “Loser.”

What band or artist changed your life?

Def Leppard’s biggest fan right here. When Hysteria came out, it was like traveling through space while listening to it. I vividly remember my dad taking us to Kmart in Indio the day it came out, popping it into the tape player (while) across from Ciro’s in front of that checkered auto store, and saying how different it was from the first three albums. I must have been 7.

You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?

John Summers of Family Butcher: “You still owe me $20.”

What song would you like played at your funeral?

I love The Dukes of Hazzard theme song.

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

The Bronx’ self-titled album. They were the band that really dragged me out of the young melodic punk I grew up listening to and introduced me to grown up music like Truckfighters, Kyuss, Fu Manchu and Throw Rag. What song should everyone listen to right now?

“San Andreas” by Mega Sun!

NAME Dacoda Miracle MORE INFO In the growing Coachella Valley comedy scene, Dacoda Miracle is making a name for himself. Other local comics joke about his name and his squeaky-clean appearance, but Miracle is truly funny. He’s been a regular host at Comedy Night at The Hood Bar and Pizza on Sundays.

What was the first concert you attended?

I got pretty lucky with my first concert. I was 10 years old, and my mom took me, her friend and her friends’ daughters to a Fall Out Boy/ Plain White T’s/Gym Class Heroes concert at the San Jose State Event Center. It ended up being a great concert.

What was the first album you owned?

I never really bought albums growing up; most of them were given to me by my dad. He listened to a lot of country and rock. I think the first album he gave to me was Toby Keith’s Pull My Chain.

What bands are you listening to right now?

I listen to such a potpourri of music that if I listed all the bands, I’d need about 500 pages, but some of my favorites would be AC/DC, Maroon 5, Dirty Heads, Childish Gambino, Queen, and Jason Aldean, just to name a few.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

A lot of people my age love EDM. I don’t go to raves, nor do I know how to dance, so it’s just not my forte. Maybe if I got a hold of some molly, I’d feel differently.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

Queen, hands down. I feel with the release of the Bohemian Rhapsody movie, everyone can agree that Freddie Mercury was the best live performer of his generation—and possibly any generation.

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

I hate the term “guilty pleasure,” because you shouldn’t feel guilty to express your liking toward a certain movie, food or song. That

being said, I enjoy Nickelback, and I know there are a lot of closeted supporters out there!

What’s your favorite music venue?

Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View.

What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?

“I don’t want to be anything other than what I’ve been trying to be lately.” The song is “I Don’t Want to Be” by Gavin DeGraw, and it resonates with me, because people put expectations on kids and compare them to their parents or siblings.

What band or artist changed your life?

I don’t feel like any band or artist has had a life-altering effect on my path.

You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?

Ariana Grande, and I’d ask her out to dinner.

Gotta shoot your shot, amirite?

What song would you like played at your funeral?

“Apologize” by OneRepublic, just to remind everyone it’s too late, followed by “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC. Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time AC/DC’s Back to Black. It has “Hell’s Bells,” “Shoot to Thrill” and “Back in Black!”

What song should everyone listen to right now?

For couples: “Speechless” by Dan + Shay. For singles: “Ridin’ Solo” by Jason Derulo. For the lonely: “Send My Love” by Adele or “Sad” by Maroon 5. For the people standing next to their microwave waiting for their Totino’s pizza rolls: “The Final Countdown” by Europe.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 37

JANUARY 2019

CANNABIS IN THE CV

NOW HIRING

The marijuana industry is brand-new—and potential employees need to keep these things in mind

BY ROBIN GOINS

A

s we approach the one-year anniversary of legal cannabis in California, the Coachella Valley has gone through many changes—specifically on the employment front.

As this new industry has evolved, so have the career prospects in the region, with many cannabis employers in the Coachella Valley ramping up to hire in large numbers in 2019.

Understandably, many potential employees have questions about careers in the cannabis industry— and there are a few things any prospective employee should know before jumping in.

The job opportunities are continuing to grow along with the industry, ranging from entry-level jobs, such as budtenders and trimmers, to highlevel growers and professional roles, such as human-resource work and executive leadership.

While the high-end jobs can pay up to six figures, it is taking some time for the industry to catch up in terms of pay and benefits, although things are beginning to level out.

Remember that the majority of the cannabis companies in the Coachella Valley are everevolving, meaning companies are not as stable as many potential employees would like.

