Coachella Valley Independent January 2017 by Coachella Valley Independent

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT | JANUARY 2017

VOL. 5 | NO. 1

By Kevin Fitzgerald

INSIDE

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JANUARY 2017

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 Assistant Editor Brian Blueskye cover/Cover Story design Mark Duebner Design Contributors Gustavo Arellano, Nicole Borgenicht, Max Cannon, Kevin Carlow, Cory Courtney, Kevin Fitzgerald, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Pete Holland, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Brane Jevric, Steve Kelly, Keith Knight, Erin Peters, Dan Perkins, Sean Planck, Guillermo Prieto, Anita Rufus, Jen Sorenson, Christine Soto, Robert Victor The Coachella Valley Independent print edition is published every month. All content is ©2016 and may not be published or reprinted in any form without the written permission of the publisher.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 $1 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, Get Tested Coachella Valley, the Local Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert Business Association, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, and the Desert Ad Fed.

I have always been blessed with the ability to see and understand both sides of various issues. One can select almost any hot-button topic, and I’ll be able to empathize with people who take each position—even if I disagree. However, I am completely baffled by the modern-day “conservative” movement in the United States. If someone believes in a smaller, less-intrusive government—traditionally a conservative value—I get it, even if I don’t agree with it. Meanwhile, if someone thinks the government should play a role in legislating do’s and don’ts when it comes to “moral” issues— like, say, LGBT rights or a woman’s right to choose—I can understand where that person’s coming from (even if I strongly disagree … and I most likely do). I get lost and confused, however, when these two rather contradictory beliefs are melded together, as they are by a lot of so-called conservatives today. If you think the government should play a role in determining which couples can get a marriage license, and which ones can’t, yet you believe the government shouldn’t play a role in determining how far a company can go in terms of pollution and environmental damage—frankly, I think you’re intellectually dishonest. This brings me to this month’s excellent cover story. I’ve had many discussions over the years with friend and regular Independent contributor Kevin Fitzgerald about his mother-in-law, Annette. She’d been battling cancer for many years, and had reached the point where she had mere months to live out a rather painful existence. This summer, she decided to look into California’s new End of Life Option Act—often referred to as the assisted-suicide law. Turn to Page 13 to read Kevin’s story about what happened from that point on. I guarantee you’ll find the piece to be both informational—and incredibly moving. One of the issues Kevin touches upon is the fact that here in the Coachella Valley, it’s rather difficult for a dying individual to find assistance from the medical community when it comes to the End of Life Option Act: Not one of the three major hospitals participates in the law, and many of the valley’s doctors are prohibited from helping patients with the law by their employers. Why? Kevin’s piece doesn’t address this question; watch the Independent for further coverage in the upcoming weeks and months. However I do know that opposition by some “conservatives” has played a role. And you know what? I just don’t get it. Welcome to the January 2017 print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent. Happy New Year, and as always, thanks for reading. —Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com CVIndependent.com

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JANUARY 2017

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 5

JANUARY 2017

OPINION OPINION

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS I

BY ANITA RUFUS

knew something was going on when I walked into the community room at the Palm Desert Library for a meeting sponsored by the Desert Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California—and there were more than 140 people, hauling in chairs and standing along the side and back walls. I’ve attended ACLU gatherings locally from time to time, and there are usually about 15 to 20 attendees. But at this post-election meeting, something different was happening. The speaker was James Gilliam, deputy executive director of the ACLU of Southern California. He talked about how the Los Angeles-based organization was going to need to hire more people just to process the thousands of inquiries and volunteer applications it had received since Election Day. The ACLU was founded in 1920, and the cases the group has had its hand in are the stuff of American history: the Scopes trial challenging a bachelor’s degree program in music at the prohibitions on teaching evolution; the ban on University of Redlands. James Joyce’s Ulysses, considered by some to be “I’m a classical singer, although I don’t think a profane and pornographic book; and perhaps it’s a great voice,” laughs Elaine. “I started its most controversial case, defending the right singing when I was about 10, and I love it!” She of Nazis to publicly march in Skokie, Ill.—in a sings regularly at Bloom in the Desert Church. neighborhood containing Holocaust survivors. She came from a family with first-person The ACLU has consistently demonstrated stories about repression and a lack of rights a commitment to constitutional principles in China. “I’m always interested when people regardless of whose feathers might be ruffled. complain about this country (the United States),” The Los Angeles chapter was founded in she says. “They have no idea how lucky they are 1923 by author Upton Sinclair at a time when to have the freedom to say what they want. The striking longshoremen were banned by the government can’t take people off the street or Los Angeles Police Department from holding come into their homes without due process.” public meetings. Sinclair and friends marched Elaine, a registered Republican, says she in opposition to the force used by police, and became president of the local ACLU almost by were arrested and charged with threatening to default. “I didn’t really know that much about overthrow the government. the ACLU, but I volunteered to join the board Other issues championed by ACLU include because I wanted to understand what was fighting government abuse of power and happening in the local community regarding civil invasion of privacy; promoting economic justice rights. Brad Oliver had been president, and when to ensure no one is disenfranchised; women’s he stepped down, they asked if I was willing to equality, LGBT rights and prisoners’ rights. do it. I had never done activism before, but what The president of the Desert Chapter of ACLU I care about in life is fairness. I chose the ACLU is Elaine Wang Meyerhoffer, a Palm Springs because it is nonpartisan and focused on human resident for more than a decade. Of Chinese rights and justice. heritage, Elaine was born in West Virginia but “I think we’re in our divided situation as a educated at the American School in Taiwan. Her country because there’s been so little reaching parents fled China; her father attained American across partisan lines. I see my role as pulling citizenship after enlisting in the U.S. Army. people toward the center, because that’s where Elaine’s mother was educated in the United civilization will have the ability to continue.” States. “My mother’s family was full of girls, The ACLU has at various times been lauded, with a very traditional father who would vilified, feared, dismissed and exalted. It ordinarily not have educated his daughters,” says is a legal organization whose purpose is to Elaine. “But I had an aunt who wanted to be an defend and secure the rights guaranteed by architect, and my grandfather was a very fair the Constitution, particularly those related man: If he was going to educate one daughter, he to the First Amendment—the protection of would educate them all.” free speech, free association and assembly, Elaine’s education includes a bachelor’s degree and freedom of the press. It also fights for the in English literature and political science from separation of church and state, equal protection Stanford, and a graduate degree in sociology against discrimination, the right to due process, from Stanford. She is currently enrolled in the right to be treated equally under the law, and

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In the wake of the election, the American Civil Liberties Union finds itself quite busy

the right to privacy—specifically, intrusion by the government. “Bad behavior should not be allowed to be gotten away with,” says Elaine, “whether it’s personal or on a societal level. The threat of ‘tit for tat’ is a valuable tool to inject into our cultural DNA so that people and the government think about the consequences before they say or do things that are violating the rights of others.” The local group’s goals include continuing regular meetings to educate the community about immigration rights and voting rights, as well as women’s and LGBT issues. It works closely with the rest of the Southern California organization to bring people together. The chapter also sponsors a scholarship program for local high school students based on essays about civil liberties and civil rights. In the words of Hector Villagra, the executive director of the ACLU of Southern California: “If

the ACLU had not existed before the election, we would be starting it today!” For more information, to volunteer or to donate, visit www.aclusocal.org/local-chapters/ desert-cities-chapter. Anita Rufus is also known as “The Lovable Liberal,” and her radio show airs Sundays at noon on KNews Radio 94.3 FM. Email her at Anita@LovableLiberal. com. Know Your Neighbors appears every other Wednesday at CVIndependent.com

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JANUARY 2017

OPINION OPINION

From Botox to Cosmetic Surgery and Everything in Between

STEVE KELLY ON SPORTS

It’s a new era for the CareerBuilder Challenge golf tournament BY STEVE KELLY

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n 2017, there will quite a few changes taking place at the annual local PGA Tour event that many of us still call the Bob Hope Classic. For the second year, the tournament— celebrating its 58th year in January—is officially called the CareerBuilder Challenge. However, the Clinton Foundation, which had played a role in the tournament since 2012, is no longer involved—and there’s a new man in charge, too. The tournament will be run by a selfdescribed “golf nerd”—Dallas native Nick Raffaele, 53. Raffaele has extensive golfindustry experience and was upbeat about the tournament. “I am a glass-half-full kind of guy,” he said. “I salute the work done by (previous sponsor) Humana in helping stabilize the event. We here in the Coachella Valley are lucky to have a PGA Tour event because of our size and population. We are basically in a rural area, and without some great work previously done, who knows if the tournament would be here?” Raffaele was not shy about addressing complaints from some about the Clinton Foundation’s association with the tournament, which concluded last year. “The (Clinton Foundation) was brought in by their partnership with Humana, not by the PGA,” Raffaele said. “Again, I believe the community owes a deep debt of gratitude to Humana for stepping in” when the tournament faced an uncertain future. “We will continue to make sure this event serves local charities. It is part of our mission statement.”

In 2017, the event will also have a new ambassador—golfing great Phil Mickelson. Mickelson recently underwent surgery for a sports hernia, and at this time, it’s not clear whether Mickelson will be able to play in the tourney. Regardless, Raffaele is not concerned. “We want Phil playing at 100 percent,” he said. “As crazy as it sounds, it may be beneficial if he can just stay and hear and learn up-close everything the tournament encapsulates. “Both Phil and the CareerBuilder Challenge expect a long and lasting partnership. Phil is committed 100 percent, and when you talk about the current stars of golf, few get any bigger.” One of the things Raffaele praises about the event is the on-site volunteer staff. “The people who volunteer are the ones who see the value in the tournament being here in the Coachella Valley,” Raffaele said. “We couldn’t do it without them. We want them to know they are important. The other day, I was with Lee Morcus of Kaiser Grille, and he was extremely gracious in donating gift cards for our volunteers, totally unsolicited. It is that kind of spirit that makes this tournament what it is.” The CareerBuilder Challenge kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 19, with play at three courses in the East Valley. A whole week of events begins Monday, Jan. 16. For tickets, event information and details on deals for locals, visit www.careerbuilderchallenge.com. Steve Kelly can be reached at svericker12@ gmail.com.

Ranked #60 in the nation for advanced medical aesthetics Phil Mickelson, recently named the CareerBuilder Challenge ambassador, competes in the 2015 edition of the tourney. KEVIN FITZGERALD/CVI FILE

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JANUARY 2017

OPINION OPINION

ASK A MEXICAN!

YOUR HAIR WANTS US

Why do you call yourself Mexican when you actually look European?

BY GUSTAVO ARELLANO

EAR MEXICAN: I recently saw a picture of you in a newspaper article. I was quite shocked: You appear to have more of a European skin tone. However, I guess since your relatives lived in Mexico in the past 200 years, you think of yourself as a Mexican. I guess I tend to think Mexican-looking people have more of that native flavor or color. And your last name is actually Basque, so this makes sense. Macho Man in New Mexico DEAR SURUMATO: The town of Arellano, Spain, might be in the autonomous Basque country region of Navarre, but “Arellano” comes from Latin and denotes “farm of Aurelius.” And while one part of my Mexican ancestry came from Europe (a mixture of Portuguese, French and Sephardic Jews, since “Arellano” is listed in the Inquisition rolls), the other part is Chichimeca ready to chingarte for your chisme. DEAR MEXICAN: I recently discovered my late grandmother was born in Mexico, possibly Vera Cruz. American history always seems to be a bit cloudy, and this cloudy tradition has been passed down from generation to generation of black Americans. I’m American through and through, California-raised, so I can easily identify with the Latin culture; I also speak Spanish, which was a prerequisite for survival back in the ’70s. What light can you shed on the mystery of Vera Cruz and its relation to Americans or blacks, period? Constancia—Not Your Tia Concha DEAR NEGRITA: The way you spelled Vera Cruz, methinks your abuelita was actually born in the towns by the same names in Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania, all named after the Gulf Coast city in Mexico. But let’s say she was actually born in Mexico—in that case, you’re connected to one of the proudest black traditions in the Western Hemisphere. Veracruz, the state, is one of two regions in Mexico with a significant population of AfroMexicans. (The Costa Chica region spanning the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca is the other.) Near Veracruz, the city, was the first freeman town in the Americas: San Lorenzo de los Negros, created after a colony of ex-slaves led by Gaspar Yanga successfully fended off conquistadors. (A statue of Yanga still stands in

Veracruz proper.) Even if your grandmother was born in the U.S., it’s better to say that she’s from Mexico: After all, would you want your heritage to go back to some podunk Rust Belt town? DEAR MEXICAN: As a güero crossdresser, I’m jealous that the Mexican cha-chas are so hot. Are they hot for the same reasons Mexican women are hot? Most güeros look like middleaged stockbrokers in dresses, probably because we are, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m talking about the mamacitas! In Mexican culture, are you either macho or the girlie-girl you’ve always wanted to be, with no in between?

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La Dama Loca DEAR CRAZY DAME: Transgendered, crossdressing, genderqueer and genderfucking Mexicans have historically looked better than their gabachos counterparts because we have better cisgen stereotypes to play with. Men who want to look like mujeres (whether transitioning or not) draw upon the spicy señorita archetype; many Chicanas I know who are fluid with their gender identity inevitably go the Pendleton or rockabilly look. (All credit goes to Morrissey for the latter one.) And you’re right: Mexican society, despite its historical machismo, has also had a surprisingly tolerant streak for trans folks or flamboyantly LGBT mariposas. But that was the catch: You couldn’t act “normal,” or else risk getting brutalized (and even that Faustian bargain wasn’t much protection against homoand transphobia). Catch the Mexican every Wednesday at CVIndependent.com. Ask the Mexican at themexican@askamexican.net; be his fan on Facebook; follow him on Twitter @gustavoarellano; or follow him on Instagram @gustavo_arellano! CVIndependent.com

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 9

JANUARY 2017

NEWS

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A FAMILY HOME ENVIRONMENT

Sanctuary Palm Springs will soon offer much-needed aid to LGBT kids who age out of the foster-care system

