2 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 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 Dennis Wodzisz Contributors Kevin Allman, Charles Drabkin, Max Cannon, Kevin Carlow, Katie Finn, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Clay Jones, Matt Jones, Jocelyn Kane, Matt King, Keith Knight, Cat Makino, 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 All content is ©2021 and may not be published or reprinted in any form without the written permission of the publisher.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, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, 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.
CVIndependent.com
In recent weeks, life has started to feel a lot more ... well, normal. And this is a blessed, lovely thing. On April 18, I played my first softball game in 16 months, when the Palm Springs Gay Softball League returned to action after a pandemic-forced hiatus of more than 13 months. I was rather emotional before stepping on the field for two reasons: One, the fact that the resumption of play signifies the waning (?) of the pandemic, and two, a year ago at this time, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to play softball again. I missed the spring 2020 season—all two weeks of it, before COVID-19 shut it down—after dislocating my right (dominant) elbow. My doctor told me I’d probably need UCL reconstruction, aka Tommy John surgery, because my ulnar collateral ligament was completely torn. If I didn’t have the surgery, he said, I’d probably never again be able to play softball at my (admittedly rather low) accustomed level. At this time last year, I rehabilitated my busted elbow with physical therapy three days per week, working toward a return to normalcy that I wasn’t sure would ever come, both due to the pandemic and my elbow. Fortunately (?), it turns out that my UCL has probably been torn for more than two decades, and I am able to throw just fine without it. Even more fortunately, those vaccines that scientists were feverishly working on this time last year work. It’s because of these vaccines that I will soon be seeing my mom and my in-laws for the first time since Christmas 2019. All of our 2020 plans to get together were cancelled by … well, you know. But we’re all fully vaccinated, so we can finally see each other (with appropriate cautions, of course). Being able to see my mom ... hooray for normalcy. In the vein of normalcy: Last month, I mentioned that we planned on bringing back The Venue Report in this issue— and I am relieved to say that, indeed, we have. Since most of the larger venues remain closed, this iteration of The Venue Report is a bit smaller than previous ones, and includes some different sorts of places—but, hey, at least we have some live entertainment back! You can find The Venue Report for May on Page 33. Here’s hoping that the state’s announced plans to drop the COVID-19 tier system, and allow the vast majority of the state’s businesses to reopen at full capacity on June 15, come to fruition. That’s only one print edition of the Independent away! Stay safe. Please, please get vaccinated if you haven’t already. And welcome to the May 2021 print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent. As always, thank you for reading. —Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com
MAY 2021
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 3
CVIndependent.com
4 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
OPINION OPINION
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS J
BY ANITA RUFUS
oanie Bayhack’s energy comes through clearly—even on the phone. The fitness advocate and instructor is clearly her own best advertisement for health and physical activity. Bayhack, 65, was born in Portland, Ore., but spent most of her life in Chicago. For the past seven years, she has lived in Indian Wells half the year. “As a child, my family used to come to the desert a lot, and there’s really no place more beautiful,” she says. After high school, Bayhack majored in journalism at the University of Oregon. She spent time in Paris before her junior year of college; her dad admonished her to finish her degree. “He was a prominent international attorney,” she says, “and he was brilliant and handsome. names were taken from his culture,” she says. He had a short first marriage to the nurse who “I also have two grandchildren, and I’ve found took care of him after he fell out a window. that love is so different with grandchildren! I’ve They had three kids. Then he fell in love with now been with the same partner, Robert, for and married his secretary, who was only 19 at the past 13 years.” the time. They had three more kids. He was 55 One of Bayhack’s cherished memories as when I was born. My dad loved all his children a young woman came when the producers of and worked hard so we could all get educated. Animal House shot in Eugene, Ore., and were He died in 1979.” looking for extras. Bayhack says her mother was an interesting “I signed up and got to meet John Landis, woman. “She was very bright and witty, and the director,” she says. “I got to go to the one of the top skiers in Oregon—an avid premiere and met his publicist, which led to mountaineer, and very athletic. She was also about 40 years of career for me, including with very independent, with great style. She was a WTTW, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) feminist, and I feel so fortunate with what I station in Chicago.” learned from her. She never finished college, Bayhack’s first job after college was in so her strong message to me was to pursue the magazine division of Playboy, where she lifelong learning and not be boring. She learned how to pitch stories and how media was my role model. She was always curious works. and went back to school, where she became “I was exposed to the who’s-who in Chicago fascinated with mortuary science, got a real media—people like Phil Donahue, Ann estate license, and was always trying new Landers and Oprah Winfrey. As a kid, I loved things. She died in 2008. “Another important childhood influence was to write. I got a journal as a birthday gift when the woman we knew as Auntie Wilma, who was I was in about third-grade—and re-discovered it during the COVID pandemic. It was hired to take care of us when we were young. fascinating re-reading it. She was loving and sweet, and I never heard “My career includes working in both her say a negative word about anyone.” television and radio, and I ultimately became Bayhack has three daughters who live in senior vice president of communications and Chicago: Taylor, Chloe and Romy. corporate partnerships at WTTW.” “Their father was South African, so their
CVIndependent.com
Meet Joanie Bayhack, a former media executive with a passion for dance and fitness
Joanie Bayhack: “When you dance, you can’t think about anything else. That leads to self-confidence and mental health as well.”
What led to Bayhack’s current passion for dance and physical fitness? “I started dancing in the sixth-grade,” she says. “At ballet, I was the worst in the class. I just couldn’t remember the combinations. But I kept going, even through all my pregnancies. I took a class called ‘BeMoved’ in Chicago and found I could follow the movements lyrically, whether it was moving to gospel or Rat Pack music.” Bayhack is certified as a “BeMoved” teacher; she teaches at the Joslyn Center and around her poolside in Indian Wells. She also teaches dance-fitness at the Braille Institute. “I volunteer, because my greatest joy is giving others joy,” Bayhack says. “I feel so fortunate that I can do things that give me such a gratifying feeling. I love everyone who comes to my classes, and when it comes to the Braille participants, I admire those people so much—their energy and courage. I’ve had to learn how to teach intricate movements to people who can’t see, and thus don’t have the ease of copying what I’m doing. I have to think and speak in pictures. I actually love it when they don’t do it right, because it pushes me to describe things in new ways. I never want them to feel frustrated or inadequate, because I know what that feels like, from when I first
started dancing. “I’ve just been invited to teach a youth class, so I have to figure out what music to use. It means a lot to me to have the confidence to do new things, although I don’t want to fail, even though I know it’s OK. I want to be good at what I do. I’m my own worst critic.” Bayhack is now back in school, studying criminal justice online. “I’m thinking about what I want to accomplish next,” Bayhack says. “I believe you’re the architect of your own life, and as long as I can be productive, I know I’ll be happy. “My fitness message to everyone is to realize the mind/body/soul connection to health, and thus to happiness, and to be more able to deal with life. When you dance, you can’t think about anything else. That leads to self-confidence and mental health as well. Find something you love to do in your living room, and as my mother used to say, ‘Never be boring.’” 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
MAY 2021
Free Self HIV Test Mailed to You
No Obligation Visit daphealth.org for more information
CVIndependent.com
6 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
OPINION OPINION
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS
Meet Erin Teran, a nurse, mother, political activist and COVID-19 survivor
BY ANITA RUFUS
I
ndio resident Erin Teran has a variety of first-hand experience with COVID-19—as both a nurse and as an individual who had the disease. Teran, 40, was born in Palm Springs and raised in Indio; she comes from a local family that goes back generations. Both her father and grandfather attended high school in the Coachella Valley, and Teran’s own commitment to the area included a run for the Indio City Council last year. The idea of service comes from her father, a person she describes as “fun-loving, generous and someone who becomes friends with everyone. He taught me to treat everyone equally, or better, and that there’s always enough to take care of others who may not have enough. He’s really the hero in my life. If I can live my life the way he’s lived his, I’d look back and be happy with the go to law school. outcome.” Teran lost the man she calls the love of her Teran’s father—whose own dad worked in life 20 years ago—just two weeks after their agriculture, and whose mom drove a school daughter was born. bus—earned a degree in recreation and worked “I consider my daughter one of my heroes,” with local Boys Clubs for many years. Teran says. “When we lost her dad, I wanted “He always said he had a lot of kids,” Teran to just lay down and die. She gave me a reason says, “and he always gave back to others.” to keep going and be better. I’ve not only Teran says her mother taught her the known loss in my job, but also in my life. importance of a strong work ethic. Everything can make me cry—weddings, “She was the one who always had to get babies, friendships—and I’ve cried a lot during up early and go to work,” Teran says. “She the pandemic.” graduated college while I was in high school, When Teran’s father’s wife got cancer, and went on to earn a master’s degree in Teran watched as numerous nurses cared for education and became executive director of her stepmother—and the experience led her the COD Alumni Association. She was clearly to go to nursing school. After becoming a a feminist and had a huge impact on me. She registered nurse, she worked at Desert Regional always said I might be treated differently and Medical Center, and had a stint as a union have to work harder, but I could have whatever representative. I wanted.” “We didn’t have enough PPE (personal Teran is an only child—and laughs when she protective equipment), and I became very notes that her parents always said they got it vocal,” Teran says. “Unfortunately, that led to a right the first time. lot of pushback. I’m not very good at keeping After high school, Teran worked at a law my mouth shut, and I was concerned about my firm, which paid for her to become a paralegal. co-workers. I decided it just wasn’t healthy for She spent 10 years working as a paralegal and me to stay there any longer. legal secretary, working on real estate and “Last August, I got COVID,” she says. “I was probate. She eventually went back to school for an English-literature degree, and she planned to out of work for about eight weeks, and I then
MARKET
GET 25 TO 50 PERCENT OFF GIFT CERTIFICATES TO SOME OF THE VALLEY'S TOP RESTAURANTS!
ONLY AT CVINDEPENDENT.COM
CVIndependent.com
Erin Teran: “Becoming a nurse is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It has given me the opportunity to give back. I love what I do: Taking care of others.”
accepted a part-time nursing position in Indio, and then had the opportunity to do travel nursing. “I was at El Centro Regional Medical Center when they were at their peak with the virus. On my first shift there, I had two codes (indicating cardiopulmonary arrest). I had one shift to train to care for six very sick patients. I remember having a man reach for my hand. He had been fine, and then suddenly, he looked so scared. After that patient died, I sat in my car and cried for an hour. I posted what was happening to me (on social media) and had thousands of views. I thought it was important for people to see the raw emotion. “Becoming a nurse is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It has given me the opportunity to give back. I love what I do: Taking care of others.” Teran’s commitment to the community also includes political activism. The Independent first met Teran last June, when she helped organize the #NoMoreHashtags protest in Indio, following the death of George Floyd. “I’ve always been one to speak up when I see that something is wrong,” Teran says. “When Donald Trump was president, I felt strongly the need to get involved on a local level.” Teran became a member of the Democratic
Women of the Desert and served on the board. After working on a successful local political campaign, she decided to make a run of her own for a seat on the Indio City Council in 2020. “With the pandemic happening, I decided to just go for it,” she says. Teran lost the election—but says she never felt disappointed. “When the votes came in, I saw how many people had put their confidence in me,” she says. “I may decide to do it again. I’ll definitely stay involved; I’m not going away.” Teran is currently serving as the program chair for the Democrats of the Desert. Although she’s still battling some lingering symptoms due to COVID-19, Teran says she is looking forward to a new chapter in life. “I’ve always been a people-pleaser, but now I can just be true to myself,” she says. “I’ll certainly continue giving back to the community. I love Indio and the people who live here.” 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 // 7
MAY 2021
2021-2022 EVENTS
#1 for What’s Happening In Greater Palm Springs
For the latest Events, Visit GayDesertGuide.LGBT April 29-May 1 May 1-2
Palm Springs Air Museum Annual Event Rainbow Challenge Golf Tournament
May 27-31
NAGAAA Cup LGBTQ Softball Tourney
June 22-28
PS International Film Festival ShortFest
July 4
AAP Food Samaritians Independance Day Celebration
Sept. 17-20
White Party Palm Springs Solstice – A New Beginning
Sept. 18 Sept. 29-Oct. 3 Oct. 11
Aging Positively / Reunion Conference Club Skirts Dinah Shore Out PSP: National Coming Out Day
Oct. 14-17
Modernism Week Fall Preview
Oct. 15-17
Casual Concours (Gay Autos of Yesterday)
Oct. 22-23
LGBTQ Community Center Fall Party
Oct. 27 Oct. 28-31 Oct. 31
Pride Honor Awards Leather Pride 2021 Halloween on Arenas
Nov. 3-6
Light Up the Night
Nov. 6-7
Palm Springs Pride 2021
Nov. 7 Nov. 19-21 Jan. 6 2022 Jan. 6-17 2022 Feb. 25-27 2022 May 6-8 2022 Oct 24-28 2022
GayDesertGuide.LGBT
Pride Parade McCormick’s Palm Springs Exotic Car Auction Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala Palm Springs International Film Festival McCormick’s Palm Springs Exotic Car Auction
@ILoveGayPS
PS Hot Rodeo International Bear Convergence IBC 2022
For Nightlife, Bar Events and Happy Hours, Visit Our New “After Dark” Section.
Find Us/Follow Us!
@GayDesertGuide #ILoveGayPalmSprings #ILoveGayCatCity
CVIndependent.com
8 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
OPINION OPINION
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION
HIKING WITH T W
It’s rattlesnake season—and snakes should be respected and avoided
BY THERESA SAMA
hy are we conditioned to be so terrified of snakes—especially rattlesnakes? Put the fear aside for a moment, and consider all the good snakes do for us and the environment. They’re a natural source of pest control. They eat insects and rodents like mice, rats and ground squirrels—which can carry diseases, destroy produce and damage property. Snakes deserve appreciation and respect for their role in our ecosystem. It’s also important to know that rattlesnakes are not looking to harm people—unless they are provoked. When you are out hiking on the trails, you are in their territory, so always keep an eye out for them. When you see or hear a rattlesnake, back away calmly, and/or safely move around the snake. Respect its space by keeping a distance of at least 10 feet (or 10 steps) as a general rule. or in a crevice. Check again before you get up, A rattlesnake can strike from any position. as you may startle a rattlesnake into striking If you approach a coiled rattlesnake, or if the head is raised with the rattle rattling, the snake without warning (or rattling). Also, always is prepared to strike. It’s best to just leave them step on—not over—logs, big rocks and other objects. be; don’t try to get close enough to identify If you hike or run on mountain or desert the type of snake, and never, ever try to pick them up or handle them in any way, unless you trails a lot, you’ve likely had multiple encounters with rattlesnakes—and I am no exception. are trained to do so. Most bites happen when While running, you’re not likely to see a snake rattlesnakes are handled or touched, be it on at all, unless it is stretched out across the trail; purpose or by accident. most of the time, you’re either over them or If you take a break and sit on a log or a past them before you hear the rattle: It’s a youbig rock, always check around it first, as startle-them, they-startle-you moment. rattlesnakes could be sheltering at the base I once was running on a fairly wide service trail in the Palm Springs area when I swung too wide on a turn and got a little too close to the edge of the trail—where, little did I know, a rattler was hanging out underneath a creosote bush. It was probably awaiting prey, as it was near sunset, the time when snakes are most active and often hunting for food. When I heard the rattle, I instantly sprung into the air and kept running. That was a close call! It was nearly 10 years ago—and to this day, I jump
Paisley Ramstead.
