Coachella Valley Independent January 2021

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JANUARY 2021

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CVIndependent.com

Eisenhower Health Center at Plaza del Sol 1555-C S. Palm Canyon Drive

Eisenhower Health Center at South Palm Canyon 415 S. Palm Canyon Drive

Eisenhower Primary Care at North Palm Canyon 1401 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 202

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 3

JANUARY 2021

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

Editor/Publisher Jimmy Boegle staff writer Kevin Fitzgerald coveR and feature design Beth Allen Contributors Kevin Allman, Max Cannon, Kevin Carlow, Katie Finn, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Michael Grimm, ValerieJean (VJ) Hume, Matt Jones, Matt King, Keith Knight, Brett Newton, Dan Perkins, Guillermo Prieto, Anita Rufus, Theresa Sama, Andrew Smith, Jen Sorenson, Robert Victor, Madeline Zuckerman The Coachella Valley Independent print edition is published every month. All content is ©2020-2021 and may not be published or reprinted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The Independent is available free of charge throughout the Coachella Valley, limited to one copy per reader.

Additional copies may be purchased for $5 by calling (760) 904-4208. The Independent may be distributed only by the Independent’s authorized distributors.

The Independent is a proud member and/ or supporter of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, CalMatters, the Desert AIDS Project, the Local Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert Business Association, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, and the Desert Ad Fed.

So … 2020. That sure was something, wasn’t it? It’s quite nice to be leaving that wretched year in the rear-view mirror.

While things are looking bleak right now due to the COVID spike, the vaccine news gives us all a reason to be optimistic about 2021. In the spirit of turning the page to a whole new—and hopefully better—chapter, we’ve made some changes here at the Independent.

First: If you saw the cover, you may have noticed that we’ve changed our logo. After eight years and 89 print editions, we decided it was time to freshen things up a bit. I sincerely thank Beth Allen, our insanely talented designer—who is, alas, leaving us (at least on a regular, monthly basis)— for all her work in developing the fabulous new logo.

Second: On Dec. 16, we launched an entirely new website—and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

When I—with no small amount of help from my then-partner (now husband) Garrett— launched CVIndependent.com back in late 2012, I did so on a tight (read: nearly nonexistent) budget. After doing some research, we decided to build the site on an open-source web platform called Joomla, using a news template built by a company called JoomlArt. Despite our meager resources, we built a strong, userfriendly and attractive news website—a site of which I was quite proud.

Of course, all things age, including websites.

The lack of flexibility in the template we used for CVIndependent.com became more and more of an issue as we started adding features (events, our gift-certificate market, newsletter signups, etc.)—especially on the mobile/tablet side. As the years passed, the website started looking stale on desktop computers—and became a jumbled mess on smartphones.

I started looking for a new website solution over the summer … and I am so, so happy I discovered Newspack.

Newspack is a joint project of WordPress.com and the Google News Initiative. As Newspack’s website explains: “Newspack is an all-in-one publishing platform that incorporates industry best practices to help small and medium-sized news organizations produce great journalism, drive audience, and generate revenue.”

The biggest challenge for newspapers when it comes to changing websites involves migration: We have thousands upon thousands of articles, photos, embeds, etc. in our archives, and switching them from one platform to the next doesn’t always go well … if it goes at all.

I’ve been in the journalism biz for almost 2 1/2 decades now—hence all the gray in my beard— and I’ve seen some horrid, costly debacles when it comes to newspaper-website changes. So, I will admit I was rather concerned about moving to CVIndependent.com 2.0.

Well … my worries were all for naught: The Newspack folks were amazing. They took time to train me on the new system, answer my dumb questions and walk me through various options. They got the site migrated and launched on schedule, to my specifications— and they did so beautifully, exceeding my expectations. To the Newspack crew, including Steve, Claudiu, Laurel and especially Andrew: I sincerely thank you. I’m pretty sure the readers of CVIndependent.com thank you as well.

Welcome to the January 2021 print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent. Stay safe, everyone—and thanks for reading, as always.

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

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JANUARY 2021

OPINION OPINION

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS A

BY ANITA RUFUS

t a time when many people have become cynical about the motives of those in the political world, people like Karina Quintanilla prove that there are still candidates for office who have the best interests of their community at heart.

Quintanilla, 41, just won a seat on the Palm Desert City Council, in her first run for public office. Born in East Los Angeles, Quintanilla—a Palm Desert resident since 2002—came to the desert in 1984 and was raised in Thousand Palms.

“My mom is an incredible woman,” she says. “Although she had never even graduated high school, she’s a brilliant woman. I’m so aware that not everybody can afford an educational experience. She juggled three jobs and raised us. (Quintanilla is the oldest of four.) If I could be a third of the woman my mom is, I’d be satisfied. That led to a teacher-credentialing program at California State University, San Bernardino’s “My mom’s words of wisdom were, ‘Always Palm Desert campus in 2012, and she is keep going. Don’t wait for something to now completing a master’s degree in public happen. If you see someone hurting, help administration at Brandman University. them.’ My dad’s mom, born in 1911, married “The intricacies of diversity in education young but was credited for bringing running include understanding the challenges that water, electricity, telephone service and a many families face,” she says. “If there’s an health center to their small Mexican village. accident or an illness in the family, helping My mom’s mom became an LVN (licensed students know how to empower themselves vocational nurse), taking care of people when without feeling they must drop out is critical. they were sick. They gave me the incentive and If there’s something I can do to improve the desire to serve.” quality of someone’s life, I have a personal After graduating from Cathedral City High commitment to make a difference.”

School, Quintanilla attended the University That sense of commitment has led of California, Riverside (UCR), earning a Quintanilla to be a blood donor since 1996. bachelor’s degree in Spanish.

“My mom once said, ‘I haven’t donated “Maybe the best decision I’ve ever made blood in a long time,’ and I still remember was taking a field trip to the Chicano Youth going with her into the blood mobile. I was Leadership Conference at UCR while I was in never one with money to donate, but while I’m high school,” she says. “I had gotten accepted into UC Irvine, UCLA and UC San Diego. But at walking around, I’m making something every UCR I thought, ‘This is the place I am at home.’ day that I can share to save a life. I generally donate platelets, which means I can donate “Originally, I was going to major in history. more often than those who are giving whole Although I had wanted to be a teacher, within blood. Now, with the pandemic, I don’t have higher education, there’s only so far you can go. I realized I wanted to be a translator. People to wait as long to make a donation: I generate new platelets every day.” ask me why I majored in Spanish, since I spoke One of the largest influences in Quintanilla’s it and had been translator for my mom when I life was her association with Hispanas was only 5. It’s funny that nobody ever asks an Organized for Political Equality (HOPE).

English-speaker why they majored in English.

In 2015, she was selected for its leadership I wanted to help broker communication, to institute, which helped her expand her always find just the right word. Having grown understanding of community engagement up between two cultures, I wanted to be sure I and leadership. That led to her lobbying in was speaking Spanish professionally. Plus, we Sacramento for accessible health care for all have to learn to really listen, and not just wait Californians, as well as activism on other issues. for the next thing we want to say.”

“One event at HOPE included a NASA After college, Quintanilla returned to the researcher, a Hispanic woman, who told us Coachella Valley. how—as an average student—she didn’t think “It made perfect sense to come back here,” that could be the road for her. She ended up she says. “I had a newborn, and my thenwith a Ph.D. from MIT! I’ll never forget what husband’s family was here as well. I reflected she said to us: ‘Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit on what a great experience UCR had been, when there are footprints on the moon.’ I don’t and I wanted to find a way to impact other know if that was original to her, but it sure students going to college, especially those who were also first-generation. You have to use your made an impression on me.”

Quintanilla has been involved in translating tools to advocate for others.” documents and books, receiving credit as Quintanilla became an academic adviser.

CVIndependent.com

Meet Karina Quintanilla, a new Palm Desert City Council member who has spent much of her life making a difference

Karina Quintanilla (center) with daughters Cristina (left) and Luz (right).

co-author of the Spanish-language version of Vicki Mills’ Any Body Can Enjoy Computers, which helped bring computer literacy to the Spanish-speaking community.

She returned to Cathedral City High School to co-coordinate the scholarship program, among other service. “I had been the one student on the accreditation board while I was there,” Quintanilla says. “The teachers would ask me questions, and my opinions were validated and respected. It’s hard to explain the difference that made.”

While at CSUSB-Palm Desert, Quintanilla developed a tutoring program to help students who wanted to transfer from community college to the university, and also generated a $240,000 grant from the California Wellness Foundation to help fund professional tutors at two local high schools. She was the co-plaintiff in the lawsuit that forced the city of Palm Desert to institute a district-based voting system this year.

“Before I ran for City Council, I talked to my daughters, Cristina (15) and Luz (18), and said I wouldn’t do it if they’d be uncomfortable or

if it would mean I’d be too busy for them. They said they were OK with it.

“My experience through HOPE gave me confidence and adjusted the lens through which I saw myself. On the council, I hope I’m able to expand the perspective of what the community wants and needs, including real transparency. Maybe reopening some community issues based on the impact on real people would allow finding new ways to engage everyone and move toward more equity. My goal is always to engage people to think beyond their own personal comfort. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that mistakes are valuable for learning, and the learning is the experience— not the mistake.

“During the campaign, I heard people saying, ‘You give me hope,’ and I don’t take that lightly.”

Anita Rufus is also known as “The Lovable Liberal.” Her show The Lovable Liberal airs on IHubRadio. Email her at Anita@LovableLiberal. com. Know Your Neighbors appears every other Wednesday at CVIndependent.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 5

JANUARY 2021

OPINION OPINION

HIKING WITH T W

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

Getting out on the trails with friends can be healthy, rejuvenating and even life-changing

BY THERESA SAMA

hat motivates you to get out and hike?

We all hike for many different reasons—to exercise, maintain our health, preserve youthfulness, lose weight, clear the mind, connect with nature, and so on. Whatever the reasons, hiking and bonding with nature are great for the mind, body and soul.

Hiking is also a great way to spend quality time with family and friends. You can get a small group together and safely distance yourselves while out on the trails. Pack some snacks or have a picnic luncheon, and make it a social event. It works—especially during the pandemic! Just don’t forget your mask and sanitizer, of course.

My friends and I get together on the trails quite often. To kick off 2020, a group of us took a 15 years, my longtime friend and hiking buddy New Year’s Day hike. Little did I know that Texie Pastorok began hiking shortly after her would be the last time all year I hiked with move here to the Coachella Valley. She said she a group of more than five. Many times for enjoys hiking in a group, as it is always nice to the Fourth of July, friends and I have found share things you love to do with others. Even some great trails with perfect spots to watch though group hikes tend to be slow-going, the fireworks from a distance while indulging in social aspect makes it worthwhile. some good food and drink. (Just be sure to “(The area) reminded me of Boulder, pack everything back out!) I like to keep it Colorado—a magical place!” she said. “I began simple with a good bottle of wine, cheese and hiking because I was looking for something crackers, and maybe some grapes or apple active to do outdoors that didn’t require a large slices. (Just make sure you don’t have too investment in materials, and I’m not so much much wine!) Whatever you decide, you can’t go wrong. One great spot is the Goat Trails (which into running or biking.

“I love getting out on the trails; it is start behind the Vons at Palm Canyon Drive peaceful, energizing and rejuvenating. I always and Gene Autry Trail); another is the Palm feel incredible after a hike. I believe it helps Springs Museum Trail—although you must keep me younger by continuing to move. be extremely careful descending the Museum Seeing some of the wildlife out on the trails Trail at night. No matter where you go on a helps keep me balanced and reminds me how night hike, you’ll definitely need a good light. small we really are in this world.”

One time for my birthday, a few of my One of Texie’s favorite trails in the Coachella friends and I started at the northernmost Valley area is Snow Creek, which is actually a part of the North Lykken Trail and ended our section of the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs hike at the southernmost part of the South between Mexico and Canada. The first time Lykken Trail. If I recall correctly, it took us a Texie and I were on the trail, we ascended little more than four hours at 8.5 miles—and about 4 miles of pure breathtaking terrain we had the most fun along the way. We had that switch-backed along the north face of the a mimosa toast at the halfway stop, followed San Jacinto Mountain range. We would have by a Mexican-food feast after completing the continued that day had we not ran into a huge journey. It was the most awesome birthday! hive of bees; there’s never a dull moment on Sometimes you come across wildlife on the trails. the trails (something I’ll get into more in a Another longtime great friend and hiking future column). This can really get the blood buddy, Marnie Hesson, is a Palm Springs native flowing—a heart-healthy benefit of hiking. who grew up hiking. She went from wading the Also, the views can be absolutely breathtaking, Andreas Canyon stream in diapers to hiking leaving one with a calm, peaceful feeling. At around the country and world as an adult. just more than 2,000 feet high, Murray Peak, Marnie told me that hiking is her favorite the tallest local hill (that’s not really a hill) exercise, her escape—and even her church. in the Palm Springs area offers 360-degree “It’s just literally so grounding, and we panoramic views, including San Gorgonio all tend to be in a great space when we Mountain and San Jacinto Peak to the west, are outside,” Marnie said. “Some of the and all the way to the Salton Sea (on a clear closest friends I have today are people who day) to the south. Bighorn sheep may also I connected with in extra-special ways out be seen from time to time along the majestic on the trail, camping and hiking, creating trail to and from Murray Peak—and there are memories that always make us smile.” I agree: plenty of great meditation stopping points Whenever I am on a hike or a mountain-trail along the way. run, connecting with nature totally recharges A Coachella Valley resident for more than

Texie Pastorok: “I always feel incredible after a hike. I believe it helps keep me younger by continuing to move. Seeing some of the wildlife out on the trails helps keep me balanced and reminds me how small we really are in this world.”

me. It is beneficial mentally, physically and spiritually.

Who’s with me? Get out there and go for a

hike! Don’t go alone, but keep at least six feet apart, and again, remember your mask and sanitizer.

CVIndependent.com

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JANUARY 2021

OPINION OPINION

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

COVID KICKED MY BUTT H

BY MATT KING

ello there. My name is Matt King. I’m 19 years old, and I had COVID-19.

I’ve been writing about music and the arts for the Independent for a year and a half now, but this piece is not about either of those topics. Instead, it’s about how I managed to get this terrible disease, despite an excess of caution.

Here’s how it all started … I think: My grandfather passed away shortly after my 19th birthday, and I was left with one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever faced: Should I travel to Mississippi for his services, despite the pandemic?