BY BRIAN BLUESKYE

hen children turn 18 and age out of the foster-care system, they face a difficult transition into adulthood: Not only do some of these young people lack a family; they also lack the skills to live on their own. For LGBT youth in foster care, it’s even harder. That’s where Sanctuary Palm Springs comes in: Sanctuary is working toward providing a home with support services to LGBT youth between the ages of 18 and 21 who leave the foster-care system. Sanctuary was founded by David Rothmiller and LD Thompson. Rothmiller explained how they started down the path of creating Sanctuary. “Originally, it was the desire to be a parent,” Rothmiller said. “… My spouse, LD, and I had begun with the intentions of starting a family. We were licensed (for foster children) in Washington state, and that system made us wait for two years for a placement in our own home. People asked me why that was the case, and for LGBT foster kids who were entering I have no answers. The system is so broken. adulthood—to help with a problem that’s While that happened, we looked where else we recently received state and federal attention. could participate. We were told by someone “Sixty percent of kids leaving foster care at about group care.” 18 would fall into the category of incarcerated, Rothmiller mentioned that many LGBT homeless, on the street, doing drugs, doing individuals lose their families when they come prostitution or dead,” Rothmiller said. “The out. state realized they were failing these kids. “LD was kicked out of his home at 17 and That’s why they created the new program, found family again in the LGBT community,” and that’s how we’re funded. It’s through Rothmiller said. “That’s our model: They might San Bernardino (County), because Riverside have lost their family, but there’s a family (missed) the calendar date to be able to license already there that waits for them.” homes such as ours. San Bernardino licensed Rothmiller explained the challenges LGBT us to operate in Riverside County.” youth face in the foster-care system. As of this writing, Sanctuary is open, but “Depending on how long they’ve been in there are no residents yet, as Rothmiller, foster care, there is enormous psychological Thompson and their staff jump through hoops damage that we have to sort out,” Rothmiller with licensing and getting the Palm Springs said. “The reason (many of them) are in foster home up to code. care is because they were gay to begin with. “LB and I are the founders of the program, … Some of these Christian families kick their but we don’t have any letters after our names. kids out because they find out they’re gay. We had to bring in skilled professionals to have In foster care, kids are afraid to come out, on our team,” Rothmiller said. “Even with that because many of the foster families are wellpower behind us, these bureaucrats are like, meaning Christian families, and it doesn’t ‘You need to do this, that and the other thing.’ fit their culture. If the kids come out or are In each case, our program manager had to tell found out to be gay, the foster parent can them how to license us. make a seven-day call to get them out. We’ve “On the positive side, the community has seen that happen many times. There’s no legal been very supportive. Our fundraising has protection for them, and the more often a been impressive for a start-up … and our staff kid is bounced, the harder their life becomes. is all-volunteer. Everyone who has donated With each bounce, they lose six months of their time or money, or comes to work with educational placement. LGBT kids are bounced us, feels emotionally connected. People are more often.” seeing this as something they can do locally to Originally, Rothmiller and Thompson stop that negativity toward LGBT rights and planned for Sanctuary to provide a home for equality.” LGBT foster kids in the system. However, Sanctuary will help teach youth the skills Riverside County put numerous hurdles in they will need in adulthood, and hopefully even front of them. inspire careers. “Riverside County’s foster care is currently “Our independent living program is designed under investigation,” Rothmiller said. “They to teach them cooking skills, car skills, jobare so messed up and can’t even maintain the interview skills and being part of a larger claims of abuse and investigate them properly.” system,” Rothmiller said. “Most of these kids Eventually, they decided to open a home coming into the program probably won’t even

Sanctuary Palm Springs founders LD Thompson and David Rothmiller. COURTESY OF SANCTUARY PALM SPRINGS

have a driver’s license, because no one cared enough to get them through that process. All of these things you have to know as an adult have been withheld from them. “If a kid wants to learn culinary skills, there are chefs from restaurants all over town who have offered to be mentors. Pick anything a kid wants to learn—there are people in this community who want to share that with them.” Rothmiller said Sanctuary has already helped one particular young man who aged out of the system and contacted them for help. “He said, ‘I really want to come live at Sanctuary. I’m in foster care. I turned 18; I was kicked out of Safehouse, and I’m living in a men’s shelter in Indio and getting up at 5 in the morning to take a bus from Indio to Palm Springs High School, where I’m a senior,’” Rothmiller recalled. “I said, ‘Are you gay?’ and he said he wasn’t. I told him we will not discriminate against anyone, but that we

were designed for the LGBT community. We met; we had a fundraiser coming up. He’s a great kid, and we wanted to do something for him. He came and helped the staff from Lulu do the catering. He fit in perfectly, and when we got up to do the remarks, I told his story and why the program matters so much. It was very emotional, and we said, ‘We need to find a home for him.’ “Fast forward to today. He lives with this kind man, and he has become family. We graduated him; he works at a deli; he goes to College of the Desert. That’s the potential we have. So many in the gay population thought we missed the boat to be parents, but there is more that we have to offer, and we want people in the community to know that it isn’t too late to (be a) parent or grandparent. We see ourselves as having that ability to facilitate.” For more information or to offer assistance, visit www.sanctuarypalmsprings.org. CVIndependent.com

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JANUARY 2017

NEWS

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A PERILOUS CROSSING

After two pedestrian deaths in six weeks, a Palm Springs intersection is getting a closer look

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BY BRANE JEVRIC

ana Ploss used to walk the short distance from her condo in Riviera Gardens to her sister’s house on Chia Road almost every day. She did it for years—walking back and forth, always crossing Vista Chino at Via Miraleste. On Monday, Nov. 14, she left her sister’s home shortly after 6 p.m. About 6:13 p.m., according to police reports, she was struck by a car at the intersection of Vista Chino and Via Miraleste. She was rushed to Desert Medical Regional Center. Some 20 minutes later, according to the coroner’s office, Ploss was pronounced dead. Ploss was 64. She was the second pedestrian killed by a car at that intersection in six weeks; James Harper, also 64, was killed on Oct. 6, according to police reports. Roxann Ploss said that her sister was just 30 yards away from Jana’s front door at Riviera Gardens when she was hit by a car headed eastbound on Vista Chino. “My sister came to my house daily and went home most nights,” she said. “Sometimes, she stayed over here.” The Ploss sisters were very close. They chose to live in such proximity so they could spend as much time as possible together. On what would be their last night together, Jana Ploss stayed a The intersection at Vista Chino and Via Miraleste, where two people have lost their lives since October. photo by brane jevric

bit later than usual to watch the news. “It was already dark, which I emphasized, and I asked her to stay over,” Roxann Ploss said. “When she told me she had to get back, I told her to be careful then, and I would see her tomorrow.” Within minutes, her sister was dead—but Roxann Ploss didn’t know it for another five hours. “I was watching the 11 o’clock news, and the anchor came on to say, ‘another (pedestrian) fatality in Palm Springs,’” Ploss said. Then the news broadcast showed footage of the accident scene. “I saw the shoe in the middle of the road, and I just knew,” Roxann Ploss said. “About five minutes later, a sheriff was at my door.” The fact that the intersection has claimed two lives in such a short period of time certainly raises the possibility that the area might be dangerous. But Sgt. William Hutchinson, a Palm Springs Police Department spokesman, does not believe that is the case. “Vista Chino is not a dangerous place for pedestrians and bikers or for night traffic in general,” Sgt. Hutchinson said. However, Marcus Fuller, a Palm Springs assistant city manager and city engineer, has already taken up the issue with the California Department of Transportation, also known as Caltrans. “Vista Chino is a state highway regulated by Caltrans, and Caltrans determines whether the installation of traffic signals, crosswalks or other improvements on Vista Chino are warranted,” Fuller said. “I have personally met with the Caltrans district director and his staff to discuss these accidents and to urge them to take action as soon as possible in whatever way they can.” John Bulinski, the Caltrans District 8 director, said the fact that two pedestrian fatalities occurred at the same intersection is being examined. “We are in the process of conducting an investigation of the circumstances surrounding these fatalities and the characteristic of the intersection,” Bulinski said. “We are working with the city of Palm Springs and will make appropriate changes after conclusions are reached.” As for Roxann Ploss, she hopes that, at the least, the installation of a pedestrian crossing with flashing lights at Vista Chino and Via Miraleste might prevent future losses in lives.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 11

JANUARY 2017

NEWS

SNAPSHOT

Scenes from the Best of Coachella Valley Party at Copa Nightclub

Brad Guth and Eddie Pizarro of The Hood Bar and Pizza enthusiastically accept the award for Best Dive Bar as the Independent’s Jimmy Boegle looks on. PHOTO BY CORY COURTNEY Venus and the Traps, chosen by readers as the Best Local Band, concluded the party with a fantastic set. PHOTO BY CORY COURTNEY

Jeffrey Norman, of the McCallum Theatre, shows off the award for Best Indoor Venue. PHOTO BY CORY COURTNEY

Lea Goodsell of Renova Solar, the party’s sponsor, smiles for the camera. PHOTO BY CORY COURTNEY

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NEWS

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JANUARY ASTRONOMY

Venus dominates evenings, while mornings, Jupiter Planets and Bright Starsin in the Evening Mid-Twilight For January, 2017 is the (figurative) star This sky chart is drawn for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

By Robert Victor

n January, Venus dominates the evenings! Find it in the southwest to west-southwest, with Mars to its upper left. In the west to west-northwest, find the Summer Triangle of Vega, Altair and Deneb. Vega is brightest, and Altair is the first to depart, around mid-month, if mountains don’t block your view. Fomalhaut, to the lower left of the two planets, may be overlooked. The eastern sky is filling up with winter’s jewels! The “Dog Star” blue-white Sirius (the brightest star) and the Little Dog Star Procyon, preceding it, rise into view below Orion’s bright shoulder, red Betelgeuse, and bright foot, blue Rigel. (Sirius, Procyon and Betelgeuse form the nearly equilateral Winter Triangle.) Follow Orion’s belt downward to Sirius, and upward to orange Aldebaran, eye of Taurus, the Bull. To the left of Orion, look for Pollux (with Castor, 4.5 degrees away). Midway between Orion’s belt and the North Star, look remain above the horizon all night. for bright, yellowish Capella, the Mother Goat By Thursday evening, Jan. 12, the moon has star. passed full and rises about 40 minutes after Meanwhile, Jupiter ranks first in brilliance sunset. Taking time out to watch moonrises in the dawn sky. Find it well up in the south with those you love can be relaxing and fun! to southwest, with Spica only 4 degrees away. Here are times for Palm Springs: Thursday, High above them is golden Arcturus, brightest Jan. 12, at 5:38 p.m.; Jan. 13 at 6:42 p.m.; and star of January mornings. Regulus sinks Jan. 14 at 7:45 p.m. From the Coachella Valley, lower in the west-southwest to west as the with our mountain surroundings, it might take month progresses. Still lower in the west to several extra minutes until the moon’s disk west-northwest, the last stars of the “Winter becomes visible. Hexagon”—Procyon, Pollux and Capella—make To continue following the moon, shift your their exits. Low in the southeast morning viewing time to mornings. Within three hours twilight to the lower left of Saturn, Mercury after sunset on Saturday evening, Jan. 14, the brightens to magnitude 1 on Jan. 5, and to 0 waning gibbous moon rises closely south (to the on Jan. 11. These planets approach to within lower right) of Regulus. The moon remains near 7 degrees on Jan. 9, widening to 26 degrees by that star for the rest of the night, with the pair Jan. 31. Find red twinkling Antares to Saturn’s moving into the western sky at dawn. upper right. Blue-white Vega, ascending in the Jupiter, of magnitude -2 and well up in northeast to east-northeast, ranks next after the south to south-southwest an hour before Arcturus in brilliance. Altair emerges low in the sunrise, rules the dawn. Note first-magnitude east at midmonth. Spica move from 4.4 degrees from Jupiter on The first evening of the New Year, Sunday, Jan. 1, to 3.6 degrees on Jan. 31. The moon, Jan. 1, features a beautiful crescent moon a few approaching last quarter phase, is in a beautiful degrees to the lower right of brilliant Venus. grouping with Jupiter and Spica from about Notice dim reddish Mars starting this month midnight until dawn on the morning of Jan. 19. within 12 degrees to the upper left of Venus. On (The pair remains separated by about 4 degrees the next evening, find a slightly thicker crescent into March.) That same morning, around moon between Venus and Mars, closer to Mars. 5:50 a.m., we find Mercury reaching greatest In early January in the Coachella Valley, sunset elongation, 24 degrees from the sun. Look for still occurs before 5 p.m., so 6 p.m. is a great bright Mercury low in the southeastern sky, 12 time to enjoy these moon-planet gatherings. degrees to the lower left of Saturn. By Thursday evening, Jan. 5, the waxing A waning crescent moon appears widely moon has reached first quarter phase, 90 north of Antares on the morning of Jan. 23, and degrees (a quarter-circle) from the sun, and more closely north of Saturn on the morning of appears half-full. On Sunday night, Jan. 8-9, Jan. 24. A thin old crescent moon appears near from dusk until moonset (after 3 a.m. on Mercury on the moon’s last two mornings, Jan. Monday), watch the gibbous moon gradually 25 and 26. creep closer to Aldebaran. On Wednesday, Jan. Back to the evening sky: The new moon 11, the moon rises about 20 minutes before occurs on Friday, Jan. 27, at 4:07 p.m. Spot sunset. Full late that night, the moon passes the first young moon about 25 1/2 hours later, several degrees south of the stars Castor and soon after sunset on the next evening. From Pollux in Gemini. Each year late in January’s the Coachella Valley, begin looking around 5:35 second week, our planet Earth passes between p.m., when the hairline 1 percent crescent will the sun and the Twins, causing those stars to be six degrees up in the west-southwest, only CVIndependent.com

January's evening sky chart. ROBERT D. MILLER

Pollux

Vega

Capella Deneb Procyon Betelgeuse

Aldebaran Altair

Rigel

29 29 Mars 22 22 15 8 15 1 8 1 Venus

Sirius

Fomalhaut

mid-twilight 12 degrees Evening from the sun, andoccurs 34 degrees to the horizon. Sun isThree 9O below lower right when of Venus. nights later, on Jan. Jan. 1: 43 minutes after sunset. 31, the four-day-old waxing crescent forms a 15: 43 " " " beautiful compact gathering 31: 41 " " with " Venus and Mars. Can you fit all three within a single field of view of your binoculars? This month, Venus attains spectacular brilliance, magnitude -4.4 to -4.7, in the southwest to west-southwestern evening sky, and on Jan. 11-12, reaches greatest elongation, 47 degrees east or to the upper left of the setting sun. Can you spot Venus with an unaided eye before sunset? On Jan. 1, telescopes reveal Venus 56 percent illuminated, nearly 0.4 arcminutes in diameter. Before mid-January, Venus wanes to only half-lit (50 percent), and on Jan. 31, Venus is a crescent, 40 percent lit, but grows to 0.5 arcminutes across. Then Venus will nearly double in apparent size by late March! The Astronomical Society of the Desert will host the next in our series of monthly star

Stereographic Projection parties on Saturday, Jan. 7, from 5-8 p.m. They Map by Robert Miller are held at the Visitor Center of theD.Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, on Highway 74, within 4 miles south of Highway 111 in Palm Desert. Check www.astrorx.org for listings of our high-altitude star parties at Sawmill Trailhead starting at dusk. The next (at 4,000 feet—wear warm clothes!) will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21. Also, check the link to our “Impromptu Star Parties,” which could be announced on short notice at any time. Whitewater Preserve will be hosting a star party on Saturday, Jan. 28, weather permitting, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are requested at 760-325-7222.

Robert C. Victor was a staff astronomer at Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. He is now retired and enjoys providing skywatching opportunities for school children in and around Palm Springs.

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JANUARY 2017

Linda is my wife, my best friend. She’s the daughter of Annette, who had been battling cancer for years.

Fifteen months prior to this August 2016 morning, Annette, then 93, had come to live out her last days with us in our Palm Desert home. Now, Linda stood at the foot of her mother’s bed and spoke softly to our cat, who had stretched herself out across Annette’s lower legs. “Lola, honey, come on now,” Linda cajoled. “You have to get up, sweetie. Mom-mom’s no longer here. She’s gone now.” Lola stayed put with her chin on her crossed front paws. It seemed that nothing or no one could disturb this quiet, calm and peaceful scene. Thanks to California’s End of Life Option Act, Annette had just left behind the painful captivity of the cancer that had progressively destroyed her quality of life. his peaceful day came after one of the most trying 15 months of our lives. “Mom was diagnosed as having six months or less to live, and was in hospice care when she came to stay with us,” Linda recalled. “At this point, she never had a day when she felt well. So, when the End of Life Option became legal in California,” on June 9, 2016, after being signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in October 2015, “she decided that she wanted to participate in it. I went online and did a lot of research.” Linda quickly learned the process was not going to be easy. “What I found was that none of the hospitals out here (in the Coachella Valley) were participating in providing their patients with the support to obtain the life-ending prescriptions,” Linda said. “And that meant that none of the doctors out here, as far as I knew, were participating.” Linda has directed information-research departments for major media and advertising companies—so her online search skills are well-honed, to say the least. However, she could find no local leads for resources to contact on her mom’s behalf. “Actually, that isn’t uncommon, because doctors don’t want to advertise that they participate in this program,” Linda said. “I had been in contact with people in Oregon and other states where (medical aid in dying) had been legal for a while. That’s where I started to see what had come before: Doctors don’t want to be seen as ‘Dr. Kevorkians’ or doctors of death, so there are no lists. Even in places where it has been legal for 18 years, there’s no list for doctors who are participating. You have to talk to your own doctor. “During my research, though, I came upon the organization Compassion and Choices, and I contacted them,” Linda said. “I asked if they had any contacts in California who could help us access this option, and they said that the only thing they knew was that Kaiser Permanente was participating—which meant, to me, our only recourse was Kaiser.”