CVIndependent.com
every time I hear a lawn sprinkler come on. Another time, I was running along a sandy trail with my dog, and we ran right past a rattler that was stretched out along the right side of the trail. We couldn’t have been more than 12 inches away from the rattler, which blended with the sand and made it difficult to see. The rattler, however, didn’t even make a sound or move; I circled back just to make sure it was what I thought it was and to see if it was alive, while keeping my distance. I took a quick picture—which turned out blurry, due to my shaking hands. Learn from my example: Always stay on the trail (in the middle, when possible), and always keep dogs on a leash! To gain a better understanding of rattlesnakes, I spoke with Paisley Ramstead, a field biologist at the University of California, Riverside, Center for Conservation Biology. Ramstead is also the creator and administrator of the Palm Springs Reptile Appreciation group on Facebook, a moderator of the Discover Wild Coachella Facebook group, and a trained professional in snake removal. She grew up in Palm Springs and has always been fond of desert reptiles, particularly snakes. “The creation of the Palm Springs Reptile Appreciation group on Facebook was a response to the growing number of posts requesting snake identification or control in other neighborhood groups—and the heartbreaking ‘the only good snake is a dead snake’ comments that would inevitably follow,” Ramstead said. “Because I was already
Rattlesnakes are out and about—especially around sunset. Photo courtesy of Paisley Ramstead
spending a lot of time with reptiles in my work and play, I wanted to create a space where my findings could help others learn to be less afraid of our scaly neighbors—and, of course, where they could share the excitement of a reptile spotting as well.” Ramstead said the Coachella Valley has at least 20 species of snakes, including five rattlers, and that rattlers are the only snakes here that are venomous in a medically significant way. “The possibility of encountering a rattlesnake makes a lot of people nervous about taking advantage of our hiking trails and public lands, but I want people to know that a snake encounter is an exciting opportunity that can easily remain safe for everyone,” Ramstead said. “When hiking, always stay on trails, and avoid putting your feet or hands where you can’t see. If you see a snake, give it plenty of space, and slowly walk away from or around it. Most importantly, never, ever pick up or approach a snake, or any animal, that you can’t quickly identify!” In the event of a rattlesnake bite, remain calm, and get to a hospital as quickly as possible. Rattlesnake bites can be deadly and very costly—all the more reason to avoid encounters with rattlesnakes. Join the Palm Springs Reptile Appreciation group at www.facebook. com/groups/271643494230471; you can support Ramstead’s efforts via Venmo @ PaisleyintheDesert.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 9
MAY 2021
From Safety Net programs to Life Enrichment
we are here for you visit us online at
www.thecentercv.org 1301 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262 & 1515 Sixth Street, Coachella, CA 92236 CVIndependent.com
10 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
MAKE THE EASY CHOICE
THE #1 CHOICE COMFORT AIR WE'RE #1 FOR A REASON
ASK US
ABOUT OUR 0% FINANCING
Awarded Best AC Repair Company By Coachella Valley Independent Up to $1000 Off + Special Financing On A New HVAC System HIGHEST QUALITY EQUIPMENT EXTENSIVE WARRANTIES
BEST PRICE GUARANTEED 24/7 LOCAL SUPPORT
SAVE UP TO
60% ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL*
LENNOX SIGNATURE SERIES SYSTEM
*SAVINGS AND RESULTS MAY VARY
CALL TODAY FOR DETAILS! CVIndependent.com
760.320.5800 comfortac.com
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 11
MAY 2021
NEWS
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
HELP WANTED O
Restaurants are enjoying increased capacity and more business—but are having issues hiring enough people
by kevin fitzgerald
n March 17, Riverside County at long last moved into the less-restrictive COVID-19 “red tier”—meaning Coachella Valley restaurants could again open for indoor dining, at 25 percent capacity. On April 7, the county graduated into the orange tier, allowing for 50 percent capacity. However, these capacity increases weren’t necessarily economic boons at all restaurants— because some of them are having difficulty finding enough employees to even handle outdoor dining. “There are a whole variety of issues,” said Dean Lavine, the owner of Blackbook bar and sector—far surpassing the overall hiring restaurant on Arenas Road in Palm Springs, increase of 7.4 percent across all business during a recent phone interview. “We have types. So, obviously, the demand for restaurant issues with getting product. You know, other workers is up. industries are having distribution problems, “If you told me right now that I could open and that affects our industry. up at 100 percent, I would literally be pulling “We have issues with hiring people. The my hair out, because I wouldn’t know how talent pool is not as deep as it was before to staff the restaurants, and I wouldn’t know the pandemic, and there could be numerous what to do,” said Rene Alcala, the owner of reasons for that. I’ve heard that people (in the the two Bubba’s Bones and Brews locations in service industry) have moved away during Cathedral City and Palm Desert, and Barrel the pandemic to other states that weren’t District in Cathedral City. as locked down. Also, stimulus money and The lack of staff has caused some unemployment money are keeping a lot restaurants to close on days that owners would of people on the sidelines. For instance, I love to be open. regularly get EDD (Employment Development “We have been closed on Tuesdays and Department) notices for former employees Wednesdays,” said Patrick Service, owner who were out of work who have not returned of Las Casuelas Terraza, in downtown Palm phone calls to come back to work. So, every Springs. “In order to open up seven days a month or so, they have to check in with the week like we’d been doing for 41 years, we EDD, and then the EDD has to check in with need to add staff—and not just add staff who us to see if there are any issues with them are willing to work, but add staff who are continuing to be on unemployment. So I know the right fit for us. We would like to serve as they’re out there and on unemployment, many meals as possible, but we want to do it and they’re not working. I’ve had employees excellently, and in the style we are accustomed who said they’ll come back and work two to practicing, and in a manner that keeps our days a week—as long as it doesn’t affect their family environment intact. So, it has been a unemployment.” challenge.” But aren’t Californians who are collecting Alcala talked about a particularly frustratunemployment required to accept any ing day. reasonable employment opportunities offered “We were planning to get ready for the to them? opening (of indoor dining), so we had about 10 “I’m told there’s a place on the form interviews set for one day,” Alcala said. “Well, where they can just say that they don’t feel that was the same day that (the U.S. Senate) comfortable or safe to go back to work,” Lavine approved the extra money for the $1.9 trillion replied. “So it’s kind of a Catch-22. We are stimulus package. So when that happened, short about 20 percent of our staff. So, now three people called up and said they weren’t have new capacity available to us, and Palm Springs has seen an excellent uptick in tourism coming. One person told me they had gotten COVID all of a sudden on that day. Two or of late. Maybe it’s because of the vaccine; three others just didn’t show. We wound up maybe it’s because of COVID fatigue, but 0-for-10 that day.” business is good. That being said, I can’t open Some fortunate restaurant owners have as early as I want to yet, because I can’t find escaped this personnel deficit. Sheri Pierattoni, enough human beings to work.” owner of Piero’s PizzaVino in Palm Desert, According to United States Census Bureau said her restaurant remains open for lunch and data, between March 15 and March 21, dinner seven days a week. the country saw a 14.7 percent increase “There’s been a real minor turnover,” she in the number of new hires made by the said. “You know, most of our staff has been accommodations and food-service business
Blackbook owner Dean Lavine: “We are short about 20 percent of our staff. So, now have new capacity available to us, and Palm Springs has seen an excellent uptick in tourism of late. ... Business is good. That being said, I can’t open as early as I want to yet, because I can’t find enough human beings to work.”
with us for a long time. They’re loyal to us, and we’ve established a beautiful camaraderie in the restaurant. We may have lost a few who travelled away.” What has been her biggest challenge in re-launching indoor dining? “During the past summer, we established a very healthy to-go business,” Pierattoni said. “So now we’re running two businesses in the restaurant, and the challenge is having the kitchen keep up with it.” We spoke to Pierattoni just after the first weekend of re-opened indoor dining. “We had the busiest weekend we’ve ever had,” she said. Despite other difficulties facing local restaurants—including hikes in the cost of traditional needs like food items and packaging materials; the refurbishing of dining areas left dormant for months; and the purchase of heat lamps and umbrellas to guarantee outdoordining comfort—all of the owners we spoke with expressed a belief that better days are finally here. “Look, I know that with everything I mentioned, it sounds like, ‘Oh, it’s so difficult. Woe is me,’” Blackbook’s Lavine said. “But the reality is that we could be shut down. The reality is that we’ve survived, and I’m grateful for that. The people we have working with us and for us are happy to be where they’re at. The majority of all people want to work. Eighty
percent is a good number of people who are excited to work—but that other 20 percent affects how the whole experience goes.” Alcala expressed cautious optimism. “I think we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It doesn’t look as bad (as it did), but we’ll see what happens.” Pierattoni, at Piero’s PizzaVino, declared: “We’re open, and there’s life back in the restaurant. We’re all loving it. People are making money, and the staff is working their ass off.” Las Casuelas Terraza’s Service praised his staff—and the community as a whole—for handling the craziness of the past year. “We’re doing all three types of service— takeout, outdoor dining and indoor dining,” he said. “It would be a challenge, except when you have people who have been working here almost since the day (the restaurant first) opened, their resiliency and the amount of institutional knowledge here is just unbelievable. It’s awe-inspiring to watch everyone come back and just roll with the punches. They are inspiring. “We’re excited to welcome everybody back, and we hope that things continue to get better, and that people feel better and stay healthy. We want to be a big part of getting everybody back to their normalcy—their routine and just the happiness we all had before. We want to be a part of getting back to loving life.” CVIndependent.com
12 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
NEWS
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
BACKUP NEEDED T
by kevin fitzgerald
he uninterrupted flow of clean drinking water to more than 32,000 residences and businesses in the eastern Coachella Valley became just a little more secure in early April. That’s when the state of California approved a $300,000 grant to the Coachella Valley Water District for the purchase and installation of a permanent emergency backup generator at the site of well No. 6808 in Thermal. Here’s why that backup generator is so important: Whenever the Imperial Irrigation District has a power outage in the Thermal area, the well-water system that serves those east valley residents—for both consumption and fire protection, in the communities of Thermal, Mecca, when the CVWD Highway 86 Extension Desert Shores, Salton Sea Beach and Salton Project, begun in 2018, was completed—with City —suffers an outage as well. the new pipeline coming online just weeks ago. “What we’ve done when the power goes off “That water system out there, that we at a well is transport a portable generator out call the West Shores system, hadn’t been there—and that takes a lot of time,” said Katie connected to our (main) system until recently,” Evans, the CVWD director of communications Evans said. “So it was like its own little water and conservation, during a recent interview. “It’s a matter of calling in a standby crew, if the system, with a well and a distribution system that just served that area. Then there was a lot outage was not during business hours; getting of space before you got to our big system that them here (to our Coachella headquarters); serves most of the rest of the Coachella Valley.” getting them a generator; hauling it out The CVWD handles water, agricultural there; hooking it up to the system; and then drainage, wastewater treatment and turning it on. That can be a lot of time for the reclamation services, regional stormwater community to be without their well. So the protection, groundwater management and intention of having this generator placed there water conservation for approximately 108,000 permanently is that, in the event of a power residential and business customers across outage—which we do experience here, as you 1,000 square miles, primarily in Riverside know—we’re able to kick that emergency County, plus portions of Imperial and San generator on right away.” Diego counties. This increased level of service to these east “We turned the valve on the pipeline to valley communities was first made possible
CVIndependent.com
A state grant will help the CVWD install an emergency generator at an east valley well that serves more than 32,000 residents and businesses
A CVWD well structure. While it looks unassuming, a similar structure in Thermal serves more than 32,000 residences and businesses. courtesy of CVWD
connect the two systems on March 8,” Evans said. “There’s still some testing being done in that area to make sure that the systems are connected correctly—so it’s not entirely on its own anymore, but we’re still working through connecting it to our main system by doing some water-quality testing.” Now that the new connection is finally functioning, the addition of a permanent emergency generator at the No. 6808 well site will provide a backup strategy during power outages. “Since we consolidated our West Shores system, the importance of this well has increased significantly,” Evans elaborated in an email after our initial interview. “When we consolidated that system, we took other wells offline, and now we rely more heavily on this well. Now we serve 7,400 more people from this well, and we cannot risk losing power to this facility.” The state grant to CVWD was made possible by the 2020-21 Community Power Resiliency program, funded by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and is intended to help special districts prepare for power outages in disadvantaged communities. Last year, more than 230 special districts applied for an award from the $20 million fund.
Requests were limited to $300,000, and the CVWD was one of 96 districts selected. What are the next steps? “(As we proceed in) the granting process,” Evans said during our interview, “we’ll work with the state on getting the funding agreement signed, so that we can procure the materials and then begin the process of actually installing that generator. We’ve already done the design for it—where it goes on the site and how it connects to the system, so we’re ready to go.” The $300,000 grant won’t cover the entire cost of the backup-generator project, which is slated to cost around a half-million dollars. How will the CVWD make up that shortfall? “Sometimes what we’ll do is set aside a (required) funding match, so in this case, it was the $200,000. Often times, (the state) will make you show (matching funds) before you apply for the grant,” Evans said. How long will it take for the backup generator be in place? “I think it will be completed in the fiscal year of 2021-2022,” which begins on July 1, Evans said. “Actually, it’s perfect timing for a project that’s going to be done in the new fiscal year, because we are just finalizing our new budget at this time.”
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 13
MAY 2021
NEWS
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
A LIFELINE FOR NONPROFITS
T
The Berger Foundation’s Coachella Valley Spotlight Grants offer help to organizations like Lee Espinoza’s Coachella Valley Boxing Club
by kevin fitzgerald
he H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation is awarding 12 grants of $25,000—one each month—to local nonprofits through its Coachella Valley Spotlight grants program, now in its 13th year. Recipients this year so far include the January recipient, the Cathedral City Senior Center, to sustain online programming; the February recipient, the Family Health and Support Network, to make improvements to a recently acquired 7,000-square-foot facility in the Desert Highland Gateway Estates neighborhood of Palm Springs; and the April recipient, the Southern California Mountains Foundation Urban Conservation Corps, to help train young adults (18-25 years old) to become self-sufficient through publiclands-related employment training. As for the March recipient: It is Lee Espinoza’s Coachella Valley Boxing Club, which for years has been a haven for youth and others in Coachella. “We got (the $25,000) right at the beginning of March,” said Espinoza, the founder and director of the free fitness facility. “Right now, we’re having problems trying to get (the new equipment we need) because of this COVID thing. I’m buying some new weight stuff for the gym, because some of our stuff now is too old. You wouldn’t believe it: Even though (this equipment) is made of iron or something real hard, it’s bent. Can you believe that our kids are so strong? I couldn’t believe it, and I laughed when I saw it.” On a more serious note, Espinoza became emotional when discussing the good the grant will allow him to do. “We really appreciate it,” Espinoza said. “I thank God that he’s watching over us, because it seems that whenever we need something, people come to (help) us. We don’t even have to go look for them, and then they come. Oh man, it’s beautiful. And they do things like that, because they believe in what we’re doing for the kids. You know that whoever stays and goes through our program, they become a better person.” Any member of the community can go to the boxing club. “Whoever comes in, 40 or 70 years old, they’re welcomed,” Espinoza said. “We’ve even got some guys who have Parkinson’s disease. So as long as you’re more than 8 years old, you can come in.”
Since reopening, Espinoza has been running the gym at limited capacity. “When I open the door, I put a chair and stay right there,” he said. “I check everybody’s temperature, and then they go in. If it’s a new kid or man or whatever, they just have to sign a release, and then they can go and train. Once our capacity is full, if more people come, I tell them, ‘Come back tomorrow, and come earlier. It’s first come, first serve.’” Since the Coachella Valley Spotlight program began in 2009, more than $3 million in grants have been awarded to more than 100 local nonprofit organizations. “Lee Espinoza and his team have built a place that welcomes all kids. They provide mentoring and the opportunity to learn important values like hard work and healthy lifestyles,” said Catharine Reed, vice president of charitable programs for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. The program includes a partnership with KESQ News Channel 3, which provides each monthly winner with promotion, including a news feature, public-service announcements and other publicity. The Berger Foundation made some changes due to the especially tough environment for nonprofits right now. “This was such an unusual year (due to COVID-19 pandemic) that the committee did actually give (the 12 recipients) the opportunity to request to receive their funds as early as this past January, even though they may not be the designated monthly recipient until later in the year,” explained Cara Van Dijk, a spokesperson for the Berger Foundation. “They could get the money earlier, if they felt they had a need. That was the first time that had ever been done in the history of
Lee Espinoza: “With this Spotlight grant, we’ll be safe for another year. I’ll buy all the equipment for the year, and we have enough to fix anything that might break, and pay the liability insurance for the gym and the board members.” Kevin Fitzgerald/CVI File
the Coachella Valley Spotlight grant program.” Espinoza said the grant offered the Coachella Valley Boxing Club a much-needed lifeline. “With this Spotlight grant, we’ll be safe for
another year,” Espinoza said. “I’ll buy all the equipment for the year, and we have enough to fix anything that might break, and pay the liability insurance for the gym and the board members.”
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/SUPPORT-OUR-PUBLICATION CVIndependent.com
14 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
NEWS
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
UNSUNG HEROES by madeline zuckerman
J
ana Hayes may be a lifetime dog-lover, but she has become a champion for the community cats (aka feral cats) of the Coachella Valley as a volunteer at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Hayes coordinates the Animal Shelter’s Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Program, overseeing a crew of 18 volunteers who trap community cats and transport them to the shelter to get spayed or neutered, and get their vaccines, before being returned to their colonies and caregivers. Community cats belong to no one and are essentially wild, because they are not socialized. They are not cats that someone can hold or pet, but they are helpful in controlling the population to make sure they are vaccinated and healthy. of rats, which are attracted to citrus trees. “Though Jana has been a volunteer for While some people think community cats pose many years, for the past five years, Jana has a health hazard, the TNR Program’s purpose is
A FINANCIAL PLANNING & INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FIRM
YOUR FIDUCIARY ADVISOR
DESERT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION'S 2019 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Call us today to schedule a complimentary consultation and get acquainted with an independent, Fee-Only financial planning firm located here in the Coachella Valley. Allow us to show you the benefits that result from a financial plan tailored to your specific retirement needs.
CoMPass rose FiNaNCiaL PLaNNiNG 760-322-5200 • www.compassrosefp.com
333 N Palm Canyon Dr, Suite 112-A, Palm Springs, CA 92262
CVIndependent.com
Jana Hayes works with the Palm Springs Animal Shelter to make sure the valley’s ‘community cats’ are healthy and controlled
volunteered tirelessly on behalf of the shelter’s TNR Program,” said Gabrielle Amster, the executive director of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. “Her efforts, along with those of our partners and other TNR volunteers, have resulted in the trap, spay or neuter, and return of well over 6,500 community cats from all over the valley over the past several years. “Jana is uniquely humble, and her kind demeanor has helped form partnerships with other agencies and volunteers. This trust ensures that TNR will continue as a lifesaving solution, while tackling overpopulation challenges. We are so grateful for the commitment, integrity and vision that Jana has brought to this program.” Hayes serves on the Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter’s board of directors, and her responsibilities go beyond the TNR Program. She is also a member of the Program Committee, which assesses the effectiveness of the shelter’s programs. Before coming to the valley and discovering the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Hayes had a 22-year career with the Marine Corps, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. She was born and grew up in Kingsville, Texas, a small ranching and farming community. When she joined the Marine Corps, her first posting was at Camp Pendleton. She fell in love with California, she said—and never looked back. Hayes did not have any cats growing up; her family always had two to four dogs. She only acquired cats when she got involved with the TNR Program. Beyond that program, Hayes has fostered some 200 kittens, rescuing them from unhappy and horrendous situations over the years. “My parents taught me to be a giving person, because this was just our nature in our family,” Hayes said. “I grew up this way. My parents were giving people, and they were always helping our family members and the community. We were a tight-knit, very-close family, and the idea of helping others was always instilled in me. I also just love animals. I have always had animals and been a huge nature-lover. Animals are my thing, and I have realized the need is so great in this area to help these community cats, who are pretty much disregarded by people and misunderstood. “The TNR Program is the most humane and effective way to control overpopulation and improve the lives of homeless cats. Our work helps people in the community have a better relationship and understanding of these cats, and their role within our community. This is why I do what I do.”
Hayes said she plans to continue running the TNR Program, because she knows how important it is. “The Palm Springs Animal Shelter, the board of directors, the executive director, etc., all are dedicated to having a vibrant TNR Program,” Hayes said. “We will find ways to make it more robust and more sustainable to help our community cats, to the point where we have done the work so that the population is under control. Our goal is also to have people understand that this community of cats is not a nuisance. We want to continue the TNR Program, and also continue to meet the community needs in many other ways.” For more information on the Palm Springs Animal Shelter’s Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Program, call 760-416-5718; tnr@psanimalshelter.org; or visit psanimalshelter.org.