I chose to go. My brother and I decided we would feel safer driving rather than enduring the compressed-air experience of flying—but it’s a long way from Coachella to Mississippi, so the both respectful and sanitary. It was nice to see funeral trip turned into a weeklong excursion.

From mountains to miles of sand, from heat to family members I had not seen a while—while remaining socially distant. snow, from six hours of driving through Texas My brother and I made it home a few days to another six hours of driving through Texas, after the funeral, and all seemed well. My my brother and I saw it all—and we made sure entire family got tested the day after we got we sanitized every bathroom, hotel room and back—all quarantining at home until we got gas pump we stopped at along the way. The our negative results—before returning to what early-November trip was great for my brother and me, and was certainly one of the highlights passes for the “normal” world now.

On Friday, Nov. 13, I went to work; I took of my 2020. my girlfriend to work; I went back to work; and The funeral allowed me to say goodbye I ran some errands that night. It was on the to my grandfather, who showed me nothing way home from those errands that my throat but love and compassion throughout my began hurting. After I got home, my sinuses life. My mask was on constantly—but I can’t and head started throbbing. I hoped it all was say the same about others there. I kept my just a result of having a busy day after two chill distance and then some, and I tried to be

Matt King poses for a picture at a gas station in New Mexico, taken on the way home from his grandfather’s funeral in Mississippi.

CVIndependent.com

Hi. My name is Matt. I’m 19; I was very careful—and I still got the coronavirus

days, which came after a stressful week. I took some medicine and went to bed.

The next morning, Saturday the 14th, I felt awful. I had a fever, and weird dreams woke me up all night. I felt really weak; everything I did, even turning my head, was painful. I texted back and forth with my girlfriend, and she suggested I get tested again. I managed to book an appointment for a test in Indio just 30 minutes later.

It’s hard to function when you have a fever.

The streets of Indio were like a maze, and I’m surprised I made it to the testing center. I must have turned the air conditioner on and off about 10 times while waiting in line. This was my fourth COVID test—the first came after a potential exposure at work, while the second was just out of curiosity—and I soon learned that COVID tests suck so much more when you are sick. As the nurse stuck the swab in my nose, she told me to breathe through my mouth. That was easier said than done.

Another quarantine period began. While I was concerned, I really thought there was a good chance this was “just” the flu. After all, I’ve been taking this thing very seriously. I have asthma, a condition that makes people more susceptible to COVID-19, and I have been taking every precaution necessary while working, shopping, etc. I owe it to myself and to my family to keep myself safe. I also have seen the unpredictable nature of this virus— how it can turn the healthy into the dead.

I woke up on Tuesday the 17th, still feeling terrible, to an email with my results: I had tested positive for COVID-19. I printed them out via Bluetooth, so my mom, in the other room, would see them.

After that, for a couple of weeks, it was all masks, all the time, with her or other family members. They all got tested again, and all the results have been negative. Everyone has continued feeling well, other than my dad, who has felt a little unwell at times, although it’s been nothing serious. My mother has been such a saint: She cleaned every surface I touched while risking her own well-being to check up on me, bring me medicine and food, and make sure I wasn’t going insane while being stuck in my room.

The most baffling thing to me, although I am grateful for it, is the fact that my brother continued to be healthy and test negative. We were together for our entire trip; we had our masks on and off at the same time—and I got it, but he didn’t. Yet another mystery of the coronavirus.

I am also grateful for the fact that Alyssa,

my girlfriend, continued to be healthy and test negative, after that car ride together just before I started feeling sick.

Thankfully, I never lost my sense of smell and taste. However, my other symptoms were dreadful and shitty—a revolving door of sickness. I was weak and constantly out of breath. Anytime I got up for more than a few minutes, I felt as if I’d just ran a mile. One day, I had a headache; the next day, my sinuses ached. On some days, I coughed like a smoker.

Everything just hurt. However, the worst feeling came from knowing that at any moment, I could pass this on to a family member. Sure, we were all taking precautions, but precautions didn’t keep me from getting sick.

I’ve talked to a lot of people about how this pandemic may spark an artistic renaissance.

Well, despite not feeling well, I was able to create a lot of music and art, and do a lot of work, while confined to my room all day. (Just don’t try to sing with COVID … that was a really bad idea.)

I’ve learned a lot, too. My doctor told me that my first test after my trip was taken too quickly—because it can take up to two weeks, or even longer, after exposure to the coronavirus for symptoms to show up.

As this print edition goes to press, it’s been more than a month since I got sick—and I’m still not close to 100 percent. Fortunately, I am doing a lot better, although I’m still tired a lot, and I am occasionally short of breath. I’ve been slowly inching my way back into the world. My mind is way ahead of my body at this point, but I’m slowly continuing to get better.

Many people have misconceptions about this virus—including one that people my age aren’t at risk. I am here to tell you that’s wrong. I did everything right, and yet for nearly two weeks, I couldn’t get out of bed for more than 15 minutes at a time.

Please wear your mask. I have no idea how I contracted the virus, but I do know one thing: Masks help.

Thank you to everyone who checked up on me, cared for me and loved me. I love you so much, Mom; thank you for all that you did, and all that you continue to do for me. Thank you, Alyssa, for keeping me company over the phone, and playing video games with me online while I was isolated. I love you a lot. A special thanks to my editor, who checked in every day, and recommended some things to help me get through—like writing this article. I hold my family, friends and girlfriend very close to my heart. I am very happy to be getting through this and getting back to life again.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 7

JANUARY 2021

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8 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2021

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

AFTER OSWIT CANYON A

by kevin fitzgerald

lmost five years ago, environmental activist and Palm Springs resident Jane Garrison learned that Oswit Canyon was under imminent threat—because developers were looking to build a housing community there. Such development could potentially impact several endangered species that lived on the property and would certainly infringe on the public enjoyment of popular local hiking trails.

“One of the first phone calls I made was to the owners (of the property),” Garrison recalled during a recent interview. “I sat down with them and asked, ‘How can we have you not develop there?’ They said, ‘Find us $7 million.’ At that time, I thought there was no way we could accomplish that. I didn’t renovated courses. In any case, Garrison know how to find funding for conservation plans to create opportunities for interested purchases. But now it’s like I went to college for residents, including golf enthusiasts, to offer land development over the last four years.” input or criticism of her land-use vision at a What transpired was the establishment series of public-outreach sessions to come. of the Save Oswit Canyon, Inc., organization “When we launched this vision, the support with Garrison at its helm—and after years of for it was overwhelming,” Garrison said. “We determined efforts and fundraising success, on quickly had almost 2,000 people go to our Nov. 2, Garrison and her volunteers celebrated the closing of the Oswit Canyon land purchase, website and our Facebook page in support. which guarantees that the property will remain From the very beginning, I’ve always said that if this is not what the community wants, then I a natural preserve in perpetuity. have no desire to push this forward.

But well before the ink dried on those “But the reality is that this (debate) is not closing documents, Garrison and her team about a desert preserve versus golf. This were evolving into a new nonprofit entity is about land that could be developed, and named the Oswit Land Trust—with plans currently is for sale for development. So, the to expand the organization’s efforts beyond question really is: What do you prefer, a desert Oswit Canyon: OLT is in negotiations to preserve or a development? All of this land purchase three golf-course properties within can be developed. We have to be realistic about Palm Springs, and then re-purpose the land to that. While I would hope that our current create the Mesquite Desert Preserve.

(Palm Springs) City Council would not vote in “Four different golf courses make up the favor of having a change in the general-plan Mesquite Desert Preserve, which is what we designation to allow for developments on want to create,” Garrison said. “The two city these golf courses, who’s to say that the next golf courses are at the Tahquitz (Creek Golf City Council wouldn’t support it? And when Resort), and then there are (the individual you take into consideration the fact that the courses at) Bel Air Greens and the Mesquite city is losing a minimum of $1 million per year Golf and Country Club. on their golf courses, it’s only a matter of time “It’s interesting: We originally thought before a City Council decides to cut their losses (that the property acquisitions) would be Bel and sell the land for development. That would Air Greens first, Mesquite second and the be a tremendous loss for the community.”

Tahquitz courses third, but now it’s reversed.

Garrison said it’s quite possible that only Currently, we’re doing an appraisal on the city two of the three course owners will sell their golf courses, which should be done in the next properties to the land trust, and the result could month or so. Then we’ll know what the fair be a hybrid golf course-desert preserve reality. market value is. Hopefully, the city will let us “There’s a very good chance that we will go forward to acquire them, and we can do a have a golf course (included in the preserve desert restoration and have that land be open parcel), because the owner of the Mesquite to the public—and not just golfers.”

Country Club is not budging,” Garrison said.

The “About Us” page on the Mesquite “So we may have a golf course there for a long Desert Preserve website declares that “golf is time. He wants more than the fair market a dying sport.” While that statement may be value that it was appraised for, and he feels overly dramatic, many golf courses around the he’ll wait until something changes. But we country have closed in recent years. In 2018, would definitely move ahead for sure.” according to the National Golf Foundation, Moving ahead seems logical, given the there were almost 200 golf-course and facility valuable strategic partnerships that the Oswit closures in the U.S., although those losses Land Trust has already formed. were offset somewhat by the opening of 12 “We have an opportunity (to work again) new courses and the re-opening of 79 newly CVIndependent.com

Jane Garrison and her organization are working to preserve other spaces—starting with three Palm Springs golf-course properties

The Oswit Land Trust wants to purchase four Palm Springs golf courses and preserve them for the public good. COURTESY OF THE OSWIT LAND TRUST

with the Trust for Public Land on this project, and that is phenomenal,” Garrison said.

According to the Trust for Public Land website, the organization “creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.”

The nonprofit was instrumental in helping the Save Oswit Canyon team raise the necessary $7 million-plus for the canyon land purchase.

“You know, the TPL are contacted (to support) thousands of projects around the country, and they only select a few that they’re willing to get involved with,” Garrison said. “So since we have the TPL willing to help us get the funding to purchase (the courses), it would be such a loss to not move forward on it.”

Garrison said students and faculty members at the UC Riverside-Palm Desert campus may also play a role in the project.

“We’ve already had several Zoom conference calls with some of their professors and Ph.D. students,” Garrison said. “They are incredibly excited about this project. There are botanists, biologists, master gardeners and California naturalists who all want to be part of it. We’re planning a Zoom event after the first of the year that will bring everybody together to start talking about how the project would go forward, once we start acquiring the different land parcels. So I’m really excited about this partnership, because we (at OLT) have the vision, and we know what we want to achieve, and UCR-Palm Desert has the expertise, the knowledge, the staff and the volunteers to make it happen.

“We’re also working on re-charging the Mesquite Creek. One of our board members is an engineer who used to be with NASA, and he’d read that there were creeks in Arizona that used to flow year-round, and no longer do—but they got these creeks flowing again by utilizing reclaimed water. So he did a study on where the end of flow is for the Mesquite

Creek every day, and what time of year it stops flowing. Now we’ve had some calls with the Desert Water Agency, since they need a place to put their reclaimed water. So this could be a win-win opportunity. The biologists at UCR-Palm Desert are very excited about this possibility, too, because the ability to have a creek flowing year-round opens up aquatic plant (cultivation) and riparian areas that would support a lot of wildlife. Palm Springs is a ‘fly-away’ zone for migratory birds, and that’s why right now, you can see white pelicans, coots, egrets and mallards hanging out on the golf course. It’s pretty amazing.”

The OLT doesn’t plan on ending its preservation efforts with the golf courses, Garrison said.

“We are looking at other projects right now, and are evaluating different areas in the Coachella Valley.” Garrison said. “One 29-acre parcel adjacent to the Lykken Trail in Palm Springs is under threat of development. Also, we’re looking at land above the Vons shopping center in Palm Springs. There are 1,800 privately owned acres up there, and years ago there was a plan to develop that entire hillside.

So, we’re constantly evaluating opportunities.”

Garrison said her organization’s efforts are needed in a valley that lacks a clear, comprehensive vision for land use, between the nine cities and a mélange of various other bureaucracies.

“I think that we have to have a better master plan in our area,” Garrison said, “and not just see one project and approve it, and then see another project and approve that, too. It’s death by hundreds of cuts into our desert. We need to look at it from a big-picture perspective and decide where we will allow development, and where we will not.”

For more on the proposed Mesquite Desert Preserve, visit www.mesquitedesertpreserve.org.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 9

JANUARY 2021

NEWS

A FAIR SHOT W

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

As vaccinations begin, the state works to make sure nobody cuts in line—or commits fraud

by ana b. ibarra, calmatters

hat seemed like a Herculean task just months ago is now here: It’s time to start distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.

For the next several weeks, vaccines will be available in limited amounts in California and across the nation—and only to high-risk individuals, with the supply expected to ramp up in the months to come. Experts estimate vaccines will be available to the general public sometime in the spring.

Until then, step in line.

But the pandemic already has showcased deep inequalities, scams, greed, fraud and a system of experts to draft those plans and then a that favors the rich and famous. Will it be the separate advisory group to offer input on who same with the COVID-19 vaccine? should go next and why. Those Californians “We will be very aggressive in making sure who will follow health workers and nursingthat those with means, those with influence, home residents have not yet been decided. are not crowding out those that are most In an email, the California Department of deserving of the vaccines,” Gov. Gavin Newsom Public Health said that to aid transparency, it said in a recent press briefing. will report data on the vaccine’s administration The state, he said, will be monitoring on a public dashboard that will be updated distribution very closely. regularly.

There is cause for concern, however. Early “We will release as much data as possible in the pandemic, when testing was in short while remaining fully in compliance with supply and unavailable to most, the affluent federal and state patient privacy laws,” a were getting their hands on tests through department spokesperson said. membership-based medical concierge services, Dr. Trudy Larson, dean of the School of Reuters reported in March. When President Community Health Sciences at the University Donald Trump and his personal attorney of Nevada, Reno, thinks the close monitoring Rudy Giuliani contracted COVID-19, they had will help guard against any significant fraud, access to scarce antibody treatments. Giuliani, especially in the first months. Every dose will whose symptoms were reported as mild, later have to be accounted for, she said. admitted that his “celebrity” status helped him States, for example, will be collecting access care possibly not available to others. information from people who get the vaccine.