Annette Schiller. photo by tana yuri

my Thoma, the director of public affairs for Kaiser Permanente, recently talked to me about Kaiser’s participation. “We allow our physicians to participate in California’s End of Life Option Act,” Thoma said. “Physician participation is not mandatory. Also, we allow it in other regions such as Washington and Oregon, where it’s been an option for a while now. We encourage our patients to have thoughtful discussions with their loved ones, family and friends, as well as their health-care providers, about their endof-life wishes so that they can have whatever dignified ending they choose.” I asked what Kaiser does to “market” the fact that it allows patients and their doctors to participate in the End of Life Option Act. “Health plans in general are not allowed to market the End of Life Option Act in California,” Thoma said. “It’s prohibited by (the End of Life Option) law, so we do not market it to our patients at all.” Thoma referred me to Compassion and Choices for a broader discussion about medical-provider systems in California and their participation in the End of Life Option Act. Therefore, I reached out to Matt Whitaker, the newly appointed California state director for Compassion and Choices. We asked him whether the lack of support by the medical industry in our area was atypical. “I would say that the Coachella Valley is pretty unique in the way that there is really no access to medical providers supporting the End of Life Option Act program,” Whitaker said. “In most of the population centers across California, you have the few religiously affiliated hospitals and organizations that made the decision not to participate, but you don’t see the majority of health systems choosing not to participate.” In particular, he focused on the fact that Eisenhower Medical Center, one of the major healthcare providers in our valley, has chosen not to offer End of Life Option services—nor is Eisenhower permitting any associated doctors to participate. continued on next page CVIndependent.com

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continued from Page 13 “They are not religiously affiliated,” Whitaker said. “We know from our work in the community that they have a large number of doctors who want to participate and who were super-upset when the decision not to do so came down, because there wasn’t much stakeholder engagement at all prior to making that decision.”

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ast summer, Linda began taking steps for Annette to move from her existing insurance plan and health-care network to the Kaiser Permanente universe. “Mom had Medicare insurance, so what we needed to do was change her supplemental insurance to Kaiser,” Linda said. “Fortunately, if you are on Medicare, Kaiser offers open enrollment at any time, all year. … But before we joined Kaiser, I called them, and we went over everything. They told me that (providing End of Life services in California) was new to them, and that they were hiring an end-of-life coordinator for Riverside County who would take us through the entire process. So we cancelled Mom’s supplemental policy in the middle of the month, and by the first of the next month, she was on Kaiser. She got a senior (citizen) insurance plan that had no monthly fee to be paid.” It became very obvious, very quickly, that the Riverside County end-of-life coordinator’s support was an invaluable resource provided by Kaiser. The two of them worked as a team on Annette’s behalf in the weeks ahead. “Once I got in contact with the new and extremely helpful coordinator, she reviewed for me the criteria necessary for a terminally ill patient to qualify for the End of Life Option in California,” Linda said. “You have to prove that you are a resident of California; you need to have a diagnosis of six months or less to live; you have to demonstrate that you are in your right mind and not suffering from depression; and you must be able to self-administer the prescribed medications. Also, you must be able to confirm, both in writing and orally, that you are personally in agreement with the decision to follow this end-of-life course of action.” The California law also stipulates that two doctors must be involved in the process of granting permission to obtain the life-ending medications. “The coordinator told me that there would be a first-opinion doctor who Mom would see initially, and who would then evaluate her again at least 15 days following that initial in-person appointment,” Linda said. “During that interim period, she would have to visit another doctor in person for a second opinion.” Because Kaiser’s operations in support of the End of Life Option Act in California were just beginning, there were no existing relationships with doctors in their network who had elected to participate in the program. Originally, the coordinator was able to find doctors—but they were hours away from Palm Desert. “I told her that Mom was in no shape to make those trips,” Linda said. “I explained to her that we weren’t in a rush, but that we needed to find doctors close to our home in Palm Desert. “She found us the first-opinion doctor at the Kaiser Indio facility, and the second doctor was in Palm Springs.” At this point, Annette was given a form that she had to complete in preparation for her initial doctor visit, and appointments were made for the first two doctor visits. “When we saw the first doctor, it was not a long trip to Indio, and the visit was rather short,” Linda said. “(My mom) gave him the completed form, and he reviewed her medical history. Then he interviewed Mom to make sure that this was her choice, and that it wasn’t a case of anyone trying to talk her into it. He asked why she wanted to pursue this end-of-life option. She told him that she suffered from two types of cancer and never had a day when she felt well. “Less than a week later, we had an appointment to see the second-opinion doctor in the Palm Springs Kaiser office. He asked her another bunch of questions: When was she diagnosed? What illness did she have? Was she in pain? He talked to her about other things to confirm that she was coherent and in her right mind, and that it was her choice to do this. Also, he asked if she was capable of self-administering the drugs. “Finally, Annette had her return consultation with the first-opinion doctor. Shortly thereafter, he was able to prescribe the necessary medications.” The cost of these medications to the patient can vary, depending on the type of insurance; in fact, the drugs can be quite expensive. However, Kaiser may be able to help a patient find financial aid if he or she can prove financial hardship. At this stage, the coordinator made an appointment for Linda to meet with a Kaiser pharmacist manager for the drugs to be delivered into the possession of either the patient or his/her representative, and to review—in detail—the procedure for administering the drugs. “In our case, I met him at the Moreno Valley Kaiser facility,” Linda said. “He explained that there would be three separate drugs to be ingested to complete the end-of-life protocol, and he described in great detail the procedure for taking them to ensure the intended result.”

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Everything was ready for Annette to make a final decision. The process—from the time she joined Kaiser to the time when we received the life-ending drugs—took no longer than 60 days. “It’s important to note that the patient can change his or her mind at any time during this process,” Linda said. “Even if they have obtained the prescribed medications, they can change their mind. It seems that only approximately 30 percent of the people who receive the medications actually follow through and take them. … A lot of people change their mind. “It gives you the option to control your own passing, and that is a wonderful thing.” r. Wayne McKinny is a retired pediatrician and a resident of Desert Hot Springs. He’s also a hospice patient, diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer. In the last six months, he has written two opinion pieces published in the local press. Both decried the refusal of our valley’s three major hospitals—Eisenhower Medical Center, Desert Regional Medical Center and John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital—to participate in or allow any of their associated doctors to participate in End of Life Option medical support. He is currently working with Compassion and Choices on their efforts to get these large medical organizations to support the law—and their patients’ desires. “Having this right available is emotional insurance for a dying patient,” Dr. McKinny told the Independent. “They know they have it, and that they won’t have any problem, and they can use it. Likewise, it’s emotional insurance for a person who does not choose this option initially, because they know that if they change their mind, they would be able to get the option somewhat easily.” How can terminally ill and despairing patients in our valley get access to the right to choose the circumstances of their passing? “The choices that have been made by Coachella Valley health-care systems are not reflective of the attitude of the people in the community,” said Whitaker, of Compassion and Choices. “That’s what we’re really trying to make sure those hospitals there know. Hospitals and health systems are a community resource like libraries, churches or community centers. They exist to serve their communities. For example, during the (statewide) campaign to get the End of Life Option Act passed into law, there was a huge amount of support out of the Coachella Valley. There were a lot of people who did organizing and advocacy to make the option available, and so I think that’s where a lot of the current community disappointment comes from. There’s this population there that clearly wants this option, but the bulk of the apparatus (of medical providers) that is there to serve the community isn’t doing it. Whitaker said his organization has had several hundred people call Eisenhower Medical Center to voice their disappointment. “We’ve tried to approach the issue with as much civility as possible, but it’s gotten to the point where people who are interested in pushing back should go to our website and sign up to volunteer and add their name to our list,” he said. “We will be holding rallies and community meetings. We have an organizer in Southern California, and the Coachella Valley is an area with a big bull’s-eye on it for him, because we need to get people out and empowered and making some noise about this issue.” either Linda nor I will ever forget that August day when Annette, who had been sick and in pain for so long, chose to end her life “On the morning that Mom chose to follow through on her decision, we sat her on the edge of her own bed in her own room,” Linda said. “We followed carefully the process the pharmacist had described. The first drug she took was an anti-nausea medication to ease the ingestion of the other drugs in the quantities prescribed. Then, about 45 minutes later, the second drug was taken; it was a beta-blocker intended to slow down the heart rate. Then about another 15 minutes later, Mom took a large dose of Seconal, which would cause death. We had opened up 90 capsules and mixed their contents into one half-cup of applesauce, which she ate. (It could be mixed into juice or other items that the pharmacist approves.) The pharmacist had emphasized that Mom had to follow the procedure closely, and that there was a certain timeframe in which the drugs had to be completely consumed to avoid any mishaps. “After she finished taking the last of the Seconal, we helped her lie down on the bed and made her comfortable. I had an aide, who Mom had grown close to, helping me that morning, and it was a very good idea to have her there. It’s good to have someone there with you for support. “Very quickly, like after 30 seconds, Mom closed her eyes and drifted into a peaceful sleep. Her breathing was a little labored, but that was pretty much normal for her at that point. And then in about 20 minutes, with no gasping for breath or anything, she just stopped breathing. And it was so peaceful. It was really incredibly peaceful. She had her favorite cat with her, and it was just a beautiful death. She wanted it to be very quiet. We had put her in very comfortable clothes, and it was very beautiful. “It’s the way we all should die.” To enroll in a Kaiser Permanente health plan and/or to receive information about their End of Life Option services, call 800-464-4000. For more information about the End of Life Option Act, visit www.compassionandchoices.org/california. CVIndependent.com

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CVI SPOTLIGHT: JANUARY 2017 The Story of One Woman Who Made a Huge Difference

n 1973, Jewel Thais-Williams opened a nightclub in Los Angeles called Jewel’s Catch One—and it quickly gained a reputation as the Studio 54 of the West. For 42 years, the people at Jewel’s Catch One challenged racism and homophobia while offering assistance to those stricken by the AIDS epidemic and becoming a haven for African Americans, all while spurring innovation in fashion and music. In November 2015, Jewel’s Catch One closed its doors. A documentary about Jewel ThaisWilliams and her club, Jewel’s Catch One, will be screened three times as part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival. During a recent phone interview with Thais-Williams and filmmaker C. Fitz, ThaisWilliams talked about disco and her club’s legacy. “It definitely had an impact on the gay and lesbian population, because at that time in California, specifically in Los Angeles, there were laws against those of the same sex dancing with each other,” Thais-Williams said. “With disco, we could all be in the same room dancing and not touching each other—still having a lot of fun, and forgetting that the reason we were doing that was because we were not permitted to.” Fitz said Thais-Williams did more than just open a club; she transformed the community. “In the film, we have Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, who had the hit ‘Shame,’ and Jewel and Evelyn speak specifically about that time,” she said about the club’s early days. “There was a whole lot of shame around (race and sexuality) outside of her club with family members and the community, and Catch One offered a place where they could be together and dance. … A lot of celebrities have stories about what Catch One meant to them and to the community.”

CVIndependent.com

Thais-Williams said that in many ways, Los Angeles in the 1970s remained segregated. “One of the clubs that started around that same time and was in West Hollywood—that club owner did not allow people of color or women into his establishment, and that was in the 1970s,” Thais-Williams said. “The Catch One was formally the Diana Ballroom and opened in the 1920s, and I had the opportunity to meet with Ella Fitzgerald right before she passed away. She used to play that ballroom with the big bands, and the black entertainers had to go up through the back stairs, and once their set was over, had to leave through the back stairs. They couldn’t stay and mingle with the patrons. That kind of segregation has gone on since we arrived here from Africa.” Thais-Williams wasn’t just a business owner; she helped build and establish the LGBT community in Los Angeles. In June, she was the grand marshal of Los Angeles Pride. She is also the founder and executive director of the Village Health Foundation, a nonprofit natural-health clinic. “The gay community back then was really big,” Thais-Williams said about the club’s heyday. “We had established businesses, banks and hotels, and we were involved in politics in the Democratic Party without being exclusive. We had a significant presence to where the lawmakers would consult with us about different bills and advances they had planned to make sure they didn’t step on our toes. We were in sync with the fact we had to fight homophobia throughout every level of life.” Thais-Williams explained why Jewel’s Catch One closed last year. “Forty-two years of hard work!” said ThaisWilliams with a laugh. “(The closure had to do with) changes in society that we’ve seen

Jewel Thais-Williams in a scene from Jewel's Catch One.

across the board, whether it’s heterosexual or homosexual. … A lot of folks were in the club scene because it was the only place where gays and lesbians could go and openly communicate, seduce, meet friends, meet lovers and eventually meet spouses. That was the safe place, and Catch represented that for them. Everybody knew they were welcome, no matter who they were. It was the time for gay rights and our becoming known and available to the broader society.” Fitz said the documentary is about more than the club, and that she’s been amazed at the great reception Jewel’s Catch One has received thus far. “We’ve played locally, across the country and in London,” Fitz said. “What’s amazing and what I found true at the very beginning is that there’s a message in it that one person can make a difference. A lot of people have left the theater with that in their hearts. That’s the

importance in our film. It tells one woman’s story, but it tells her story through the AIDS crisis, helping folks by making a soup kitchen in the parking lot, by creating the AIDS Minority Project, and by creating a shelter for women with AIDS and their children. It’s not just the club, but what she did on that corner, all the way through her health clinic today. She’s never stopped, and it’s very inspirational for anyone sitting in the theater.” Jewel’s Catch One will be screened on Saturday, Jan. 7; Sunday, Jan. 8; and Tuesday, Jan. 10, as part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, which takes place Monday, Jan. 2, through Monday, Jan. 16. Tickets for individual films are $13, and various passes are available. For more information, call 760-322-2930, or visit www.psfilmfest.org. —Brian Blueskye

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ARTS & CULTURE

WORK OF AN ICON Heather James explores another side of Norman Rockwell’s art

By nicole borgenicht

eather James Fine Art is surprising and delighting gallery-goers with Norman Rockwell’s humorous depictions of American life, along with portraits and studies by the renowned artist that uncover another level of his perception and skill. “In putting together this Norman Rockwell show, we wanted to highlight examples of his artwork that illustrated the artist’s working process,” said the gallery’s Hayden Hunt. “This can be seen through paintings like ‘Boy on a Weathervane,’ which is a study for a magazine cover; through ‘Study for “Boy With Melting Ice Cream Cones”’ that was a preliminary figure study for a painting; and even through the early painting ‘Gramercy Park,’ which was painted before Rockwell developed his strong narrative style of painting.” The show includes several beautiful examples of storytelling, while others works depict a character in a unique way. For instance, “Weighing In (The Jockey)” reveals exaggerated figures—a seeming giant weighs a tiny jockey. “We included images like ‘Weighing In’ because it reveals the artist’s skills at telling stories through a single image,” Hunt said. “This particular piece has a connection to the larger theme of the show, illustrating the artist’s working process, because the painting of ‘Head Studies of a Girl (Peggy Best Sketch Class)’ actually has an under-drawing of ‘Weighing In’ visible underneath the painting. It shows how Rockwell reused his canvases and was continually adapting his ideas, or even abandoning them altogether.” The small show includes some pieces on loan to Heather James. “We chose to include artwork on loan that highlights interesting aspects of Rockwell’s artistic output, which you don’t see as often in paintings displayed in museums,” Hunt said. “‘Portrait of George A. Musselman’ is not a characteristic Rockwell painting, since it was not used as a magazine cover or for illustration purposes. Instead, it was actually commissioned by one of Rockwell’s collectors; he owned about five major paintings by the artist.” The show includes works in several different mediums—from full-color offset prints to paintings in oil—at various price points. “Rockwell is best-known for his oil paintings, but he also did sketches in pencil,” Hunt said. “While he was alive, the artist began printing and selling lithographs of his artwork to sell out of his home in Stockbridge, Mass. He was wellCVIndependent.com