Jana Hayes and Gabrielle Amster with a couple of their feline friends. Courtesy of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 15
MAY 2021
NEWS
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
MAY ASTRONOMY T
By Robert Victor
Southern California gets a great view of
Planets and Brightmorning Stars in Evening Mid-Twilight an early lunar eclipse on May 26 For May, 2021 This sky chart is drawn for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico. N
May's evening sky chart. ROBERT D. MILLER
he fast-moving inner planets are gathered in the western sky at dusk in May. Venus and Mercury are low in twilight, so find a spot where mountains aren’t blocking your view—and bring binoculars. Mars, though faint, has many groupings with the stars of Gemini. In the morning, stars and the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn are about where you will find them at dusk in the late summer and early fall. Deneb However, the top event this month is a predawn total lunar eclipse on Wednesday, May 26. Two Vega days later, you’ll have a chance to view an unusual eclipse of one of Jupiter’s moons. Evenings: Venus, nearly of magnitude -4, is bright enough to be seen in twilight quite soon after Venus sunset. It follows the sun over the west-northwest horizon by only three-quarters of an hour on 22 15 8 May 1, increasing to 1.3 hours by month’s end. Saturn, magnitudes fainter at +0.7 to +0.6, is 29 29 22 Mercury is nearby, opening May at magnitude 15-18 degrees to Jupiter’s upper right. Jupiter 1 Mercury15 8 -1.1, fading to 0.0 by May 13, to magnitude passes 1.3 degrees north of 4.3-magnitude Iota Capella +1.0 by May 21, and to +1.5 by May 24. Mars, in Aquarius on May 6. though dim at magnitude +1.6 to +1.7, is higher The brightest morning stars in May are 29 Aldebaran 22 and easily seen in a dark sky. Using binoculars, golden Arcturus, getting lower in the west to 15 8 1 Arcturus Mars track Mars’ motion of 0.6 degrees per day as west-northwest, and blue-white Vega, nearly Castor E W Pollux it passes by third-magnitude stars in Gemini overhead. Other bright stars visible each clear Betelgeuse through May 2, and on May 9 and 23. It forms morning in May are Altair and Deneb, comnoteworthy configurations with brighter Pollux pleting the Summer Triangle with Vega, and Regulus (+1.2) and Castor (+1.6) on May 15 (an isosAntares, sinking low in the southwest. Procyon celes triangle) and on May 31 (when it passes Moon doings: Catch a waxing crescent moon Rigel closest to Pollux). near each evening planet: Venus on May 12 Spica The bright winter stars, like snowbirds, have (look early!), Mercury on May 13, and Mars on Sirius begun their annual exodus. On May’s evening May 15. Catch a waning moon near giant planchart, four bright stars visible at the start of ets at dawn on May 3-5, and May 31-June 1. Antares May—Rigel, very low in the west-southwest; The main event: On the morning of WednesAldebaran, in the west-northwest; Sirius, the day, May 26, there will be a brief total lunar Dog Star, in the southwest; and Betelgeuse, eclipse centered at 4:19 a.m., low in the southin the west—all depart, in that order, below west, within 7 degrees to the right of Antares. the horizon over the course of the month. At The opening partial phase of the lunar eclipse month’s end, an arch of winter stars—from left begins at 2:45 a.m., as the east (left) edge of to right, Procyon; the “Twin stars” Pollux and the moon begins to enter the umbra, or dark, Castor; and Capella—still remains in the west central core of Earth’s shadow. Within a few to northwest at dusk. minutes, the circular shape of the shadow edge S Evening mid-twilight occurs Stereographic Projection Regulus, the heart of Leo, is usually conwill become evident. At 3:18 a.m., half the when Sun is 9 below horizon. Map by Robert D. Miller sidered a star of late winter, though it remains moon’s width will be immersed in deep shadow. 42 minutes after sunset. TotalityMay ends1: at 4:26 a.m., and 53 minutes way. On the east side of Jupiter, you’ll notice visible at dusk into July. Look for it high in By then, the typical rusty color of deep lunar 15: 45 " " " later, at 5:19 a.m., diameter two moons very close together. The brighter the south in early May, and still well up in the eclipses should be noted, from sunlight which 31: 46half " the " moon’s " will be out of the deep shadow. But by then, as member of the close pair is Ganymede, and the west-southwest at month’s end. Golden Archas passed through Earth’s atmosphere and seen from the Coachella Valley, the moon will other is Europa. Closer in toward Jupiter on turus, climbing high in the east to east-southbeen bent, or refracted, deep into the shadow. be only 4 degrees up, some 30 degrees south the same side is the innermost of the Galilean east, and blue-white Spica, 33 degrees to its It will take another 53 minutes until the entire of west. For this eclipse, especially the later moons, Io. Callisto, the faintest and outermost lower right, are bona fide spring stars, since disk of the moon is immersed in shadow, and stages, choose your vantage point carefully to of the four Galilean satellites, happens to be they’re up all night early in the season. Watch total eclipse begins, at 4:11:30 a.m. near greatest elongation on the morning of for a brighter blue-white star, Vega, harbinger of In this lunar eclipse, the moon skims through avoid mountains blocking your view. Locally, the moon sets several minutes before the moon May 28, farthest west of Jupiter, far out on the summer, rising in far the northeast by early May. the outer part of the Earth’s dark shadow, so finally leaves the umbra, at 5:52 a.m. opposite side of the planet. Watch for Antares, the red supergiant star the total phase of the eclipse is predicted to last Two days after this month’s lunar eclipse, Wishing you clear skies! marking the heart of the Scorpion, rising in the only 14 1/2 minutes. Even at deepest eclipse, viewers with telescopes will get a chance to southeast in evening mid-twilight in the last the moon’s northern (upper) edge will be barely witness an eclipse of one of Jupiter’s satellites, Robert Victor was a staff astronomer at Abrams days of May. within the outer edge of the Earth’s shadow, volcanic Io, as it passes through the shadow of Planetarium at Michigan State University. Mornings: Jupiter, shining at magnitude -2.2 and so is likely to appear lighter and yellowish Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon, on May 28, Although now retired, he is often involved in the to -2.4, rises ahead of the sun by nearly three or bluish in color. At mid-eclipse, the moon will from 2:50 a.m. to 3:02 a.m. PDT. Set up your production of their Sky Calendar. To subscribe or to hours on May 1, and by more than four hours be only 14 degrees up in the southwest, within scope several minutes early to identify the four view a sample, visit www.abramsplanetarium.org/ on May 31. An hour before sunup, it’s the prom- 7 degrees to the right of Antares. The sky will satellites visible before the eclipse gets underskycalendar. inent “morning star” in the southeast, while brighten as the latter half of the eclipse unfolds. CVIndependent.com
16 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
BY KEVIN FITZGERALD
The world’s first recorded vacation home was the Palais de
Versailles in France, built originally to serve as a hunting lodge for Louis XIII in 1624, according to Rentals United. Nearly 400 years later, the international vacation-rental industry was worth an estimated $85 billion as of 2015, again according to Rentals United, a channelmanaging service for rental-home owners around the world—and that number has surely risen in the years since. Here in the Coachella Valley, vacation rentals are indeed big business—and, according to some neighbors of short-term rentals, a big hassle. As a result, short-term rentals—aka STRs—have become a focal point of debate and dispute between rentalproperty owners, neighboring residents and city governments. At the heart of the conflict is the individual right of owners to rent out their desirable Coachella Valley homes as vacation getaways—appropriately regulated, of course—versus the rights of residents who, in some cases, have to deal with traffic, noise and other negative impacts on their quality of life as a result of nearby vacation rentals. One of the more visible disputes is taking place in Palm Desert, where, on Dec. 10, 2020, the City Council voted to eliminate more than 60 STR properties from the city’s business rolls by no longer allowing short-term rental permits in planned residential neighborhoods that are not located in homeowners’ association communities. The action left the city with 709 STR properties still operating. Predictably, the passage of the ordinance angered affected STR owners, who responded CVIndependent.com
by filing a lawsuit against the city of Palm Desert on March 10, 2021. Cody Carlson, a Palm Desert resident who was impacted by the new ordinance, is a co-founder of the Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Palm Desert (VRON-PD); both he and VRON-PD are plaintiffs in the lawsuit. In a press release, Carlson claimed the city acted illegally, because the ordinance “is contrary to the city’s general plan, city policy, and the city goals of promoting tourism and accommodations.” He said short-term rentals bring the city more than $1 million in transient occupancy taxes each year. At that Dec. 10, 2020, Palm Desert City Council meeting, the ordinance was adopted on a 3-1 vote. Kathleen Kelly, Jan Harnik and Sabby Jonathan voted in favor of the
ordinance, while Karina Quintanilla voted against it; Gina Nestande recused herself due to a conflict of interest. Comments made by the three councilmembers who voted for the ordinance sum up many of the arguments often made against short-term rentals in the Coachella Valley. “This pandemic has driven home, with great drama, just how critical it is that we diversify our economy,” Mayor Kathleen Kelly said. “I have participated in two economic summits, both of which have illustrated that Palm Desert, and the rest of the Coachella Valley, are suffering more greatly than some other communities because of our tourism dependence. … At one of those economic summits, Joe Wallace (CEO of Coachella Valley Economic Partnership) … was imploring
The Palm Desert City Council voted 3-1 on Dec. 10, 2020, to stop issuing short-term rental permits in planned residential neighborhoods that are not located in homeowners’ association communities. The vote resulted in a lawsuit against the city by the Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Palm Desert.
the elected officials of Coachella Valley to be visionary, to set policy and to stick with it. This council has done that by heavily investing in a vision of making a dramatic step toward economic diversification. As that begins to happen, we’re going to be attracting additional workers to Palm Desert, and a paramount policy of this city has been to house more of the workers who are employed in Palm Desert within the city. That is probably the single most significant thing we could do to have a positive impact on the environment, because housing more of the people who work in Palm Desert within the city reduces, or eliminates, commutes. To accomplish that, we have to, as a matter of policy, guard against the commercialization of traditional neighborhoods, which would reduce, rather than increase, available housing for working people who are part of Palm Desert.” In a recent interview with the Independent, Carlson disagreed with Kelly’s premise. He said that Palm Desert should be protecting tourism revenue for now, because there are no firm plans that he knows of for major companies to bring hundreds of jobs to Palm Desert, nor are there any concrete plans for a full four-year university to come to Palm Desert. City Councilmember Jan Harnik referenced another common argument made against short-term rentals: the lack of affordable housing. “For us to take more houses out of the housing market (to use as STRs) when we are hearing, time after time, that there’s a housing crisis, does not help that problem,” Harnik said at the Dec. 10 meeting. “I think one of the most valid thoughts I ever heard (came) from a gentleman who said, ‘You know, it’s not always the loud music that
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 17
MAY 2021
bothers me (about STRs), or the loud parties. … He said, ‘Jan, I don’t have any neighbors anymore.’ Well, that’s what a neighborhood is: It’s neighbors, and so what we’re doing when we instead offer a business to come into a neighborhood is diluting the neighborhood, and we’re turning it into something else.” Sabby Jonathan expressed a similar stance at the meeting. “At the end of the day, it’s a matter of policy,” he said. “There are valid concerns all around, but I have to say, to be very honest, that I embrace a policy that places the welfare of our residents over the profits of the STR owners.” Carlson responded that concerns regarding short-term rentals should be dealt with via proper regulation, not illegal bans. “VRON-PD wants the Palm Desert and the general Coachella Valley communities to know that our goal here is to hold public entities accountable when they act illegally,” he said. “But it’s not so we can keep short-term rentals and wreak havoc on neighbors who are upset. We want to solve these problems with a commission. We want Palm Desert to build a STR commission so that we can create the blueprints for our future, and build the goldstandard for the STR community.”
The same basic arguments being made for and against short-term
rentals in Palm Desert are being made in the valley’s other cities—and increasingly, the tide seems to be turning against STRs. In La Quinta, the City Council recently approved an indefinite stay on the issuance of any new permits, with a few exceptions— although existing permits may be renewed. The council is also increasing fees and penalties for STR properties that break the rules. During the public comment portion of the April 6 meeting, the council was addressed by La Quinta resident Marlene Fradis, who said the city should rein in STRs. “This argument that profits trump human rights and health is not a valid, humane position to take,” Fradis told council members. “In reality, property values diminish when you have short-term renters who destroy property, and when you have landlords who purchase these homes with the intent of making a profit out of it.” The Independent could not locate any data on the impact that STRs have had on local property values. However, according to Inman—“the industry’s leading source of real estate information,” according to the company’s website—STRs may actually increase property values: “Home-renting service Airbnb has raised ire and eyebrows in recent years for totally transforming the way people can book travel accommodations.
Popular vacation-rental site VRBO lists 7,310 vacation rentals in the Coachella Valley. It also appears to be raising rents and home prices in major U.S. cities, at least according to a new working paper from academics at UCLA, the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, and the National Bureau of Economic Research.” Bruce Hoban, a co-founder of the Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Palm Springs (VRON-PS), said STRs tend to have detractors anywhere they’re found. “I would say that there’s a small group in every city who does not like vacation rentals, for whatever reasons,” Hoban said during a recent interview. “And they grossly over-exaggerate the size of the problem in each of these towns. It’s not about people’s personal financial interests. It’s about (the fact that) vacation rentals have been a source of lodging in the Coachella Valley since the ’50s. In this new culture we’re in for this last year, people just want to start cancelling everything out. There’s a trend.”
In 2018, VRON-PS successfully led an effort to overwhelmingly defeat Palm Springs Measure C, which would have phased out short-term rentals in the city. Since then, however, STR proponents in the Coachella Valley have suffered a string of defeats. Last year, the Rancho Mirage City Council voted to phase out STRs, except in some HOAs. During a March special election, Cathedral City voters resoundingly upheld an ordinance that will phase out most STRs by 2023. Despite the decisive vote in Palm Springs just three years ago, some residents there are now calling for increased restrictions on existing STR operations. “Palm Springs is now the outlier when it comes to STRs,” said Hank Plante, a well-known journalist who has recently spoken out in favor of more STR restrictions in Palm Springs, where he lives. “The other major cities in the valley have moved very definitively either to scale them back or get rid
“I would say that there’s a small group in every city who does not like vacation rentals, for whatever reasons. And they grossly overexaggerate the size of the problem in each of these towns.”
—Bruce Hoban
co-founder of the Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Palm Springs (VRON-PS)
of them all together—and this is happening statewide. Tourist cities like ours (here in the valley), from Laguna to South Lake Tahoe, have moved to ban them. “At some point, I do think that more and more people will become fed up with (STRs), because the city has done nothing to curb their growth, and has done nothing to stop entire neighborhoods from being taken over. I’ll give you an example: In Vista Las Palmas, on North Rose Avenue, the neighbors tell me that there are 19 vacation-rental homes in a four-block stretch. Now, that’s ridiculous. We have zoning laws for a reason. The city would never allow 19 cannabis dispensaries in a row, or 19 liquor stores in a row, or 19 massage parlors in a row. So, I think (the City Council members) need to address the issue of density. They have to impose a cap on STRs in neighborhoods that are overly saturated, and they need to rewrite the ordinance, now that we’ve had some experience with what is not working.” Hoban said Palm Springs’ current STR ordinance is working just fine—despite a sudden spike in complaints during the pandemic-riddled summer of 2020. “(STR complaints) had calmed down across the whole valley until we hit last summer,” he said. “And there are two parts to this tale. We (STR owners) were shut down for March, April and May, and then we were allowed to open up. We got this COVID-crazed crowd that came out to all the cities in Coachella Valley. They just didn’t want to follow the continued on next page CVIndependent.com
18 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
continued from Page 17 rules. So, complaints went up; calls (to code enforcement) went up; and citations and fines went up. “But, then as mysteriously as they showed up, after Labor Day, everything went back to normal, even though the homes were still very crowded. So it’s that second part of the story that nobody’s telling: What happened after Labor Day? STR houses were rented way above normal in September, October and November, but a better crowd came back. That’s the part of the story that nobody wants to get into. They just want to talk about a 200 percent increase in calls in July 2020. Well, that’s true. But they didn’t finish the story. So … all these small groups start getting ahold of their City Council, and jumping up and down all over them, and everyone just wants to talk about bans.” We asked Plante and Hoban whether there is room for compromise.
“Well, there has to be,” Plante said. “I would prefer a ban, but in the adult world, we have to work together. So, there has to be some co-existence. They (the Palm Springs City Council) were moving in this direction last fall, but they backed away from it.” Hoban said: “We want collaborative decisions made for the betterment of vacation rental owners and neighbors. We realize that you have to balance what goes on in a vacation rental with what the neighbors around it experience. That’s what (VRON-PS) is working on, and that’s what we’re guiding the other (valley) VRONs towards. Sometimes some of these other VRONs say, ‘We’re not going to allow this in the ordinance. We can’t have this.’ And then I’ll sit there and say, ‘Well, how do you want to create a balance with the City Council, so that they feel like they’re regulating properties, and to appease the other side?’ It can’t be the Wild West, and we know that.”
“Palm Springs is now the outlier when it comes to STRs. The other major cities in the valley have moved very definitively either to scale them back or get rid of them all together—and this is happening statewide.”
—Hank Plante
a well-known journalist who has recently spoken out in favor of more STR restrictions in Palm Springs
Various business groups announced their opposition to Palm Springs Measure C during a press conference on March 6, 2018. Measure C would have phased out most vacation rentals in Palm Springs—but it was soundly defeated, with 70 percent of voters rejecting it on June 5, 2018. Photo by Jimmy Boegle CVIndependent.com
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 19
MAY 2021
TAKE THE INDEPENDENT CHALLENGE
#1 for What’s Happening In Greater Palm Springs
1. Peruse the Independent. Look at the quality of the writing, the layout, the topics, etc. 2. Do the same with any other local publication.
Find Us/Follow Us!
@ILoveGayPS
@GayDesertGuide #ILoveGayPalmSprings #ILoveGayCatCity
3. Compare. CVIndependent.com
20 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
2 7 T H A N N U A L S T E V E C H A S E H U M A N I TA R I A N AWA R D S
The 2021 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards are going virtual. Join us Sunday, May 9, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. You can participate by tuning into NBC Palm Springs or by joining us on any of DAP Health’s social media channels (Facebook, YouTube or Twitter). Register today to be kept up to date on all the details, celebrity entertainment, online auction opportunities and more!