Even before Pfizer’s vaccine was authorized That data will be inputted into a state for use in the U.S., celebrities joked about immunization registry. having already received their shot, a nod to “My sense is that this may be one way for Hollywood’s privilege that allowed celebrities them to be able to say, ‘Good, we’re reaching like Heidi Klum and Kris Jenner to get the folks we’re supposed to get in Tier 1; now tested early in the pandemic. Meanwhile, the we can move to Tier 2,’ but it also might be National Hockey League had reportedly begun a disincentive for people trying to get to the planning the private purchase of doses soon front of the line,” Larson said. after Canada OK’d the Pfizer vaccine.

California’s public health department said Acknowledging a system that is not always that it will not share names, addresses or fair, Newsom and other California leaders any identifiable information with the federal have promised equity in distributing what’s government. California’s immunization available. program does not collect Social Security On Monday, Dec. 14—from Kaiser numbers.

Permanente’s Los Angeles Medical Center, However, once distribution moves beyond where selected health workers got some of the the first phase and doses start to be sent first vaccines in California—Newsom said he is confident in the vaccine’s efficacy and safety, directly to doctors and local pharmacies, the potential will mount for people to try to pull but that he would not cut in front of those strings to get the valuable shots, experts said. who are “more deserving.”

There will always be someone who tries “I look forward to taking this vaccine … but to cheat the system: “It’s impossible for that I’m not going to get in the way of any of the not to happen,” said Dr. Belas Matyas, Solano critical workers,” he said.

County’s health officer. The question, he said, The plan is to first offer vaccines to health is whether it will happen enough to truly workers and nursing-home residents, then to disrupt distribution. He hopes not. other essential workers and individuals at high But abusing the system isn’t just about risk of becoming ill. Newsom created a panel

U.S. sailors lift the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that arrived at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton on Dec. 15. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kerstin Roberts

people buying their way to the front of the line. There also is the possibility of vaccine theft and counterfeit shots. In 2004, during a flu-vaccine shortage, federal officials seized thousands of doses imported illegally and headed to the black market. In 2009, during the swine-flu pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a number of “distribution and marketing irregularities” involving the H1N1 vaccine.

Earlier this month, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued an “orange notice” globally, warning countries that COVID-19 vaccines will likely be a prime target of organized crime, both online and in-person. It warned of theft and the possibility of people advertising, selling and administering fake vaccines.

Experts said the public should remember that vaccines will be free of charge, and should beware of anyone offering an early dose for payment. Also, ads promoting therapies,

supplements and other products as COVID-19 cures are most likely scams. As of November, the Federal Trade Commission had sent 330 warning letters to companies that made unsupported claims that their products helped against the virus.

The California Attorney General’s office deferred questions about potential fraud related to vaccines to the governor’s office.

The state’s medical board, which oversees disciplinary action for physicians, said it will be reviewing complaints it receives regarding the inappropriate administration of vaccines, as it does with any other complaint.

CalMatters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom committed to explaining California policy and politics. CalMatters’ COVID-19 coverage, translation and distribution is supported by generous grants from the Blue Shield of California Foundation, the California Wellness Foundation and the California Health Care Foundation.

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JANUARY 2021

NEWS

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UNSUNG HEROES R

by madeline zuckerman

ay Carmona has spent his entire life in the Coachella Valley. He was born here, and he’s raised his two children here. He’s worked in the freight industry, at a packing house and within the hospitality industry.

Like many locals, Carmona is currently furloughed from his job because of the COVID-19 pandemic—so Carmona is putting his time and energy into his volunteer work with FIND Food Bank, distributing food to people in need. Carmona has been a FIND Food Bank volunteer for five years—but now has upped his game, at a time when FIND needs volunteers more than ever.

“Right now, I feel blessed,” Carmona said.

FIND Food Bank has been in existence “I have unemployment coming in and my more than 35 years, and has evolved into the Social Security. As long as I have a roof over largest hunger-relief organization in the area, my head and food on the table, I feel very serving as the disaster-response food bank for fortunate.” the eastern Riverside County region.

Erin Lucas is the volunteer program man“Over the past 30 years, our food bank has ager at FIND Food Bank. evolved from a local food bank to a Feeding “Our volunteer program, pre-COVID, was America regional food bank, whose goal is to thriving, with 5,000 volunteers, and now we ensure equitable healthy food distribution have 1,300 volunteers to help us out,” Lucas to the entire Coachella Valley/desert region said. “FIND’s volunteer program is a great of California,” said Debbie Espinosa, FIND’s one, because people really enjoy coming to president and chief executive officer. “We help out. We completely reformulated the want to make sure that those who are food program because of all the things we are insecure—including the homeless, working required to do now for COVID health and families who struggle to make ends meet, and safety reasons. This is a good thing, because it fixed/low-income seniors—have access to forces an organization to be even better than free, healthy foods to survive and thrive. they were before.

“What people don’t realize is that FIND “So many people have been furloughed or today is the main supplier of food to almost have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19. all of the local food pantries, homeless shelWe have found that a lot of these people are ters and local food banks in the desert. FIND wanting to give back and help out people who supplies more than 60 nonprofit organizations need food assistance within their community with 75 to 100 percent of their food supplies. during this very challenging time. Where we Then, these nonprofits distribute this food to need critical volunteer help right now is at their clients, which translates into approxiour morning distribution sites, and also in the mately 100 sites that FIND sends food to on warehouse, where we are receiving extra food, a regular basis. Our organization also serves so we can package this food quickly and send heavy populations that are food insecure, it out to our distribution sites. We use volincluding low-income housing complexes and unteers over the age of 17, and currently, we ‘food desert’ areas—places with a high density have special senior-only volunteer events for of low-income population with little access to over the age of 65, depending upon what our food. For these areas, we send our FIND food needs are at different times. In other words, trucks, and set up free community mobile marwe are utilizing everyone in different places kets, to distribute food to these people in need. and for different functions, as needed.”

FIND Food Bank currently operates 44 of these Carmona’s father taught him the value of types of distributions every month.” giving back and helping out the less fortuIn one year, FIND Food Bank has distribnate—saying that doing so would make him uted 22 million pounds of food—an amount “feel good and feel like a valuable member of that has nearly doubled due to COVID-19. the community.” Carmona said his father was “I am pushing the envelope of what FIND absolutely right: He loves helping out, and Food Bank continually can be, to better serve that he would much rather be doing volunteer the community and end hunger for those work with FIND than “just sitting home and who are food-insecure,” Espinosa said. “Our watching TV all day.” role has continually increased with each year, Indeed, there’s plenty to do at FIND, since not just due to COVID-19. We are honored the pandemic has cost many their incomes— and humbled to serve those in need for many and local nonprofits are straining to handle more years to come.” the surge of families in need.

Ray Carmona plans to keep volunteering CVIndependent.com

After being furloughed from his job, Ray Carmona is giving more time to people in need as a FIND Food Bank volunteer

at FIND Food Bank. He said it puts his mind at ease to know that he is helping people who are in desperate need of food.

“I feel I have made an impact when I see the smiles on the people’s faces—and also the relief,” he said. “This is extremely rewarding to me and makes me feel terrific.”

For more information on FIND Food Bank, call 760-775-FOOD (3663), or visit www. findfoodbank.org. For more information on volunteering, contact Erin Lucas at elucas@ findfoodbank.org. Madeline Zuckerman is the owner and president of M. Zuckerman Marketing and Public Relations.

FIND Food Bank volunteer Ray Carmona: “Right now, I feel blessed. I have unemployment coming in and my Social Security. As long as I have a roof over my head and food on the table, I feel very fortunate.”

COURTESY OF FIND FOOD BANK

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JANUARY 2021

NEWS

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JANUARY ASTRONOMY

Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury cause

Planets and Bright Stars inplanetary Evening Mid-Twilight anFor evening traffic jam January, 2021

T

By Robert Victor

This sky chart is drawn for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

N

January's evening sky chart.

ROBERT D. MILLER

he twilight star maps and this summary of sky events for January 2021 are intended to help our readers follow the seasonal westward progress of the stars, and to notice changes in the arrangements of the moon, planets and stars in the sky. Observation of such phenomena has been a source of serenity and joy throughout my life—and I hope to share that with you.

After their historic pairing on Dec. 21, Jupiter and Saturn will still appear strikingly close to each other low in the southwestern sky at dusk. Track them into January’s second week to help Pollux find Mercury emerging from the far side of the sun. During Jan. 8-12, Jupiter, Mercury and Castor Saturn form a trio, all fitting within a 5-degree field of view.

The sky frequently offers up pairings of the through thinning crescent phases.

Vega moon with the five planets whose brightness Mars is very high in the southern sky at Capella and motions have attracted attention since dusk all month, while moving 15 degrees east ancient times; pairings and groupings of against background stars, from Pisces into Deneb planets; and pairings of the moon and planets Aries. At nightfall on Jan. 20, Mars appears Procyon with the five stars of first magnitude within 1.6 degrees north of 5.8-magnitude Uranus, Betelgeuse the well-known belt of zodiac constellations. making the faint planet easy to locate. From Aldebaran E W Evening planets: Binoculars are Jan. 10-29, they’re within five degrees of Altair recommended to follow Jupiter and Saturn each other, but be aware of the first quarter Mars sinking into bright twilight, and forming a moon, 6 degrees from Mars on the evening of 22 29 1 8 15 compact trio with emerging Mercury before Jan. 20, and the full moon lighting up the sky Rigel the giants depart. You’ll also need clear skies on Jan. 28. Between those dates, watch the 29 Mercury and an unobstructed view! Jupiter is very low waxing gibbous moon pass 4 degrees north Sirius 22 in the southwest to west-southwest, sinking of Aldebaran, eye of Taurus, on Jan. 23, and 15 15 8 1 to the horizon by midmonth. Saturn is to the leapfrog past Castor and Pollux of Gemini Jupiter 8 8 Saturn 1 lower right of Jupiter, by 1.3 degrees on Jan. from Jan. 26 to 27. On Jan. 31, our home 1, increasing to 2.1 degrees on Jan. 8. Mercury, Spaceship Earth is racing directly away from Fomalhaut emerging from the solar glare, is brighter than Mars by more than 900,000 miles per day, Saturn but fainter than Jupiter. Our solar causing the red planet to fade. system’s innermost planet passes 1.6 degrees Other bright stars at dusk: The Summer south (to the lower left) of Saturn on Jan. 9, and Triangle of Altair, Vega and Deneb, in order 1.5 degrees south (to the lower left) of Jupiter of departure in the west to northwest, can on Jan. 11. Their most compact trio occurs on still be seen in its entirety until mid-January, Jan. 10, while Jupiter is still its highest and while the eastern sky is filling up with winter’s brightest member. That evening, Mercury is 1.7 bright stars. Try to spot Sirius rising in S Evening mid-twilight occurs Stereographic Projection degrees to the lower left of Jupiter, while Saturn the east-southeast before losing sight of when Sun is 9 below horizon.

Map by Robert D. Miller is 2.3 degrees to Jupiter’s lower right, and Altair, setting just north of west, and you’ll Jan. 1: 43 minutes after sunset.

Stars: Few of the huge Winter Hexagon of Society of the Desert, visit the club’s website 2.1 degrees to the lower right of Mercury. By see the Summer Triangle and the Winter 15: 43 " " " stars remain. 31: Procyon depart, at www.astrorx.org. Rancho Mirage Library’s Jan. 12, Mercury is the highest member, with Triangle of Betelgeuse, Procyon and Sirius 41 " and " Capella " and Pollux and Castor make it almost all the Observatory is currently closed as well, Jupiter 2.3 degrees to its lower right. simultaneously! Also visible is Fomalhaut, way down to the northwestern horizon. These although the library is open during limited On Jan. 13, use binoculars earlier in mouth of the Southern Fish, in the southwest, Twin stars are at opposition to the sun in the hours; visit www.ranchomiragelibrary.org/ twilight, about 24 minutes after sunset, to to the left of the planetary traffic jam. second week of January, so you can see them observatory.html for updates. glimpse a very thin, 1 percent crescent moon, Morning: Venus, sinking to the all night, from dusk until dawn. Regulus will be I originated the Abrams Planetarium’s only 20.4 hours after the new moon. Look for southeastern horizon before month’s end, is at opposition Feb. 17-18, so it’s still visible well monthly Sky Calendar in October 1968, the hairline crescent 4 degrees to the lower left the only morning planet. It rises before the up in the western sky on January mornings. and still produce issues occasionally. For of Jupiter, and 5.5 degrees below Mercury. On sun, by nearly 1.5 hours on Jan. 1, shrinking We find the spring stars Arcturus and Spica subscription information and a sample, visit Jan. 14 at mid-twilight, the 4 percent crescent to only 40 minutes on Jan. 31. A 3 percent crossing high in the southern sky. Spica will www.abramsplanetarium.org/skycalendar. moon is higher and easy to see, with Mercury crescent moon will appear just 3 degrees to be at opposition on April 13-14. Antares, at Wishing you clear skies! within 8 degrees to its lower right, and Jupiter the upper right of Venus on Jan. 11. This will opposition on May 30-31, is ascending in the within 5 degrees to the lower right of Mercury. be your last chance to observe an impressive southeast. In the morning twilight on Jan. Robert Victor was a staff astronomer at Abrams Both Jupiter and Saturn are gone after Venus-moon pairing like this until May 12.

13, the sun is below the horizon in the eastPlanetarium at Michigan State University. He midmonth, while Mercury climbs to greatest In the morning sky before Jan. 11, watch southeast. is now retired and enjoys providing informal sky elongation and its highest altitude at dusk on the waning moon go past Regulus on Jan. 2 To check for the post-pandemic resumption watching opportunities for folks in and around the weekend of Jan. 23-24. Mercury starts and 3, pass north of Spica on Jan. 6, and go of star parties hosted by the Astronomical Palm Springs. to fade noticeably at month’s end, as it goes past Antares on Jan. 9 and 10.

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NONPROFITS IN CRISIS

JANUARY 2021

The Mizell Senior Center's doors are closed to the public, but it continues to feed seniors in need via its Meals on Wheels and drive-up lunch programs.

COVID-19 continues to keep people home and businesses closed—and many of the Coachella Valley’s charitable organizations are struggling as a result

By Kevin Fitzgerald

AT ONE POINT IN 2020, there were more than 730 nonprofit

The Trike Track at the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert closed, perhaps permanently, on Nov. 30, when the nonprofit's board of directors laid off the entire staff and suspended all programming. However, the board has launched the "Save Our Children’s Discovery Museum aid project" to raise money in hopes of resurrecting the museum once the pandemic subsides and the economy improves.