Some these companies have experienced a level of “sticker shock” at the market rate for qualified employees. Brian Harmsen, CEO of Designworks Talent in Palm Springs, which specializes in cannabis job placement, cautions that although the cannabis industry is catching up, it is still behind the curve because of its infancy. He said it’s critical that any new employee understand the scope of the work— and understand the challenges currently facing the industry. Anyone interested in entering the industry must keep in mind it is an industry in flux, and therefore may not be good for those who are not flexible, he said. As with all startup industries, there are many kinks that will take time to work out. Harmsen said startup cannabis companies are risky, often disorganized, sometimes messy, fast-changing and lacking in infrastructure. If you don’t have the ability to tolerate the dynamics of the industry in its current state, you may want to consider waiting until the California cannabis industry is more established, he said.

The instability and newness do not mean employees aren’t entitled to the protections afforded to them by U.S. and California labor laws—and many cannabis companies are

hiring people without fully understanding the legalities of being an employer, breaking labor laws and thus putting their companies at risk. Jerry Cooksey, director of marketing and employment brand at Designworks Talent, said employees need to know their rights to ensure they are protected, especially as more and more cannabis companies are coming online and ramping up their hiring.

The fact that the industry is new affects both sides on the hiring equation; there are not a lot of people experienced in the cannabis industry for companies to hire. Because of these challenges, cannabis companies must carefully consider how they do their workforce planning in order to recruit the best talent. Cooksey said cannabis companies need to fully understand their brands and who they are, identify their workforce values, determine employee support (such as benefits and compensation packages), clearly define employment needs (including job analyses), and ensure they have legitimized their ability as an employer by understanding labor law and making sure they have all of the required insurance in place.

If you have determined you can tolerate the current state of the industry and are looking to be hired, Harmsen suggested that potential employees consider the size of the company and its culture, ask questions, and look at how the company is branding and marketing itself.

There is no doubt the “green rush” is bringing new employment opportunities to the Coachella Valley. The potential for economic development in cities like Desert Hot Springs, Coachella, Indio and Cathedral City is unprecedented, and each large facility opening can mean between 150 to 300 new jobs. As things level out in the coming years, we can expect to see a solvent and strong workforce in cannabis throughout the Coachella Valley.

Robin Goins is a business consultant for DR.G Consulting and works extensively in the cannabis industry in the Coachella Valley. For more information, visit www.drrobingoins.com.

The

CENTER Helping LGBTQ People Along Their Way Wherever you are in life’s journey, find connections and programs at The LGBT Community Center of the Desert.

Safety Net | Empowerment | Physical Health Mental Health | Social & Fun | Life Enrichment

The

CENTER OUR MISSION: Creating vibrant community by helping LGBTQ people along their way.

THE COMMUNITY

FOOD BANK

THE MCDONALD/WRIGHT BUILDING 1301 N. Palm Canyon Dr., 3rd Floor | Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-416-7790 | www.thecenterps.org

THE SCOTT HINES

@ THE CENTER

CVIndependent.com

38 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

OPINION SAVAGE LOVE

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

ALL ABOUT SOUL

BY DAN SAVAGE

I

’m a 30-something straight woman married for 16 years. Eighteen months ago, I met a man, and there was an immediate attraction. For the first 15 months of our relationship, I was his primary sexual and intimate partner, as both sex and intimacy were lacking in his marriage. (My husband knew of the relationship from the start and is accepting, for the most part.) After my lover’s wife found out about me, she suddenly became very responsive to my lover’s sexual and emotional needs.

My lover has told his wife that he will not let me go. He has also told me that he is not willing to let his wife go. She isn’t happy about being in a triad relationship, but she allows him to continue seeing me with limitations.

I am no longer his primary sex partner, and I have been relegated to the back seat. He claims to love us both, yet his wife and I both struggle knowing the other exists. Recently while out shopping, my lover asked me to help him pick out a Christmas gift for his wife. I got upset, because I am in love with him, and I have made him my priority (over my husband), but I am not his priority.

I love this man, and we feel we are soul mates.

My lover has said that if we fall apart, he will have to find a new secondary partner, because his wife can never give him the soulful fulfillment he needs. Should I continue in this relationship?

Soul Mate Avoids Choice Knowingly You complain about being relegated to the back seat, SMACK, but it’s your husband whose existence only comes up in parenthetical asides.