You’re Invited! LIVESTREAM May 9, 2021 | 5:30pm
Special Broadcast Event | NBC Palm Springs
Text SCHA to 72572 to Register Today CVIndependent.com
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 21
MAY 2021
ARTS & CULTURE
PICKLE’S PARTY F
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE
The newly renovated One Eleven Bar hosts L.A.-based drag queen Pickle and her ‘Follies’
By matt king
urther evidence that the Coachella Valley is beginning to heal: Drag shows are coming back—including one that’s new to the area. Pickle’s Follies will debut at the recently renovated One Eleven Bar (formerly Studio One 11) in Cathedral City on Sunday, May 2, 16 and 30. Tickets are free, but limited. Pickle, aka Joseph Faragher, is a drag queen based in Los Angeles. “I’m so excited to be coming out there,” Pickle said during a recent phone interview. “I actually met the people who took over ownership of Studio One 11. I used to do shows at Flaming Saddles in West Hollywood, and they would come to my shows there. We had wanted me,” Pickle said. “I’ve been doing all these to work together, so it was kind of the perfect Zoom gigs and stuff, and there’s this inherent coincidence that they bought the bar at this level of awkwardness to them, but I’ve been time, and are bringing me in.” able to work through them, because it’s The word “Follies” has a special meaning in just so ingrained in me how to do audience the Coachella Valley, thanks to the Fabulous interaction. These in-person shows will Palm Springs Follies, which brought a lot be a lot of distanced back and forth, but I of attention to the area during the show’s feel confident in my ability to roll with the 24-year run. As for Pickle’s Follies? comedy of the situation, instead of making “It’s going to be a musical cabaret with it awkward. I embrace the awkwardness and showtunes,” Pickle said. “I’m trying to go make a joke of it, while still staying safe.” back to my foundation—what excited me Pickle said it feels quite good to be about performing when I was a kid, which returning to the stage. was musicals and that sort of thing. I’m “I’ve been performing constantly since thinking of it as like almost a mini-musical. I was 13, so it was weird to have this time I’m starting with the bare bones of one of where I’m not doing it,” Pickle said. “In a way, my favorite musicals, Sweet Charity. I’m I think that it’s really beneficial, because we taking my favorite parts of that musical and can become so accustomed to this ‘Go! Go! integrating it into my normal drag act, which Go!’ that we don’t really take time, or I don’t has a lot of audience interaction and trivia take time, to allow my body to decompress questions. I’m really excited to do something stuff. I’m really excited and a little bit of this nature, which I haven’t had the nervous. I did have this moment where I was opportunity to do yet.” like, ‘What if I just forget how to be on stage? The time off forced upon performers by What if I fall?’ I’ve been vaccinated for a while the pandemic allowed Pickle to analyze her now, so I feel safe. I feel comfortable, and I’m act and her ambitions, and reflect on her just excited to get back on the stage.” performances. In the day and age of uncertainty, Pickle is “I do a lot of private events,” Pickle said. approaching one show at a time. “I’ve done, like, a lot of weddings, and I “We’re doing every other week for the actually performed at a funeral once. It was month of May, and seeing kind of how the more of a celebration of life, but the guest crowds are, and what people’s reactions are,” of honor was dead. I’ve done a lot of little said Pickle. “I tend to think of engagements solo engagements where I’ll do a few songs one at a time as opposed to thinking about and stuff. I’ve had a year to decompress and what I’m going to turn it into, so that I can re-evaluate what about performing I really really focus on bringing the best show I can to love, and which pieces that I haven’t explored each audience. So for now, I’m really focused yet. I haven’t really integrated dances much on delivering a high-quality performance. into my act, and I’ve always really enjoyed I’m rehearsing now and getting a head start dancing, so I’m excited to do something I’ve on all that, so my focus is to really deliver all been doing for a long time, but I haven’t done this pent-up performance energy that I’ve on a public level.” been accumulating—like a queen bee in a hive The shows at One Eleven Bar will be would accumulate nectar—and sploosh that Pickles’ first live performances since the on everyone’s face. Obviously, it’d be great to shutdowns—although she has been doing do an ongoing engagement, but for now, I’m virtual performances, and has learned some just taking it one show at a time.” valuable lessons from them. Despite the uncertainty, Pickle expressed “Luckily, my act has always been so optimism about the future. interactive that it’s kind of second nature to
Pickle, aka Joseph Faragher: “I’ve been performing constantly since I was 13, so it was weird to have this time where I’m not doing it.”
“This has been a very challenging and very harrowing experience for everyone, but I tend to be a glass-half-full kind of person, which is also why I wanted to start with Sweet Charity, because it’s really centered around an eternal optimist,” Pickle said. “I’m kind of channeling that energy of taking everything in stride, and she’s a character that I really relate to, because life throws obstacles at her, but she always
looks at the bright side.” Pickle’s Follies will be performed at 7 p.m., Sunday, May 2, 16 and 30, at One Eleven Bar, 67555 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite A102, in Cathedral City. Tickets are free, and seating is limited. For tickets or more information, call 760-537-3111, or visit oneelevenbar.ticketleap. com/pickles-follies. CVIndependent.com
22 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
ARTS & CULTURE
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE
A DESERT PAINTER T
By CAT MAKINO
erry Masters, 66, recently closed his Palm Springs gallery—but the renowned artist’s work can now be seen at Jones and Terwilliger Galleries in Palm Desert. Phyllis Johnson, a fine-art consultant at Jones and Terwilliger, said gallery-goers often commented on how much they loved Masters’ work—even though the gallery didn’t represent him at the time. “(His work) has such a vitality and uniqueness in terms of the desert,” Johnson said. “He expresses his wisdom and life experiences in the desert because he’s lived here for decades. He’s expressing the feelings and emotions of his soul, and is at one with the lands.” is beautiful. Johnson compared Masters to a sculptor “I want to get people to see the beauty of who silently listens to stones. “It’s the same for the desert,” he said. him: He listens to the desert.” Masters is an aggressive artist who attacks Masters paints locations such as Pinto his canvas; his brush bolts from his palette to Basin, Andreas Canyon and Murray Canyon, his easel. He paints fast and moves the paint to treating these familiar scenes with a bold wherever it wants to go. He fixes mistakes or sense of design, abstraction and hypnotic adds shadows with a stroke of his brush, and color combinations. Sometimes he paints can finish paintings in two hours … or three landscapes at the same place over and over weeks. He takes shapes—of palm trees, Joshua again, but with different lights and shadows, because the colors can change a lot from day to trees, plants and mountains—then defines detail and refines colors. day, and season to season. He loves getting up “All I do is find beautiful spots and render, high, looking down at the valley and over the as close as I can,” Masters said. “I don’t really mountains, and bringing the desert to life. It’s have a trick; I just find the right ones, and a magical place for him. break it down to a photographic image. It’s Masters said he simply tries to portray what
A self-portrait (cropped) by Terry Masters.
CVIndependent.com
Terry Masters turns his attention toward portraits and larger-scale works after closing his Palm Springs gallery
“Pinto Basin,” by Terry Masters, 24 by 72 inches, oil on canvas.
important to have them be accurate. You need to see what’s in front of you and copy the same shapes and colors onto your canvas.” Masters has lived in the desert since he was 12, when his family—his parents and eight siblings—moved from Sacramento to Palm Springs on account of his asthmatic mother’s health. “I was the only one of my siblings who saw the beauty in the desert right away,” he said. “The sun was always shining, and we could swim in our pool in January, and feel the balmy air in winter. I always thought of people from all over the world who were watching golf tournaments on TV, seeing how bright and sunny it was here while they were in the depths of winter.” Amazingly, Masters only started painting full-time at the age of 38. After years in radio, he woke up one morning, quit his job and painted every day; some friends thought he was crazy. He produced between 300 and 400 paintings a year, many of them unfinished, as he experimented with technique. He won a couple of ribbons at the La Quinta Arts Festival, but then hit what might be termed a drought. It was a workshop with the great Laguna Beach plein-air artist Ken Auster in 1999 that brought him back to artistic life. “I thought it would be easy, because I could draw,” Masters said. “I knew that I had so much to learn, to achieve. I had to catch up, so I spent every day painting, not resting.” Influenced by Auster, Masters started using oils, and took risks with his painting—the form, the color spectrum, and so on. That workshop set the course for the rest of his career so far, and Masters is now well-known in the fine-arts world. Sally and Richard Russo, who own seven pieces of Masters’ work, compare his style to that of impressionist Claude Monet, who painted plein-air landscapes of haystacks and cathedral facades. Sally Russo also recognized inspiration from another famous artist in a
demonstration piece Masters did for a class he teaches at the Desert Art Center. “I recognized it immediately as a subject of roses in a glass bowl he painted often used by Edouard Manet,” she said. “Terry’s (copy of the) work had the same color palette, generous brush strokes and sense of elegance as the original.” Sally Russo noted that Masters has recently started exploring portraiture and large works on canvas. “We will be anxious to see what comes next. He doesn’t copy; he creates,” she said. “Over the years, Masters has shown stylistic experimentation in his work. However, the one factor that remains constant is his understanding of light. He will paint a scene at different times of the day to seek out and reproduce the perfect color of the sky, the mountains, and the subsequent shadows.” Masters’ joined the Jones and Terwilliger roster somewhat fortuitously. The gallery director was looking to add a well-known desert painter, and an opportunity opened up when Masters decided to close his gallery. “In the short time I’ve been in the desert, Terry Masters’ name was synonymous with an esteemed landscape painter we represent, named Brian Blood,” said Crystal Curtis, director of the Jones and Terwilliger Galleries, via email. Blood, a resident of Pebble Beach, is a wellknown plein-air impressionist. Terry Masters is known as a plein-air desert painter, meaning that he paints landscapes in the open air. Many of Masters’ previous works were fairly small. However, some of his newer paintings are much larger. “We’re hoping our representation is giving Masters the freedom to create new works that have since now only existed in the backburners of his imagination,” Curtis said. For more information on Terry Masters, visit www.desertpainter.com.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 23
MAY 2021
MOVIES & TV
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MOVIES
NOW SHOWING AT HOME C
By Bob Grimm
ult horror-film goddess Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, From Beyond) gets the modernday bloody vampire film she deserves in Jakob’s Wife, an appropriately uncomfortable, gory and often-funny effort from writer-director Travis Stevens. Crampton plays Anne, the wife of preacher Jakob (Larry Fessenden). Anne’s life is a bit on the mundane side—that is, until she gets attacked by a vampire in an abandoned warehouse on Breaking Bad in a pure dramatic role as sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman, and later on the spinoff Better Call Saul as Jimmy McGill (Saul’s real name). The guy should have a shelf full of Emmys for his work on that show. Nobody, an ultra-violent thriller from writer Derek Kolstad (creator of John Wick) and director Ilya Naishuller, takes Odenkirk in a direction nobody could’ve seen coming. Odenkirk plays Hutch Mansell, a mildmannered husband and father who has his house invaded by a couple of nervous crooks. The event ignites an old, buried aspect of Mansell’s personality—an aspect that results in deserving people losing their teeth and and gets “the thirst.” getting their tracheas crushed. The movie has an eerie, slow-burn start; Hutch has an assassin’s past, and like a it feels like a TV movie from the 1970s, even deprived vampire smelling blood or a heroin though the film is set in the present. It takes addict near a pile of drugs, he can’t resist its time revving up, but when it pulls the rip the chance to dive back in. This results in cord, it goes off the rails in a surprisingly fun a lot of John Wick-like badassery in which way. The movie then feels less like Salem’s Lot and more like the bonkers Stuart Gordon ’80s Odenkirk shows he has the chops to throw horror flicks that Crampton once was in. This might be Crampton’s best screen work yet; Anne is a fully realized character that goes from church mouse to full-blown Nosferatu. Fessenden, another horror vet (We Are Still Here, You’re Next), chews the scenery with aplomb once his character has been sprayed with vast gushers of blood a couple of times. The movie works, not only because of its creepy atmospherics and decent horror effects—the main vampire is a doozy—but because of its satirical script that takes a stab at routine marriages that lack a certain excitement. Anne and Jakob wind up being one of the more interesting screen couples in recent memory. down. He trained hard for this movie, and it Jakob’s Wife is available for rental via shows with every stunt. Kudos to the fight various streaming sources. choreographers, and kudos to Odenkirk, who rises to the challenge in majestically bloody ob Odenkirk has been one of my comic fashion. idols for 30 years. His impersonation of The plot involves the Russian mob and gold Charles Manson on The Ben Stiller Show had bars, and while the setup is quite John Wickme hooked, and his run on Mr. Show with partner-in-crime David Cross solidified him as like, this film has a different, more-grounded tone. Connie Nielsen is on hand as Hutch’s one of my heroes. mysterious wife (she’s pretty darned good at It was a great pleasure to see him pop up
B
‘Jakob’s Wife’ and ‘Nobody’ offer violent fun; ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ is better, but still not great
patching up his wounds), and Christopher Lloyd has some of his best onscreen moments in years as Hutch’s also-mysterious dad. Seeing Odenkirk breaking arms and performing emergency tracheotomies was one of the most surprisingly bizarre theater-going experiences I’ve had in the last decade. It was also a total blast. I doubt this is the start of an action-hero phase for Odenkirk … but who knows? Maybe he has himself a franchise now. I would certainly line up for Nobody: Chapter 2. Nobody is available for rental via various streaming sources.
Z
ack Snyder’s Justice League, a new four-hour cut streaming on HBO Max, is a definite improvement over the 2017 Justice League, which was partially directed and co-written by the recently disgraced Joss Whedon. Whedon’s cut—a ridiculous attempt at Marvel-izing the DC Universe—was a total disaster. This cut? It’s certainly not a disaster, but it’s nothing to get too excited about, either. Snyder’s cut is an almost-forgivable behemoth, while Whedon’s version essentially stalled his big-screen career. For starters … this did not need to be four hours long! Many of the new scenes do flesh out the story, but Snyder gets carried away with the slow motion; too many scenes drag on and on via slo-mo and dreary music. This cut could’ve been a comprehensible three hours, easily. The beauty of the film being available via a streaming service is that you can watch it in parts. Still, even divided up into chapters (six parts, plus a prologue and epilogue), the film has too many sequences that drag. The film does feature numerous significant improvements. The villainous Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) has some new armor that makes him look less like a California Raisin and more like a demon warrior capable of destroying humanity. He’s actually kind of scary, rather than being an unintentionally comic travesty. That stupid opening scene with Henry Cavill and his bizarre, CGI-scrubbed face— the actor had a mustache that needed to be removed in post-production in the original—is gone. Cavill’s Superman has a more substantial role here and gets to sport the black Superman suit. The Superman stuff in this cut is actually kind of cool—and
that’s coming from somebody who didn’t like Snyder’s prior takes on the character, in Batman v Superman and Man of Steel. I’ve come to accept that the Superman in Snyder’s world is sort of dark and whiny, and I need to push the Christopher Reeve iteration out of my head while watching. Cavill is good here, and I think it’s time for a new Superman movie with him in it—provided it has a new director. Cyborg (Ray Fisher) also gets a lot more screen time … and that’s not a good thing. The character was drab before, and he unfortunately remains bland here. Newly added character Martian Manhunter feels tacked on and useless, but Darkseid is a nice add, giving the apocalyptic Steppenwolf a better sense of purpose. The much-ballyhooed appearance of Jared Leto’s Joker toward the end is not as stupid as I was afraid it would be. The new cut definitely presents a more cohesive story—but the story is over-baked, far too padded and sometimes tedious. The awful, discordant humor of Whedon’s cut is thankfully gone (The Flash doesn’t hump Wonder Woman in this one), while the vibrant color correction of the prior cut has been replaced with the darker tones often used by Snyder. Some will gripe about the new cut’s 4:3 aspect ratio (closer to a square), but I was OK with it. Hopefully Snyder’s gotten this out of his system, and he can move on to bigger and brighter things. As for the DC Universe, it’s still all over the place tonally. Still, I’m looking forward to that purported team-up of Ezra Miller’s Flash and Michael Keaton’s Batman— and I am happy that neither Snyder nor Whedon is directing. Zack Snyder’s Justice League is now streaming on HBO Max.
CVIndependent.com
24 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
DERMAL FILLERS AND RECOVERY FROM THE COVID YEAR
By Shonda Chase, FNP Nurse Practitioner, Co-owner, Artistic Director and Advanced Aesethetic Injector at Revive Wellness Centers in Palm Springs and Torrance, and Medweight, Lasers and Wellness Center in Irvine o many pa�ents are coming in a�er ge�ng their vaccina�ons to erase the year of the “zombie apocalypse” from their faces. Talking with these pa�ents reminded me of the goofy movie Plan 9 From Outer Space, by writer/director Ed Wood. Why? This movie is infamous—because it’s on many lists as being one of the worst films ever made. I love movies. A movie has to be really bad for me not to enjoy it. Here’s why I connected 2020 and Plan 9—both were bad. But the Plan 9 part of the film’s �tle gave me the theme for this month’s Secrets piece, about dermal fillers, and some of the ways I look at what would be best for each individual pa�ent. Be glad that we aren’t like Europe or Asia, where there are more than 100 different fillers from which to choose. Wae have enough to accomplish almost everything. (We’re missing a couple of important ones—but they’re on their way. Keep reading my Secrets to be the first to learn about the new fillers that everyone is going to want.). Here’s how I look at the fillers I inject to help reverse defla�on, gravity, and fat and bone loss:
S
Plan A, for Allergan Fillers Voluma is the “elegant and refined lingerie” of fillers, because it li�s your mid-face and perks up your cheek bones. Vollure is “the li�le black dress of dermal fillers,” to reduce fine lines and help skin look its best. Volbella is “lip gloss in a syringe,” for striking lips. Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus is the filler I start with to fill “Grand Canyon lines” on a budget. Plan G, From Galderma Restylane is the ul�mate eye-rejuvena�on treatment Kysse is the “Chanel of lip plumpers and enhancers in one syringe.” Kysse is for those who want head-turning lips in person and on social media. Plan M, From Merz Sculptra is the “thread li�” in a syringe, for smoother, glowing skin. Sculptra is also used to treat crepe-y skin, accomplish nonsurgical bu� li�s, and more. Radiesse is the “supercharger” of fillers giving you more volumes per syringe than any other filler. Plan M and Plan N, From Mint Threads and NovaThreads Absorbable thread li�s are like airbrushing with a magic wand. Thread li�s can be an instant �me machine to li� skin back to where it was up to 10 years ago. Our Revive Wellness Center loca�ons are in Palm Springs (760-325-4800) and Torrance (310-375-7599; www.revivecenter.com). Our Medweight, Lasers and Wellness Center office is in Irvine (949-586-9904; www. medweightandlasers.com).