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organizations operating in the Coachella Valley area, according to Desert Charities News.

Due to the pandemic and the related restrictions, many of those organizations are struggling to stay afloat—and some are losing that battle.

Leticia De Lara is the chief executive officer of the Palm Desert-based Regional Access Project Foundation, which operates the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, “a community resource center focused on strengthening and increasing the capacity of nonprofits in Riverside County.”

“We’re already seeing some very difficult conditions starting to force organizations to shut down,” De Lara said. “Others are evaluating how long they can go on. Some were able to benefit from some funding that was made available by the county and that came from the CARES Act, so they were able to hang in there, hoping that it might be a short term disruption. But it’s turned out to be a lot longer.”

One of the higher-visibility nonprofits that fit De Lara’s description is the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert in Rancho Mirage. On Nov. 30, the museum’s board of directors announced it had laid off all remaining staff members and discontinued all programming.

“My last day was Oct. 31, and right now, I’m not working anywhere,” said Gregoria Rodriguez, the former chief programs and exhibits officer at the museum. “Officially, I was not furloughed. I was let go. … We were getting ready to re-open the museum, working on grants for the next year, and things like that.”

The museum had been one of the fortunate valley nonprofits to receive a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan. That helped the museum continue online operations, providing the kind of educational and recreational opportunities that many families in our community relied upon and enjoyed. The museum was preparing to reopen its doors—for the first time since the March shutdown—on a limited basis in November. However, the COVID-19 spike and the resulting government restrictions made that impossible.

“We did receive a round of PPP funding which was wonderful,” Rodriguez said. “That’s what helped us provide so much virtual programming. That’s what helped us bring back a little bit of staffing to do (virtual) camps and to provide kits for the kids to join us virtually from home to do activities. But, unfortunately, we just never got enough donations to keep it all going.”

JANUARY 2021

Rodriguez said the museum had always prided itself on its revenue model; the museum was not as dependent on grants and donations as many other nonprofits.

“In the past, we always saw it as a blessing that the museum ran on 80 percent earned revenue, which included admission fees, membership fees, camp fees and field trips,” Rodriguez said. “But with the museum being closed to the public for about seven months, it became really hard.”

THE NONPROFIT INDUSTRY STATEWIDE employed a million people as of 2014, according to a report by the California Association of Nonprofits. That number has almost certainly risen since—before definitely falling in 2020.

At the Mizell Senior Center in Palm Springs, executive director Wes Winter had to eliminate some positions to keep Mizell’s service programs—including the critically important Meals on Wheels delivery service for the homebound elderly—functioning.

“In March, our revenue just disappeared overnight, with the exception of the Meals on Wheels funding, which has been pretty stable, and donors have really stepped up to help out.

We had to consolidate a couple of positions,” Winter said. “We had to have some people go from full-time to part-time, all the usual stuff. We had a couple of folks take pay cuts.”

While Mizell’s doors remain closed, Winter reported that the staffing situation at Mizell has been improving, although the future is still uncertain.

“For the positions that we had to dissolve, I don’t know what’s going to happen there,” he said. “It’s going to take some reorganizing to figure out how to do that. But, for the most part, we’ve been able to bring everybody back part-time, if not full-time. When our income goes up, their hours will go up, and they’ll go back to full-time positions.”

Some local nonprofits have found an ally in De Lara’s Regional Access Project Foundation, which supports other local nonprofits focused on health, mental health and juvenileintervention services. RAP provides partner nonprofits with grants and other financial support, as well capacity-building services. It also offers low, affordable office space to 25 nonprofits at RAP’s headquarters in Palm Desert. As a result, CEO De Lara has a singularly well-informed perspective on the state of the nonprofit sector in the valley. She said some nonprofits (aka NPOs) that address similar issues have merged to survive.

“That (merger option) is not going to work for a lot of organizations, because they have very distinct missions and approaches,” De Lara said. “And usually, it takes months to even explore a merger. Sometimes they don’t work out, and the plans are dropped before the end, so that is not going to be a solution for a lot of NPOs. But I would like to think that (NPO boards and staff) would at least consider that before they make a decision to close.

“Organizations which are a bit more established have been able to pivot to offering more online programming, and develop a greater social-media presence. It’s very important to make sure that you’re communicating effectively what services the organization is providing, and what needs you are meeting in the community. You have to make sure that you’re reaching previous clients and friends, as well as new and younger givers. So, the No. 1 (tool for NPOs) has become social media and the ability to market your brand a lot more effectively, and over a wider range.”

However, for some smaller nonprofits, developing a better online presence is easier said than done.

“When you have a smaller organization, and you have a person already handling accounting and technology, and then another staffer doing programming, it’s really hard to add one more responsibility to the existing responsibilities of any individual staff member,” De Lara said.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 13

“The challenge is that you have to have a person who is up to date with the new social-media platforms and who is able to effectively do the marketing and the branding. Normally, it will take several months to train somebody to handle all this work—but right now, the NPOs have to train somebody within a matter of weeks, rather than months, to take on new responsibility and learn new skill sets.”

Often times, that training itself can cost money.

“Financial restraints due to depleted budgets make the option to add positions almost impossible,” De Lara said. “Another issue is that technology is not always available in certain areas, especially in the eastern Coachella Valley and Desert Hot Springs. We have a lot of organizations who have difficulty reaching their clients because of the technology issues, including a lack of broadband access, which causes a disconnect in operations, fundraising and revenue.”

WHILE IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE for some struggling nonprofits to merge,

there is nothing stopping them from working together.

“We had a consultant who has been very successful staging some big events,” De Lara said. “He proposed having joint fundraising opportunities which would allow (participating organizations) to divvy up the net profits at the end. I haven’t heard of anyone following up on that. There are pros and cons to it. I think everyone would need to be very clear about their expectations, and the resources that each NPO is able to contribute. They would need 100 percent buy-in from everybody involved. So I have heard the idea being discussed, and I would hope that some would try it and see how it works out.”

Rodriguez, formerly with the Children’s Museum, said she wishes local nonprofits worked together more often.

“The really unfortunate thing to me is that the nonprofits in the valley see (attracting donations and grants) as a competition when it’s not,” she said. “We should be working in partnership together to help each other out. That way, during times like this, we aren’t standing alone, and we can talk to somebody else and work together to create a program or get a grant, or create a Coachella Valley-wide fund for nonprofits to help during such times. It’s just an idea to think about for the future.”

Some nonprofits are facing yet another challenge during these troubled times: An increase in demand for their much needed services.

“We did see our participant numbers increase for both the Meals on Wheels takeout and delivery customers from a total of about 450, to just under 800 every day,” Winter said.

“Especially the home delivery increased, because folks were asked to shelter at home. But the community has been incredibly generous. Donors have stepped up in a way that I didn’t even think was possible to help us keep our head above water.

“But one of the things I worry about is donor fatigue. Donors have been wonderful in stepping up and helping us get through this time, but we’re worried that they’re going to get exhausted in their giving.”

That means nonprofits have to work harder than ever before to show their importance to the community.

“What we want people to know is that we’re still here,” Winter said. “The front door may be locked, but we’re in here and still providing services. They may be online, or they may be through home delivery, or takeout from our parking lot, but we’re still here.

“And we are going to re-open our doors. We just don’t know when.”

A pre-pandemic activity takes place at the Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert. Financial difficulties forced the museum's board of directors to suspend all programming and lay off remaining staff members on Nov. 30.

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JANUARY 2021

MOVIES & TV

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MOVIES

NOW SHOWING AT HOME R

By Bob Grimm

iz Ahmed delivers one of the year’s finest performances in Amazon Prime’s The Sound of Metal as Ruben, a heavy-metal drummer who suddenly loses the last part of his hearing after a concert. On tour with his singer-girlfriend (Olivia Cooke) and living out of their RV, Ruben suddenly finds himself deaf, with no preparation or warning.

Disoriented and justifiably frightened, Ruben winds up at a charitable residence, where he tries to get his act together and figure out his next the man who left us way steps. Four years sober and in danger of using too soon, in 1993 at the again, Ruben is taken in by Joe (Paul Raci), who age of 52. does his best to counsel him. Slowly, Ruben The doc begins with begins to cope—but coping is just the first step footage of Zappa playing of many difficult and life-altering steps. his guitar for what This is the feature-directing debut of Darius turned out to be the last Marder, who does an amazing job not only time in public, during a with the performances, but with the film’s celebration of the Soviets soundscape. There are moments in this movie withdrawing their troops when you will question your own hearing— from Czechoslovakia. because we often hear the muffled world into The film then goes back which Ruben has been thrust. Marder and his to the beginning of Frank’s artistic life. Winter audiophiles do a convincing job of putting the spends some good time on the early years, viewer/listener inside Ruben’s head. including Zappa’s home movies with his family, Raci, a hearing actor who grew up with deaf his obsession with composer Edgard Varese, parents, is the film’s major find. He’s sincere and time spent at Studio Z, his first recording and moving as an alcoholic veteran who has studio. dedicated his life to helping others.

After the movie announces the formation Ahmed, always a solid actor, goes next-level of Frank Zappa and Mothers of Invention in here—and should find himself in contention for ’65, it starts leaning on former band members Oscar and other year-end honors. He’ll break like saxophonist Bunk Gardner; guitarists your heart via a screenplay that strays from Ray White, Steve Vai and Mike Keneally; obvious answers and has no real road map. The percussionist Ruth Underwood; and bassist Sound of Metal is easily one of the year’s best Scott Thunes to handle much of the narration. movies.

For fans, it’s great to hear all of the Zappa archival interviews interwoven with current takes from his fellow band members.

Nice touches include Vai recounting the complexities of “The Black Page,” followed by new footage of Underwood playing it stunningly on the piano, accompanied by drummer Joe Travers. Keneally tells the story of illustrator Cal Schenkel’s album covers and, most wonderfully, the original handwritten note from daughter The Sound of Metal is now streaming on Moon Unit Zappa that birthed the hit single Amazon Prime.

“Valley Girl.”

Early on, Winter often relies upon old appa is certainly not the first posthumous monster-movie footage to accompany interview documentary on one of the 20th century’s audio. At first, it’s a bit annoying, but Frank greatest composers and personalities—but it’s himself reveals later in the film that he adored certainly the best yet. monster movies, so perhaps that was a creative Crowdfunded and years in the making, Zappa choice Zappa himself would’ve made. The is bolstered by access to Frank Zappa’s immense same can be said of the often haphazard, zippy vault, which is full of previously unreleased editing, which resembles the animated works audio and video. Directed by Alex Winter (Bill Zappa directed with Claymation artist Bruce from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and the Bickford, who makes an all-new figure of Frank. man who co-helmed the great cult flick Freaked), The film’s most heartwarming moment? it’s a deeply felt and even heartbreaking look at Home-video footage of baby Moon Unit

Z

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Amazon’s ‘The Sound of Metal’ is one of 2020’s best; ‘Zappa’ is a deeply felt look at the legend

yawning, followed by Frank yawning while playing with her, all accompanied by The Firebird Suite on the soundtrack. Frank’s wife, Gail (who passed away in 2015), gets some good screen time through an archival interview, while his children (Ahmet, Dweezil, Moon Unit and Diva) all appear in older footage.

Any Zappa fan will note that no two-hour film could possibly cover the massive musical history this man created. Alas, a large chunk of his amazing ’70s and ’80s output is relegated to just a few mentions. That’s not a shortcoming; it’s by necessity. A truly comprehensive musical documentary on Zappa would require a miniseries like The Beatles Anthology. (Can somebody make this, please?)

Zappa is available via online sources including iTunes and Amazon.com.

D

irector Miles Joris-Peyrafitte tells a sortof reverse Bonnie and Clyde story with Dreamland, a great-looking, well-acted and ultimately decent watch featuring the great Margot Robbie.

If you haven’t been paying attention, you should know that Robbie has evolved into one of the finest actresses in the biz, and she’s spectacularly good here as Allison Wells, a bank robber on the run after an unfortunate turn of events. She winds up in the barn belonging to the family of Eugene (a very good Finn Cole), farmers who have fallen on rough times due to drought and dust storms. Eugene stumbles upon a wounded Allison—and their bond begins. What develops is a bit slow-going and predictable, but the two make the journey worthwhile.

Hats off to Peyrafitte and cinematographer Lyle Vincent for putting together one of the year’s best-looking films. Period pieces (this one set is during the Great Depression) obviously rely heavily upon how they look and feel—and this one looks and feels like an authentic, dusted-over Texas. It’s a shame indoor theaters aren’t open locally, because I imagine the duststorm sequence plays great on a big screen.

The film feels a bit like it is missing a chapter.

It takes a while for Allison and Eugene to hit the

road—and the film ends shortly thereafter. The slow first three quarters of the film would’ve been more forgivable had the road portion been a bit meatier.

Still, Robbie and Cole are strong and memorable together, and Dreamland stands as one of the better performances in Robbie’s impressive career.

Dreamland is available via online sources including iTunes and Amazon.com.

M

ank, a passion project by director David Fincher based upon his late father’s screenplay, gives Gary Oldman another platform to act his butt off.

As Herman Mankiewicz, the co-screenwriter of Citizen Kane, Oldman spends a lot of screen time acting drunk—like, Dudley Moore-inArthur drunk. After all of the drunken tirades and mutterings, the film is about “Mank” ultimately wanting screen credit for his work despite an agreement with director Orson Welles (Tom Burke) to surrender the credit in exchange for a decent paycheck.

Welles bristled at Mank getting credit, and the film’s best scene takes place when the two finally meet in Mank’s rental after a series of courteous phone calls. The writing and direction in this scene make it perfectly clear that the Finchers saw Welles as an egotistical prick. Welles, a classic control freak, has a lot in common with David Fincher: Both are perfectionists, and both are capable of amazing work, leaving disgruntled co-workers in their wake.

The movie, shot in black and white—very much in the style of Kane itself—is visually amazing. There’s a walk that Mank and actress Marion Davies (a strong Amanda Seyfried) take around the estate of William Randolph Hearst (Charles Dance) that feels like it was lifted from classic films.

The story is good, although it has been told before, so there’s nothing all that surprising here. The only Oscar that Kane got—even with its legendary status as the Greatest Film Ever Made in some circles—was for its screenplay.

Mank puts a big exclamation point on that fact.