“Study for ‘Boy With Melting Ice Cream Cones’” by Norman Rockwell.

known and loved by people around the country for his magazine covers, and he wanted to create signed works in media that were accessible to almost anyone who wanted one.” One of the finest in the show is “Study for ‘Boy With Melting Ice Cream Cones.’” Not only does the young boy have stunning looks; Rockwell unveils the boy’s depth of personality and strength of character through beautiful paint strokes and color. It is a gem of a painting. “I really love ‘Study for “Boy With Melting Ice Cream Cones,’” Hunt said. “He painted it in 1940. The model had done other jobs with various illustrators, but Rockwell used a different model to finish (the resulting work), because this model is too handsome. He chose a characteristic Rockwell look, with upturned nose, not this model, who has a Rat Pack look.” This uncommon study of a very charismatic boy makes one wonder if perhaps there is even more to the story of the model change for the Saturday Evening Post cover. A favorite artist of Americans everywhere, Rockwell had the gift of being able to tell through art. “The paintings in the show and his other works show an entire narrative story from a single Rockwell image,” Hunt said. “He carefully planned everything out and used political overtures a lot. His Saturday Evening Post covers were complex.” Norman Rockwell is on display through Monday, Jan. 30, at Heather James Fine Art, 45188 Portola Ave., in Palm Desert. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 760-346-8926, or visit www. heatherjames.com.

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JANUARY 2017 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // GDG1

#ILoveGayPalmSprings Because… And All Shall Proclaim, “#ILoveGayPalmSprings Because”… By Nicholas Snow

A New Year in the Oasis

For years at GayDesertGuide.com I’ve profiled many of our favorite people in my “PS I Love You Because” column, learning what they love about living and/or visiting here. Here are some of my favorite responses over the years:

By Brad Fuhr, e-publisher, GayDesertGuide.com

As I write this, I am watching my holiday favorite, “The Sound of Music”. A new Trump administration looms, and I’m thinking about my favorite things coming up in the Coachella Valley so I don’t have to “feel so bad.” So let me give you a little preview of what’s to come in early 2017. We’re in “full season” with the next four months jammed packed with excuses for those from colder climes to visit the Coachella Valley. First, the stars are shining brightly for the Palm Springs International Film Festival. It opens the 2107 “Save the Date” Coachella Valley Calendar of Events found on Page 4 of this supplement. Be sure to consult our online calendar for a complete list by day, weekend or category so you’re always up on what’s happening in #ILoveGayPalmSprings. January is our month to celebrate fitness with the Tour de Palm Springs, the Palm Springs Health Run & Fitness Expo and the My City Everyday Livewell Festival in Palm Desert. We welcome the National Gay Pilots Association Conference, too. February brings the “bears” to town for the IBC — International Bear Convergence. One of our community’s top fundraisers follows as Desert AIDS Project welcomes the Pointer Sisters to the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Gala. Modernism Week spans the two middle weekends and the month ends with the Gay Men’s Chorus “Simply Sondheim” show.

Art in the subjective form is everywhere. So much talent in this beautiful town. From painters and photographers to singers and (of course) Drag Queens, there is so much inspiration at every turn. I am truly blessed. Marina Mac/Timothy McIntosh, Drag Performer/Makeup Artist The Dinah Shore Weekend …and it only happens here, in Palm Springs… I have always enjoyed the atmosphere of all the events and being surrounded by talented women…. Marie Elloso - Visual artist, Entrepreneur, Former Promoter Diversity and acceptance of others… regardless of race, color, gender or sexual orientation, Palm Springs is truly a place where people from all backgrounds can come together for the betterment of the entire community. Carolyn Caldwell, CEO, Desert Regional Medical Center Going forward, I’ll be going to many of the same people, and lots of new ones (perhaps you) to get them to explain, “#ILoveGayPalmSprings because…” Want to participate? Email me at PromoHomoTV@gmail. com. I can’t wait to hear from you! Xoxo… Nicholas Snow

March continues the frenetic pace of fundraisers, plus it’s the BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament, dress up time with the LGBT Center’s Red Dress/Dress Red Party, and LGBT Days in Cathedral City. Then we’re into April with Coachella Music Festivals, the Blatino Oasis ends the month and White Party moves to a later date - May 5-8. In the blink of an eye, the “season” will be over, but there will be no lack of things to do. We’re here to keep you in the know - subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media and visit GayDesertGuide.com.

Photo of the Month Our #ILoveGayPalmSprings Photo of the Month also comes from our 30th annual Pride celebration with two members of Cheer Los Angeles - #TeamValencap – Edwin and Marcelino Valencap, who were married in September. The photo was titled “Follow the rainbow brick road!” and appeared on Instagram. From their Facebook page: “Award winning Cheer LA is a dedicated group of volunteers seeking to promote spirit, unity and diversity in the community through dynamic Cheer, Dance and Stunt performances. Our objective is focused on raising awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS charities and organizations through our Cheer for Life fund.”

David A. Lee Photography

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The couple will receive a $50 restaurant gift card for submitting the photo. You can win January’s contest! Just post and tag a photo of yourself or something of interest about Palm Springs on Instagram or Twitter with #ILove GayPalmSprings and message us when you post it!

GDG2 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT JANUARY\\2017

JANUARY 20172 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // GDG

Looking Ahead - Theatre Highlights Preview for 2017

Your Map & Guide to palM SprinGS

By Stephen Radosh As residents of the Coachella Valley, we are fortunate to live in an area that is rich in live theatre. So, with the New Year, it’s time to look at some of the exciting stage events coming our way in 2017. DEZARTS PERFORMS started the season with the strong ensemble cast performance of Harvey Fierstein’s CASA VALENTINA. For those of you who missed out on this great evening in the theatre, the company, which always delivers professional quality productions, has several other shows waiting in the wings. From Jan. 13 - Jan. 22 comes CLYBOURNE PARK, the Tony award winning comedy which takes a jab at race and real estate in a fictional neighborhood of Chicago. Following that, ON THE AIR, a fun celebrity filled evening of live radio show classics, arrives for one evening only on March 9. Rounding out the season from March 31 – April 9 is the Valley premiere of CHAPATTI, a heart-warming story of two animal lovers rediscovering the joys of human companionship. A continued favorite of the LGBT community, the DESERT ROSE PLAYHOUSE, has a great season ahead starting with Charles Busch’s long running hit, VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM playing Jan. 20 – Feb. 12. This hilarious tale of two rival vampires spanning over 2000 years promises to have audiences roaring with laughter as it did for years in New York. It is paired with COMA, a clever retelling of SLEEPING BEAUTY set in the mod 1960’s complete with a teasing bit of nudity! Next up is the GLAAD Media Award winning SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES by “Sordid Lives” creator Del Shores, need we say more? It plays March 10 – April 2, 2017. CV REP is bringing you the musical BABY, with a score by David Shire and Richard Maltby, Jr. This rarely seen musical celebrating the joys of being an expectant parent plays from Jan. 18- Feb. 12. This is followed by the winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, DISGRACED, from March 8 - April 2. It’s a powerful drama exploring the prejudices which still exist even in some of the most ‘enlightened’ members of society. DESERT THEATREWORKS has a varied upcoming season with something for everyone! From Jan. 27 – Feb 5 comes Neil Simon’s comedy, 45 SECONDS FROM BROADWAY. It is followed from March 9- March 19 by the Tony winning musical THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, one of the most enjoyable and clever new musicals of recent years COYOTE STAGEWORKS presents Loretta Swit and David Engel in SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS from Feb. 3 – Feb 12th. This funny and touching play, with music and dance, explores the relationship between two people who, although antagonistic at first, develop a deep connection and intimate friendship. Then on April 14-23, the vibrant Gloria Loring stars as Ann Landers in the one-woman tour-de-force THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS, a biographical play by David Rambo.

Attractions 18

Pedego Electric Bikes

The Steakhouse at the Spa Resort Casino

EOS Fitness

Appetito Deli

LGBT Community Center of the Desert

Bongo Johnny's Patio Bar & Grille

Camelot Theatres

Johannes Palm Springs

Desert Rocks Indoor Climbing Gym

LuLu California Bistro

Escape Room Palm Springs

Pinocchio in the Desert

McCormick's Exotic Car Showroom

Peabody’s Café

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Hoo Doo Patio Restaurant & Bar

Palm Springs Air Museum

The Tropicale

Architecture and Design Center

Trio Restaurant

Palm Springs Art Museum

Wang’s In the Desert

Palm Springs Convention Center

Broken Yoke

Spa Resort Casino

Copley’s Restaurant

Bike Palm Springs

Koffi North

Koffi South

Manhattan in the Desert

Congo Room Restaurant & Lounge

Nightlife (See our Happy Hour Finder online) 32

RetroRoom Lounge

Chill Bar/Scorpion Room

COPA Room

Hunters Nightclub

Oscar's Cafe & Bar

Purple Room Supper Club

SpurLine Video Bar

Streetbar/Local Color Gallery

Tool Shed

Toucan’s Tiki Lounge

Shopping

Score Bar

Destination PSP

I’ll be reviewing many of these shows this season, so visit GayDesertGuide.com’s Arts & Culture channel to find them and for a complete calendar of theatre in the valley. As you can see, it’s a diverse and stimulating season ahead for those of us who love the theatre and one that just might make many a new theatre addict as well! Here’s hoping to see you during Intermission!!!!

Dine

Symbol Keys Grocery Store Hospital / Urgent Care Pharmacy Post Office Tennis Visitor Center

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Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill

Watercress Vietnamese Bistro

Reservior, The Draughtsman

The Kitchen at the Hard Rock Hotel

Thai Smile

Ristretto

Zin American Bistro

My Little Flower Shop

Bear Wear

Motif

Geras Toussant Gallery

Revive Salon & Day Spa

Antique Galleries of Palm Springs

JANUARY GDG 3 2017 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2017 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // GDG3

13 68

10 56

55 32

54 73

Dinah Shore

Indian Canyon Dr 72

N Palm Canyon Dr

Gene Autry Trail

Mesquite Ave

70 71 3 1 53 38

Ramon

Calle Encilia

35 12 39 42 51 33

Camino Parocela

El Segundo

Saturnino

58 34

Arenas

Tahquitz Canyon

Andreas

Amado

Downtown Palm Springs

Belardo Rd Kirk Douglas Way

El Cielo Rd

Farrell Dr Mesquite Ave

Cahuilla Rd

14 Belardo Rd

Via Soledad

La Verne Way

Ocotillo Ave

E Palm Canyon Dr

San Lorenzo Rd

Sunny Dunes

64 50

S Palm Canyon Dr Mesquite Ave

Ramon Rd

Belardo Rd

Camino Parocela

Saturnino Rd

Andreas Rd

Amado Rd

Alejo Rd

59 63 62 11

Arenas Rd

El Alameda

Tamarisk Rd

Tachevah Dr

Mel Ave

E Via Escuela

Vista Chino 69

Calle Encilia

m Tra

ay W

Indian Canyon Dr N Palm Canyon Dr

El Segundo

Farrell Dr

S Sunrise Way

Grenfall Rd Warm Sands

Avenida Caballeros 29

Racquet Club Rd San Rafael Dr

Ramon Rd

N Sunrise Way

Baristo Rd

Tahquitz Canyon Way

Farrell Dr

Map courtesy of HunKa Concepts

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // GDG 4 JANUARY 2017

JANUARY \\2017 GDG4 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

#ILoveGayPalmSprings @Destination PSP! Now available at DestinationPSP - new #ILoveGayPalmSprings merchandise. From t-shirts to coffee mugs, a credit card/cash holder for your mobile phone in every color of the rainbow and a unique wine tote (to keep the white wine cold and the red wine cool). Visit DestinationPSP in downtown Palm Springs and shop for the holidays!

2017 “Save the Date” Coachella Valley Events Jan. 5-16 Palm Springs International Film Festival Jan. 21 Tour de Palm Springs Jan 28 Palm Springs Health Run & Fitness Expo Feb. 9-15 IBC International Bear Convergence Feb. 11 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Gala Feb, 16-26 Modernism Week, Palm Springs Feb. 25 Palm Springs Black History Parade & Town Fair Feb. 25

Mizell Center: 40th Anniversary of Saturday Night Fever

Feb. 25-26 PSGMC “Simply Sondheim” Concert Feb. 26 AAP’s Hollywood’s Biggest Night @ Trio Mar. 6-19 BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament Mar. 11 LGBT Center’s Red Dress/Dress Red Party Mar. 18-25 Fashion Week on El Paseo in Palm Desert

The Southwest Arts Festival

January 26 - 29, 2017 The Festival is located at the spectacular Empire Polo Club and will be open from 10 AM – 5 PM daily Visit southwestartsfest.com

Gay Wine Weekend

We’ve moved to JULY so you can celebrate PRIDE & join us Out In The Vineyard! It’s a weekend of Wine & Celebration with new winemaker dinners, winery tours and events. Visit GayWineWeekend.com

Mar. 24-26 Cathedral City’s LGBT Days Mar. 29-Apr. 2 Club Skirts Presents The Dinah, Palm Springs Apr. 1 The Living Desert’s Brew at the Zoo Apr. 9 19th Annual Opera in the Park Apr. 14-16 Coachella Music Festival –Weekend #1

Bongo Johnny’s

Apr. 21-23 Coachella Music Festival –Weekend #2

214 E. Arenas Road, Palm Springs (760) 866-1905

Apr. 27-30 Blatino Oasis May 14 Desert AIDS Project’s Dining Out for Life

Bongo Johnny’s Patio Bar & Grille is one of the best neighborhood restaurants in Palm Springs. Located in the middle of the Arenas area, Bongo Johnny’s is fun and relaxing with GREAT food. The menu is fresh, but it’s not just about breakfast and lunch, we’ve got dinner too. Come dine with us inside, or out on the patio, and experience a mini vacation with crave-able food, signature cocktails, and stellar service. Get Fresh!