You can email your individual ques�ons to Shonda Chase FNP, or Allan Y. Wu MD, Revive’s cosme�c surgeon, at shonda@revivecenter.com.
CVIndependent.com
350 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs Open 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday Order online at rioazul.pay.link
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 25
MAY 2021
FOOD & DRINK
ON COCKTAILS I
BY kevin carlow
’m kind of a jerk sometimes. Now, stop nodding your heads in approval; I am referring to the legacy that modern bartending owes to the soda shops of yore. The impetus for writing about soda jerks is the book Fix the Pumps by Darcy O’Neil, from which much of this column’s content is distilled. This is a book I initially encountered at my first “real” craft cocktail gig, but I kind of ignored it in favor of the boozier tomes. It looked neat, but it was about soda. I mean, whatever. with Murphy carrying a wreath” for ham and I recently purchased the book for myself, potatoes on cabbage. I was also tickled to see wondering if perhaps I didn’t give it its proper that they used “in the weeds” back then, which due. It turns out that it had a lot more to is something I have said far too many times in offer than just arcane syrup recipes with my life when overwhelmed with orders. ungoogleable ingredients. (What the dickens The soda life, however, wasn’t just about is arac de goa?! I’m guessing it’s some distilled codewords and attractive girls. It was also palm-sugar hooch from Goa, India, but good about drugs. I’ll bet you had no idea this luck finding it.) column was gonna get so naughty! Much The history of the soda shop is actually like the earliest cocktails, soda started with a lot more interesting (and ribald) than I’d the legal definition of medicine. In the 19th imagined. For instance, the “cant,” or verbiage, century, it was no unusual thing at all to get of the soda shop is fascinating, especially for a yourself an “eye-opener” or “bracer”—or two— language nerd like me. (It reminds me a bit of at the pharmacist in the morning, especially Polari, the secret language used by London’s on the way to work. Without cars and heavy gay men to avoid arrest under England’s machinery to worry about, while one was in draconic laws against homosexuality.) Nearly good company of other men of the “sporting every word is a code. There’s, of course, type,” being intoxicated throughout the day the “86,” which we still use in the service wasn’t considered such a big deal. When you industry to mean someone is banned from think about it, the “three Martini lunch” wasn’t the bar, or more often, that we’re out of really so long ago; rules against being tipsy on something. But do you know what an “eighty the clock are pretty recent. seven and a half” is? Much like “I gotta go fix Now, what would the average hungover the pumps,” it means there is an attractive clerk or lawyer prefer on his way to the office? woman worth taking an extra look at—the A sazerac? A bittered sling? Or five to 10 former for her sitting position, the latter for milligrams of cocaine in a sugary, caffeinated her “endowments.” (I told you this would be ribald!) Bartenders use different phrases today, beverage? I know which one I would choose. It’s no wonder these people were called “dopes” but the meaning is pretty much the same. and “soda junkies.” Some addicts would have Some other highlights are “make it up to 10 of these Coca-Colas a day, and finish virtuous,” for a cherry-flavored Coke; “twist the night off at the saloon to come down. It it, choke it, make it cackle” for a chocolate wasn’t just cocaine; strychnine, morphine, malted milk with an egg; and a “Noah’s boy cannabis and/or anything used in the “patent medicine” of the era was fair game. The druggists ran their racket in the U.S. until the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, when they had to clean up their acts. People went back to the bars, and the soda fountain became less “hives of scum and villainy” and more watering holes for wholesome refreshments. The “soda jerks” of the time were usually young men who specialized in moving fast while not cleaning up after themselves—doing what today we might call “flair bartending.” They were known for tossing glassware into the air and pouring with a flourish; it was a show that started with bartenders like Jerry Thomas (see “the Blue Blazer” cocktail), but it really took off in the
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK
Soda jerks and craft bartenders come from the same ribald lineage soda shops. When the Volstead Act began the folly that was Prohibition—you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube, people—thousands of bartenders found themselves out of work. While many tried to wait it out and didn’t accept the new reality, thinking that it would be a passing thing (sounds pretty familiar), other bartenders took jobs at the soda fountains. They brought with them technique, social graces and cleanliness that the teenagers couldn’t match. They also brought something else with them—women, who wanted to go out to a place where they could feel comfortable, with a handsome, mustachioed man guiding them through a menu of exotic concoctions. Hey, it kind of sounds like the craft-cocktail scene! It also brought in a new type of bartender, the kind who only took the job to flirt with the ladies. Having worked with some guys like that, I can speculate that they may have done more damage to the industry than Prohibition itself. Years later, America came to its senses, and
many soda jerks became bartenders again. However, the Prohibition era hindered much of our cocktail tradition and forced a lot of talent to either retire from the scene or move abroad. The taste for sugar was well-established at this point, and exotic flavors and syrups helped set the stage for the mid-century cocktails to come—like Tiki. America would tire of soda fountains eventually, only to have the idea sold back to us at coffee shops via “Italian sodas.” (Can you imagine something more obviously an American invention than sugar, artificial flavor, and cold, fizzy water?) There is really so much more I could write about regarding soda. I haven’t even had a chance to talk about the syrups yet! But the next time you see a bartender flipping their tins, tossing ice to a co-worker, flirting with an attractive guest, and/or making a mess of their station, feel free to call them a “jerk.” You’re just being historically accurate. Kevin Carlow can be reached at CrypticCocktails@gmail.com.
Hot weather is fast approaching and many seniors rely on Joslyn’s Meals on Wheels. We must prepare for the summer heat NOW!
DONATE TODAY!
Your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000 thanks to generous, longtime supporters of The Joslyn Center.
For more information or to donate, visit joslyncenter.org or call 760-340-3220.
Text the word JOSLYN to 44321 to receive a secure link to complete your donation.
Mail to: End Senior Hunger, The Joslyn Center, 73750 Catalina Way, Palm Desert, CA 92260 CVIndependent.com
26 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
FOOD & DRINK
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK
CAESAR CERVISIA P
BY brett newton
ale ale for the East and West India climate. Such was the labeling on India pale ale in the late 18th century, a style that became a hit with homesick men in British colonies that was—much later—tweaked and revived by American brewers with bolder-tasting, indigenous ingredients. The style now dominates the craft-beer market to the point where virtually everyone has heard of it. The New England/hazy version was last month’s topic for this column, and standard IPAs have been the topic of others. But the style’s history is full of myths and simplifications, and I wanted to see if I could tease out something closer to the truth for those who have heard the tales, but never looked any deeper. I have East Indiamen on the River Thames in East repeated some of these myths in the past, London. The Indiamen were intermediaries to so this journey upon which we are about to the East India Company and traded on their embark will hopefully prove as enlightening as own behalf. Hodgson issued extended credit it is interesting for beer geeks like myself. to the Indiamen so that, even though Bow The first IPA—an abbreviation by which Brewery was a smaller company, their beer was the style became known decades after its first ideally positioned to become the preferred pale brewing—has often been credited to George ale of India—until larger breweries such as Hodgson, of the Bow Brewery of London, in Bass Brewery in Burton-upon-Trent (the home the 1790s. Hodgson was sending what then of the pale ale, a topic I covered in a column on was considered excessively hopped pale ale the very brief history beer) became dominant to the East. This crediting is most likely an after a railway from Burton to London was oversimplification; brewers as early as the completed in 1839. 1760s knew of the necessity to add extra hops All of this leaves us with what amounted to barrels being sent to hotter climates in to an extra-hoppy pale ale. However, some order to prevent spoilage. Porter often reached perspective is needed: The modern IPAs that warmer destinations spoiled or sour (or it was surround us today stretch the phrase “extra consumed by the ship’s crew before sailing into hoppy” into a whole new dimension. English port), and pale ales at the time would have hops are wonderful in their own regard, but fared no better. This dilemma almost certainly they’re not much like newer strains of hops, created a longing in overseas British citizens which often exhibit huge citrus, pine and for a refreshing pale ale that couldn’t be sated. tropical-fruit aromas and flavors. British hops, The likely reason that Hodgson was instead, are often floral, grassy and earthy. remembered is that his brewery was English pales are some of the first styles that fortuitously located close to docking site of the got me interested in beer, and I am always
CVIndependent.com
While IPAs are a craft-beer craze, traditional British pale ales deserve some love, too
pleased when I can find a pint somewhere (especially if it’s been brewed by a brewer in the U.S.); I would highly recommend trying some. Unfortunately, they are not very popular here, because the hoppy quality in them is somewhat restrained compared to the style’s American cousin. Why do I like them? The maltiness of the beer still readily shines through, offering a delicious, biscuity, carameltoffee playground for the hops. These extra-hopped pales eventually grew a little stronger and drier, sometimes utilizing white sugar to add alcohol to the final product without adding flavor or body (a practice similar to methods used for some Belgian ales). The information becomes conspicuously thin when it comes to the IPAs of the early part of the 20th century. The most obvious reason is war; two world wars really concentrate the old resources, it turns out, but this doesn’t tell the whole story. The history of beer has a corollary with the history of taxation. Britain taxed alcohol partly as a temperance measure; leaders were appalled by the amount of public drunkenness in the early 20th century, so they subjected beer to extra taxation—some of it based on alcohol strength—and banned the buying of a round in pubs. Combined with the tightening of resources, this taxation drove down the strength of beer overall, with some styles being as low as 2 percent alcohol by volume. As a result, the India pale ale became an endangered species. It’s strange to imagine
considering the current state of beer, but the style very well could have died out for good. It would take hops from the New World and enterprising small brewers to change the style and create a spark from which one of the biggest craft-beer trends emerged. That is a story for another time, however—one that is evolving under our noses. For those who want to do the best kind of research—research by consumption— regarding British-style pale ales, both Samuel Smith and Fuller’s make wonderful versions that you can get locally relatively easily. The former also makes an IPA that is a great beer regardless of style, history or anything else beyond the experience itself. If you’re willing to drive, the greater Los Angeles area has two breweries that dedicate themselves to traditional English styles: Yorkshire Square Brewery in Torrance (named after the “Yorkshire Square” fermenters used by the aforementioned Samuel Smith Brewery) and McLeod Ale in Van Nuys. Maybe one day, English pales will become a craft-beer trend, and people like me who never stopped loving them will be able to easily enjoy fresh versions made here in the States. Just maybe. Brett Newton is a certified cicerone (like a sommelier for beer) and homebrewer who has mostly lived in the Coachella Valley since 1988. He can be reached at caesarcervisia@gmail.com.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 27
MAY 2021
FOOD & DRINK
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK
VINE SOCIAL JASON DAVID
Mother’s Day is coming—and these are the wines I’ll be enjoying on that special day
HAIR STUDIO
E
By KatieLOVE finn YOUR
HAIR
very year for Mother’s Day, I ask for the same thing—to be left the hell alone while I drink my favorite wine. My wish is usually granted for about an hour, but it’s a blissful hour during which my wonderful husband silences our sweet children’s unbelievable ability to say “Mommy!” 800 times in two minutes. and Cook Street My wine of choice for this quiet hour is always Country the same: Club Premier Cru Chablis. I close my eyes, Palm De sert stick my nose in the glass, and inhale deeply. I force myself to be present and take in all the layers of aromas—Meyer lemons, ripe Bosc pears lightly dusted with sea salt, and that beautiful smell 760-340-5959 that happens right after the rain when the perfected wines made from the obscure little concrete is wet and giving off that chalky, Lumassina grape. One producer in particular, www.jasondavidhairstudio.net minerally scent. Yes, that is my happy place. Punta Crena, takes great pride in focusing on But this Mother’s Day is going to be one-of-a-kind grapes with little to no exposure different. I have vowed to break tradition and outside of their village. Their take on the not only spend the whole day with the family; delicate Lumassina grape translates to a wine I’m also going to sip on something other than with a gentle flowery note, low alcohol and a Chablis. barely there fizz on your palate. All I can think Over the course of the last few months, about while sipping this is a huge plate of fried I’ve experienced some pretty mind-blowing calamari and my toes in the sand. wines—crisp whites, savory reds and luscious Even though the weather is warming bubbles, all from far-off, remote places, that up (Did we have a spring? Did I miss it?), are truly transportive. A veritable journey in sometimes a glass of red wine just hits the the glass. So, if you’re like me and want to spot—but I personally can’t stomach the spend a certain Sunday in May indulging in idea of a huge fruit bomb in sweltering exciting new wine finds, consider this your temperatures. I look for light-bodied reds, with go-to shopping list. zippy and crunchy red fruit flavors, low alcohol Slovenia has been a treasure trove of and refreshing acidity. To satiate my red wine undiscovered grapes and wines. In fact, one of urges this time of year, I found a layered and the most dangerous wines I’ve ever tasted is complex wine from Greece called Limniona. called Halozan, from a winery called Pullus. It’s Bursting with ripe strawberries, licorice and a blend of several different white grapes such fresh herbs, this ancient varietal was saved as dry riesling, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay from certain extinction by Christos Zafeirakis. and pinot blanc, with the ever-exciting He’s a fourth-generation winemaker, and the indigenous varietal called furmint. Why is this family estate is nestled up against Mount wine dangerous, you ask? It’s a one-liter bottle, Olympus in Thessaly, where the volcanic soil and once you open it, you just cannot stop adds a minerality to this wine that is electric. drinking! It’s bright and refreshing, with notes I suggest chilling it down just a touch, then of apples, pears and citrus fruits, with a subtle savoring the ever-evolving flavors that will hit hint of white flowers. I can imagine myself your palate like an iron fist in a silk glove. drinking this while floating in the pool and Finally, there’s nothing like ending a day being fed some sort of skewered meat. with a glass of bubbles … or starting the day I was intrigued by Slovenian furmint and with a glass of bubbles. Or having bubbles wanted to know what a wine made from 100 all day. So if sparkling wine gets your motor percent of this varietal tasted like. Then, revved like it does mine, and you want to I found it—Kobal winery located in Ptuj, treat yourself (because remember—you Slovenia, makes a beautiful white from 100 deserve it), then there’s nothing better than percent furmint, or as they call it locally, Sipon. Champagne Special Club. This elite category Just as sauvignon blanc is to Sancerre, and of Champagne needs to have an entire article cabernet is to Napa, Sipon is the very heart dedicated to it, but for now, just know that of Slovenian wine. The Kobal is made in a dry Special Club is rare, and the level of quality style with the most gorgeous notes of key control and care that goes into each bottle limes, sweet smoke and juicy red grapefruit. is palpable. These are wines made by the It’s undeniably mouth-watering and just begs actual grape-growers themselves—a rare for warm weather and a cheese plate. thing indeed in Champagne, where most Not to be outdone, the Italians located grapes are purchased by the huge Champagne in the riviera known as Liguria, in the houses in order for them to mass-produce northwestern part of the country, have the labels we have come to recognize in
grocery stores around the country. Special Club can only be produced in declared vintage years, but beyond that, they must be excellent vintage years with unparalleled conditions. In addition, in order to receive this prestigious designation, the wine must pass two blind tastings made up of a jury of wine professionals. To date, there are only 28 Special Club Champagnes available. I think you get the idea … this bottle of bubs is a really big deal. Recently, I had the distinct privilege of tasting the 2014 Hervieux-Dumez Brut from Sacy. The bubbles were so delicate and precise that it looked like there was diamond dust floating in the glass. They were
the tiniest yet most precise bubbles I’d ever seen. Don Ho would be proud. And the taste? Like lightning coated in honey. To say it was “like whoa” would be a tragic understatement. This is my recommended lineup for yourself, your queen, your mama, your best friend or your gam-gam. But no matter what you drink, raise a glass in celebration, remembrance or love for the strong women in your life. And maybe give them an hour of quiet time. 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. CVIndependent.com
28 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
www.GayAndLesbianPages.com SPECIAL THANK YOU!
FREE • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Defending Marriage Equality! It’s The Law! Your Family Hardware Store Since 1947!
EUROWÜRX
Hardware • Electrical • Plumbing Locksmith • Screens Glass - Repairs & Custom Orders Drywall • Computer Color Paint Matching & Much Much More!!
the truth in european automotive tuning Audi – BMW – Mini – VW All Factory Scheduled Maintenance APR, Neuspeed, BBS, Bilstein, Brembo Our Technicians are Former Dealer Techs Over 40 Years of Combined Experience
EMIL’S
HARDWARE
COX PAINT
Shop Online @ www.EmilsHardware.com
SINCE 1945
Free Shipping on Ship to Store Orders!
We Carry Environmentally Friendly Paints
(310) 839-8571
509 South Victory Blvd. • Burbank, CA 91502 vic@eurowurx.com
2525 South Robertson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034
www.EurowurxAutoBurbank.com
Entrance on Corner of Robertson Blvd. & Beverlywood St. (1 Mile South of Pico Blvd. or 1/2 Mile North of Santa Monica Freeway Exit)
Marc Berton, Agent
YOUR HOME TOWN VETERNARIAN
Insurance Lic. #: 0630665
Bus: 818-905-1911 Toll Free: 800-924-4459 Bus: 323-872-0482
MEDICINE - SURGERY - DENTAL CARE - FLEA CONTROL - X-RAYS
HOLLYWOOD CAT & DOG HOSPITAL
S
Fountain
Lexington
www.marcberton.com
1146 N. La Brea, LA 90038 (North of Santa Monica Blvd.) Across the Street from McDonald’s on La Brea Supporting the Gay Community
We all feel the same commitment to care for our families. Helping you meet your insurance needs is part of my commitment to you.
Queen Adjustable Bed
20
%
So Comfortable, You’ll Never Count These Guys Again.™
OFF
All Serta products with this coupon
HOT BUY
399
$
Not good with any other discounts.