Mank is now streaming on Netflix.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 15

JANUARY 2021

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JANUARY 2021

ARTS & CULTURE

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THE EVENTS JUGGLE L

By kevin fitzgerald

ast February, the team in charge of Modernism Week celebrated its 15th year—and another record-breaking success.

Total attendance at the 375 events scheduled over 11 days was 162,000, an increase of roughly 10,000 over 2019. According to the event’s organizers, an estimated $61 million was generated by attendees for hotels, shops, restaurants and other businesses throughout the Coachella Valley.

As the week ended on Feb. 23, organizers started planning the 2021 event, which they figured would again break records. But, well … you know what happened next. all-live—in-person events like we’ve typically Now, with Modernism Week’s usual had. B was a hybrid of both virtual and February dates approaching, the board of in-person, with C being all virtual. So, for a few directors and staff members found themselves months, we had to plan for each one of those trying to figure out how to best stage a worthy scenarios, (while reacting to) where we were version of the homage to mid-20th-century statistically within the county of Riverside. architecture amidst the pandemic-induced Also, we set deadlines for when the board uncertainty.

“It’s like juggling balls in the air,” Modernism would determine which path to take.

“We had always been aware that the doctors Week board chair William Kopelk told the and the science were predicting that the Independent via telephone. “Which route (to winter would be worse, with more outbreaks, presenting a compelling lineup of activities) while we were planning for February. … We is going to keep going, and which will not? were planning some live in-person events It’s almost like playing the lottery, and hoping for February, but in recent months, we kept that your numbers come in. But always, the thinking that this wasn’t going to work.” board of directors has been very respectful in Therefore, Modernism Week officials agreeing that we will follow what the science decided to take advantage of the anticipated says, and what our governor says, and what delay of Coachella and Stagecoach from April the health standards are for Riverside County. to October. (While no official announcement That’s really all that we can go by.” had yet been made as of our press deadline, As of now, the route Modernism Week multiple reports have indicated that a move is has chosen is this: Modernism Week proper almost certain.) has been moved to April 8-18, 2021, while “It turned out that our executive director, February will host a month-long Modernism Lisa Vossler Smith, found out that there was Week “online experience.” availability at the (Palm Springs) Convention The pandemic already altered Modernism Center in April,” Kopelk said. “What was Week’s fall preview in October. The four-day advantageous about April is that one, it is in program usually includes various in-person the spring; two, both Coachella and Stagecoach tours, sales and events, but this year, all but have (apparently been delayed), so the hotels one of the events were presented in a “virtual” have availability; and now, most recently, form. Guests viewed some of the most there’s the advent of the vaccines, which gives historically important houses in Palm Springs, everyone a more optimistic feeling of hope, or learned about the future design challenges and so we thought that April would be better.” and opportunities now facing the Coachella If the April schedule takes place as hoped, Valley, via video tours or lectures—often Kopelk promised that all necessary precautions paying a fee to do so. would be in place.

“We had a lot of success with our virtual “The staging of in-person events will be online events in October—more so than we altered for safety,” Kopelk said. “There will had predicted,” Kopelk said. “So we were very not be the same number (of events) that there happy about that, and it was very encouraging. have been historically. But there are some Given that information and that success, we continued forward into planning for February.” events that we can have, because we’ve been able to figure out how to do them. We can Of course, nobody knows for sure what move the crowd in one direction, and supply 2021 will bring. masks and hand sanitizer. So, something like “The virtual aspect came into our event an outdoor garden tour is going to be OK, meetings, and we started to imagine three as well as certain house tours. But there are different scenarios: A, B and C,” Kopelk said. certain other house tours that will not happen, “Scenario A was everything remaining totally CVIndependent.com

Modernism Week’s board chair talks about the challenges of trying to make plans for 2021 amidst pandemic uncertainty

Modernism Week organizers hope a move to April will make in-person events possible—albeit with masks and hand sanitizer. Courtesy of Modernism Week

and we may do them virtually. It’s a slow dip of the toe in the water for us, so to speak.”

A schedule for the April 8-18 slate of events will be released on Jan. 1, when tickets will also go on sale. However, Modernism Week organizers didn’t want to leave February behind—hence the “online experience,” with tickets going on sale and a finalized schedule being released on Feb. 1. Organizers are also in the process of developing an online auction.

“The auction is a brand-new idea,” Kopelk said. “We’ll be offering very unique, high-end items that are very Palm Springs-oriented.

It’s going to be really quite something, and I believe it will run for two weeks in February.

People can consult our website for more information on it—but some of the items are really quite wonderful. We’re not doing baseball caps and tote bags.”

Despite all of the planning and flexibility, it’s unlikely that Modernism Week 2021 will bring in the level of revenue that the 2020 event

did—and that will have an impact on the funds available for the various neighborhoods and charitable organizations that have benefitted from Modernism Week’s generosity in the past.

“The fact is that we are a machine, and we need to pay salaries, and we need to maintain funding in order to continue moving onward, so those are our first and foremost priorities,” Kopelk said. “With our partner organizations, they are positioning themselves to hold events in February and April that will be promoted on our website. And as has happened in the past, they then make money from being listed as part of the Modernism Week umbrella.”

If you would like to support Modernism Week, the organization is selling gift cards via the website. The value of each gift card can be used to pay for any Modernism Week event or program.

For more information or to purchase gift cards, visit www.modernismweek.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 17

JANUARY 2021

TAKE THE INDEPENDENT CHALLENGE

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JANUARY 2021

FOOD & DRINK

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CAESAR CERVISIA R

BY brett newton

inging in the new year, for those of us who drink alcohol, traditionally involves champagne. In fact, for many different types of celebratory occasions, champagne is the drink of choice.

Why? Perhaps it’s because of the theater—unwrapping the foil, undoing the cage and loudly popping the cork all contribute to the celebration. But what if you’re like me and are not that interested in drinking champagne? I don’t personally find it offensive, but I’d rather—and this might shock you—have a beer.

“Brett,” you might ask, “what if, like you, I prefer beer, but I still want the whole ceremonial aspect?” Well, friend, beer indeed has you covered. There are several options you can easily get—even on the day of the event, locally—and those ales.) Chimay is at the top of my list because of options extend to different flavors as well. I’m how widely available it is. Chances are good that not implying that all champagne tastes the you can find it at your local grocery store, and same, but the diversity of styles of beer bottled you should easily be able to find it at specialty using méthode champenoise (a fancy name for liquor stores, including the big chain places. anything undergoing a secondary fermentation My recommendation is to go for Cinq Cents (a in the bottle) far outstrips that of sparkling Belgian tripel) with the white label if you are wine. Get ready to enjoy the best of both worlds! looking for something that most resembles We begin (and likely end) with Belgian beer. champagne in appearance. At 8 percent alcohol Trappist/abbey ales are an ideal go-to when it by volume, this beer (like many Belgian ales) is comes to celebration. (For those wondering, dry and crisp with a spicy, floral, hop bite and a only 14 breweries in the world can legally use fruity note from the yeast. Yeast strains play a the Trappist designation. Breweries that make prominent note in virtually every Belgian beer similar beer styles are referred to as “abbey” style, and every brewery has its own signature

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If you want to celebrate with beer rather than champagne, Belgian brews are ideal

strain. If you want to spread your wings a little, try the Chimay Red or the Blue (the dubbel and dark strong ale, respectively). They are also dry, but are darker, with more fruit and caramel flavors. These are made for celebrations, as the monks do not drink these regularly, instead opting for lighter beers called patersbier (literally “father’s beer”) that are often only served at the abbeys themselves.

Beyond the Trappist beers, we have other options, and St. Bernardus ranks highly on my list. Until 1992, the brewery was licensed to brew beer for the famed Sint Sixtus abbey in Westvleteren. At that point, the abbey constructed its own brewing facility and retained the Trappist designation for itself. The agreement allowed St. Bernardus to keep the old recipes, however, so the beer is essentially the same as the historical Westvleteren beer.

(The Sint Sixtus monks switched to yeast from another Trappist brewery, Westmalle, that makes equally delicious ales.) The same styles are available but are referred to by an old numbering system, with Abt. 8, 10, and 12 being the most common (dubbel, tripel and quadrupel, respectively, with “abt.” being short for “abbot”). St. Bernardus beers stick out to me, because their unique yeast strain includes a hint of licorice. I find it most in the wit, and I feel certain I could identify St. Bernardus’ beers by taste alone. (Anyone willing to test me on this is more than welcome to … at your expense.) I recommend exploring the Belgian part of the beer store and seeing what works for you.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention saisons—and a particular saison comes to mind, since we’re tarrying in Belgium: Saison Dupont. It is simply a classic. It has all the crisp dryness of a bottle-conditioned Belgian ale, with a prominent floral, grassy hop bite and a really lovely yeast note of white pepper and citrus. There are American saisons that can get pretty close, but the original is worth seeking out—and it is not very difficult to find. It’s also worth noting that saison is the ultimate beer to pair with food. There is very little with which it won’t go. There is even a 1.5-liter magnum bottle of the stronger version (named Avec Les Bon Voeux, French for “With Best Wishes”) at the Total Wine and More location in Palm Desert, if you want to go crazy.

One more Trappist ale deserves mention here, because it is the most unique: Orval.

Orval abbey brews one beer; it is inspired by an English pale ale and is dry-hopped with German hops. Then it gets really interesting: After undergoing fermentation, the beer is bottled with Brettanomyces yeast (or “Brett,” often

desdemona72/stock.adobe.com

found in Belgian or Belgian-styles sour ales). It undergoes a secondary fermentation there and will change throughout its recommended fiveyear drinking window, being light and citrusy at first, and then slowly becoming earthier, gaining more of a barnyard (sometimes referred to in the beer world as “horse blanket”) note and becoming bone-dry due to the Brett eating up any available remaining sugar—sugar that most normal beer yeasts don’t get to. It’s one of my favorites, and it is highly carbonated, especially as it gets older. Pour with care!

As usual, I have left out many things I would love to have mentioned. Trader Joe’s has the best deal that I know of, with 750-milliliter bottles of its Vintage Ale made every year and sold for $6.99 a bottle. This is made by Unibroue in Quebec, a brewery that makes beers you’d swear came from Belgium if you were given one blindly.

DeuS Brut des Flandres from the Bosteels Brewery in Belgium is the most champagne-like in name, appearance, strength and mouthfeel.

It is pricey but worth experiencing. In the last bottle I had, the most prominent flavor was of bubble gum, thanks to the yeast esters. The bottle is also very elegant, making it an ideal substitute for champagne.

While it is not advisable to celebrate together as normal—please don’t be a fool and create a further burden on our hospital workers—you can still celebrate with beer and re-create the same pomp and circumstance as champagne.

Please be safe—and raise a toast with me in the hopes that 2021 will be far less shitty than 2020.

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.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 19

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FOOD & DRINK

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VINE SOCIAL JASON DAVID HAIR STUDIO

By KatieLOVE finn YOUR

I

HAIR

’m sitting on my 6-year-old’s bed playing with his Magic 8-Ball.

“Will we go back to normal in 2021?” Don’t count on it.

“Will I be able to finally get a pedicure?” Cannot predict now.

“Travelling?? Will we be able to, like, go somewhere??” Better not tell you now.

Country Club and Cook Street “Ugh. Well, F -you, Magic 8-Ball.” Now I remember why I never liked this toy when I was young.

Here we are, in a new year, a time when we’re supposed toPalm be fullDe ofsert hope and dreams and resolutions for the future. And yet we’re in a time when hope feels like a luxury.

760-340-5959 I’ve spent the past 10 months escorting soaked island that I’m officially hooked. You everyone on a virtual wine journey. We are so much more than just Nero d’Avola. www.jasondavidhairstudio.net can’t actually go anywhere, so it was a nice The Passopisciaro Rosso is an untamed, sentiment that we could explore the world wild beast in your glass. Made from 100 through wine and food. Without the ability to percent Nerello Mascalese, this brooding red travel, this was quite literally as good as it gets. is strong and powerful with a subtle grace and So, because I don’t have an actual crystal elegance. Juicy and smooth, this wine is full ball, and I can’t predict what the next 12 of pomegranates, blood oranges and crushed months will look like, I decided to share with raspberries. You might even pick up notes of you my 2021 wine-passport itinerary. Buckle dark chocolate and tobacco. The point is: This up; hold on; and take a look at the places we’ll is one layered wine that will continue to delight (sort of) go! and surprise you. We’re not talking about the Oh, Sicily! How you have enchanted me.

COVID kind of surprises, but the good kind I have tasted so many wines from your sunthat make you smile. Remember smiling? Yeah

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Since we still can’t travel, our resident sommelier is taking us on a world tour via wine

… you got this.

Tasca d’Almerita Grillo is a silky, stonefruit-laden white from the sunny shores of San Pietro Sicily. This brilliant wine offers aromas of white peaches, tangy apricots and tropical pineapple. Get out the sunscreen, because this wine will make you feel like you’re on a vacation, no matter where you are.

Gulfi Cerasuolo di Vittoria, you are the golden hammer. Everyone loves you! A blend of Frappato and Nero d’Avola, you so beautifully encompass what makes this region so divine. Fresh and summery fruits are married with dark and savory notes of herbs and spices. Chilled down just a touch, you are the perfect wine to go from patio to pot roast.

Le sigh …

From one side of Europe to the other, our travels now take us to France.

I’ve got my eye on the wines of the Loire Valley like never before. I’ve always loved the crisp and vibrant Chenin Blancs from the wellknown region of Vouvray, but I’ve discovered a tiny area that produces Chenin Blancs that taste like lightning in a bottle! The electric wines of the Jasnieres region are so alive with energy that you’ll forget about those long, dark days of 2020. Pascal Janvier makes a Chenin Blanc from this tiny region that is laced with beautiful notes of wet stone, tart lemon zest and fragrant jasmine. It’s the ideal partner for that lobster feast that is long overdue.

Another region in the Loire Valley that is worth exploring is Chinon. This has always been a place of wonderous wines, but the Cabernet Franc made by Beatrice and Pascal Lambert will have you rethinking what you know about Cabernet Sauvignon’s daddy. Crunchy black fruit melds with freshpicked blackberries, crisp blueberries and tart raspberries, along with a subtle yet lingering flavor of fresh fennel. This wine will make you want another glass … just to make sure your senses aren’t fooling you.

Canary Islands … who knew you even existed? Yet here we are, drinking your delicious wine. The Tajinaste Tinto is a

revelation. One sip, and I knew I was tasting something special. Bright red fruits with a spicy and savory nose combine with hints of licorice and nutmeg, all tied up with a warm scent of worn leather. So heavenly.