May 5-8 Jeffery Sanker’s White Party Weekend May 6 AAP’s Evening Under the Stars May 12-14 Palm Springs Hot Rodeo May 22 Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast Nov. 3-5 Palm Springs Pride 2017

For More Info & Events visit GayDesertGuide.com

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 19

JANUARY 2017

The Tony Award®-Winning Production

Annie

Vanessa Williams Sat, January 14, 8pm

Tue, January 10, 8pm Wed, January 11, 2pm & 8pm

YouTube Sensation

Rick Springfield

The Piano Guys

“Stripped Down” - Solo Acoustic Tour

Thu, February 9, 8pm

Wed, January 18, 8pm

Presented through the generosity of Jerry & Barbara Lundberg

Phil Vassar Mon, February 13, 8pm

Presented through the generosity of Jackie Autry

Rain A Tribute to The Beatles Fri, February 17, 8pm Sat, February 18, 2pm & 8pm Sun, February 19, 2pm & 7pm

Presented through the generosity of Annette Bloch

The TEN Tenors 20th Anniversary World Tour The Power of TEN Tue, February 28, 8pm Wed, March 1, 2pm & 8pm Thu & Fri, March 2 & 3, 8pm Sat, March 4, 2pm & 8pm Sun, March 5, 2pm

Randy Bachman Every Song Tells a Story Thu, March 23, 8pm

Presented through the generosity of Harold Matzner & Helene Galen

Order tickets by phone

760-340-ARTS (2787)

Order online

mccallumtheatre.com

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

20 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

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“CHIN UP” SECRETS

By Shonda Chase, RN Co-owner and aesthetic director of Revive Wellness Centers Palm Springs and the South Bay area of Los Angeles

Revive’s Secrets are dedicated to sharing how we can make improvements and protect our “age appearance.” This month, it’s all about our necks. Selfies have brought a�en�on to our necks more than ever before. Why? Because we are all trying to make our necks match our faces in photos. When I hand a pa�ent a mirror in one of my injec�on rooms, they li� the mirror up like they do when taking a selfie. The pa�ents don’t like it when I have them lower the mirror to evaluate their necks—but they love to hear what we can do to rejuvenate their necks without surgery. They’re even more interested when I tell them that our cosme�c surgeon can even do a neck and a brow li� in the office with local anesthesia and only about 3-5 days of down�me. That means they can get their neck li� on a Saturday and be back to work on Tuesday. The average cost for a neck li� is usually less than $5,000. But let’s talk about the secrets of what we can do with just injec�ons, using tried-and-true techniques. Botox can reduce those platysmal bands with results just like in the before and a�er pictures above. There’s no down�me. The treatment lasts 3-5 months and costs only $200-$500. This other set of pictures shows what we can do with radio-frequency treatments. We use two different radio-frequency devices, and a series of six treatments ranges from $750 to $3,000, depending on the pa�ent’s goals and the desired amount of correc�on—with no down�me. These secrets reveal that we have all sorts of approaches to having your neck improvements to help you look younger. But wait—there’s more! See next month’s Secrets, about the addi�onal tools we have to help your neck look fantas�c. Un�l then, keep the secrets! Read the en�re ar�cle at www.revivecenter.com/blog. Email your individual appearance and aging ques�ons to Ms. Chase at Shonda@revivecenter.com.

CVIndependent.com

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 21

JANUARY 2017

ARTS & CULTURE

MYSTICAL DESERT CREATURES The Champion: Sherman Chan Mark Harm Niemeyer melds landscape and fantasy at Backstreet’s Artize Gallery

By nicole borgenicht

n one hand, Mark Harm Niemeyer creates fantastic creatures. On the other hand, he’s is a skillful landscape painter who specializes in desert scenes and Joshua Tree ambiance. “There are two sides to my work,” says Niemeyer. “There is the landscape side and the dream-bird side. Whichever way the pendulum swings and the hand points, like an inner voice, is how I paint. Now the pendulum is in the middle. I am painting at a frantic pace—big, new pieces at 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 feet in less than two weeks.” Artize Gallery owner Kelly Truscott has been representing Niemeyer’s work for almost a decade—and will be spotlighting it during a January show. Truscott has a strict policy to only exhibit artists she herself collects. “I have represented Mark for approximately seven years now,” Truscott said. “I grabbed his card in an art store and was going to call him, but before that could happen, he came into my (previous) gallery in Sacramento.” In Niemeyer’s dreamscapes, his human-like creatures have striped heads; some appear so real and natural that it almost looks like he had live models. “I think the main inspiration was from Aboriginal and Maori warriors who tattoo their faces,” Niemeyer said. “… I also liked how a stripe on a figure could help define a contour, with highlights on one side and deep shadow on the other; that really helped with the 3-D modeling. I also like the added color the stripes bring. One of the things I try to do is to make each new figure or face uniquely different, and the stripes help with that.” His other magical creatures are dream birds. “The dream birds are mainly from my imagination—a small blend of bird and human, with their human feet and human eyes,” Niemeyer said. “I try to make them unique, but it is hard to outdo Mother Nature when it comes to coloring birds. The stripes help give them that dream quality.” His other skillset involves painting the beautiful landscapes of Joshua Tree. “I like to paint landscapes that I have experienced, and that I have walked around in and that I have photographed,” Niemeyer said. “I went to Joshua Tree expecting to paint the trees there; nobody told me about the wonderful rock formations!” Now his magical creatures are entering these landscapes—opening up a new world.

“The Sun Man,” by Mark Harm Niemeyer.

“I have always felt like my art swung like a pendulum between landscapes and dreamscapes,” he said. “It is only recently that the pendulum has stopped in the middle, and the dream creatures are starting to walk into the landscapes. You can see this in my latest series, Creatures on the Path.” Niemeyer’s work has been at galleries since the 1980s, starting at a co-op in Omaha, Neb. Friends advised him that his work had more of a California style; later, in Sacramento he showed at two galleries, one of which was owned by Truscott. Niemeyer was one of her best-selling artists, so Truscott kept him when she relocated to Palm Springs. “When she opened a new gallery in Palm Springs, I was happy that she wanted to show my work there,” he said. “I currently live in Omaha. … All my work gets shipped out to the Artize Gallery in Palm Springs!” A printmaker in college, Niemeyer utilizes “swirling strokes and the building up of overlapping color.” In all of his work, the “swirling stroke” is prominent. “I think I have found a way of laying down color that is uniquely my own,” Niemeyer said. The show at Artize Gallery will encompass decades of Niemeyer’s work. “I came up with the name Circular Polarity because of Mark’s distinctive circle/swirl style and the interesting (love/hate) way people react to his subject matter,” Truscott said. Circularity Polarity, featuring works by Mark Harm Niemeyer, will open at Artize Gallery, 2600 S. Cherokee Way, Palm Springs, with an artist’s reception during the Backstreet Art District Art Walk, from 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4. The exhibit will be on display through Sunday, Jan. 29. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call 760459-5344, or visit www.artizegallery.com.

hen Trio Restaurant’s Sherman Chan walked into the Purple Palm Restaurant at the Colony Palms Hotel to compete in the first Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Championship on Nov. 17, she brought with her a secret weapon: an extensive culinary pedigree, including stints in the kitchens of multiple Michelin-star restaurants. “I really appreciate cocktails’ flavor aspect,” she said. “It’s not just about booze; it’s about aromatics, everything.” Chan, 29, was born in Hong Kong, and has lived most of her life in big cities—Toronto, New York and the like. She’s always been intrigued by food, and was all set to study at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, she said. However, before she left, she was challenged by her mother to work in a kitchen for a month to make sure she enjoyed it. “I was working with an old-school chef, and he said that I didn’t need culinary school; he’d teach me,” she said. Chan wound up working at some of the world’s most renowned restaurants: L’atelier de Joel Robuchon (three Michelin stars); Caprice in Hong Kong (two Michelin stars); and the Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa Valley

Trio's Sherman Chan accepts her championship award. PHOTO BY KEVIN FITZGERALD

(three Michelin stars). She came to the Coachella Valley in January 2012 to take a temporary job at the Parker Palm Springs, because the Restaurant at Meadowood was going through a month-long closure. “I didn’t want to be on unemployment for a month,” she said. She was only planning on staying for three months—in fact, she had her next job lined up in San Francisco. However, she became smitten with the desert. “I love the weather, and it’s waaaaay cheaper to live here,” Chan laughed. “It’s a great place to live.” She helped open the late, lamented Jiao, where she was a consultant and sous chef. Shortly thereafter, she started hankering for a chance to be in the front of the house, and she decided to take a job tending bar at Palm Desert Country Club. “I thought I might as well start working the front of the house and see how it was,” Chan said, adding that the money is often better in the front. She actually started the process of moving behind the bar while she was in Napa, taking an online course from BarSmarts. After Jiao, Chan spent time at a variety of well-respected local restaurants, in both the kitchen and at the bar—Escena, Tonga Hut, the Westin Mission Hills, Gyoro Gyoro Izakaya Japonaise, So.Pa at L’Horizon and Mastro’s Steakhouse. In December 2015, she started working part-time at Trio. Turns out she’d found a home: The fun energy at Trio, she said, made her eventually quit another part-time job to work full-time there. “In hospitality, it’s really easy to work in a lot of places where you don’t feel like you belong,” Chan said. “I am so happy I got the opportunity to work here. Plus, the business is expanding, and they treat the staff really well.” At Trio, she’s added a lot of variety and nuance to the cocktail menu. She brought the Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Championship trophy to Trio with her “Bulleit Proof ” drink, a combination of Bulleit Bourbon, grapefruit juice, honey syrup, lime, Peychaud’s bitters, ginger beer and rosemary. “I really enjoy the whole bartending thing,” she said. “I get to create something and have guest interaction. It’s fun being a conductor of someone’s evening.” Trio Restaurant is located at 707 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. For more information, call 760-864-8746, or visit triopalmsprings.com.

CVIndependent.com

22 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2017

FOOD & DRINK

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

the

BEER GODDESS By Erin Peters

would like to shove the year 2016 into the anals of time—I mean right up into the bowels of the space-time continuum. Not only did we lose Gene Wilder, Leonard Cohen, Prince, Alan Rickman and David Bowie (I’m weeping again); record temperatures are taking hold as climate change accelerates. And then there’s the fact that a minority of Americans elected a climate-denying, misogynist, racist, egotistical guy who’s clearly not qualified for the job. On the upside … 2016 did give us some amazing new beers. Behold—some of the year’s best winter beers. Bell’s Winter White Ale: This is a lovely wheat alternative to your normally heavy and dark winter beers. It’s low in alcohol at 5 percent and has some of those delicious clove and fruity aromas that are reminiscent of the holidays. Try it with eggs Benedict, omelets or cranberry-apple cobbler. It is available through the end of January. Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper: This “winter warmer” appeals to those who just want a dark, strong Russian imperial stout

CVIndependent.com

without barrel-aging or added spices or fruit. This is one seriously naughty but nice beer. Flavors of heavily roasted grain, espresso, molasses, roasted malt and light bourbon make this beer the real deal. Pyramid Snow Cap: A rich, full-bodied winter warmer crafted in the British tradition of holiday beers. This deep mahogany-colored brew balances complex fruit flavors with a refreshingly smooth texture, making Snow Cap a drinkable and desirable cooler-weather drink.

As 2017 unfolds, perhaps a winter beer or two can help you forget the craptastic year that was 2016

Samuel Adams Winter Classics Mix Pack: This is a nice starter for beer-lovers who are just discovering craft beer. Though it can change from year to year, the pack often contains Boston lager, Old Fezziwig ale, winter lager, holiday porter, black lager and cranberry lambic. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale: This is a true classic for hop-heads, having been on the market since 1981! Beyond a pretty significant bitterness at 62 IBUs, this beer is dry-hopped, which elevates the hops in the aroma and the flavor. When you’re drinking Celebration, you’re drinking a bit of history. Great Divide Hibernation Ale: Great Divide cellars Hibernation until late October. A lengthy aging process gives Hibernation a malty richness, a complex hop profile and a hearty warming character. Hibernation is a lively treat that really beats the winter chill. This scrumptious, collectible and imminently cellar-able ale has won four Great American Beer Festival medals and is fantastic with grilled beef tenderloin. Stone Xocoveza: This “Mexican hot chocolate” packs a delicious punch of bittersweet cocoa, cinnamon, Mostra coffee, pasilla peppers and vanilla. It was first brewed in 2014 with San Diego homebrewer Chris Banker after his recipe won Stone’s annual homebrew competition. Craft-beer drinkers clamored for more, and it quickly became a cross-country sensation. Drink it fresh or age it at cellar temperature. Try it with baconwrapped figs or tiramisu. Avery Brewing Old Jubilation: We all need more feelings of jubilation in 2017. This winter strong ale has a gorgeous mahogany hue, a hint of hazelnuts, and aromas of mocha, toffee and darker cracker malts. It has chocolate flavors, with residual sugar notes of blackstrap molasses and fig, and a wisp of smokiness. Scaldis Noel Premium: This is how the Belgians make a winter warmer. This beer is rich with lots of malt, and though malt dominates, the complexity from the wilder yeasts Belgians tend to use, plus the unusual practice of aging this beer with hops flowers, gives this brew unique flavor and character. Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve: Rogue’s annual holiday offering is a variation on the classic Saint Rogue Red, with double the hops—including Chinook, Centennial and a mystery hop called Rudolph from head brewer John Maier. This holiday elixir is brewed with

a variety of malts, coastal water and Maier’s proprietary top-fermenting Pacman yeast. Brasserie d’Achouffe N’Ice Chouffe: This Belgian specialty ale is a 10 percent alcohol-byvolume slow-sipper. N’Ice Chouffe is brewed with thyme and Curaçao orange peel, and has a candy-sweet malty aroma with cherries and apples. It has a strong finish but is superbly well-balanced. Telegraph Brewing Winter Ale: With hints of cinnamon, allspice, caramel, vanilla and sweet ancho chilies, this spiced dark ale is inspired by Mexican hot chocolate. It has a 7.7 percent ABV; make sure to let this warm up a bit to bring out the flavors. Firestone Walker Anniversary XX 2016: It’s hard to believe that 20 years have passed since brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker established their brewery in a converted shed at the back of the family vineyard. This is a limited release, and here’s why: 17 winemakers convened in late August to help create the blend for XX, combining 250 oak barrels and five different beers including Parabola, Stickee Monkee, Velvet Merkin, Bravo and Helldorado. The resulting brew is silky-smooth, with molasses and rich brown sugar, and touches of cinnamon spice and brandy soaked cherries. Enjoy now—or age for four years to celebrate a new president!

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 23

JANUARY 2017

Welcome to Johannes Restaurant.

Willkommen im Johannes Restaurant.

fast food CAN be healthy! ORGANIC JUICE

Experience Award-winning, Modern European Cuisine from Creative Chef Johannes Bacher

•

SMOOTHIES

•

BOWLS

•

JUICE CLEANSE

VOTED 10 BEST IN THE COUNTRY BY

Voted “Best Chefs America”

Acai and pitaya bowls – grab-n-go and packed with all-natural ingredients, no sugar goodness.

Voted “Best Continental Restaurant” 2013, 2015 & 2016 Voted “Best Martini” 2016 by Palm Springs Life Readers

(760) 778-0017

Open for Dinner at 5 pm / Closed Mondays Private Dining • Available for Groups • Special Events Become a Fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/JohannesRestaurant

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

johannespalmsprings.com

Raw, organic juices all made to order. Try our famous “BOMB” that everyone is talking about.