Self Storage 760-318-9166 www.palmspringsselfstorage.com
50 BUSINESS
$
PLUS YEARS IN
599
We don’t need Holidays, Gimmicks or Package Deals... “Just Everyday Low Prices”
Starting and ending at the steps of L.A. City Hall
Limit 2 per customer
aidswalk.net
Special thanks to Essential Gay & Lesbian Directory
310.641.8259
NORTH HOLLYWOOD (NOHO Art District) - 4900 Lankershim Boulevard
818.766.4289
Mon-Fri Mon-Fri10am8-pm 10am-8pm Sat • Sun 10am6-pm Sat10am7-pm 10am-7pm • Sun 10am-6pm
WEBSITE: WWW.ALSDISCOUNTFURNITURE.COM
www.SHGEsq.com
Custom-Designed Cakes for All Occasions
318-9166
7 6 0
Fall 2017
www.palmspringsselfstorage.com
RV Units - 13’ x 50’ & Up to 90’ x 60’ Warehouse Size Units Purchase or Lease Starting at $97,500 Washer & Dryers Ice Machine Limited RV Supplies
BENEFITING
213.201.WALK
3690 Airport Center Drive Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-318-1105 Right next to Palm Springs Airport Self Storage
Created and produced by MZA Events. AIDS Walk Founder/Senior Organizer: Craig R. Miller. © MZA Events, 2017
7601 Goddard Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90045-3219
Queen Mattress
The Best Buy Seal and other licensed materials are registered certification marks and trademarks of Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, used under license. For award information, visit ConsumersDigest.com.
AL’S DISCOUNT FURNITURE 1-800-RING-ALS •
Cake and Art Gourmet Cupcakes, Chocolates and Other Tantalizing Desserts
Palm Springs Wine Storage
3950 Airport Center Drive Palm Springs, CA 92264
WALK
OCT. 15, 2017
Visit our website at: www.CakeandArt.com 8709 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310.657.8694 order@cakeandart.com
Celebrate your day to remember surrounded by your closest friends and family and leave the details to us. Palm Springs has ideal wedding weather and the Riviera Palm Springs is the perfect backdrop, offering luxurious and contemporary indoor and outdoor weddings.
Say “I do” in your style. 1600 North Indian Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.327.8311 rivierapalmsprings.com
Plug and go without worries till your next trip
NOBODY TAKES CARE OF YOU LIKE STATE FARM®.
Open 7 Days a Week
JULY
At State Farm® you get a competitive rate and an agent dedicated to helping you get the coverage that’s right for you and the discounts you deserve. I’d love to take care of you too. Call me today.
OurGayApp.com
GLPages.com
Proudly Representing the LGBT Community and Everyone for Equal Justice for Over 30 Years Client Testimony - “It may sound dramatic but I owe my legal motherhood to David Moore. During a tenuous legal time, I began working with him in 2005. His attentiveness to my queer identity, my relationship with my daughter and family dynamics assured me in a way for which I will be forever grateful.” Frankie Travis “non-bio” mother
• Adoptions • Child Visitation • Divorce • Litigation • Restraining Order
• Asset Divisions • Child Custody/Support • Alternative Dispute Resolution • Dissolutions • Domestic Partnerships • Real Property Divisions • Pre/Post Nuptial Agreements • Estate Planning • Mediation/Negotiation • Wills & Trusts
Equality and justice using our laws and court systems demands representation by an experienced legal representative who knows the law, understands the application of the law, and that is capable of overcoming legal inequities that sometimes exist for Community members. Using my legal experience, knowledge of the court system and dedication to justice for all, I lead my clients through family law litigation, negotiation, and collaborative agreements. In addition my office provides mediation and alternative dispute resolution, custody advice, and other valuable services to address client’s individual legal needs.
Los Angeles, Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties
(323) 680-0210 • (805) 643-1671 • (805) 660-8066 Vivian Lee Arber M.S./M.P.S. • Alternative Dispute Resolution • (805) 746-4586 www.DivorceCalif.com
Se habla español
“The Edible Art Experience”
Temperature & Humidity Controlled 55 - 58 Degrees 70% Humidity Controlled Access Deliveries upon Request
EMPOWERMENT • EXCELLENCE • EMPATHY • EFFECTIVENESS
Woodkote
State Farm, Bloomington, IL
Palm Springs Airport Individually Alarmed Units 24 Hour Video Surveillance Gated On-Site Security Environmentally Controlled Wine Storage Air Conditioned Units Same Staff for Past 12 Years Best Gate Hours in Town 6am - 10 pm Open 7 days a Weeks
Law Office of David Lee Moore
Spectrum Quality Paint
Kelly-Moore Paint
• Wrongful Termination • Employment Discrimination/Harassment • Workers’ Compensation • Sexual Harassment • Work Place Civil Rights Issues • Serious Personal Injury Please e-mail your concerns or questions at: shg@shgesq.com
12 Months Same as Cash!
As Low As
Proudly Serving Our Community Since 1982 ‘Sustaining Donor’ LA LGBT Center
Pratt & Lambert Purdy
Fine Paints of Europe Frescatti Modern Masters
Over 30 Years of Dedicated Trial Experience on Your Side
Civil Trial Practice
CALL ME TODAY.
• Auto • Business • Life • Homeowners
Featuring These Fine Paint Products: Benjamin Moore Donald Kaufman Color Farrow & Ball
Law Offices of
Stuart H. Garrison
Queen Mattress Starting at
0907504
AIDS
310.838.2284 Hours: Monday to Friday 6:30 - 5:30 Saturday 7:00 - 4:30
www.coxpaint.com
Same Sex
Santa Monica
DR. PAUL GIRGIS, D.V.M.
(323) 469-3000 www.HollywoodCatDog.com
LOS ANGELES
Cox Paint - Culver City 11153 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 (1/2 Block East of Sepulveda)
310.393.7208 Hours: Monday to Friday 6:30 - 5:30 Saturday 7:00 - 5:00
Family $199 is why we do it all.
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®
Sunset
E
Sycamore
N
Highland
W
N. La Brea
Detroit
FULL BOARDING FACILITIES • LOW COST VACCINATIONS ON WED. & SAT. • SPAY • NEUTER BATHING • ULTRASOUND • MICRO CHIPPING • LASER THERAPY • X-RAY • SURGERY • DENTAL IN-HOME EUTHANASIA • HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL Come See Our Newly Remodeled Hospital!
Call For Doctor’s Hours
Cox Paint - Santa Monica 1130 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401 (Corner of 12th St.)
CERTIFIED SERVICE & REPAIR
Like Us on Facebook for Upcoming Sales and Special Offers
ONE ON ONE SPECIALIZED CARE
FULL SERVICE VETERINARY CLINIC
Office Hours: Mon-Sat: 8am – 6pm Sun: Closed
Specialist in Custom Blended Colors Two Convenient Westside Locations:
818.843.4400
MON-FRI 8AM-5:30PM • SAT 8AM-5PM • SUN 9AM-1PM
B.G Loan & Jewelry ..................................13 years Cal Pet Crematory .................................... 13 Years Ed’s Coffee Shop .......................................13 years Eurosport German Auto Performance ...13 years Greg Cash Tax Plus ................................... 13 Years Hollywood Cat & Dog Hospital ............... 13 Years Hollywood Divers .................................... 13 Years Jeffrey Greathouse Attorney ................... 13 Years Sea View Optometric ............................... 13 Years Signal Hill Pet Hospital ............................ 13 Years Twenty Four 7 Cleaning ........................... 13 Years Canyon Interiors ...................................... 12 Years Cox Paints ................................................. 12 Years Done Right Discount Flooring ................ 12 Years Emil’s Hardware ....................................... 12 Years Gregory Cason Psychologist ................... 12 Years JR Hardware Sash & Door ........................ 12 Years KFK Jewelers ............................................. 12 Years Marc Berton Insurance ............................ 12 Years North Hollywood Hardware .................... 12 Years Paragon Cleaners ..................................... 12 Years Rush Hour Jewelery .................................. 12 Years Stuart Garrison Attorney .........................12 Years The Mail Box ............................................. 12 Years Venice Beach Suites ................................. 12 Years Abe’s Garage Door ................................... 11 Years Alcid Hair Design ..................................... 11 Years Animal Dermatology ............................... 11 Years Barak Chiropratic ..................................... 11 Years Dana Bruce Attorney ............................... 11 Years Elliott Salter Pawnshop ........................... 11 Years Jaguar Car Service ................................... 11 Years Japanese Auto Center .............................. 11 Years Larry’s Custom Furniture ......................... 11 Years Max Muscle of Long Beach ...................... 11 Years New England Divers ................................. 11 Years Santa Monica Yoga ................................... 11 Years
2018
$75 - 4 Wheel Alignments $50 - 2 Wheel Alignments (Most cars) Car - Truck - Boat - RV
Auto Fire Business Life • Health
Kristin Brinkema Agent
$26.75 + Cert. 3449 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. • Signal Hill, CA 90755
Toll Free 877-226-2668 Fax 562-597-0249
www.signalhillpethospital.com
850 Colorado Blvd, Suite 204 Eagle Rock, CA 90041-1733
Ragi Boctor, D.V.M. Mirette Attalla, D.V.M.
323-256-2251
Complete Service Hospital & Boarding Facility General Medicine • Internal Medicine • Orthopedic Surgery General Surgery • Laser Surgery • Dentistry • Radiology • Ultrasound
Fax 323-256-6339
www.kbrinkema.com kristin.brinkema.c8o8@statefarm.com
• Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic on Wednesdays • Low Cost Vaccinations Every Day Extended Hours for Easier Drop Off/Pick Up Mon-Fri. 7am-7pm • Sat. 7am-4pm • Sun. 9am-4pm
Most Cars from 1996 to Today Not valid with other offers.
Coupon Required $30 off regular price. Most cars & light trucks
$50 OFF Not valid with other offers. Coupon Required
$50 off regular price. Most cars & light trucks
$40 OFF
$50 OFF
Transmission Service
Brake Service
Not valid with other offers. Coupon Required
Not valid with other offers. Coupon Required
$40 off regular price. Most cars & light trucks
$50 off regular price. Most cars & light trucks
$24.95
FREE Inspections
AC Service & Inspection
• FREE Tire Inspection • FREE Belt & Hose Inspection • FREE All Fluid Inspection • FREE Brake Inspection • FREE Estimates on Repair Jobs • FREE Filter Inspection • FREE Body Work Estimates
OIL CHANGE SPECIAL
• Oil Drain & Fill • Perform Multipoint Inspection • Including Filter & 5 Quarts Oil • $5 Extra for Each Additional Quart • Syntetic Extra • On most cars
(323) 462-8383 • (323) 462-2764 1787 North Highland Ave. Hollywood, CA 90028
www.FSARepair.com
Support Those Who Support Our Rights!!
2017-2018 www.GLPages.com
SERVING THE LESBIAN, GAY, BI-SEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
13th Edition
Facebook.com/GayYellowBook Twitter.com/GayYellowPages YouTube.com/GayYellowBook
according to Yelp, Tripadvisor & OpenTable WE ARE ONE OF THE VERY BEST with 9,000 Sq feet keeping you safe is easy OPEN DAILY FROM 11AM - 3PM & 5PM - 9PM 849 N PALM CANYON DRIVE . PALM SPRINGS EIGHT4NINE.COM 760.325.8490 CVIndependent.com
NOW OFFERING INDOOR DINING! OPEN 4:30-10 P.M.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 29
MAY 2021
the
FOOD & DRINK INDY ENDORSEMENT This month, we’re enjoying two delicious starters—and the resumption of restaurant life By Jimmy Boegle
WHAT The velouté de potiron (kabocha pumpkin soup) WHERE French Rotisserie Café, 44489 Town Center Way, Palm Desert HOW MUCH $8 CONTACT 760-848-7684; frenchrotisseriecafe.com WHY It’s creamy perfection. Restaurants can be special places. They’re where we have birthday gatherings, romantic dinners, deal-making business lunches—and so many other important life events. This is one reason the complete closure of restaurants a year ago was so jarring. The inaccessibility of these spots where we’ve all celebrated so many events, both special and regularly scheduled, showed how broken our world was at the time. Our world remains very broken, yes, but as far as the pandemic is concerned, it’s healing, thanks to the miracles of vaccine science—and restaurants are again open. All of this was rattling through my mind as I enjoyed the pumpkin soup at French Rotisserie Café. The occasion was special, but only because it signified the resumption of something fairly rote: the monthly lunch I have with Kevin, the Independent’s staff writer. Once a month for years, we’ve gotten together to talk shop and more over a meal. That is, until we couldn’t for 13 months. But here we were, both fully vaccinated, on a gorgeous April day, outdoors at a lovely Palm Desert bistro—and in addition to the excellent company, I was savoring a fantastic soup. The creamy soup, with richness and flavor added by brown butter and sage, delightfully melded savory and sweet. It was so good that I would have licked the bowl had nobody been looking. I’d never been to French Rotisserie Café before—at either its former La Quinta location or its current Palm Desert iteration—but given how excellent both the food and service were, I’ll be back. And it’s so wonderful to be able to go back, isn’t it?
WHAT The fried chicken sliders WHERE Wilma and Frieda, 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs (dinner menu only) HOW MUCH $10 CONTACT 760-992-5080; wilmafrieda.com WHY It’s comforting. What is it about good fried chicken that is so comforting? Is it the homey nature of the food? The fact that it’s not exactly, uh, healthy? Or is it just that it’s so darned tasty? Beats me. All I know is that the version on the sliders at Wilma and Frieda’s Palm Springs is fantastic. The menu description is simple: “Our signature fried chicken medallions with pickle, onion and Old Bay aioli.” At first glance, that description sums up everything about the sliders (other than mentioning the presence of the buns, the existence of which goes without saying). But look closer—specifically, at those “signature fried chicken medallions.” That aforementioned description mentions nothing about the batter on the chicken—and it’s the star of this figurative show. Not only is it nicely seasoned; it’s wonderfully crispy, and hearty enough to stand up to the moisture of the aioli. I only have one problem with this dish: Why are the sliders only on the dinner menu? I could see myself having these for breakfast or lunch … or, well, anytime. I am far from the only fan of these sliders. Case in point: On our recent dinner visit, three members of our party of four got the sliders … as our main course. (The only holdout is on a strict diet and eschewing anything with the word “fried” in it, the poor soul.) Wilma and Frieda is best known for its breakfast/brunch fare—but if you haven’t tried out the restaurant’s dinner offerings at the Palm Springs location, it’s time you do so. The service is first-rate; the view from second-story location overlooking Palm Canyon Drive (and the creepy Sonny Bono statue!) is lovely; and the food is delicious—and oh so comforting.
Opens May 28!