Vinatigo Blanco comes from a grape called Listan Blanco and is cultivated and vinified by a professor of viticulture, fourthgeneration grape-grower and all around wine smarty-pants named Juan Jesus. These white grapes are hand-harvested, sustainably farmed and minimally processed. The result?

A wine that tastes as pure as the land that created it, full of pithy citrus, rich almond and vibrant florals. This is a must-stop on your wine-exploration list!

And finally, on to the Southern Hemisphere.

Australia, we haven’t forgotten about you! The bone dry and vibrant Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier is a must for the white-wine lover who thinks they don’t like the rich styles of Viognier from France. The zippy and fresh flavors of key limes, kumquats and nectarines are just heavenly. All this from one of the benchmark estates in Australia; throw a skewer of shrimp on the barbie, and it’s just like you’re there … OK, not really, but just work with me.

Finally, the Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Shiraz from Heathcote is just the thing to wrap up your wine travels. It’s a focused and complex Shiraz that isn’t jammy or syrupy that you can easily pair with a steak or ribs. Loads of flavors and a long, long finish mean this is a wine that will not go quietly into the night—but rather a wine that will accompany memories and laughter and stories shared by the glasses that clink to them.

Here’s to 2021. Here’s to adventures and travels and stories. I lift my glass to love and family and togetherness. I pray for normalcy and happiness and prosperity. Cheers to you and yours.

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

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 21

JANUARY 2021

FOOD & DRINK

ON COCKTAILS I

BY kevin carlow

’ll be honest: I’m having a hard time picking a lane with this column. Part of me, in my small way, wants to be a voice for the industry—one that is paying a high price of late regarding social responsibility. But another part of me wants to ignore current affairs altogether and have this be a work of escapism—because that’s what cocktails are all about. Bartenders are free to opine on movies, or sports, or relationships, but never politics, and certainly not life and death.

So in light of that, let’s look at some cocktails that I think are underrated by guests (not necessarily by bartenders)—and let’s just have some fun! I present these in no particular order.

Jungle Bird The Revolver This one is a Tiki weirdo. The name is about Created by San Francisco bartender Jon Santer as Tiki as can be, but the flavor is out of left and made popular at Bourbon and Branch, this field, and certainly not for every palate. It was is a Manhattan variation for the coffee lover. invented by Jeffrey Ong at the Aviary Bar in The original recipe was 2 ounces of bourbon, Kuala Lumpur in the 1970s, and stayed a local a half-ounce of coffee liqueur, two dashes of drink there before its recent “star turn.” It’s orange bitters and a flamed orange peel. It’s actually hard to call underrated, as it is pretty pretty great that way, served up in a coupe— ubiquitous these days, but it’s still mostly but I prefer to serve it on the rocks. I also add unknown to the general public. Start with an a teaspoon of Demerara sugar syrup, as I think ounce and a half of dark rum (Jamaican black it needs a little body. The syrup makes up strap is the consensus choice; I like a mix of for the lower amount of added sugar in craft black strap and overproof like Smith and Cross), coffee liqueurs, since the original was likely an ounce and a half of pineapple juice, and made with Kahlua. The flamed orange peel is three-quarters of an ounce of Campari. Most best left in the mid-’00s. bartenders I know also add a half-ounce each of lime juice and simple syrup. Shake and dump Tradewinds into an appropriate glass, and garnish with a This 1970s cocktail is an underrated Tiki pineapple slice or leaf. I made a variation I call classic. Most people use the recipe from the “Corporate Retreat” that substitutes gin for Jeff “Beachbum” Berry or Smugglers’ Cove. rum, and it is basically a Negroni on vacation.

This cocktail is pretty loose, so feel free to experiment with rum and gin. (I prefer gin, Black Manhattan because I am a contrarian.) The important According to Imbibe magazine, this cocktail thing is that you get 2 ounces of rum (or was created in 2005 at Bourbon and Branch gin)—as with most Tiki drinks, a mix of two (so the bar made this list twice), but I am rums is preferred—as well as an ounce each of pretty sure every bartender who has been in apricot liqueur, creme de coconut and lemon the game long enough has come up with this juice. It’s all really going to depend on your one on his or her own. I had a drink on the coconut cream and apricot, and the sugar levels can vary greatly. Make sure you put in an menu at my first real bar job (also 2005) in the mountains of Arizona that was exactly a black umbrella, blown backwards!

Manhattan, but with Jägermeister instead of Averna. Before you scoff, Jäger is an amaro, Army and Navy and I didn’t have bougie amari like the San Named after the Army and Navy Club, this is a Francisco bars did back then. So whether you mid-century classic that I have covered in the want to credit me or not, here is the consensus past—and, frankly, it’s a cocktail that I thought recipe: two ounces of rye whiskey, one ounce was horrific the first time I tried it. The key is a of Averna, and a dash each of Angostura quality orgeat, and if you don’t make your own and orange bitters; stir and serve up. I use at home, I certainly suggest procuring the best Ramazzotti instead of Averna, to get a little one you can find online or at a well-stocked closer to my original creation, but you can liquor store. I would start with 2 ounces of use any amaro you have (except for fernet). quality gin, an ounce of lemon juice, between In Palm Springs, this one is actually getting a half and a whole ounce of orgeat (depending some traction of late: Black Manhattans are big on the sweetness—it varies a lot!) and a solid sellers at Paul and Blackbook. dash of Angostura bitters. A lemon peel is the original garnish, but freshly grated nutmeg is the better choice. Flavor-wise, this one straddles The Boilermaker OK, this one is a beer and a shot, so you can the line of Tiki and classic, and it’s one of the argue with me over whether it’s even a cocktail. biggest “cult-favorites” out there.

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Use this list of underrated cocktails to reinvigorate your home bartending It’s always been my drink of choice, and it has a workman-like efficiency. If you pick your beer and shot well, it’s also pretty damn delicious.

Some favorites include a High Life and fernet; a stout and Irish whiskey; or a Mexican lager and tequila or mezcal (duh), but substitute Ancho Reyes for a real treat. A blonde ale and a light, orange-forward amaro is a completely underrated order; drop the amaro in the beer

for a Gallic delight.

I imagine a lot of you out there are getting a little stale with your home bartending, so I hope this helps until you can come and see me and my cohorts again.

Stay safe!

Kevin Carlow can be reached at CrypticCocktails@gmail.com.

A delicious black Manhattan. Kevin Carlow

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 23

JANUARY 2021

FOOD & DRINK

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THE OLD WEST, REVISITED T

BY andrew smith

he Red Dog Saloon first opened in 1946, and in 2020, the historic Pioneertown honky tonk got a relaunch. Driven by increased tourism, this relaunch is part of an ongoing revitalization in the high desert—and a literal resurrection for Pioneertown.

Pioneertown is a virtual oasis in the San Bernardino mountains, a 10-minute detour off the main road that runs through Yucca Valley. The town was built as a Western movie set by a group of investors that included such names as Dick Curtis, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. A walk up “Mane” Street might make you think of places like Universal Studios—but Pioneertown doubles as a fully functioning community. There are a few facades, but most of the stores, the post office, the bowling alley and, of course, the Red Dog you’d have been lucky to find one or two stores Saloon are all real. open, but today, you’ll find a half-dozen or In addition to hundreds of movie credits, more. The bowling alley, where Gene Autry Pioneertown was the home of long-running both filmed and rolled, is being restored, and series like The Gene Autry Show, The Cisco Kid the town also has a walk-in movie exhibit. and Annie Oakley. Living and breathing as a Adjacent to Pappy and Harriet’s is the working town, it became a second home for Pioneertown Motel. It had something of a many stars of the 1940s and ’50s.

Bates-like eeriness to it until two investors As one of Pioneertown’s original buildings, renovated and reformed it, turning it into the Red Dog Saloon epitomized the town’s a trendy, curated modern boutique. Those duality: It was a filming set during the day and same owners then turned their eyes to the a watering hole at night. Obviously, all those Red Dog Saloon. It reopened in August, and actors and production workers needed a place the relaunch seems to be on solid ground, to unwind. You wouldn’t be surprised to hear supported by the growing foot traffic the town that Roy Rogers was a regular. While I can’t is attracting despite the pandemic. There’s confirm this, rumor is that his horse, Trigger, a host of hospitality experience behind the would hang out inside the saloon, too. project, a group that includes a Los Angeles There were grand schemes for Pioneertown restaurant consortium, an award-winning that included an airport, a golf course and mixologist and a celebrity chef. (Our attempts more. But logistical issues, most notably a lack to get an interview with an owner were of water, led the focus away from urbanization, unsuccessful.) and Pioneertown’s sole industry was movie We’d scoped out the Red Dog Saloon a production. As the Western genre faded into month prior, after adding our names to the the sunset, so did Pioneertown. For almost 50 one-hour waitlist at Pappy and Harriet’s. years, it’s basically been a ghost town.

Unfortunately, we were too early for the Red A 1967 fire saw the end of the Red Dog Dog’s 4 p.m. opening time. More recently—a Saloon. It was deemed accidental, but few days prior to the December shutdown—we rumors—fueled by the burning of another discovered that the saloon had advanced its building days later—suggest otherwise. A opening hours to 11 a.m. My wife quipped that couple of relaunch attempts never really took many of the customers, like us, probably had off, and over the years, the saloon’s building their name on the Pappy and Harriet’s waitlist, had been used as a yoga studio, a post office too. The Red Dog is fortuitous in its design: and a church.

While the saloon was primarily built for an In modern history, Pioneertown has been indoor experience, management has added wholly synonymous with Pappy and Harriet’s a side window for quick grab-and-go food Pioneertown Palace, a bar and renowned indieorders—and that window now serves as their music spot. Over the years, it has attracted COVID-19-shutdown business model. They’ve almost every rock star imaginable and has also added a 100-seat, alcohol-approved, grabbed the attention of younger visitors from outdoor enclosure with picnic benches. around the country. As many people keep The current menu is Tex-Mex, centered discovering (the late Anthony Bourdain among around a variety of elevated, gourmet tacos. them), the food there belies the aesthetic of a When I say “elevated,” some will notice the grunge bar: Pappy’s makes fantastic outdoor elevated price: It’s $5 for a taco, but the cost barbecue and steaks, and the chili-cheese fries is justified by the quality and size. The larger have become my own monthly ritual. But tortillas are loaded. The cider-braised carnitas that’s another story for another day. and chicken tinga—with fire-roasted tomatoes, The growth of Pappy and Harriet’s has avocado and cotija—are especially delicious. brought new life to Pioneertown. At one time, However, my new fix is the delectable Wagyu

The newly renovated Red Dog Saloon is one more tasty reason to visit Pioneertown

beef brisket taco: It just melts in your mouth.

My wife, the vegetarian, was equally impressed by the vegan mushroom rajas taco (which is $4). The tacos are well supplemented by sides like the elote (braised corn on the cob with cream and cotija) and the full-flavored Rancho Gordo black beans, from which my rustic house-fried chips couldn’t stay away.

Subsequent research popped up numerous rave reviews for the queso, something I’ll have to try on my next visit.

The bar menu is heavy on tequila, mezcals, bourbon and rye, with several cocktails on tap. They’re true handcrafted cocktails—but made in large batches for expediency—with names like the lightning margarita (infused with jalapeño and cucumber). The saloon also offers a two-month-barrel-aged Negroni, a

mezcal paloma, and a couple of twists on the michelada. Cocktails are also conveniently served in to go cans. Personally, I was pleased to see a craft-beer menu that included locally brewed Joshua Tree Brewery beer.

Post-COVID, you’ll get to check out the elaborately renovated Old West interior. It incorporates original elements like the bar top and back bar, augmented by a vast collection of period-specific memorabilia. Meanwhile, the outdoor dining area offers an equally captivating experience. It’s a surreal combination of the Joshua Tree vibe, a 19th century frontier town, and some of the best food and drink that modern-day California has to offer.

For more information, visit www. reddogpioneertown.com.

The Red Dog Saloon reopened in August 2020. Andrew smith

CVIndependent.com

24 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2021

MUSIC CHALLENGE AS AN INFLUENCE C

By matt king

oachella Valley music fans have had a front-row seat to watch the evolution of James Johnson.

First, it was through the youthful indie pop-rock music of the infectiously named The Brosquitos. Next, it was via a short stint as the more-experimental-sounding Sleeping Habits.

Then it was with the full-on electronic and psychedelic sounds of Rival Alaska. Through all the names, genres and lineups, Johnson has been apart. We all moved to different cities. Max the frontman—and now he’s embarking on a (Powell) lives in San Diego now; Hugo (Chavez) solo journey. lives in Desert Hot Springs; I live in Palm The singer/songwriter is putting the Springs; and John (Anthony Clark) is living in finishing touches on a full-length album; Cathedral City. It’s really hard to get together, so far, he’s released two singles, “Purchased even just to get a picture—something that we Feelings” and “Let ’Em Go (With You),” with can upload letting people know we’re still alive. the latter premiering with a music video that … Then this coronavirus thing happened, and features Johnson exploring the valley when it kind of gave us even more of a reason not to he’s not loving on his cat. Both are danceable get together. We all have family members we electronic-pop songs that see Johnson want to protect, as well as ourselves. experimenting with a number of vocal and “It started becoming apparent that it would synth effects. be so much easier to take things into my own “It’s been in the back of my mind for a little hands and do it for my own cause. Overnight, while,” Johnson said about his new solo music, I just told myself I was going to go for it, and over a recent Zoom call. “Rival Alaska is still they’ve been really supportive of it. When we together; this is just a different project from get back to performing and stuff, they’re going that. The band is still ongoing. … This is just to be performing with this project, and I’ll still what I have now since we’ve been growing be performing with that project. Coronavirus is

James Johnson.

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Rival Alaska’s James Johnson works on a solo electronic-pop project during the live-show hiatus

mainly what made me do it.”

The idea of making music by himself is a brand new concept for Johnson—as is the brand of experimental pop he’s been creating.

“Recently, I started to get into electronic music, more production-wise,” Johnson said.

“I’ve always been into listening to it, but I never could’ve seen myself in a studio laying down keyboards and everything else. My girlfriend, who I live with, works in radio, and she was telling me that this is something that will get people’s attention, because it’s such a different tone. People will be like, ’Wow! That’s nothing like you had before.’ That was mainly my idea. It’s not so much an influence; I just wanted that shock value. I love taking on new things, and this is a huge production challenge for me to do. The main influence is just the challenge.”