Ingredients your body can recognize and utilize! All Natural Ingredients • Healthy Fiber Naturally No Purée’s or Preservatives • Homemade Almond Milk No High-Fructose Corn Syrup

PALM DESERT Corner of Hwy. 111 & Monterey

LA QUINTA Washington & Hwy 111

760.837.9777

760.777.4666

PALM SPRINGS Corner of Sunrise & Ramon

Now Taking Phone Orders

F re s h J ui c e Bar.co m

760.883.5888 CVIndependent.com

24 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2017

FOOD & DRINK A TOAST TO RHÔNE WINES I

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK Lisa Tussing

France’s southern Rhône valley is home to some of the Earth’s best vintages

By pete holland

first chose to drink a wine from France’s Rhône valley because pronouncing it fell within my radius of linguistic confidence. I was sitting in a bistro in Paris on Rue Mouffetard, a street whose movements feed the Paris of the imagination so slavishly that the cast—garrulous fishmongers dangling cigarettes and old men nursing espresso at Frisbee-sized cafe tables—could be actors who pick up weekly checks at l’Office du Tourisme. I remember rehearsing my order of a glass of Côtes du Rhône as the bartender approached, then letting it tumble out. The wine itself, I don’t remember so much. A few years later in Los Angeles, I had a girlfriend whose head-turning beauty and hunger for fame made me feel like my only two choices were to hold on to her more tightly than I should, or risk her disappearing forever. In the wee hours one Saturday, we helped ourselves to a bottle of wine that her spectral roommate had left on top of the fridge. Although her place was just a few blocks away from two bustling boulevards, the street late that night was serene. The misty quiet seemed to wash up to the balcony and infect us for once; it was a rare and welcome evening of calm in a tumultuous affair. Late the next morning, before walking down the block to get a coffee, I finished the bottle by myself. Only in that sober moment did I realize that I was drinking something extraordinary. I brushed my thumb over the bottle’s embossed insignia. The words in ancient type on the label, inscrutable at the time, stayed with me long after the girl had disappeared forever: Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These unexpected path-crossings led me to what are now my favorite wines: those of France’s southern Rhône valley and its most regal appellation. While I will never untangle

the wines from the circumstances of my introduction to them, those memories are old and require careful unearthing. What has replaced them at the forefront of my mind is a specific fantasy of the Rhône: My wife and I on laden bicycles, mashing up steep hills fueled by coffee and two-euro baguettes. We roll into village after ancient village to be nourished by cassoulet and wine so provincial that a bottle has never made it to the capital, let alone to the States. The southern Rhône is where the green and lush give way to the dry and stony, where the sun and wind are strong. There, the hardened grenache vines push through the crusty earth, emerging from the blanket of warm stones that insulate their roots and lend a lunar quality to the vineyards. Ripe wines result—a bottle of Côtes du Rhône may be light, but it will seldom want for supple fruitiness. At their most humble, they are uncomplicated but satisfying, good with a meal or diluted and

FREsh gRound . handcRaFtEd

downed as a morning restorative. With luck, they borrow the herbs of Provence, the whiff of humidor and the puissance—the power—of their doyen, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Jay McInerney calls Châteauneuf-du-Pape the “vinous equivalent of a megadose of vitamin D,” because a glass on a gloomy evening can revivify a pallid body like a grapefruit could a sailor with scurvy. I crave it on the dark and windy afternoons when just arriving home and taking off my shoes feels like something to celebrate. Detractors call it rustic like that’s a bad thing. Fans call it rich. Meaty. Stewy. Years ago, I listened with saintly patience as a California cabernet chauvinist derided French wines; as he saw it, they lacked fortitude. “They’re like wine-flavored water,” I

can still hear him saying, as my blood pressure elevates with the memory. Thinking of the stout, high-alcohol reds, I almost succumbed to my helpful instincts and steered him to Châteauneuf. But then I thought better of it. Châteauneuf may lack the cachet of Champagne and may not spark recognition like Burgundy and Bordeaux, but the wine’s renown inspired zealous protections a century ago, which inspired France’s appellation system, which inspired the whole world to take its wine much more seriously. It is not a wine to be trotted out in a vain attempt to convince some lumpen drinker of France’s worth—it’s better than that. And when the days get short and the nights get cold, it’s better than anything else.

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FOOD & DRINK

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ON COCKTAILS I

By kevin carlow

know harried parents are going to roll their eyes at this statement, but here it is: I love going to the supermarket! When life gets a little too hectic, when the world at large seems a little too hopeless, I have the joy of walking up and down aisle after aisle of options, just sitting there waiting for me. There’s need to till the soil or pluck a chicken—my privileged First World butt can just stroll around, putting things in my cart, to the smooth sounds of No Jacket Required-era Phil Collins. It’s a beautiful thing, a little adventure. In many ways, it’s similar to residing in Palm Springs. I can just start walking around and have a unique experience without planning or getting behind the wheel: Just walk around, maybe a little farther than you normally would, and you’ll find something unexpected. (Phil Collins is strictly optional.) If you’re lucky, you might find rye-whiskey cocktails. A disclaimer: There is nothing wrong with bourbon. America should be proud to have it as our most-famous spirit. We can hold our own with Scotland or any other place that wants to have an argument about spirit supremacy.

But it’s been stealing the spotlight for too long: While $250-retail bottles of bourbon sell on the secondary market for thousands of dollars or get collected like so many Ted Williams rookie cards, most ryes have gone under the radar (with a few expensive and notable exceptions). Thanks to the noble efforts of craft bartenders all over the country, however, that is beginning to change.

It’s high time for rye to get the respect it deserves

I have been on a rye-whiskey kick for a little while (OK, for several years), and I love seeing it on menus. I love working with it, too. When a customer orders a Manhattan or an old fashioned, and I ask, “Bourbon or rye?” he or she often hesitates and looks like he or she is trying to figure out the correct answer. There is no correct answer, of course, but—dirty little secret here—when the answer is, “Uh, rye?” I offer a little half-smile and a nod of approval. Rye has a lean and spicy profile that (especially the 100-proof stuff) makes a great foil for unctuous and herbal vermouths and barky bitters. As a bonus, it’s pretty good for keeping warm on chilly winter nights in the desert. With this in mind, I gathered a motley crew of merrymakers and set out on an impromptu adventure down Palm Canyon Drive. The first stop was Dish Creative Cuisine, which wasn’t on my cocktail radar at the time; we were just going to meet some people there. As I took my seat at the semi-subterranean bar, I did my obnoxious size-up-the-barprogram thing. Some quality products are back there. Wait … are those homemade syrups? I ordered a rye concoction with housemade brown butter-infused Crater Lake rye, maple syrup and lemon juice, from bartender Morray. My first sip was good, and as the drink diluted a little bit, the flavors really started to express themselves. The nose is kettle corn, which increases on the palate. The maple syrup is subtle, and the lemon is just enough to balance the drink without intruding. The rye spice comes on the tail end. Whiskey sours include egg white partly to soften astringent flavors that lemon brings out of whiskey. The butter infusion (we call this process a “fat wash” in the business) does much of the same. I found out that chef Joane Garcia-Colson makes the infusions and syrups for the bar program. Nice! A short walk got us to Trio, which even on a Tuesday was packed during happy hour. I resigned myself to exile at a high-top table. The downfall of traveling in a group is rarely finding enough bar seats, meaning I can’t bother the bartender with endless questions about ingredients and whatnot. The drink list was sizable, though, and I decided to keep the rye party going with a “Green Walnut Boulevardier”: Knob Creek rye, Campari, walnut liqueur, sweet vermouth, orange bitters and an orange peel. The addition of walnut to a classic boulevardier was a nice touch; walnut and rye are beautiful together. The drink

starts sweet and spicy, with a hint of walnut in the middle, and it’s bitter and citrusy on the finish. Basically, it’s the classic drink with a subtle twist. The orange bitters and peel together with Campari could be a bit intense for some tipplers, but if you like a bittersweet flavor profile, give it a try in place of a Negroni or Manhattan. Now that the whiskey train was running full-steam, it was time to visit the brown-liquor emporium which is Bar, just another short walk away. I grabbed an open bar seat, blatantly disregarding my cohorts, and said: “Make me something with rye!” Proprietor Donovan Funkey popped out of seemingly nowhere, gave the aforementioned half-smile and approving nod, and made me “The Chancellor”: a mix of Rittenhouse rye, Luxardo amaro and crème de cassis. It has black currant and baking spice on the nose, which is nice this time of year. On the palate, it’s slightly sweet and oaky up front, with a spicy and bitter finish. It’s on the menu as a bourbon drink, so make sure to ask for the rye version if you want to re-create the experience. Several more rye whiskies were tasted in the name of research, and that was about it for the night’s adventure; I was fully warmed up and satisfied. If you are looking for a little more of a ryewhiskey adventure, poke your head behind the heavy black velvet curtain at Mr. Lyons to check out Seymour’s, where we do a drink called the “Little Owl.” Since that’s a long walk from downtown, here’s the recipe, courtesy of Steen Bojsen-Moller: • 2 ounces of Rittenhouse rye • 1/4 ounce of Charbay black walnut liqueur • 1/4 ounce of IPA syrup (boil down your favorite India pale ale, and add sugar to taste) • a few dashes of Angostura amaro (not Angostura bitters; you can sub a different amaro) Stir; serve on the rocks with a twist of orange. The next time you stroll around downtown in Palm Springs, think about how nice it is to have so many options laid neatly, up and down in a row. Gather a crew of revelers, and set out on your own whiskey-fueled adventure. It’s just as convenient as a supermarket—but with better drinks and music. Kevin Carlow is a bartender at Seymour’s/Mr. Lyons and can be reached via email at krcarlow@ gmail.com. CVIndependent.com

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WHAT The Alps Wienerschnitzel Sandwich WHERE Alps Village, 77734 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert HOW MUCH $13 CONTACT 760-200-5400 WHY I keep thinking of the sandwich, days after eating it. Alps Village opened around the start of 2016, a fact that somehow did not make it onto my radar screen. A friend mentioned the place in passing, and since I love German food—when it’s done right, that is—I decided to check it out. I am happy I did, but disappointed that I missed out on this lovely little spot for the better part of a year. There were only a couple of other tables occupied on my recent weekday lunch visit. The menu includes German and Mediterranean fare—including Italian-style pastas, pizzas and various salads—but I focused in on the Germanic fare. I seriously debated trying the goulash or the stuffed cabbage rolls, but instead decided on the Alps pork wienerschnitzel sandwich. (Chicken is also available, as is veal for an extra $2.) After devouring my appetizer, a soft pretzel with a simply amazing kajmak spread—a homemade cheese spread with a stronger flavor and the consistency of whipped cream cheese—my sandwich arrived. It was not on my plate for long, as it was swiftly devoured. The breaded pork cutlet was delicious and moist. The “Alpskraut” added tartness and a lot of flavor without overwhelming the pork. The pink-orange “house sauce” provided a nice hint of sweetness. All of it together on the rye bread was near perfection: Had there been any more sauerkraut or sauce, the flavors would have been thrown off balance; any less, and the sandwich would have been too dry. As of this writing, it’s been several days since I had the sandwich, and I keep thinking about it. It was that good.

WHAT The Baked Eggs in “Purgatorio” WHERE Joey Palm Springs, 245 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs HOW MUCH $9.50 CONTACT 760-320-8370; www.facebook.com/ joeypalmsprings WHY It’s a perfect breakfast on a cool morning. Amazing food can often be found in the most unexpected places—and Joey Palm Springs is a perfect example. I met my friend Michael for coffee there one recent morning. I already knew that the space is beyond charming—it used to house the late, lamented Espresso Cielo—so I expected to enjoy a fine cup o’ joe in a nice spot with a good friend. I was also feeling a bit peckish, so I decided to peruse Joey’s food offerings. At the top of the breakfast menu was a dish called baked eggs in “Purgatorio”: two eggs baked in soft polenta, marinara, Parmigiano-Reggiano and basil. Wow, I thought. I didn’t expect to find a dish like this in a li’l café like this! Turns out I probably should have had higher expectations: Joey Palm Springs is owned and operated by Vince Calcagno and Joe Lucero—and this couple has a fine food pedigree: Calcagno used to own Zuni Café, widely regarded as one of San Francisco’s top restaurants. While all of this sounds good on paper, the food was great in actuality. Cheese, polenta, marinara and egg are a classic combination for a reason, and while Joey Palm Springs’ version of this well-known dish—usually called “eggs in purgatory”—wasn’t at all unique, it was perfectly executed. The baked eggs in “Purgatorio” dish was made even better by the weather—it was a chilly morning, something that’s rather common this time of year in our lovely bit o’ desert. Well, this little treat warmed me right up—and elated my taste buds at the same time. It was indeed an unexpected and most welcome find.

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JANUARY 2017

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Restaurant NEWS BITES By Jimmy Boegle NEW: THE COACHELLA VALLEY CULINARY INVITATIONAL TAKES PLACE JAN. 13 If you like really good food, want to help out some future chefs, and have at least $179 to spare, you’re going to want to be at the Stergios Building at Desert Regional Medical Center, 1150 N. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, at 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13, for the first Coachella Valley Culinary Invitational. What is this invitational, you ask? While the Invitational’s website is somewhat confusing, here’s what we’ve figured out: Top chefs from the valley and beyond will be offering various dishes—expect a dozen or so—to be enjoyed at one’s leisure, while fine local band Caxton provides the entertainment, and silent auction items are available for perusal. And here’s something really cool: Before the event, four chefs will spend time with students at Rancho Mirage High School and La Quinta High School, and those kids will have a role in the dishes presented at the Invitational. “The Coachella Valley Culinary Invitational … is an event designed to raise funds for a mentorship program for the youth of the valley enrolled in the culinary programs at the local high schools,” the website explains. “It will culminate with a scholarship program. Part of the proceeds will also benefit the chefs’ collaborative local group as it strives to educate the valley’s professional chefs on our responsibility to (develop) sustainable food systems.” Participating chefs include Dish Creative Cuisine’s Joane Garcia-Colson, and Jimmy Schmidt of Morgan’s in the Desert. Tickets are $179, or $229 for VIP admission. For more information, visit www.cvcinvitational.com. CLOSED: CLEMENTINE GOURMET MARKETPLACE AND CAFÉ One of Palm Desert’s top-rated restaurants—and one of my personal favorites—is yet another victim of the “summer closure” that turns out to be a permanent closure. The Clementine Gourmet Marketplace and Café website, as of this writing, enthusiastically says: “Thank you to all of our customers for a great season! Stop in for one last meal with us! We’ll be closed for the summer, starting on June 20.” Summer came and went … and the spot at 72990 El Paseo never reopened. Now the signs have been removed from the building, and the restaurant’s Facebook page has disappeared. Efforts to track down the owners, Jennifer and Christophe Douheret, to find out what happened were unsuccessful. If we learn anything, we’ll let you know in this space. IN BRIEF Bucatini Trattoria, which has been serving up tasty Italian food at 46660 Washington St. in La Quinta, just opened a Palm Desert location, at 36901 Cook St., Suite 10. Learn more at www. bucatini.biz. … Construction continues on Truss and Twine, from chef Michael Beckman and the rest of the Workshop Bar + Kitchen crew, at 800 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Keep your fingers crossed for an opening sometime in the first chunk of 2017. Follow the progress on the Truss and Twine Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Truss-Twine-905801239556047). … The signs have been changed, and the former Matchbox Palm Springs is now Brickworks American Bistro + Pizza. Don’t expect a lot of changes beyond the name and those signs, though (and we mean that in a good way). Check things out on the second floor of 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive (overlooking the creepy Sonny Bono statue), in Palm Springs, or head to brickworksbistro.com for more information. … The Omni Ranchi Las Palmas Resort and Spa, at 41000 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage, will host a wine dinner at 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13, as part of the Taste of Rancho Dinner series. For $102—that’s $80 plus tax and tip included—you’ll get five courses paired with ONEHOPE Wine, a label which “creates delightful products that inspire people to indulge and do good.” Call 760-862-4518, or visit www.omnihotels.com/hotels/palm-springs-rancho-las-palmas for reservations or more information. … We hear that Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar, at 70030 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage, in the old Crab Pot spot, will be opening very, very soon, if it’s not open already. Call 760-321-7635, or visit www.facebook.com/thefishermansranchomirage to learn more. (It has no apparent relation to the other Fisherman’s spots in the area, by the way.) … Mecca is getting its first “nationally branded” (read: chain) sit-down restaurant, in the form of a Denny’s. Ground has been broken at the Mecca Travel Center at 90470 66th Ave.; watch for a mid-2017 opening. … In other chain news: Sonic Drive-In is coming to Indio, at Jefferson Street and Avenue 42. It should be open before all those big April music festivals take place. CVIndependent.com