CVIndependent.com
30 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK
Restaurant NEWS BITES By charles drabkin
TownCA.com 760-250-1977
LET OUR EXPERIENCE AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE HELP TO GUIDE YOU! KEVIN STERN KEVIN STERN
OWNER/BROKER CalDRE #01376548
Patio dining takeout • delivery 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday-SUNday 1775 E. Palm Canyon Drive (760) 778-6595 www.533vietfusion.com CVIndependent.com
AFTER A HATEFUL INCIDENT, THE OWNER OF MUSASHI DESERVES SUPPORT Dining out these days can be treated as a social-justice issue. As a community, it is important that we spend our dollars at locally owned restaurants as much as possible, to ensure that small businesses— and by extension, our friends and neighbors—not only survive, but thrive. These businesses are the engine that drives our economy. We can also make sure we’re supporting businesses owned by local people of color. In late March, Stella Kim—owner of Musashi Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, at 72785 Highway 111, Suite B4, in Palm Desert (760-340-9780; musashipalmdesert.com); and Ramen Musashi, at 44491 Town Center Way, in Palm Desert (760-674-7299; ramenpalmdesert.com)—was the target of anti-Asian hate from a group of white women who picked on her English and made racial slurs. Fortunately, she was not physically harmed—and she was willing to speak out about the incident. As individuals, we often feel powerless in the face of such behavior, but the simple act of going to dinner can be an act of solidarity. Ramen Musashi features one of my favorite summertime dishes, hiyashi chuka—cold noodles with imitation crab, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, carrot, egg and a choice of shredded chicken or ham. As temperatures start to climb, you can bet this will be in heavy rotation with me all summer long. NEW: B’S TABLE, AVAILABLE IN LA QUINTA VIA FOODNOME Long-time Coachella Valley resident Betty Berrysmith has always found ways to combine her love of activism with her love of food. One of the founders of the L-Fund, a group that provides financial assistance to lesbians in crisis, Berrysmith created their popular Gumbo Gala, which attracted 225 people in its most recent incarnation. Now she’s making food for the masses … in a small but powerful way. Last year, Riverside County implemented a new law, Assembly Bill 626, which makes it legal for home cooks to sell dishes out of their homes. FoodNome, a startup company, is helping these cooks with permitting, as well the marketing of their products. With their help, Betty was able to start B’s Table in La Quinta, with an emphasis on local ingredients turned into Southern-style cooking. She sells her signature gumbos and more, as well as a variety of desserts like buttermilk cake and bourbon-pecan pie. Since she makes no more than 60 meals per week, make sure you order yours early. For more information and menus, visit foodnome.com/B’s-Table. You can also download the FoodNome app and find other home-based businesses near you. IN BRIEF Newly opened and much buzzed-about: Bar Cecil, at 1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite H-104, in Palm Springs. The restaurant is the latest project from the owners of Holiday House and Sparrows Lodge, and the décor, food and bar menu all look sumptuous. In addition to the regular menu, one table per night can enjoy a six-course wine-paired prix-fixe dinner in honor of Cecil Beaton; 442-332-3800; barcecil.com. … Open on April 27: Boozehounds, at 2080 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, in the space that most recently housed Glitch. Boozehounds is a pet-friendly Asian-inspired café and bar with lots of outdoor spaces where you and your pooch can enjoy a meal together; 760-656-0067; boozehoundsps.com. … The owners of my favorite Mexican joint, Felipe’s, at 400 S. El Cielo Road, in Palm Springs, have opened El Patio, at 139 E. Andreas Road, in Palm Springs. You must try the chile relleno de camaron and/or the Del Mar ceviche; 760-832-6332; elpatiopalmsprings.com. … A longtime Palm Springs fave, Pepper’s Thai, has expanded with a takeout/delivery-only outpost in Palm Desert, at 72286 Highway 111, Suite J5; 760-620-1390. … Also new(ish) to Palm Desert: La Baguette, a Vietnamese sandwich shop, at 34580 Monterey Ave., Unit 106. Everything is made in-house, including the eponymous baguette, the daikon and carrot pickles, and the paté. Owners recently added vermicelli bowls to the menu, too; 760-620-5308; labaguettepd.wixsite.com/store. … New: Café la Jefa, at 750 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Located in the newly renovated Flannery Exchange building, Café la Jefa serves Sisters Coffee as well as a variety of kombuchas, premade salads and sandwiches. Thanks to a beautiful outdoor space, this is quickly becoming “the place” in Palm Springs to get coffee—and the pink lids on cups don’t hurt, either; 760-364-9609; @ cafelajefa on social media. … More than 30 years ago, Stuart Davis opened the first City Wok location in Studio City; six years later, he opened his second restaurant, in a Palm Desert shopping center. Now he’s packed up that Country Club Drive location to move into an expansive restaurant space at the Westfield Palm Desert, at 72840 Highway 111. With a planned May opening, the new location will feature a full bar and a large outdoor dining area, as well as indoor dining and an expanded waiting area for those getting takeout; 760-341-1511; citywok.com. Got a tip? Let me know: foodnews@cvindependent.com.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 31
MAY 2021
32 33 33 37
Four veteran musicians gathered at a Pioneertown ranch to create Illumination Road Hip-hop duo BluVarity measures success via progress—and has big hopes for 2021 the venue report is back, with toby keith playing in a ... soccer field? Meet the new owner of Finders Keepers Records, and Koka’s talented bassist
www.cvindependent.com/music
TINY VENUE Palm Springs’ Hermano Flower Shop mixes blooms and live music, featuring Israel’s Arcade
34 CVIndependent.com
32 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
MUSIC
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC
MODERN BAND
Four veteran musicians gathered at a Pioneertown ranch to create Illumination Road
By matt king
T
he past year has been cruel to many musicians; for others, the pandemic has injected life into their aspirations. The members of Illumination Road spent the shutdown defining their sound through the trials and tribulations of 2020. The Pioneertown band includes Chris Ayden, lead vocalist, songwriter and guitarist; Chad Shlosser, producer, guitarist, bassist and engineer; Greg Cahill, multi-instrumentalist; and Michael Johnson, around music,” said Shlosser. “But everybody producer and drummer. comes from their own backgrounds. Greg The group just released debut single “The has played with a bunch of killer AmericanaModern World,” accompanied by a music bluegrass bands, even one of the best Bob Dylan video. The song and video combine hard-rock cover bands I’ve ever seen. Michael has toured influences with theatrical production values— the world extensively as a drummer with his all with the desert landscape as a backdrop. own projects, and he’s been signed to every “I was in L.A. for the last 15 years,” Shlosser major label possible. Chris, I’ve just known as said during a recent Zoom interview. “I had a songwriter who I’ve been working with for a studio in Hollywood with my buddy Matt years, and he’s an extreme talent in that regard. Sorum, from Guns and Roses. … Just seeing We all had a thing in common; it was just about how things were getting a little more crowded us all getting back in the same room and zeroing and expensive, I kind of wanted to escape. I in on the goal, and I think we nailed it.” ended up at a ranch called Escape, and it’s just Shared trust helped Shlosser realize the been the most productive year of my life. I’ve potential of this group. been able to refocus and re-energize out here. “We don’t really have to guide anybody,” he Really, it’s just been an incredible place to be said. “When it’s Michael’s turn to lay down creative. There are no distractions up here. It’s some drums or percussion, we trust his vision. quiet, and I don’t feel like I’m missing out on It works the same way with Greg when he hops something going on down the street. There’s on the Hammond. I think that’s the ultimate nobody down the street here.” goal of any band—just to be able to trust the Shlosser explained how the four came other guys to do their jobs and know that what together. they bring is contributing to the final product.” “We’ve all known each other for quite a “The Modern World” is not only the band’s while,” he said. “Michael is a co-producer of first single; it’s the first song the four worked mine, and we’re actually business partners on together. in a record label. We’ve known each other “This first song is kind of a re-creation of for about 14 years, but we really didn’t start a song that Chris and I had for a number of working together until a few years ago, when years that we’d gone out and played before,” we ended up co-producing a record together, Shlosser said. “It was a little bit more of like and it turned out amazing. We have a great a heavy progressive-rock type of thing, with working relationship in the studio. Chris and really big stereo guitars and smashing stadium I, we were actually in another band. … We had drums, but it just wasn’t us. It didn’t feel kind of worked on the rock ’n’ roll thing, like like our vibe, because we’re a little bit more a throwback rock-trio vibe, but it didn’t hit, Americana-leaning, and we wanted more space and we weren’t really comfortable releasing in the productions and whatnot. ‘Modern anything. About five years ago, we kind of World’ got stripped down to nothing, and we rebranded and started thinking in a different reformulated the whole thing. That started direction, and that’s when we met Greg Cahill. during quarantine. Chris lives in Nashville, We actually found him on Craigslist lastand the other guys live in California, but we all minute, because we got asked to go play a show get together for like a week or two at a time. with Aerosmith in Sydney. We needed to put The first meeting was for ‘The Modern World.’ a band together quickly, so we found this kid We reformatted it and pulled it all together, Greg, and he’s just a virtuoso on everything and it came really quickly. That’s kind of how and really rounded out the whole thing. Over we found our sound—the four of us getting the last year, we were able to all get together together and being stuck together at the ranch here at my ranch and get it all figured out.” here for a week or two at a time. Schlosser said the band members have one “It started off as just like, ‘Let’s just get some thing in common. awesome recordings going,’ because we’re all “Our relationships were always centered studio rats in a way; that’s how we make our CVIndependent.com
Illumination Road. Errol L. Colandro
livings, is making records for other bands. We just wanted to get in here and utilize the space to really create some awesome products. We want to build up that whole catalog of stuff that can be released over the next couple of years. Once all that is organized and ready to go, then we can focus on the live thing, and not have to worry about the next angle, or following up with content and all that type of stuff.” Schlosser said Illumination Road has a plan, of sorts, for live shows. “It’s looking more like the random show type of thing,” said Shlosser. “I don’t see regular touring coming back at any point soon. It’s also kind of something that we didn’t really want to do from the get-go anyway. I mean, we obviously want to go play shows, but the ‘weekend warrior’ type of schedule seems a little bit more apt to us and what we want to do. We have some festivals that are getting booked right now … and that’s just the most ideal situation for us right now. I think for promoters and artists in general, that’s going to be kind of where things are at. … I see the risk of trying to book a 20-day tour, and then somebody comes down sick. We definitely plan on going out and pushing it as hard as we can with that in mind, so that includes a few festival dates, and playing around the West Coast a little bit this late spring and early summer.” This approach will also allow the members of Illumination Road to keep their other commitments.
“I’m still in the middle of a bunch of different projects, and so are Michael and Greg; we all have our things going on,” Shlosser said. “You do want to focus on this, but it’s just going to take spreading some time between shows. When Illumination Road does play, the people taking the stage won’t necessarily always be the four core members. “It is a band in the regard that there are obviously four of us who are taking photos together, but when we hit the road, we’re going to have a few more players onstage,” Shlosser said. “Lineups could change depending on people’s schedules, but the core group is there. Chris and I were working on this project for years before we had Greg and Michael come in to complete it, and it’s going to kind of still work that way. We’ll each individually and independently do our own things that contribute to the band, but we don’t all have to be in the same room to get something done a lot of the time. “We don’t have any desire to ever sign with a label. We do all of our own promo; we’re self-sufficient in every way. We have our own label deal with our own distro and everything. We’re not a band out there hustling, trying to get the deal; we’re just going to create our work, put it out, push it the best we can, tour independently—and just hope that that works.” For more information, visit www.illumination-road.com.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 33
MAY 2021
MUSIC
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC
CONFIDENCE VIA CREATION By matt king
A
rtists all define “success” differently. The members of hip-hop duo BluVarity, for now, have experienced success by simply honing their craft. Juan “Kudaa” Rodriguez and Sebastian “Sebas” Flores have for several years been working on concocting a unique brand of experimental hip hop. “I met Juan in middle school, the sixth-grade,” Flores said. “When we met, I wasn’t super into hip hop or music in general. That started around Flores quickly became the duo’s main high school, and even then, I wasn’t really into producer. creating music. The summer going into junior “Everything you hear is all Sebas,” Rodriguez year was when Juan messaged me and was like, said. “I want to get into mixing and mastering; ‘Yo, you want to make some music?’” that’s what I’m majoring in, so that’s what I Rodriguez said he, too, got into music want to focus on. Hopefully soon, that will be relatively late. my main thing for the group, and we both can “When we first met in middle school, I write and try to divide the sound.” listened to the radio, and then my brother BluVarity’s music can elicit conflicting got me into hip hop my eighth-grade year,” emotions. Rodriguez said. “… Then I started having the “There are a couple of songs that are idea to want to write around sophomore year. more happy-sounding or more upbeat, like Stuff got serious my junior year, and I wanted ‘Time,’ but even then, the lyrics are dark and to make it come to life. I wanted to have a emotional,” Flores said. “… The production and group, because I was always fond of Run the sound currently are less dark and moody, and Jewels; they’re what got me into hip hop. That are more energetic and experimental, which was the first-ever hip-hop collective I was is something I’ve been trying to get a good shown, so I felt like it’d be better to have a handle on. That’s sort of evolved, coming from partner or a group.” when we released our EP, Ruby. In those songs, Flores and Rodriguez dove head-first you can kind of hear where it’s going to go— into crafting music—and let the skill and and with these next releases, you’re going to knowledge come later. hear where it’s leading to.” “I really had no idea how to make music,” Rodriguez explained that the darker lyrical said Flores. “When he had first hit me up, I tone comes from a personal place. said yes right away, but I had no idea how to do “Every time I write, I always want to put anything. I started learning a lot, and many of part of myself in my lyrics,” said Rodriguez. our early days were us just experimenting and “… I want to shoot that message across that messing around with trying to find some cool you’re not alone. Whenever I freestyle, there sounds, and trying to get a real understanding are always these dark things that come out of of what to do.” me, because I just want to be super-loose with
Juan “Kudaa” Rodriguez and Sebastian “Sebas” Flores are BluVarity.
Hip-hop duo BluVarity measures success via progress— and has big hopes for 2021 it. I feel like I got that from listening to people like Kid Cudi. Sometimes I walk in with no intention of what I want to write, and then it turns out to be something super-emotional. I want to be like an open book, and let the listeners interpret that.” Rodriguez and Flores said they’re developing confidence after a few years of making music. “I think it was after ‘Time,’ our last single that was released almost a year ago, that we really started to be confident about it—and confident about the idea of that song being one we could randomly perform, and we wouldn’t cringe,” Rodriguez said. “I’m still proud of our older stuff, but we’ve definitely grown past that sound.” Added Flores: “I started to feel happy and stop cringing around when ‘Run Love Fun’ came out, which was about two years ago. Around that time was when I started getting a good understanding of what to do. I could put up with listening to that song—but a lot of the older stuff, I just can’t listen to. It’ll just drive me insane.” Flores and Rodriguez hope to consistently release music this year—and get in front of live audiences, too. “Instead of a single, a couple-month break, then a single, we want to strive for a moreconsistent type of flow, so we’re trying to drop five or six tracks coming up,” Rodriguez said. “It’s going to be pretty consistent, with maybe a tiny break, but that’s just to produce even more stuff to drop. “Hopefully, after this pandemic, we can book some shows. There is this one line that I really want to scream, and all of my friends hype me up when I show them that song.” Rodriguez said he and Flores also want to work with other musicians. “I love the music scene in the valley, and I love learning about everyone who has a creative mindset,” Rodriguez said. “We’re trying to collaborate with a couple of people on their next couple of drops, and we have two features lined up so far. … I don’t want to say that I don’t want to be stuck in the valley, but I feel like it’s really hard to get out of somewhere like here. I learned about Queens of the Stone Age singer Josh Homme, and I learned about his life in the valley, and how he started a really big thing in the music scene here. I want to do the same thing, and I just want to shout out whoever I can and bring whoever I can with me.” For more information, visit Instagram.com/ BluVarity.
The Venue REPORT May 2021 By matt king
Toby Keith
Hello, everyone. I just had the craziest dream! A worldwide pandemic prohibited live entertainment for a year, and everyone had to wear masks! Thank goodness I’m awake, and it was just a dream ... right? Right? Of course, I am joking; COVID-19 is more of a nightmare—and a very real one at that. However, thanks to vaccines, live entertainment is beginning to return—and there are finally some happenings to share with you all. Here’s a taste of what the Coachella Valley entertainment scene has to offer during the month of May. Of course, these events are subject to change, because, well, you know … There is one big name coming to the valley in May—and he’s christening a brandnew events space, of sorts, at Spotlight 29. Dubbed Coachella Crossroads—a large open field which has been frequently hosting soccer games—the venue will host country star Toby Keith on Saturday, May 15. Singer Jimmie Allen will open at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are $65 to $175. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www. spotlight29.com. Fantasy Springs’ Special Events Center, where the bigger names play, has not reopened yet—but you can still find some great entertainment at the casino/resort. Acoustic and Unplugged featuring Mark Gregg and Misty Howell takes place every Friday and Saturday night from 8 to 11 p.m. inside Twelve. Admission is free, as the duo tackles a number of songs you’re familiar with in an intimate setting. Over in Lit, every Tuesday from 7 to 11 p.m., get your cowboy boots ready for Country Night. Whiskey Tango is slated to perform May 4, and you can catch the Doo-Wah Riders on May 18. Admission is free. Every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m., radio host and musician Brad Mercer continued on Page 36 CVIndependent.com
34 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
MUSIC
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC
TINY VENUE I
Palm Springs’ Hermano Flower Shop mixes blooms and live music
By matt king
n a world where all the music venues have been closed, concerts and livestreams have been popping up in unorthodox locations. For example: Have you ever seen a band play in a flower shop? Hermano Flower Shop, located inside the Mojave Flea Trading Post at 383 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, recently released a video of a live session featuring local indie band Israel’s Arcade rocking through a 20-minute set. “It’s a passion project of mine,” said Adrian Romero, co-owner and creative director of Hermano Flower Shop, during a recent phone interview. music; I learned how to use a camera. I just “I think I was meant to do something like learned all of these things.” this. … I love watching those Tiny Desk How do flowers and music combine? performances and learning about how they “We listen to the artists’ music, and we record them. It was very natural. It was, ‘I have just go off of their vibe and what kind of the resources now; I’m gonna do it now.’ I have person they are,” said Romero. “Flowers and this setting in downtown Palm Springs, and it’s music—they just go really well together, interesting, so this is the perfect place to do it. because they’re both art forms. When you “I’m in a place in my life where I can focus arrange an arrangement of flowers, it takes on this. The concept is having the flowers talent to make it look good and make it make support the arts and the music, and pay the you feel something when you look at it. Just bills so that we can do these things. Hopefully as there are different types of moods and the fans of these artists will find out about genres for music, there are different types Hermano, and they’ll buy some flowers—and of moods and genres for flowers. They’re it’s just like a full circle.” both very expressive. … The goal is to always Romero and partner Sesar Orozco started have flowers in the background of the the shop in a spare room at Orozco’s home. performances, and have them somewhat relate “(Sesar) was already doing the whole floral to the artists who are playing at the time.” thing for a while; he’s just a natural at it,” Romero said he hopes future shows will have Romero said. “I used to work in events and small audiences. event technology before COVID took that “I like the concept of something very small away. We’re best friends, and I told him that and intimate,” Romero said. “… This concert we should do this; I would handle the business series is always going to be small and intimate. and the branding side of it. I’m a technologist, There is going to be an audience eventually. so I do the website, and I take all the photos When shows start coming back, we will allow and just build the world around him. He people to come watch it live while it is being handles the product. He’s the actual talent.” recorded.” Romero has been part of the local music Romero said he’s looking for local artists scene for a while. with an online presence for shows at Hermano. “I grew up playing music here in the “I do want them to have a Spotify or Coachella Valley,” he said. “I’ve been in a something, so that when they play here, this couple of bands and got to play Coachella in isn’t all they have: They have already music 2017 with this band called Kayves. I have out, and are already trying to do it,” Romero this huge passion for music, so once we had a said. “I’m not just going to get any random roof over our heads in Palm Springs, I wanted person who wants to do an open-mic-night it to be more than just a flower shop. It’s an kind of thing. I’ve always been the type of opportunity to be creative and do whatever person who just looked for new music. Israel’s we want to do. The goal is to give back to the Arcade is right up my alley, and I’m actually a community and the artists out here, and help huge fan, so it was really cool to be able to have them to have a platform to put out for their him as our first Palm Springs artist.” fans, or just to help them have content for Israel Pinedo, of Israel’s Arcade, said the people to be able to find. We’re doing full audio Hermano show was a “cool experience.” and full video production for every single artist “I think it’s really cool what Adrian is doing,” that comes in here—and it’s pretty much just Pinedo said. “It’s the first I had ever heard of right in the middle of the flower shop, which anything like Hermano—a flower shop, but is a completely open concept. We want to get with a more stylistic concept. When you think cool artists … and use our skills that we’ve had of a flower shop, you think about a 50-yearfor the last 10 years. I learned how to record old woman with a straightforward, ‘Here are CVIndependent.com
the flowers; now leave.’ This guy is doing something different.” Pinedo said the show idea was an easy sell. “He just hit me up on Instagram and said he wanted to do a little NPR Tiny Desk-type thing,” Pinedo said. “I was instantly into it, and he sent me a video of one prior performance they had done. It looked super-clean and sounded great, and I was like, ‘Fuck yes.’ All of the videos that we have on YouTube of our live performances have such shitty quality, so I said, ‘Let’s do it,’ and I know the fans will appreciate it.” It was Pinedo’s first live show in a while. “It was a little odd, because it was our first time performing for, like, four people, but we had to act like we were performing for a whole crowd,” Pinedo said. “Usually at shows, we feed off of people’s energy, and people are dancing, jumping around and screaming. Here,
everybody was just working, recording and holding their cameras, so that was interesting.” Pinedo said the pandemic has changed the band—as has growing up a bit. “We all have jobs now,” said Pinedo. “When we were playing tons of shows before the pandemic, we were all still in high school. When we would get out of school, we would all just hang out and practice almost every day. Now we have real responsibilities. As far as performing, It was the first sober show I had done. I was really nervous and awkward, and not having a crowd, I just didn’t know how to handle it, but as the show went on, I got into the swing of things again.” For more information, visit www. hermanoflowershop.com or www.instagram.com/ hermanoflowershop.