Johnson is also handling his own production—in part because of some blunt advice.

“The guys and I had an interview; we were trying to get on this agency,” Johnson said.

“The dude gave us the best advice ever. … He’s an alternative guy, a big part of the industry, but I’ll leave out his name. We went over to his place, had a rehearsal for him, and it was a big ‘Woo hoo!’ for us. He asked who did our recording and producing; we told him it was this guy, this place, and we paid this much for it. He said, ’Great. You’re getting robbed. …

It sounds OK, but I guarantee you know your music best. You need to learn how to do this stuff on your own. If you can figure out how to get laid every Saturday night, you can figure out how to write your own song and produce it.’ After that, it really rang in all of our heads.

I went out and bought a laptop and all the equipment I needed, and that was the start of it. As hard as it was, it was like getting back on the bike and trying to ride it again.”

Johnson said he’s willing to help out others with music production, too.

“Because of COVID, I don’t like reaching out; I prefer people to reach out to me,” Johnson said. “I’m probably going to try to step in and help John, our guitarist from Rival Alaska, who’s going to be doing some solo stuff, too.

I’m going to be trying to weasel in there and get in my own creative, just as he’s done with me. I would love to produce an artist all on my own; it’d be amazing.”

As artists everywhere daydream about the day when they can play again live in front of fans, Johnson said he can’t wait to perform his solo music in front of a crowd—and he’s even figuring out ways his bandmates can help him

re-create the sound.

“A lot of the instruments I’m using are just pedal effects,” Johnson said. “Some of them are my voice with different effects on it, and it’ll sound like a flute or something crazy. We can make it sound just the same because of the effects we have in our system. Luckily, the guys are all multi-talented with instruments, and can pull off whatever they need to. I have full confidence in them.”

For now, he’s planning a string of streaming performances.

“I had the privilege of talking to a Facebook marketing expert, and we’re going to be starting a campaign of me doing some live shows and stuff,” said Johnson. “I’ve never tried it out, but I have seen it’s been working pretty well for some artists. As we all know, we have to find a way to adapt to stuff right now, so I have to give it a try, and I’m glad I got the support from Facebook, who can give me some expertise—because I have no idea. I’m more of the bedroom junkie who sits behind his computer and just writes.”

Johnson said he’ll ring in the new year with the new album.

“I was really aiming to try and release it before Christmas, but I had to push it back to January 2021,” said Johnson. “I want it to sound great, and there are times where I’m sitting in bed at 3 in the morning, and think of something I need to add to or change on a song. I realized that I’m still tearing stuff down and rebuilding it, so I shouldn’t be putting out any sort of release date, but I guarantee January will be the month. It will be a 10-to-11-track album.”

Johnson said the lessons he’s learned with his solo music will help make Rival Alaska better when the group can finally perform together again.

“I personally love bands,” Johnson said. “I realized that I love bands—not necessarily because of the sound that I’m hearing, because nowadays, you can do anything with that.

It’s the live value that I enjoy. When I go and see my favorite band, I see all these members onstage with all their different characteristics and elements. … I miss my guys being up there and supporting me, so going back, I want to build a little more teamwork—not that we didn’t have it, but I have more of an understanding of how much we really need each other onstage.”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ jxmesjxhnsxnmusic.

JANUARY 2021

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SOLO AT 16 V

AMP alum Brayden Davlantes leaves bands behind (for now) to create new music on her own

By matt king

ery few teens can truly say they’re musically experienced.

Brayden Davlantes is one of those few. Part of the Academy of Musical Performance program (AMP), Davlantes, 16, has been playing music nonstop for the past six years across a number of bands. Her most recent group was Minor Emergency—but now she is setting out on her own. of rock, respectively.

In recent months, Davlantes has released “I started making solo music last November two singles, “Still Pretty in California” and (in 2019),” Davlantes said during a recent “I Don’t Want to Hurt You.” Both tracks Zoom call. “Before that, I had been in a bunch are happy pop tunes that show Davlantes of bands, and I got out of a band in November experimenting with softer and heavier touches

Brayden Davlantes.

who was making music and writing original stuff. We all had differences creatively; none of us were similar, genre-wise. I didn’t ever think about writing by myself; I just always thought I was going to be in bands. I was in my first band when I was 9 … but when I got out of this past band, I thought I should try doing some of my own stuff, to see if I can and see if I like it. I really like it!”

The two singles released so far are surprisingly mature, lyrically and structurally.

Davlantes attributes this, in part, to years of studying the greats.

“My first band was a classic-rock band, and then (I started) AMP, and we played a lot of classic rock,” said Davlantes. “Then the band after that was all classic rock. I’ve been playing a lot of classic tunes with all of the bands I’ve been in, and I didn’t appreciate them when I was younger. I wasn’t in charge of deciding what songs we played, but I have grown to really enjoy the stuff that we played. … These songs are super-sick, and I’m glad that we did these. I think it influenced my writing.”

Davlantes’ lyrics show a knack for storytelling.

“I usually will hear stuff during the day, or something will come to mind, and I’ll write it in my notes,” said Davlantes. “It’s usually just one or two sentences, and then I’ll put it all together. There have been instances when I have sat down and written a whole song, but usually it is piece by piece. That is how I like to write. I think that’s how it flows the best, but I do write the lyrics before the music. A lot of people write their instrumental parts before their lyrics, but for me, it works better being able to understand the tone of the song before I write the music part of it.”

Many of Davlantes’ songs are spurred by things other people tell her, she said.

“A lot of the stuff I write is not personal experience; someone will tell me about an experience they had, and I will write about that,” Davlantes said. “That is how I have been writing recently, because I am pretty young, and I have not experienced that much in my life that I can write in the first-person about.

I’ve read a lot of interviews with some of the great artists I look up to, and they tell their own stories and other people’s stories. When someone tells you a story about something that happened to them, human nature is feeling sympathy and empathy for that person, so a lot of it comes from that. You can feel somebody else’s pain or happiness when they tell a story.”

Davlantes said yet more new music will be coming soon.

“I have two more recorded, finished and done,” said Davlantes. “I am also working on a lot of other songs that are not finished. I think I’ll keep it going month by month, and decide. I’ll probably release the next two in the next two months. These four will all be singles; they’re all really different, so they don’t really seem like an EP to me.”

Davlantes said she did not intend for her first four solo songs to be so varied.

“When I began writing songs and deciding which ones I wanted to record, I realized that they were all different,” Davlantes said. “I was like, ‘That’s fine; these are the first four songs I am putting out, and I am still trying to find my genre.’ I think (that today), you don’t really have to stick to a genre. There are a lot of artists (where) I don’t even know what their genre is, and I don’t even know if they know. I’m not going to make these songs into something they are not to try to fit a mold.”

Davlantes said she’s managed to make the best out of the recent stay-at-home pandemic reality.

“I definitely was aiming to finish the songs sometime this year, and quarantine helped make it so that I could just work all day on songs and music,” said Davlantes. “When school got out in March, there was nothing that I had to do, so I could work on music all day.

“Quarantine has been a good and a bad thing. We can’t play gigs, and a lot of people can’t work. A lot of artists who play restaurants and hotel gigs can’t work—but we can write.”

Most artists and musicians are aching for the day they’ll be able to perform live again.

Davlantes is in the same boat.

“I used to play so many gigs,” Davlantes said. “There was a point when I was in three bands at one time. I had a gig every weekend—sometimes weekdays, too, after school or something. I miss gigging; one of the most fun parts of being an artist is getting to play concerts. … I don’t know what the next five years will look like, COVID wise. I will definitely be gigging, but maybe not to the pace I was before. My whole childhood was a blur, but it was fun. Gigging was always fun, it was never a chore. … A month- or two-monthlong break would have been OK, but now it is a little excessive.”

For more information, visit www.braydendavlantes.com.

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MUSIC

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PROGRESSIVE PUNK A

Selexa’s debut single, ‘Tidal IX,’ shows the band cares about music with a message

By Matt king

ctivism and music often make for a perfect pair—as local three-piece Selexa knows well.

Oscar Escobar (guitar and vocals), Holden River Hartle (bass) and Isabella De Queiroz (drums) are as passionate about current issues as they are about rockin’. The band’s debut single, “Tidal IX,” combines grunge-punk elements with feminist lyrics, delivering a punch in the face with a message.

“Tidal IX”—we’ll get to the spelling in we’re still here a year and a half later. I was a minute—refers to an office at California really more of a drummer and guitarist at the State University, Channel Islands, where time. Bass was something that I’d never really Escobar lived in the dorms as a freshman. The practiced, but I figured, how hard could it be? office, which handles sexual assault victim“Since being in the band, my role as a bassist advocacy issues at the school, is named for the has changed a lot. Now I have a pedal that groundbreaking 1972 civil rights law, which allows me to play lead alongside Oscar. It’s barred discrimination based on gender in been really cool to watch my skills develop.” education.

Selexa’s previous drummer was Oscar’s “I remember walking the halls, and people cousin. would always say, ‘My friend got caught in “They asked me to come jam, and we talked some Title IX,’” Escobar said during a recent back and forth about that for about a year,” chat with the band members over Zoom. “I Queiroz said. “Eventually we jammed, and the never knew what that meant, so my friend three of us clicked like that. Then we were like, explained to me that … ‘she got caught in Title ‘What are we gonna tell the other drummer?’”

IX’ means she was sexually assaulted. This Added Hartle: “We knew from the first is the vanilla version of saying it; people feel rehearsal that this was our drummer. She uncomfortable actually saying ‘sexual assault.’ immediately came in and was on top of it. We ‘Title IX’ just became the term college kids have a really great chemistry with her.” used to talk about the many cases that happen.

Amid the lineup changes, the band has also “I would hear about it more and more, experimented with different names. and I have a bunch of friends who have gone “Bliss was our original name,” said Escobar. through it and have never got their justice.

“I came up with Bliss, because our old As a straight man, I just feel really helpless, drummer and I were really into WWE. My because I can’t sympathize with what they’re favorite wrestler always used the word Bliss, so going through. I never have to worry about when we were thinking of a name, we landed walking at night alone—so I just get really on Bliss. It wasn’t until we were about to angry about it. I showed up; River had that release our demo when I looked up Bliss, and I angry riff; Isabella was pounding her drums; saw there were a million people who use that in and I just started going. their artist name.

“The way I write lyrics, I just freestyle. We “We landed on Celexa, because that’s the record ourselves playing, and I’ll just say stuff medicine I used to take for my depression. into the mic that I’m mad about. I was mad I stopped taking it when I started playing about Title IX that day.” music, because I got a lot happier. … We got So … why is a song referencing Title IX a really good following on TikTok—then the spelled “Tidal IX”? pharmaceutical company that owns Celexa “At one rehearsal, our old drummer, Richie, emailed me and told us not to use the name wrote down ‘Tidal IX’ instead of Title IX, anymore. We went from a ‘C’ to an ‘S.’” because he didn’t know about the clause, and Added Hartle: “We’re just a local band, and just thought of tidal waves,” Escobar said. “The this big company that has nothing better to do name stuck.” came along and told us to not use the name.

Hartle said the band got its start thanks to We’re not even hurting anyone!” a flyer.

The band had originally planned to release an “I was getting coffee, like I did every album this year—but the pandemic helped the morning before school,” Hartle said. “I saw members realize they weren’t ready to do so. this flyer for a band called Bliss that was “Without shows, we just have a lot of time looking for a bass-player. I had never played to rehearse and write,” said Escobar. “We just bass with other people before, but after some wanted to hone in our skills and songs. It was encouragement from my friends, I went to an always the plan to record in July. Once COVID audition. Oscar and I gelled really well, and hit, we realized that the songs weren’t at the CVIndependent.com

Selexa.

stage we wanted them to be—so that’s when we got Isabella. It was exciting, but also a bit intimidating.”

Shortly after adding Queiroz, the band found itself at Sondy Studios.

“I was really nervous,” Hartle said. “I had never played bass before being in this band, and now I’m recording music that’s gonna be heard by a bunch of people. That’s a really scary thought. The first day in the studio, we were really stiff, and weren’t playing to our greatest strengths.”

Queiroz, too, was nervous.

“We had to record drums the first day, so it was just me there,” she said. “It was my first time playing on a recording, so I really didn’t want to fuck it up. It’s also with a producer who we didn’t know. We didn’t know this guy or the vibe.”

Added Hartle: “After a few days, we got comfortable with the studio and the engineer.

We definitely found our spot.”

Selexa released “Tidal IX” on Nov. 19. In the month that followed, the song received more than 4,200 Spotify streams and a steady following on TikTok. “The cool thing about ‘Tidal IX’ is that it didn’t take us a lot of takes,” Escobar said.

“That’s my first vocal take, one of Isabella’s first, one guitar, and one or two bass tracks.

It got released so quick because it really didn’t

take a lot to get it done.

“We have four other songs that we recorded a while ago, and those will go alongside ‘Tidal IX’ on our upcoming EP that will be out soon. We really don’t have a date yet, because we’re still getting them mixed. We recorded with Jake Sonderman, but we weren’t entirely happy with the way the mixes came out. I sent it to Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden), who didn’t like them, either, and now we’re going through the mixing process all over again.”

The band plans to keep releasing music with a message.

“It’s really nice that, because of TikTok, we’ve been able to reach people all over the world,” said Escobar. “They see that we’re very up front and very vocal about what we believe in, and they can identify with it. We get messages from transgender males and females saying that it’s really nice to have a band that openly supports them, and that they feel really safe listening to us.”

Added Queiroz: “This band is very inclusive with everybody. We’re a safe band. … I’m proud to say that I’m in this band, and I trust these two men with my drink.”

For more information, visit www.instagram. com/selexatheband or www.tiktok.com/@ selexatheband.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 29

JANUARY 2021

MUSIC

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

the

LUCKY 13

Meet the percussionist behind The Ghost Notes, and a renowned local audio engineer by matt king of the Fishbone shows I saw in the ’90s.

They have been and probably still are my favorite live band. That being said, I have been fortunate enough to be in Brazil during Carnival a couple times, and the music and pageantry is awesome (literally), so pick almost any afro bloco or samba school, and the show is going to be off the hook!

NAME Rob Peterson GROUP The Ghost Notes, among others MORE INFO When live shows were a thing, it was nearly certain that one could find The Ghost Notes playing a show any given weekend. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/TheGhostNotess. Rob Peterson—one of the most in-demand percussionists in the area—is the backbone of the group.