You also describe this relationship as a triad

when there are four people involved (you, your lover, your lover’s wife and your husband), which technically makes this a quad. And from the sound of things, only one member of this messy quad seems happy—your lover, the guy who refuses to make you a “priority” over his wife.

While you’ve convinced yourself that your lover feels as strongly for you as you do for him—“we feel we are soul mates”—it kindasorta sounds to me like you may be projecting, SMACK. Because in addition to asking you to pick out Christmas gifts for his wife, your lover and alleged soul mate regards you as expendable and replaceable. And he’s told you as much: He intends to “find a new secondary partner” if you two part, because his wife doesn’t “give him the soulful fulfillment he needs.” That’s not how people talk about their soul mates, and it’s certainly not something a guy says to someone he regards

We’re Doing Business with PRIDE in the Coachella Valley.

Our 250 members support equality – and they support you!

See what our members have to offer at desertbusiness.org CVIndependent.com

Affiliate Chamber

My boyfriend won’t leave his wife, even though we’re soul mates; what should I do? as his soul mate. Soul mates are typically told they’re special and irreplaceable, but your guy sees you as one of many potential seconds out there, and therefore utterly replaceable.

Here’s what you ought to do: You aren’t interested in being your lover’s secondary partner (nor are you much interested in being your husband’s wife), so you’ll have to call your lover’s bluff. The only card you have to play—and it’s a weak hand (all hands with just one card are)—is to dump your lover unless he leaves his wife for you. Success rests on the outside chance your lover was bluffing when he said he’d replace you, but I suppose it’s possible he regards you as the irreplaceable one, and only said those hurtful things to make you think he wouldn’t choose you when you are the one he would’ve chosen all along. If it turns out that this was the case, SMACK, you’ll wind up with your soul mate … who happens to be kindasorta cruel and manipulative.

Calling your lover’s bluff—ending a relationship that, in its current form, brings you no joy—is your only hope of having this guy to yourself. But the likelier outcome is that you’ll be left alone (with, um, your husband).

My boyfriend and I met at a bondage party a year ago. He’s not into bondage. (He tagged along with a kinky friend.) We hit it off in the chill-out room and started seeing each other. He told me it was OK for me to keep going to bondage parties and seeing some guys I play with one-on-one.

Then right after we moved in together, he said he doesn’t want me playing with anyone else, because we are in love. Which means I can’t get tied up at all anymore, because he has zero interest in bondage. He can’t see why I’m upset, and I’m not sure what to do.

Boy In New Drama So now that you’re in love, and now that you’ve signed a lease, and now that you’re trapped, BIND, now—NOW—your vanilla boyfriend yanks back the accommodation that convinced you to date him in the first place? There’s only one thing you can do: DTMFA. I am 30 and male, and I have been with my girlfriend for five years. For a slew of reasons (we have almost no interests/hobbies in common; our personalities are completely different; we aren’t sexually compatible), I have decided to end it. She’s a good, smart, well-educated person for whom I wish only the best.

I’m thinking of breaking up with her sometime this week—or halfway through next year. I know

you believe someone should tell a partner about these sorts of feelings ASAP to avoid robbing them of time they could have spent fixing the situation or moving on, but something inside me tells me that my case is different. My girlfriend is a graduate student in a non-tech/STEM field (read: hard-to-find jobs) and has a decent amount of school debt. We also have a dog. We live in a city where the rents are high, and it’s harder to find a place that will allow dogs. (She will definitely be taking the dog.) The thing is, she would almost certainly want to move out immediately if we broke up. I’m worried that if she tried to absorb the financial hit of a breakup, it might torpedo her education and life plans.

I am at a loss for what to do. She’s leaving in a week to visit her family for a month. Should I dump her before then so she can lean on them?

Should I wait until she graduates but dodge questions about where I’m willing to move if she gets a job offer somewhere else?

Deciding Ultimately Means Pain As a general rule, one should never drag out an inevitable breakup. We should break up with people promptly to spare our exes the humiliation of thinking back over the last few months or (God forbid!) the last few years and recalling every painfully ambiguous or deceitfully upbeat conversation about Our Shared Future. Another good reason to break up with someone promptly: A person (not the person) your ex could spend the rest of their life with might cross their path two months from now—and if they’re still with you then or still reeling from a very recent breakup, they won’t say yes (old-fashioned) or swipe right (newfangled).