Israel Pinedo poses for a photo at Hermano Flower Shop. Photo courtesy of Hermano Flower Shop
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 35
MAY 2021
WANT TO JUMP START YOUR WORKOUTS? TruSculpt ID permanently reduces stubborn fat by 25% with one, pain-free treatment.
Judge for yourself. ID results a�er one treatment. Revive has ID discounts! Show this ad and get $100 off per area Expires 5/31/2021 650 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way: (760) 325-4800 Torrance Ofice: (310) 375-7599 Irvine Office: (949) 586-9904 www.revivecenter.com
Debby Anspach
Jill Hingston
Victoria Balthazor
C. Stuart Kent
Roger Bengston
John Lindner Trent Maggard
Judith Bennington
Alex McCune
Jeffrey Bernstein
Alan McPhail
Cody Carlson
David Mendez
William Campbell
Steven Metzler
Jeffrey Clarkson
Sheila Miller
Kellin Defiel
Lex Ortega
Anthony Gangloff
Laura Pellior
Mike Genova
Scott Phipps
Howard Goldberg Ted Guice
Michael Quinichett
John Hamby
Raul Rodriguez
Laura Hein
Darrell Tucci
Tracy Hill
Christopher Winslow
David Perry
Thank you for being Supporters of the Independent! CVIndependent.com/support-our-publication CVIndependent.com
36 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
The Venue REPORT continued from page 33
I love this town. Thomas Gleeson Ins Agcy Inc Thomas Gleeson CLU ChFC, Agent Insurance Lic#: 0K08021 225 S. Civic Drive, Suite 1-1 Palm Springs, CA 92262 Se habla Español
2007004
Thanks, CV Independent. I love being here to help in a community where people are making a difference every day. Thank you for all you do.
State Farm, Bloomington, IL
From Safety Net programs to Life Enrichment
Las Cafeteras
hosts Brad’s Pad, a night of classic-rock tunes performed by Mercer and his eight-piece band. Again, admission is free. You’ll also find some riveting entertainment at Lit every Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., such as Vice Versa on May 7 and 8, and Six Hot Live on May 28 and 29. Admission remains free! The Rock Yard remains the place to be for Latin music and tribute acts. Every Wednesday and Sunday, from 7 p.m. to midnight, it’s Noches de Fuego, where you can dance the night away. Catch Nubes, a Caifanes Tribute, on Sunday, May 9, or Joyas Prestadas, a Selena tribute, on Sunday, May 30. The classic cover-rock bands arrive every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 15, brings Queen cover band Queen Nation, and you can see a tribute to The Doors called Wild Child on Friday, May 28. Admission to the Rock Yard is, yet again, free. You must be 21 or older to attend any event, except for the classic-rock series at the Rock Yard, for which you must be 18-plus. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www. fantasyspringsresort.com. The brand-new Agua Caliente Cathedral City is set to host a number of events in its lovely outdoor space. Starting May 7 and continuing every Friday, Latin musician Nacho Bustillos will perform from 7 to 10:30 p.m. His performance will be followed by a DJ set from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Every Saturday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., prepare yourself for Super Sondio With Alf Alpha and Friends. Admission is free, but you must be 21 or older to attend. Agua Caliente Cathedral City, 68960 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City; 888-999-
1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com/cc. The Hood Bar and Pizza is easing its way back into live entertainment, as owner Brad Guth has been adhering to local guidelines and taking every precaution. Every Friday at 8 p.m., Drag Queen Bingo With Sham Ibrahim is on the docket. This hilarious event has been a longtime favorite at The Hood. Every Saturday at 9 p.m., The Hood hosts Comedy Under the Stars, which features both local and national comedy talent. Admission is free, but you must be 21 or older to attend, and Comedy Night has a two-drink minimum. The Hood Bar and Pizza, 74360 Highway 111, Palm Desert; 760-636-5220. The Joshua Tree Music Festival has started a brand-new outdoor concert series. Music Is the Soul of Life places attendees in their own “pod” of up to four people to ensure physical distancing. Funk band Diggin Dirt is slated to perform at 6:45 p.m., Friday and Saturday, May 21 and 22, with rock band Con Brio taking the stage at 6:45 p.m., Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29. Cumbia band Las Cafeteras will perform at 6:15 p.m., Sunday, May 30. Tickets for up to four people are sold by the pod, and range from $180 to $400. Joshua Tree Music Festival, 2601 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree; joshuatreemusicfestival.com Coachella Valley Brewing Co. has plans for a full month of entertainment. At 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 5, celebrate Cinco De Mayo with a performance by traditional Spanish group Las Tías. At 7 p.m., Friday, May 7, things should feel intimate, if socially distanced, as the brewery hosts an Outdoor Acoustic Showcase with featured performers including Matt Davin, Marc Sax, Nick Hales, Esther Sanchez, and Adam Gainey. The ante will be upped a week later, at 7 p.m., Friday, May 14, as The Sieve and the Saddle and Allies are set to perform. Friday, May 21, brings both cover band Christine and the Lost Keys and R&B duo Angelique and Dare House for a night of musical crosspollination, starting at 7 p.m. The start-ofthe-weekend fun continues at 7 p.m., Friday, May 28, with sets by indie artist Honey the Witch and acoustic soloist Symara Stone. All events are all ages and free. Coachella Valley Brewing Company, 30640 Gunther St., Thousand Palms; 760-343-5973.
we are here for you visit us online at
www.thecentercv.org 1301 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262 & 1515 Sixth Street, Coachella, CA 92236
Allies
CVIndependent.com
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 37
MAY 2021
MUSIC
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC
the
LUCKY 13
Meet the new owner of Finders Keepers Records, and Koka’s talented bassist by matt king What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? Bro country. It’s formulaic, over-produced and pandering, and it scares me just how much certain folks love this genre.
NAME Sean Cox MORE INFO Local record store and thrift store Finders Thrift and Vinyl is undergoing a change. Owner Matt Lehman transitioned his brick-and-mortar record store into Spatula City Records, an online record store, a few months ago, and is now moving to Arizona— taking Spatula City with him. Finders Thrift and Vinyl will become Finders Keepers Records, and will open Saturday, May 8, under new owner Sean Cox. What was the first concert you attended? When I was 8 years old, I talked my mother into taking me to see Sha Na Na at The Greek, but on my own, it was Van Halen at the L.A. Sports Arena in ’84 or ’85. What was the first album you owned? The soundtrack to the Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland, but the first album I bought with my own money was Business as Usual, by Men at Work. What bands are you listening to right now? Satan and Adam, Freestyle Fellowship, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Plugz, Jesse Dayton, Human Impact, Killing Joke, Melvins, X, A Tribe Called Quest, The Moving Sidewalks, Ya Ho Wa 13, Faith No More, Harvey Danger, Descendents, Dinosaur Jr., St. Vincent, and John Prine.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time? Pet Sounds, Beach Boys. What song should everyone listen to right now? “Oh She Was Pretty” by Sterling Magee. NAME Sebastian Camacho GROUP Koka MORE INFO The members of local band Koka have spent the pandemic working on perfecting their brand of indie pop. Beyond crafting new music, bassist Sebastian Camacho has been updating a Spotify playlist of his favorite songs, in the goal of improving people’s weeks; learn more about Koka at instagram.com/koka.wav.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? I can’t choose just one: Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, early Butthole Surfers, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Ramones, Minutemen, Kyuss, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Frank Zappa.
What was the first concert you attended? That was actually such a random day for me. It was the last day at Desert Trip 2016. My friend’s dad gave me his bracelet, because he couldn’t go that day. I remember waking up from a nap in the afternoon and getting a text from my friend asking what I was doing later. Next thing I know, I’m watching The Who and Roger Waters.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure? Yacht rock. I grew up on FM radio and never needed to hear it again as an adult, but when I found myself buying a copy of Little River Band’s Greatest Hits, I knew I was in trouble.
What was the first album you owned? One of my best friends gifted me Axis: Bold as Love by Jimi Hendrix on vinyl when I was 15. I had it before I even owned a record player.
What’s your favorite music venue? The Observatory in Santa Ana, Pappy and Harriet’s, and The Casbah in San Diego. (Choosing just one is impossible.) What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head? “When you like something, it’s an opinion. But when I like something, it’s a manifesto. Pomposity is when you always think you’re right. Arrogance is when you know,” Harvey Danger, “Pike St./Park Slope.” What band or artist changed your life? Nomeansno was a band from Victoria, British Columbia. They fall into the “punk” category, but their music is so much more than that, with elements of jazz, prog and math rock, all with a wicked dark sense of humor. They were the first band for me whose music had so much going on that it forced me to actively listen, rather than just emotionally react. You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking? “Would you mind passing that over?” to George Clinton. What song would you like played at your funeral? “Rush” by Big Audio Dynamite.
What bands are you listening to right now? I’m listening to a lot of Miles Davis. I recently watched a documentary on him, Birth of the Cool. His life was absolutely wild, and I think his music reflects that. What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? I really don’t get 100 Gecs. Anybody I’ve talked to about 100 Gecs knows how I feel about them. What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? I would probably have to go with Frank Ocean! I’ve always wanted to see him live, and I love listening to audio of past shows he’s performed at! What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure? It’s a tie between either ’80s pop or late 2000s/ early 2010s pop. The moment I listen to “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga or “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” by Usher, I instantly get transported to my elementary school dance, drinking a Capri Sun with silly Bandz on my wrist. What’s your favorite music venue? I really like the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. I’ve been to a few shows there, and it’s not crazy big, but it just feels smaller and cozier than other venues I’ve been to.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head? “See the ghost of where I was, lonesome as I was,” “Azucar,” by Earl Sweatshirt. What band or artist changed your life? The Beatles. I got into them when I was in eighth-grade, and I wasn’t really into much music at the time. I took a “history of rock ’n’ roll” class as a school elective requirement, even though I really didn’t want to, and one of the main bands we learned about was The Beatles. I was obsessed with them for like two years, just listening to only their music at the time. You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking? I would love to sit down and have a conversation with Carlos Arévalo, the guitarist and one of the songwriters in Chicano Batman. I attended an online workshop he was speaking at a few months ago, and just listening to him speak was incredible. He has such a vast knowledge of music. What song would you like played at your funeral? “Gymnopédie No. 1” by Erik Satie. Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time? What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye. It’s an album I’ve listened to thousands of times for the past couple of years, and I always hear something new in it. What song should everyone listen to right now? “The Spins” by Mac Miller—or just anything by Mac Miller in general. CVIndependent.com
38 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
CANNABIS IN THE CV
LEFT OUT A
California’s Native American tribes are largely excluded from the state’s cannabis industry
by jocelyn kane
s the cannabis industry grows and evolves, issues that deserve attention keep emerging— including the often-overlooked impact the state’s cannabis rules have had on Native American tribes. After voters passed Proposition 64 in 2016, the state developed a hefty set of regulations and enforcement mechanisms to allow cities and counties to permit the commercial cannabis supply chain, starting in 2018. Five cities in the Coachella Valley, as well as Riverside County, currently allow some sort of commercial cannabis activity, and they are benefitting from special taxes and new jobs. However, nearly two-thirds of California municipalities have chosen to keep the and that’s not fair,” said Tina Braithwaite, industry out. the founder of Sovereign Nations Cannabis One problem: The state’s regulatory scheme Consulting, and a former tribal chairperson of left out tribal lands, as cities and counties have the Benton Paiute Tribe. no jurisdiction in these areas. Braithwaite said there is an assumption As sovereign nations, tribes are able that the tribes don’t have the capacity to to regulate, grow and sell cannabis on self-regulate—an all-too-familiar attitude reservation lands. However, to sell products that invokes many of years of oppression and off-reservation and become part of the state’s marginalization. legal supply chain, tribal operators need Tribes have traditionally been forced onto a state license—but in order to get those marginal lands in rural areas, where economic licenses, the state is forcing tribes to sign opportunities are often few and far between. partial waivers of sovereign immunity that According to a study done by the Center for would give state agencies, like the Bureau of Indian Country Development at the Federal Cannabis Control and California Department Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in April 2020, of Food and Agriculture, complete regulatory more than a quarter of the Native American control on tribal lands. That doesn’t sit too workforce (26.3 percent) was unemployed, the well with the tribes. highest rate of any ethnic group. Additionally, “The state has locked us out of the supply the challenges of life on reservations chain and wants us to give up civil jurisdiction, sometimes result in substance abuse and in addition to waiving sovereign immunity,
We’re Doing Business with PRIDE in the Coachella Valley. Our 250 members support equality – and they support you! See what our members have to offer at desertbusiness.org CVIndependent.com
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
Affiliate Chamber
mental-health challenges. Cannabis businesses could offer tribes a way to create new economic opportunities. To complicate matters, many tribes have made a conscious choice not to enter the cannabis marketplace—because tribal authority is subject to limitations imposed by federal law, and cannabis remains illegal under federal law, meaning tribes could face a risk of potential federal censure and prosecution if they entered the cannabis industry. Tribes with gaming licenses face further risks, since the federal government passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988. In addition, Braithwaite said some tribal elders are reluctant to allow cannabis activity based on past trauma they have experienced, as well as long-held stigmas regarding cannabis. Just one tribe, Elk Valley Rancheria, has thus far gotten a California state license for cannabis, through a complicated agreement with Del Norte County in 2019 that does not require the tribe to give up civil jurisdiction. This agreement has not been reproduced in any other county. Statewide, there are 110 recognized tribes, and according to Braithwaite, only seven have entered the cannabis marketplace in any way. However, Braithwaite said that over time, she’s confident that tribes will be able to create their own beneficial cannabis-business ecosystem. As sovereign nations, tribes have exclusive power over members and territory. They can create their own laws and do business with other tribal nations in California.
They have the expertise to create their own regulatory structures and oversight mechanisms that could meet or exceed state standards. Indeed, many have already created cannabis commissions and issued their own licenses, complete with robust operating standards, security practices and inspection regimens. Oh, and one more thing: None of the income on tribal lands, including retail sales to California residents, is subject to state taxes. That means the products could be less expensive than those from the state’s regulated supply chain. Kate Anderson, the director of public relations for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, did not respond to a request for comment. Tribal leaders and advocates point to neighboring states as examples of how California could create a successful regulatory partnership with tribes. Washington, Oregon and Nevada have all passed legislation that empowers them to sign individual compacts with each tribe, allowing for the sharing of regulatory responsibilities. However, it’s unclear whether those systems used by other states can work here, because the strict criteria laid out for legal business under Prop 64— which cover everything from water usage to labor agreements—offer little wiggle room. What will the future bring? That depends— although federal legalization would certainly help cannabis become a normal part of life on tribal lands. Jocelyn Kane can be reached at jocelyn@ coachellavalleycan.org.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 39
MAY 2021
OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD
“Well, Sorta”—partway there. By Matt Jones
33 Districts 34 Organization 35 Australian outlaw Kelly Across 36 Satirical “Prize” given 1 “We’re calling with an by the Annals of urgent message about Improbable Research your car’s warranty,” 39 Patty Hearst’s e.g. kidnappers, for short 5 Creator of Pudd’nhead 42 Californie et Colorado Wilson 43 Septet plus one 10 “Right now” 45 He plays Thor 13 Care Bear ___ 49 French islands 14 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 50 Truth, in Chinese band philosophy 15 Debtor’s letters 51 39-Down, for one 16 Hotel heiress who 52 Roommate of Frylock popularized “That’s and Master Shake on hot” Aqua Teen Hunger 18 Hurricane heading, Force sometimes 56 John’s The Office 19 Affirmative vote character 20 It may be doffed 58 “Groove Is in the 21 Bad movie rating Heart” DJ/producer 23 Actress Seehorn of Towa ___ Better Call Saul 59 Bud 25 Torn ___ (athlete’s 60 Title for the Pope or knee injury) the Dalai Lama 27 Crafty 63 Rhinitis-treating M.D. 28 Gear seen frequently 64 Damn Yankees in 1980s court composer Richard matches 65 Big name in
thesauruses 66 Suffix meaning “sorta” (found in the theme answers) 67 Conditions’ partner 68 English horn’s cousin
32 Claus von ___ (Reversal of Fortune character) 37 Station’s supply 38 To the ___ degree 39 It’s played on a 10x10 board Down 40 “Hmmm ...” 1 “Don’t move” 41 One beyond belief? 2 Lurched and swerved 42 Lead-in to “while” 3 Former White House 44 Gear component press secretary 45 Disinfects Fleischer 46 Wellness 4 Fit snugly 47 University focuses 5 Ninja’s platform 48 Garden store supply 6 Actor/blogger Wheaton 49 Louvre Pyramid 7 Choral voice range architect 8 Graphic representation 53 “Beg pardon?” 9 Not a bit 54 Delegation member 10 Cobbler’s container 55 High-end camera type 11 Scrooge’s nephew 57 Artist Joan 12 Search engine input 61 Bottom of a pant leg 13 Austere 62 San Francisco’s ___ 17 Witness actor Lukas Hill 22 Bartering result 24 SNL alum Gasteyer © 2021 Matt Jones 26 Millennium Falcon in 7,500 pieces, e.g. Find the answers in 29 “Lord, ___?” (Last the “About” section at Supper question) CVIndependent.com! 30 NYSE trader 31 Anonymous Jane
CVIndependent.com
40 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
MAY 2021
daphealth.org
active we take an
role in your health
Dr. Tulika Singh
Director of Research & Associate Chief Medical Officer
CVIndependent.com