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29 31 31 32

The Desert Soul Club convenes once a month to celebrate Drop Mob melds genres to create a unique sound After delays and drama, Thr3 Strykes finally has a new album The Lucky 13: Meet Se7ven4’s frontman and Dali’s Llama’s guitarist

MAN WITH THE ’STACHE

january 2017 By Brian Blueskye

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Tony Orlando brings his triedand-true act to Spotlight 29

The Blueskye REPORT

Vanessa Williams

It’s time to wind down after the busy holiday season—and January is filled with some great shows to help you do just that. The McCallum Theatre has some fine postholiday events. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, Broadway and Hollywood icon Vanessa Williams will be appearing. Williams had the No. 1 single in 1992, “Save the Best for Last,” and went on to create other hits, such as “Love Is,” “Colors of the Wind” and “Where Do We Go From Here?” She’s also had a successful film career. Tickets are $57 to $97. At 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18, another actor/singer will be performing: Rick Springfield. Springfield is best remembered for his run on General Hospital, and for his hit tune “Jessie’s Girl.” Springfield has fought alcoholism and depression, but has found sobriety and a healthy mindset within the last few years. Tickets are $37 to $87. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 27, author Garrison Keillor will be returning to the McCallum to share stories about his life growing up in the Midwest. Tickets are $47 to $97. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-3402787; www.mccallumtheatre.com. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa has a big show booked: At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler will be performing with The Loving Mary Band. It’s been said that Aerosmith might be bowing out of the game soon, and Tyler seems to enjoy performing solo, so it might just happen. Tickets are $165 to $215. The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www. hotwatercasino.com. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is hosting some great comedy and music that’ll help you snap out of those holiday blues. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13, Emmy and Grammy Award continued on Page 30

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JANUARY 2017

MUSIC MASTERS

OF MOD

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The Desert Soul Club convenes once a month to celebrate at Tonga Hut

By Brian Blueskye

he Mod subculture from the 1960s in the United Kingdom involved fashion—but it was also about great music. Lee Joseph, the founder of Dionysus Records and the bassist for Jesika Von Rabbit, and Bob Deck, also known as DJ Bobby California, love the Mod culture, and started throwing the monthly Mod-themed Desert Soul Club parties at the Tonga Hut over the summer. They’ll be throwing the first Desert Soul Club of 2017 at 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14. “One of the inspirations is we were in Palm Springs and hearing the word ‘Mod’ all the time in reference to mid-century modernism,” Joseph said. “We wanted to do something genuinely Mod in Palm Springs.” The music in Mod culture was generally soul, ska and British rock from bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Kinks. “We wanted to do the true British kind of Mod sound,” Deck said, “not just the soul stuff that’s popular, but also some of the Mod-rock stuff too. We mix a lot of that stuff in. It’s easy to describe it as ’60s soul and Motown and stuff like that, but all night to American soul records. The movie we’re doing a lot more. We do ska music, which Quadrophenia explains the whole thing.” is basically soul that was misheard across the Deck said Mods were influenced by the airwaves in Jamaica on AM radios. We almost goings-on in Italy. feel like we’re teaching a bit about the history of “They had a real affinity for what was coming that music. We both have a kind of passion for out of Italy at the time: Italian scooters, Italian that kind of music. We wanted to teach what the fashion and Italian art,” Deck said. “With any true meaning of Mod is, especially around here, subculture, it’s not just about one thing. That’s where we feel it is kind of misinterpreted.” kind of what this movement was, and it does Joseph explained the lifestyle aspect. have a tie-in with what’s going on in Palm “All the Mods had jobs and money, and Springs with modernism.” they bought records,” Joseph said. “It was a Then along came disco. post-war generation of kids who had money, “The scene broke up because of the popularity and it was their own money. They didn’t get of disco music at the time,” Deck said. “A lot of it from their parents. They spent their money the DJs would start to mix in Donna Summer on clothing, Italian scooters and records. They records, and people were like, ‘No, we don’t want would go out to clubs and go dancing. They had to hear this stuff! We want to hear the old stuff.’ jobs that started really early in the morning, In the ’70s, the purist Mod fans started forming so they started taking speed and would dance bands, and there was a second era of Mod music Lee Joseph and Bob Deck

in the ’70s like The Jam and power-pop kind of stuff.” Joseph and Deck play some of that secondera Mod music at Desert Soul Club. “We play Motown, Stax and New Orleans funk stuff from the ’70s,” Deck said. “We don’t play a lot of down-tempo stuff. A lot of it is high energy, and it’s party music. People respond to the hits, like the Supremes and Smokey Robinson. We like to have fun, and we both learn from each other what we’re playing. That’s something we love to do in our personal lives: learn about music.” Joseph said he loves to share music with people. “I’m from Tucson, Ariz., and I collect records from the late ’50s to the early ’70s,” Joseph said. “If you can imagine, every town in America had independent local records released, so there are a lot of records out there from that era. I really like Dyke and the Blazers; they’re from

Phoenix. They had a hit in 1969 called ‘We Got More Soul.’ “Being a record collector, I don’t have a lot of people over to my house. This is the way to share our records with people.” Deck has a history with the Tonga Hut in Palm Springs, and thought it would be a great place for the Desert Soul Club. “We wanted to do this there, because we really like the owners,” Deck said. “We wanted to help them out, and I was a resident DJ there for a couple of years. That slowed down, and we wanted to do something together. They wanted to do something with us—and it was an easy match.” Desert Soul Club will start at 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, at Tonga Hut Palm Springs, 254 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Admission is free. For more information, call 760-322-4449, or visit www.facebook.com/DesertSoulClub.

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JANUARY 2017

MUSIC

The Blueskye REPORT continued from Page 28

TALENT TRIUMPHS

winner Kathy Griffin will be appearing. The comedienne, actress and best-selling humor writer is guaranteed to make you laugh. Tickets are $39 to $69. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, it’ll be a double Motown bill when The Temptations and the Four Tops stop by. While the groups are only touring with one original member each, the show should still be a good time. Tickets are $39 to $59. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20, Terry Fator will be bringing his comedy-based puppet show to Fantasy Springs. Fator can be hilarious; one of my favorite puppets is an Elvis impersonator. In my own opinion, he’s funnier than Jeff Dunham. Tickets are $39 to $79. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com. Spotlight 29 has an event in January you won’t want to miss. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21, jazz guitarist George Benson will be performing. While Benson is classified as a jazz guitarist, his music also includes funk and soul. He’s won 10 Grammy Awards throughout his career. Tickets are $55 to $75. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760775-5566; www.spotlight29.com. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace has some fun shows on the docket. At 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 5, Los Angeles psychedelic-pop band Haunted Summer will be returning—with local favorite The Flusters on the bill as well. Haunted Summer did some recording at Rancho de la Luna in 2015; hopefully we’ll see a new album soon. Admission is free. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, Los Angeles-based Americana band Moonsville Collective will be stopping by. Moonsville Collective has shared the stage with Old Crow Medicine Show, The White Buffalo, Wanda Jackson and Donavon Frankenreiter. Tickets are $10. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-365-5956; www.pappyandharriets.com. The Date Shed has a couple of events about which you should take note. At 8 p.m.,

Saturday, Jan. 7, there will be a performance from Pato Banton. Banton, a London-based Reggae singer and DJ, has worked with Ranking Roger, UB40 and the Mad Professor. This should be a great show for reggae-lovers. Tickets are $15 to $20. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21, West Covina-based rapper Mr. Capone-E will take the stage. He’s known for his collaboration in 2006 with Twista on the song “Don’t Get It Twisted.” Tickets are $25. The Date Shed, 50725 Monroe St., Indio; 760775-6699; www.dateshedmusic.com. The Purple Room has a busy schedule of events. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6, check out The Buddy Holly Review. As a big fan of Buddy Holly myself, I’m excited about this one. It’s been said that this tribute band does not disappoint. Tickets are $25 to $30. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, Charles Herrera will be performing a show titled “There’s Always Room for Cello,” which will include guest Keisha D—as well as some of the best string musicians in the Coachella Valley! Tickets are $25 to $30. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-3224422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.

George Benson

Haunted Summer

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Tony Orlando brings his tried-and-true act to Spotlight 29

H Pato Banton

By Brian Blueskye

e was a kid from New York, N.Y., with just an eighth-grade education—yet Tony Orlando has had an incredible music career, both as an executive and a recording artist. While he hasn’t released any new material since 1979, he continues to perform across the country to sold-out audiences. He’ll bring his current tour to Spotlight 29 on Saturday, Jan. 14. During a recent phone interview, I asked him if there was anything he would change. “Nothing,” Orlando said. “What would I change? I’ve been in this business for 56 years. I started when I was 16 in 1961 with Carole King. I think that’s a pretty good run. I don’t think I’d change anything. I’ve worked for six presidents. I’ve had a television show, and I have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I found myself as a vice president of CBS for four years, running the music division at 23 years old, and me and the girls sold 150 million records in the ’70s.” Orlando’s experience as a music-company executive helped him fully understand how the music business worked. “I only have an eighth-grade education, so for me to find myself in that position with a company like CBS, representing some very talented people an incredible song sense. I had an awesome like James Taylor and Blood Sweat and Tears, respect for his knowledge and instinct when it and signing Barry Manilow and producing his came to songs. … My role was to listen to my first records, I enjoyed that. It taught me that producer and deliver that as an artist. The song sometimes, you can’t sign a talent, and the talent sense and song picking didn’t come from me, walks away thinking that they’re not talented, except ‘He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You)’ by but it had more to do with where the company Curtis Mayfield, because my basic heart is for is going, what can the company really afford, rhythm and blues, and I always loved Curtis and: Would it fit within the structure of where Mayfield.” the company wanted to go? You can honestly Orlando has worked with many great pass on a talent that’s a great talent, because it musicians, he said. might not fit within your company. Young people “My band has been with me for 21 years,” he don’t realize that; they get depressed and go, said. “My keyboard player, friend and only female ‘Oh my God! The guy didn’t sign me!’ In essence, in the band, Toni Wine, she has been with me it had nothing to do with their talent. I always for 56 years. She was married to Chips Moman, tell young performers that 99 percent of this who produced all the ’70s Elvis songs, as well business is getting turned down, and 1 percent is as Booker T. and the M.G.’s, Johnny Cash, Roy the part where they say, ‘Sure, we’ll sign you.’” Orbison, Waylon Jennings and BJ Thomas.” However, Orlando stressed that in the end, the What can fans expect from Orlando’s music business is all about talent—not image, performance at Spotlight 29? Don’t anticipate and not gimmicks. anything surprising. “When you look at some of the young artists “I hate to tell you this, but if it ain’t broke, who were on American Idol, they were amazing,” don’t fix it,” Orlando said with a laugh. “It’s Orlando said. “Imagine you go on television and working too well!” face 50 million people, and you have to sing live. You can’t goof up. Talk about nerve-racking! Tony Orlando will perform at 8 p.m., Saturday, They were performing songs that weren’t even Jan. 14, at Spotlight 29, 46200 Harrison Place, in their growing-up years. Most of those songs in Coachella. Tickets are $25 to $45. For tickets or were old ’70s songs, and they went out there and more information, call 760-775-5566, or visit www. slayed people! We got some great artists out of spotlight29.com. that experience. “The truth is, it’s always about talent in the Tony Orlando end,” Orlando said. “Take someone like Nick Jonas—the progress and his growth from the Jonas Brothers to now. … People don’t realize he was on Broadway when he was 10.” He credits the many hits he had throughout the 1970s to his producer. “I didn’t really pick them,” he said. “I had a record producer named Hank Medress who had

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A DELAYED STRYKE

WHERE METAL MEETS HIP-HOP Drop Mob, getting ready to release a new album, melds genres to create a unique sound

After delays and drama, Thr3 Strykes finally has a new album ready

By Brian Blueskye

hen I spoke to the members of Thr3 Strykes in October 2015, they were recording an album that they hoped would be out shortly thereafter. If 15 months qualifies as “shortly thereafter,” then Thr3 Strykes is on track: [CMNCTNBRKDWN] will be released in January, and the band is throwing an album-release party at The Date Shed on Friday, Jan. 6. During a recent phone interview, Josh Fimbres and Josh Hall discussed the new album, including one of the tracks, “Hate Is the New Love.” Fimbres said the track references the fact that privacy is dead. “The intent was to make it all about this new age of no privacy, and everyone is in everyone else’s business, and are we really believing that it’s really their business?” Fimbres said. “That’s what it was sort of a reference to.” Hall said he and Fimbres faced some turbulent times while making the record. “Basically, we lost a member; we had to take lyrics off and put new ones on, and create new energy. We had a bunch of songs, and it would recorded, we’d have people telling us, ‘We can’t have been released earlier, but we took songs hear your lyrics! It’s too loud,’” he said. “Now, off and put on new songs,” Hall said. “Plus we without a doubt, you’re hearing every ad-lib, and had daily struggles such as moving, finances, you’re going to feel the rhythm, for sure.” people’s attitudes and all kinds of other I had to ask: Were any of the songs such as bullshit. We really wanted to put some polished “Hate Is the New Love” or the translation of stuff together, and this is what we did. I’m the muffled title (Communication Breakdown) an indecisive cat, so I’m not really sure this is making any reference to the past election cycle? our best work, but it’s definitely some of the The answer was no. greatest stuff. I think the best is yet to come.” “(The election) wasn’t really all that Fimbres said he and Hall were more attentive surprising with the way things work and how to detail than they have been in the past. this world is right now,” Hall said. “We had a conversation one night at 3 in the The release party is going to feature artists morning, where it was like, ‘We’ve been at it for including Porsia Camille, Million and Albertini, this long; we’re not half-stepping it,’” Hall said. DJ Amavida, The After Lashes, and J.Patron. “We’re under the microscope a lot more these “We knew we wanted live music. We’re going days and not releasing stuff like we used to. Now, to bring out some live players,” Fimbres said. we nitpick a song, which might be a bad thing, “We’re so stoked, and not to toot our own horn, but the contents have to be right. We went allbut the hip-hop scene was really stagnant there out with this album. It’s our best stuff. Like Josh for a minute. We just kind of kept on going, said, we did go through a lot of bullshit, too.” doing our own thing. You can take a look at Hall and Fimbres made a point to limit the some of these shows at Bart Lounge and see number of guests on the record. They wanted to there’s a whole new scene out here now. People include people who they feel are truly family. are into it, and we’re glad that we’re here.” “One of my favorite songs for a while was one I didn’t really give a shit about, and it’s called Thr3 Strykes will perform with J.Patron and others ‘No Alarm,’” Fimbres said. “It has Phillie Mills on at 9 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6, at The Date Shed, 50725 it, who has been in the rap scene out here for a Monroe St., in Indio. Tickets are $10. For tickets long time. It’s a really good song. It has the same or more information, call 760-775-6699, or visit vibe that ‘Hate Is the New Love’ has. We have www.dateshedmusic.com. the song we did with Christina Reyes of Caxton and J.Patron called ‘The Colony,’ which we put Thr3 Strykes out last year. … I feel like with the hip-hop game going where it is, it’s stale when you feature this person, this person, this person, and it’s like, ‘Man, is it even your record anymore?’ You want it to be a record, not a fucking compilation.” Hall said he and Fimbres tried to avoid one mistake they’d made with previous material. “A lot of the early Thr3 Strykes songs we