But there are exceptions to every rule, DUMP, and I think your case qualifies. As with many exceptions to many rules, your exception honors the spirit of the rule itself. Both reasons I cite for breaking up with someone promptly—to spare your soon-to-be ex’s feelings, to get out of the way of your soon-tobe ex’s future—are about being considerate of your soon-to-be ex. And that’s just what you’re doing: You want to end this relationship now, but you’re going to wait six months, because you don’t want to derail your soon-to-be-ex girlfriend’s education or career prospects. So out of consideration for her, DUMP, you should coast for a bit longer.

Read Savage Love every Wednesday at CVIndependent.com; mail@savagelove.net; @ fakedansavage on Twitter; ITMFA.org.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 39

JANUARY 2019

OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

“Half-Human”—a short list 45 One-named supporting of hybrids actress on Parks and Recreation Across 47 Salsa ___ (red 1 ___ Xtra (Dr Pepper rival) condiment) 5 Group of eight 48 Bar brew, briefly 10 Do really badly 51 Rain-___ (gumball 14 Out on the open water brand) 15 Done for one, for one 52 Roasting receptacle 16 Skate park fixture 55 World Cup 2022’s host 17 Bremner of country Trainspotting and 57 Seasonal greeting Wonder Woman that’s half-human, 18 Gives the ax half-bird?

19 Competently 62 Mariska Hargitay’s 20 Political position that’s longtime costar half-human, half64 Triple Seven, for one horse?

65 “That’s ___!”

23 Easy basketball shot 66 Purplish ingredient 24 “Agnus ___” of bubble tea and 25 Swiss peak milk tea 28 Gallery works 67 Poet Federico García 29 Standard pinball ___ feature 68 Neighbor of Wisc.

33 8 Seconds venue 69 Part of a goblet 35 Bar activity with 70 Type in request slips 71 Stuffing herb 38 Stick with a spring 39 Carnival attraction Down that’s half-human, 1 Rice dish made with half-goat? saffron 43 Former Montreal 2 “Honestly!” ballplayer 3 Short-sleeved Hanes 44 Of food regimens (like product 36-Down) 4 African linguistic group

5 Carmina Burana composer Carl 6 In fashion 7 Car part, in Britain 8 Improve on 9 Villa ___ (estate near Rome) 10 Bavarian title 11 Common breed for guide dogs 12 It may be essential (but isn’t actually essential) 13 Paper layer 21 Winfrey in A Wrinkle in Time 22 Bubble wrap component 26 The ___ Movie 2 (February 2019 release) 27 Low-grade 30 Former Yankee nickname 31 Haleakala locale 32 Tough puzzle 34 Grand Ole ___ 35 Shoelace issue 36 Regimen with a highfat focus 37 Key with four sharps, for short 39 Phineas and ___ 40 Ice skating jump 41 Where you may have had it?

42 From Basra, perhaps

46 May preceder (abbr.)

48 Napoli’s nation 49 Like most customers 50 Former Arsenal manager Wenger whose nickname is “Le Professeur” 53 Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter 54 1930s DuPont fabric invention 56 First presidential surname to appear twice 58 Molecular unit 59 Playwright Moss or lyricist Lorenz 60 Not again?

61 All in the Family producer Norman 62 Opening word of Monty Python’s Flying Circus episodes 63 Grumpy ___ (Internet celebrity with the real name Tardar Sauce) ©2019 Jonesin’ Crosswords (jonesincrosswords@ gmail.com) Find the answers in the “About” section of CVIndependent.com!

CVIndependent.com

40 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2019

A New Kind of Public Radio Welcome to the new K-GAY 106.5, The Pride of the Valley.

We’re a new local radio station serving our Q-munity with entertainment and information.

We’re a different kind of radio station because we’re a not-for-profit organization: Qchella Media Corporation.

We believe that LGBTQ lives are strengthened and affirmed when our stories are told, broadcast and heard.

We provide a platform for the Q-munity to access our airwaves and on-demand programming as we build a station to meet the unique needs of the Coachella Valley.

Every dollar raised through advertising and your support stays right here to keep us on the air to meet the needs of our diverse communities.

We utilize Gay Desert Guide to power our new website: KGAY1065.com

©Qchella Media Corporation, a CA 501(c)3

CVIndependent.com