What was the first concert you attended?

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mary’s Danish at the Long Beach Arena on the Mother’s Milk tour. Both bands killed it!

What was the first album you owned?

A Chipmunks Christmas album.

What bands are you listening to right now?

Most of the time, my music library cycles on random, which leads to Debussy back to back with Eminem, to Marty Robbins, to Bad Brains, followed by some Herbie or Miles (or the combo) and then some Meshuggah to Elis Regina with a Fishbone chaser, and on and on. That being said, Throw the Goat’s “Capitol Hell” has been getting some focused play time lately, as well as Brazilian artist Vanessa Moreno.

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

Some of the stuff on pop radio makes me scratch my head and wonder what the appeal is, but for the most part, I can get behind or at least respect anything or any style that is done well, even if it’s not my cup of tea.

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

Nothing beats the energy or stage presence

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

The Fiddler on the Roof soundtrack, followed closely by E-40.

What’s your favorite music venue?

I have seen and played shows in a grip of venues that could compete as my favorite for various reasons, but Rhythm and Brews is the venue that will forever hold the top spot in my heart. The shows I saw there, and the experiences I had both on and off stage, and the love I have for that particular time in our music scene could fill a book.

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

Recently, it’s a line from an upcoming Parosella release I’m recording drums on called “Glue.”

The line is: “You would never forsake our days.”

What band or artist changed your life?

I’d have to say that Mötley Crüe, and specifically Tommy Lee, changed my life significantly. When I saw Tommy flipping upside down in his drum kit in the “Wild Side” video, I was sold.

Fishbone’s Give a Monkey a Brain and He’ll Swear He’s the Center of the Universe.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

“Unyielding Conditioning” by Fishbone.

NAME Jerry Whiting MORE INFO Many of the valley’s bands have walked into Room 9 Recording Studios in Redlands and been met by Jerry Whiting. This beast of an audio engineer is responsible for much of the Coachella Valley soundtrack, as he’s recorded releases by Sleazy Cortez, Captain Ghost, Robotic Humans and others. For more information, visit www.room9recording.com.

What was the first concert you attended?

These answers are really going to date me. It was day two of the Us Festival in 1983, which was the heavy-metal day—Quiet Riot, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Triumph, Scorpions and Van Halen. It was a pretty wild and epic concert for a young 16-year-old Jerry.

What was the first album you owned?

I believe they were Pink Floyd’s The Wall, Led Zeppelin IV and Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality. Not a bad introduction to music, and all three still really hold up.

What bands are you listening to right now?

Well, it’s mostly music I’m recording and mixing, but I’ve been obsessed with the band Opeth for a few years now. There are just so many textures and layers to their music. Lamb of God’s Resolution seems to always be on in my truck stereo. The song “King Me” is pretty sick!

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

EDM in general. I respect the passion and time the artist put into making the music, but it just doesn’t move me.

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

I’ve seen most of the artists and bands that I love, but the obvious answer is Led Zeppelin in their prime! Page and Bonham at the top of their game—you just can’t beat that!

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto in D Major” when I’ve had a little too much wine.

What’s your favorite music venue?

Hands down, Spanky’s in downtown Riverside.

It was a legendary club in the late ’80s and early ’90s. We would hang there every week and watch bands like L.A.P.D., who later on changed their name to Korn. My own band Ill Will opened up for bands like Nuclear Assault, DRI and Obituary there.

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

“Chains gon’ splash when I smash in the pool, yeah. I don’t take no nap, I be stacking two to two,” “24” by Arizona Zervas. One of my artists, Fall and Rise, recently covered this song, and I laugh every time I hear it.

What band or artist changed your life?

Jimmy Page literally made me quit the school orchestra and violin for the electric guitar.

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

To Jeff Hanneman from Slayer: “Why did you have to go so soon?”

What song would you like played at your funeral?

“Patterns in the Ivy” by Opeth.

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

The Blackening by Machine Head. Epic album!

What song should everyone listen to right now?

Anything by any Room 9 artist I’ve been lucky enough to work with!

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

I’d ask Larnell Lewis if I could take private lessons with him.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

“Sunrise, Sunset.”

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

I’d be taking a figurative bullet to the head.

I guess three albums that I can’t imagine not getting to ever hear again would be Pink Floyd’s Animals, Joni Mitchell’s Blue and CVIndependent.com

30 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2021

OPINION SAVAGE LOVE

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

MATTERS OF TRUST

BY DAN SAVAGE

I

’m a lesbian, and my girlfriend is bi. I’ve read your column and listened to your podcast for a long time, Dan, and I always thought I’d be fine with having a partner ask me about being monogamish. Then my girlfriend of about a year and a half told me she wants to see what other women are like. She says the thought of me sleeping with other people turns her on, but the prospect of her sleeping with other people only makes me nervous.

She came out later, and I’m the only woman she’s been with. I understand that, as a woman, I’ll never be able to give her what she might get from a man sexually and that sometimes she’ll want that, so there’s also that. We’ve talked about it, and it would have to be make rules that forbid the catching of feelings, a “don’t ask/don’t tell agreement. I would also get to feelings aren’t easily ruled. step outside the relationship; the other people would But people in closed relationships have have to know we’re in a relationship; and there been known to catch feelings for people they couldn’t be any “dates.” On top of all that, we’re aren’t sleeping with, i.e., co-workers, friends, long distance for now. friends of friends, partners of friends, siblings She says she loves me, and I believe her, and she of partners, partners of siblings, etc. So the says she doesn’t want to lose me. But she also says risk that a partner might catch feelings for she’s been dealing with these urges for a while and someone else isn’t eliminated when two people needs to address them. I don’t want to lose her. Do make a monogamous commitment—and yet you have any advice? sane, stable, functional people in monogamous relationships manage to get through the day Fretting Endlessly About Relationship Situation without being nervous wrecks, because they trust their partners are committed to them. And I understand your fears. People in committed even if their partners should develop a crush on non-monogamous relationships have been someone else … which they almost inevitably known to catch feelings for their outside sexual will … they trust that their partners aren’t going partners. While that doesn’t always doom the to leave them … which they still might. primary relationship, FEARS, catching feelings By which I mean to say: There’s risk in every for someone else inevitably complicates things. relationship, and it’s trust that helps us manage And while a non-monogamous couple can our fears about those risks. So if you trust your

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My girlfriend wants to open our relationship—but I’m afraid she’ll develop feelings for someone else girlfriend to honor the terms you’ve agreed to— DADT; fucks are OK; dates are not; the other women know she’s taken—and you trust she’s telling the truth when she says she loves you and doesn’t want to lose you, FEARS, then you should choose to believe her. Just like a person in a monogamous relationship chooses to believe their partner when they say they won’t fuck anyone else (even though they might) and won’t leave them for anyone else (even though they could), you can choose to believe your girlfriend will honor the rules you’ve laid out.

I’m at a bit of a loss. I met a guy that I really like at a nudist resort, of all places. I didn’t realize at the time just how much I was falling for him. He was trying to be more in the beginning, but I missed some very obvious signs. Hindsight is 20/20.

I’m incredibly guarded after growing up in an emotionally abusive household and am still dealing with some trauma after being raped a few years ago. By the time I realized how I felt about him, he surprised me by telling me he had a girlfriend.

I was trying to arrange a time to see him after I disappeared for a bit to face some demons from the past. I wanted to tell him how I felt in person.

Before I got that chance, he already had a girlfriend.

He and I run in the same kinky circles, and I ran into them at an event. I actually got a horrible sinking feeling in my stomach, which I didn’t expect.

I never told him how I felt about him. I’m happy that he is happy with her, but it hurts nonetheless.

He matters enough to me that I would be content keeping him in my life even if it’s just as a friend.

My question is: Should I tell him how I feel and risk losing him altogether, or do I let him be happy with his girlfriend and not tell him that I fell hard for him? I know he might not reciprocate my feelings. That’s OK if he doesn’t, but the not knowing, I think, hurts more than the truth would.

Hopeless Romantic Nailing The Hopeless Part If the not knowing hurts more than losing his friendship would—if not knowing whether you had a shot with him and blew it—then you should tell him how you feel (or felt) and express regret for missing the obvious signs and disappearing on him. And as painful as it might be to hear that he wouldn’t want to be with you even if he were single—and that’s the worst-case scenario—you will get over it and get over him. Best-case scenario, HRNTHP: He had no idea you were into him; he’s not serious about the new girlfriend; and he’d rather date you. Less-than-best-case scenario: He might be willing to date you if 1. things don’t work out with his new girlfriend, and 2. you’re still single

at that point.

In the meantime, don’t pass on any other opportunities that come your way—and be courteous, polite and non-toxic when you run into them together at kinky events.

I’m writing to beg you—to implore you—to make some sort of desperate, last-ditch attempt to hold back the tide of linguistic confusion over the word “come.” Yes, that is the word, readers of Savage Love. It’s “come.” It’s not “cum.” The past tense is “came,” not “cummed.” (Yes, Dan, people are now saying and typing “cummed.”) In the past, I’ve been content to merely grumble cantankerously.

The final straw came over the last several months when, while watching a lot of international TV and movies, I noticed—to my horror—that the people responsible for the subtitles are using “cum.” Yes, the semi-literate usage of online free-porn-posters has now polluted the entire planet’s comprehension of this simple English word.

I turn to you, DS, to do something about this—to come out loudly and proudly for coming, loudly and proudly. This isn’t just about spelling. It’s about losing the meaning of the word: It signifies an arrival.

By the way, you owe me one, Dan. I was raised in Winnipeg, whose inhabitants, Winnipeggers, refer to their home affectionately as “The ’Peg.” You’ve turned any reference to my hometown into a source for snickers amongst the same sort of childish people who use “cum.” The least you can do, in recompense, is restore the simple dignity of “come.”

Canadian Opposes Mangled English I’m on your side, COME. I’ve been fighting a lonely battle against “cum,” “cumming” and (shudder) “cummed” for as long as I’ve been writing this column. I confess to having sinned a few weeks ago when I used the term “cumblebrag.” But in my defense, that was obviously a pun and—for the record—my onetime use of “cum” in the service of a joke should not be construed as an endorsement of “cum.”

(The eye stumbles over “comeblebrag,” so it wouldn’t have worked to use “come.”)

As I’ve written before, we don’t have alternate spellings for other words that have both sexual and non-sexual meanings. Seeing as we don’t “suk dik” or “eet pussee,” there’s no earthly reason why we should “cum” on someone else or be “cummed” upon ourselves.

Oh, and sorry about that, Winnipeggers.

Read Savage Love every Wednesday at CVIndependent.com; www.savagelovecast.com; mail@savagelove.net; @FakeDanSavage on Twitter.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 31

JANUARY 2021

OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

“J’Accuse!”—they’re in there.

By Matt Jones Across 1 Sluggish 5 Arm gesture done by kids graduating elementary school 8 Hosts in one’s apartment (remember that?)

13 The A in A.D. 14 Public radio host Glass 15 Early online newsgroup system 17 The Caine Mutiny novelist 18 ___ squared (circle formula) 19 Act as a go-between 20 Bygone laptop company’s fiscal year division?

23 “Bleh!”

25 “As Seen on TV” knife brand 26 Dinnerware collections 27 Batman Forever actor Kilmer 28 “Messenger” material 29 Talent for detail, maybe 32 “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly ___ Jepsen 33 General ballpark 35 It may be educated 37 “How does a company

reserve a symbol to trade?” and “How does it differ from NYSE?” 44 Photographer Diane 45 Button alternative 46 Greek M’s 49 Long-running forensic drama with an upcoming reboot 50 Mineral spring 53 Airport posting 54 Catchall abbrs.

56 Largest moon of Saturn 58 Particle accelerator particle 59 “Me shooting 40% at the foul line is just God’s way to say nobody’s perfect,” for instance?

63 Playwright Beckett 64 Suffix for Gator or Power 65 Idaho neighbor 68 Midway through a migraine, e.g.

69 In the Heights Tony winner ___-Manuel Miranda 70 Adult ___ (Cartoon Network offshoot) 71 Leg bone (connected to the arm bone?)

72 China’s Sun ___-sen 73 Male cats

Down 1 Ocelot foot 2 See 4-Down 3 Sonic the Hedgehog’s echidna friend 4 With 2-Down, interviewee for John Lennon retrospectives 5 ___ Dots (cryogenic ice cream brand) 6 “thank u, next” singer Grande 7 Hires competitor 8 Platform for the Animaniacs reboot 9 Bhutan’s continent 10 Retailer that filed for bankruptcy in 2018 11 No divider, they 12 Spanish currency preeuro 16 Briefly stated 21 Ball club VIP 22 Leicester lineup 23 Kindergarten Cop director Reitman 24 Model/actor Delevingne 30 “For real?” response 31 ME zone, in winter 34 Holly Hunter, in The Piano 35 Astronaut Grissom 36 “Pretty sneaky, ___” (Connect Four ad line) 38 Storyline progression

39 Many Super Bowl MVPs 40 Capital at over 9,000 feet 41 Like 50/50 odds 42 Alphabet where X is “X-ray” 43 Bridge section 46 Argentine soccer superstar Lionel 47 1960s United Nations secretary general 48 Dish prepared with garlic butter and white wine 50 Google gaming service as of 2019 51 Inventor’s concern 52 Allergic to Water singer DiFranco 55 Fledgling pigeon 57 Rome home 60 Royally named liner, briefly 61 Arm bone (connected to the leg bone?)

62 Force to leave 66 Objective 67 Letters on British battleships © 2020 Matt Jones Find the answers on the “About” page at CVIndependent.com!

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32 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2021

This year focus on what matters most…

your health & comfort

We all have been spending more time indoors and the air quality of the air in your home can make a difference in how you feel. An AirAdvice indoor air quality (IAQ) test with General Air Conditioning & Plumbing makes the invisible visible and shows you how to make your home as healthy, comfortable, and as safe as possible. The test will determine any problems your home might have with heating/cooling, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, carbon monoxide, dust particles and volatile organic compounds (VOC). It’s just the first step you can do this year to take care of you and the air in your home. Call today to schedule!

$

59

INDOOR AIR QUALITY TEST

Service is our Obsession | 760.206.3233 | CalltheGeneral.com Not valid with other offers or on previous purchases. See company representative for more details that may apply. Offer ends January 31, 2021. Lic #686310

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