By Brian Blueskye

rop Mob is an East Valley band that’s bringing metal to hip-hop. The sound is kind of similar to ’90s nu-metal—but it’s not quite the same. Drop Mob has a very heavy sound, with lead guitarist David Burk playing complex guitar solos on an eightstring guitar. Bassist Steve Zepeda has a style that rises above nu-metal grooves, and drummer John Camacho hammers out complex rhythms to back Gabe Perez’s genuine, straight-to-the-point hip-hop lyrics. I recently attended a Drop Mob practice in Indio—and it was definitely the loudest local-band practice to which I have been invited. Even with ear plugs, I could clearly hear every instrument and every lyric. (The only thing missing from the practice was guitarist Curtis Hendrix, who was away dealing with a family matter.) Burk said that when he joined Drop Mob, the band had a different concept. “It was a cover band—and I’m not a cover-band kind of dude,” Burk said. “As we started writing original songs, it just started coming out that way. Out of the box, Gabe wasn’t even into metal at all. It’s just now that he’s kind of blooming into it. It Drop Mob took some time. I’m throwing songs at him left and right. We don’t really think what genre we’re going with, though.” Perez said he is much more rooted in hip hop. “Once we started playing metal music, I wasn’t really into it,” Perez said. “I started listening to Rage Against the Machine, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Hacktivist and bands that had a similar style. I took it upon myself to make my own style, and I didn’t want to be like them. Dave Synergy Fest, and we thought, ‘They’re not shoots stuff at me, and we do it our own way.” going to like our music at all.’ But we had people Perez said he struggled to make a name for coming up and listening to us. After we got off himself in the local hip-hop scene when he first stage, one guy in his early 20s came up to us, started. asking, ‘How long have you guys been together? “I’ve been doing it for about 15 to 20 years,” Where you guys from?’ I said, ‘We’re from here!’ Perez said. “But in the hip-hop scene, I didn’t and he was like, ‘Shit! I thought you guys were really move up the charts. I’m more of an oldfrom Los Angeles or something!” school rapper, and a lot of the local hip-hop They did travel to Blythe recently for a gig. people were like, ‘I’m not even going to mess “That show was fucking crazy, man. Those with him.’ I hooked up with a friend of mine people out there—I don’t know what they’re named Lucky, who is now with Lost Souls out in doing, but my God! It was wild,” Burk said. “It Los Angeles, but me and him worked together, was the alter-reality of Neil’s Lounge in this and he helped me evolve my rap game a little weird town. It was called Steaks and Cakes or bit—but even then, I didn’t really go anywhere. something weird like that. Behind it, it looked “When we started Drop Mob, the first couple like scenes from The Walking Dead with guard of songs Dave and I wrote together were out of towers, and it was wild. Everybody was totally the box. I let a friend of mine listen to what we into it, and you could feel the electricity in there. had, and he was like, ‘Dude, you finally found Out here, it’s so hard to feel that sometimes—to your niche. This is what you’re good at.’ I guess I where I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m sorry I played found the right kind of music, and it feels good. that. I didn’t mean to scare the shit out of It feels like I’m at home, and it’s weird, because I everybody.’” never liked metal music before.” Drop Mob has been working on a new album I asked Drop Mob’s members if they feel that the members hope to release sometime in like they’re alone in what they do locally. Even early 2017. though the group recently won a battle of “We’ve had a couple of ideas for a title, but the bands organized by CV Weekly—beating nothing solid yet,” Burk said. bands such as Brightener and The CMFs—the members all laughed and said yes. For more information on Drop Mob, visit www. “Very much so!” Perez said. “We played reverbnation.com/dropmob5. CVIndependent.com

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the

LUCKY 13 Meet Se7ven4’s frontman and Dali’s Llama’s lead guitarist By Brian Blueskye Nico Flores

at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre for my 14th birthday! What was the first album you owned? Run-D.M.C., Raising Hell. What bands are you listening to right now? My daughter loves the Dropkick Murphys, so I’ve been listening to them quite a bit lately, along with Refused, and a Death in Pretty Wrapping CD that I stole from Derek Wade Timmons. What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? Computer music, I guess.

NAME Nico Flores GROUP Se7en4 MORE INFO Se7en4 has been in the local scene for many years. Frontman Nico Flores—the brother of Blasting Echo drummer Armando Flores—has a versatile voice that can handle songs from melodic to loud and aggressive. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/Se7en4. What was the first concert you attended? My big brother Armando took me to see Primus open for Anthrax and Public Enemy

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? Black Flag and Minor Threat would be rad, and currently, I’d love to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure? Cartoon theme songs. What’s your favorite music venue? I’ve got a lot of great memories from seeing bands at the Hollywood Palladium, like Faith No More, Kyuss, Bad Brains, Tool, Primus, Queens of the Stone Age and so many more. What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?

“I’m into having sex, I ain’t into making love, so come give me a hug,” 50Cent, “In da Club.” What band or artist changed your life? How? Herb Lienau and Super Fun Happy Slide! I got to play bars and open for Greg Ginn, Agent Orange, Kyuss and a slew of other great bands at the tender age of 16. You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking? “Why, Michael Jackson? Why?” What song would you like played at your funeral? “I Miss My Homies,” Master P. Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time? Ahhhh! Kyuss’ Blues for the Red Sun, Hed PE’s Broke, and Nirvana’s Bleach. I don’t know! That’s like asking who is my best friend! Please don’t kill me! What song should everyone listen to right now? The Spider-Man cartoon theme by The Ramones. NAME Joe Wangler GROUPS Dali’s Llama, Bavaria MORE INFO Dali’s Llama put out one of the best local albums of 2016: Dying in the Sun was true to the desert-rock/stoner-rock scene. Playing lead guitar for Dali’s Llama is Joe Wangler; he’s an attorney by day, and has a side project known as Bavaria. For more information on Dali’s Llama, visit dalisllama. bandcamp.com. What was the first concert you attended? My first real legit show was No Use for a Name in November 2000. What was the first album you owned? Some Elvis tape. Not really a fan, but Elvis is probably a pretty good place to start with rock ’n’ roll. What bands are you listening to right now? Primus, Bolt Thrower, Acid Witch, Grand Belial’s Key, Black Pussy, The Obsessed, Anal Cunt, and Sleater-Kinney. What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? I’ve always felt Tool is a pretty shitty band. Hated them in the ’90s; hate them now. That opinion doesn’t seem to be too popular. What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? Too many. I’ll just say it’s a tie between Kyuss and Man is the Bastard, since those are the

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Joe Wangler

biggest longshots that are still technically possible, I think. What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure? Shitty old ’90s trip-hop. Oh, and Mortician. What’s your favorite music venue? The Hood Bar and Pizza. That place did a lot for the hometown scene; the sound is good; and they are good to the bands. What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head? “Face the consequence alone with honour, valour, pride!” Bolt Thrower, “… For Victory.” What band or artist changed your life? How? Black Sabbath. The first five records pretty much decided how and why I play music. You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking? I’d ask Pike for tips on how to stay sober and still melt faces night after night, assuming he’s still on the wagon. What song would you like played at your funeral? Mozart’s “Requiem.” I wanna go out as a total drama queen. Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time? Black Sabbath, Volume 4. What song should everyone listen to right now? Since Zach (Huskey) already plugged Dali’s Llama in his Lucky 13, I’ll plug my new project: “Bavaria” by Bavaria. Do drugs while you listen!

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OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

Across 1 Pound cake ingredients 5 Like apples ready to bake 10 Torre pendente di ___ (European landmark, to locals) 14 Short pants? 15 Speed skater ___ Anton Ohno 16 “SVU” part 17 Diamond’s diametric opposite on the Mohs scale 18 Former Orange Bowl site 19 Walk back and forth 20 Cut ties with, on social media 22 I’d be lion if I said it 24 Lane who sang with Xavier Cugat 25 Title for several Trump cabinet picks 28 Musical miscellany 31 Indeterminate quantity 32 Corp.’s stock market debut 33 Nondairy dairy case item

34 Buccaneers’ bay 36 Pack away 37 1040 filers 38 Cheri once of SNL 39 Olympic vehicle 40 Find loathsome 41 Clip joint? 42 Like eight 43 Pokemon protagonist 44 Like some trees or tales 45 Like old rawhide bones 47 Pacific salmon variety 49 Cutty ___ (Scotch whisky) 50 Keystone’s place 51 Wendi ___-Covey of The Goldbergs 55 Benjamin Netanyahu’s nickname 57 Non-literal expression 59 Christmas lights location 60 Menaces to hobbits 61 Bourne of The Bourne Ultimatum 62 It has its points

63 Hotel counts 29 Ciudad Juarez 64 1997 environmental neighbor treaty site 30 Item that plays 65 “Note to ___ ...” “Soul Meets Body,” for short? Down 31 Catch a whiff of 1 Caesar’s “And you?” 35 ___ of Two Cities 2 ___ Torino (Clint 36 Smooth quality Eastwood film) 44 Clue hunter, 3 Strange sport? informally 4 Splenda, mainly 46 Political org. from 5 “I’m here so I can 962 to 1806 greet you ... not!”? 48 Mr. Kringle 6 Declare one’s view 49 “Get outta here!” 7 It may have a fork 51 Soybean soup 8 Shade caster 52 3/5, for example 9 “You really think zen 53 Avocado shape master is on my list of 54 Soft toy substance attributes?!”? 55 Literature Nobelist 10 Chrysalides Dylan 11 Birdman director’s 56 Burning anger Beetle, e.g.? 58 Box on a calendar 12 “Attack, dog!” 13 Finished off ©2016-2017 Jonesin’ 21 “May ___ excused?” Crosswords (editor@ 23 “Lit” binary digit jonesincrosswords. 25 Camera used in com) extreme sports 26 Farthest orbital Find the answers in point from earth the “About” section of 27 Bottom-of-the-line CVIndependent.com! 28 Coffee orders

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CANNABIS IN THE CV PAY UP AND SHOW US YOUR WEED T

BY SEAN PLANCK

he different reactions to marijuana legalization by Coachella Valley’s cities have been varied … to say the least. Palm Springs has always been forward-thinking where cannabis is concerned, and Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City and Coachella are now wisely looking to cash in on the green rush. Meanwhile, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage are going in the other direction by doing their best to slow access—or ban weed altogether. Now Indian Wells has enacted the most draconian policies yet in the wake of Proposition 64’s November voter approval. Indian Wells recently passed an ordinance that requires residents who wish to grow marijuana at home for personal use, as allowed by Prop 64, to register with City Hall for a permit—and pay a $141-per-year fee. Marijuana activists and legal experts alike are attacking the law as unconstitutional, but that didn’t prevent the City Council from passing the ordinance in a 4-1 vote. Councilman Ty Peabody abstained. Later, according to The Desert Sun, he commented: “I just don’t believe in marijuana,” citing the continuing federal ban. (What does that even mean? Has he been under a rock the last couple decades?) In addition to the yearly fee attached to the permit, Indian Wells residents would be required by law to allow city employees to inspect their homes to determine compliance with state and local laws. While Prop 64 does allow jurisdictions to enact reasonable regulations on a local level, the Indian Wells’ requirements represent a vast overreach, according to multiple experts on the law. In fact, Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said this may the tightest regulation passed in California to date. “Proposition 64 states: ‘A city, county, or city and county may enact and enforce reasonable regulations to reasonably regulate’ the indoor cultivation of marijuana by adults,” Armentano told the Independent via e-mail. “However, this proposal clearly stretches the idea of what would be considered ‘reasonable.’ We would not expect adults to register with the city or to submit to inspections of their home if they were brewing their own alcohol, and we should not expect adults to give up their civil liberties and privacy rights to engage in indoor marijuana gardening— activity that is now perfectly legal under state law.” Dale Gieringer, the director of California NORML, also compared home growers of marijuana to home brewers, and questioned CVIndependent.com

the usefulness of such a law. “We believe the Indian Wells ordinance violates Prop 64,” he said. “Prop 64 authorizes ‘reasonable’ regulations of personal-use cultivation. Why doesn’t it impose the same regulations on indoor growing of all plants, or on home brewing of beer and wine? This is an obnoxious exercise in over-regulation and an affront to personal privacy. Don’t Indian Wells officials have anything better to do?” “Unconstitutional” and “crazy” are words used to describe the ordinance by attorney and cannabis law expert Omar Figueroa of Sonoma County. In a conversation with The Desert Sun, he cited the 1969 U.S. Supreme Court Case Leary v. United States, which ruled that “self-incrimination” can’t be required by state or local agencies, due to the Fifth Amendment. “It’s not a constitutionally enforceable law,” he told The Desert Sun. “It would be foolish of them to enforce it.” Joy Brown Meredith, the founder and president of Joy of Life Wellness Center, Palm Springs’ sixth licensed dispensary, said she’s happy to be located in a less-restrictive Coachella Valley city. “I’m glad Palm Springs is more progressive than Indian Wells,” she said. “What is the purpose of the permit and all the identification requirements if not to intimidate people to feel uneasy about growing this amazing plant?” Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indio and La Quinta have banned dispensaries and cultivation. The city of Coachella allows manufacturing and cultivation in a specific zone of the city, but not dispensaries or delivery. Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells recently amended their respective bans to include recreational marijuana businesses in the wake of Prop 64.

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Indian Wells cracks down on marijuanagrowing—while the feds just say no to CBD

142 W. Oasis Road • Palm Springs (760) 318-1420 Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Compassionate care discounts for veterans (with military ID), HIV/AIDS patients (with doctor letter), cancer patients (with doctor letter) and seniors 55+ Patient Appreciation Day: Saturday, Jan. 21 Noon-6 p.m.

Indian Wells is a great place for palm trees—but a terrible place for marijuana. INDIAN WELLS FACEBOOK

DEA: CBD and all other cannabis extracts are on Schedule I Continuing its steady march backward, the Drug Enforcement Administration has lumped all marijuana extracts—including CBD—into marijuana’s Schedule I classification, making every form of the cannabis plant illegal under federal law. The new code defines extracts as “containing one or more cannabinoids that (have) been derived from any plant of the genus Cannabis, other than the separated resin (whether crude or purified) obtained from the plant.” The DEA says it’s merely a way to keep better track of research and shipments of extracts versus flowers, by assigning extracts their own code. But the new rule states clearly: “For practical purposes, all extracts that contain CBD will also contain at least small amounts of other cannabinoids. … However, if it were possible to produce from the cannabis plant an extract that contained only CBD and no other cannabinoids, such an extract would fall within the new drug code.”

CBD occurs naturally in cannabis, but unlike THC, it doesn’t get the user high. CBD has been successful in the treatment of tumors, epilepsy, chronic pain and many other ailments. To date, CBD has been legalized in 20 states and Washington, D.C., for medicinal use. While these state laws will not be affected by the new code, those laws will now be more specifically in conflict with federal law. Congress could still act to reschedule CBD and other extracts. The Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act was introduced in the Senate last year to ease research restrictions on CBD, but stalled—despite support from both sides of the aisle. Currently, the federal government has a laissez-faire stance regarding state cannabis laws; in other words, the feds are letting states call the shots for their citizens. However, considering the anti-pot crusaders prevalent in the incoming Trump administration— including Vice President-elect Mike Pence and attorney general pick Ken “good people don’t smoke marijuana” Sessions—one must wonder how long that attitude will last. CVIndependent.com

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