Coachella Valley Weekly - March 30 to April 5, 2023 Vol. 12 No. 3

Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmions

Gutierrez, Tricia Witkower

Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Janet McAfee, Haddon Libby, Sam DiGiovanna, Dale Gribow, Rob Brezsny, Craig Michaels, Dee Jae Cox, Denise Ortuno Neil, Lynne Tucker, Aimee Mosco, Ed Heethuis, Ruth Hill, Madeline Zuckerman, Daniel Paris, Michelle Borthwick, Nadia Popova, Merita Wheel-Zot, Dennis Shelly, DeAnn Lubell

Photographers

Robert Chance, Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Esther Sanchez

Videographer

Kurt Schawacker

Website Editor

Bobby Taffolla

Distribution

Phil Lacombe, William Westley

FROM THE PUBLISHER, TRACY DIETLIN

This issue marks Coachella Valley Weekly’s 11 years of being a publication. Every year on our Anniversary we put all of the previous year’s cover on that issue’s cover.

Even during Covid I knew that I couldn’t give up and had to pull my big girl panties on, roll up my sleeves and continue to publish every week. And that is what we have done every week since over the last 3 years. I was not going to let my publication fail…not my baby.

Thanks to Phil Lacombe my amazing partner, we started doing a weekly newsletter/eblast putting CV Weekly in everybody’s inbox on top of publishing online and in print.

Owning my own publication had been a dream of mine for many years and on March 29, 2012 my dream came true. It’s taken a lot of hard work and determination over the years as CV Weekly has literally been my life. I eat, sleep and breathe everything CV Weekly.

I am proud of the issues that we published each and every week as we had to change our focus from being an entertainment driven publication to a new direction to cover the events of the time. I have an amazing team to thank for their unwavering support during the last year. (Please see list below).

I would like to thank all of our loyal readers and advertisers over the last 11 years for all of your support.

The last 11 years have been stressful, all consuming, fulfilling, rewarding and everything in between, but most of all my dream came true and I wouldn’t trade them for anything! Here’s to another 11. Cheers!

NOW for the THANK YOUs:

I would like to thank our current team.

First, I want to thank my partner, Phil Lacombe who has been by my side through all of this. He has handled our social media and the Club Crawler Nightlife from the beginning and handles the weekly digital eblast newsletter. I could not have done this without his love and support.

Second, I want to thank Robert Chance, our amazing Art Director. Not only does he design creative covers, build ads, does photography for many of the covers, lays out the publication, but he also does assistant editing. He is irreplaceable, a friend, family, and simply THE BEST!

Next I want to thank Billy Westley, who since the beginning drove from Hemet every week out to Sylmar to pick up the paper and then helped deliver it. You are a valued member of the team. And now with our new printer he doesn’t have to make that drive anymore as they get delivered to my front door. Thank you for still delivering the paper every week. And a thank you to Matthew Kovach for assisting Billy in delivering.

Bobby Taffolla, who handles the weekly website management and saves all our butts every week when corrections are needed at the drop of a hat. You have done a fantastic job and it is much appreciated. You my friend are a rockstar!

Crystal Harrell, our head feature writer. You joined us a few years ago and I can’t thank you enough for all the top-notch articles you have written during this pandemic. You are an amazing young woman and brilliant writer and I’m fortunate to have you on my team.

Thank you to Kirby our Advertising Account Executive who has been kicking butt lately.

To all of our other current feature writers: Tricia Witkower, Rich Henrich, Denise Ortuno, Laura Hunt Little, Esther Sanchez, your contributions are most appreciated.

Thank you to our current columnists, many

who have been with us since the beginning, Haddon Libby, Dale Gribow, Rick Riozza, Janet McAfee, Eleni Austin, Raymond Bill, Sam DiGiovanna, Rob Brezny, Craig Michaels and DeeJae Cox. Your continued support and dedication over the last 11 years and especially the last two has meant the world to me.

Thank you to writers that have come on board over the last several years who have added additional quality content to our publication: Ruth Hill, Michelle Borthwick, Aimee Mosco, Lynne Tucker, Chris Clemens, Daniel Paris, Nadia Popova, Dennis Shelly, Merita Wheel-Zot, Madeline Zuckerman, and Ed Heethuis.

There are several past columnists that were with us for many years whose contributions were so important: Heidi Simmons (my biggest fan and cheerleader), Robin Simmons, Bronwyn Ison, Bruce Cathcart, Sunny Simon, Jason Hall, Dr. Peter Kadile, Marissa Willman, Elizabeth Scarcella, Aaron Ramson, Flint Wheeler, and the late Judith Salkin.

A big thank you to all of our photographers over the years that provided quality work: Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Robert Chance, Iris Hall, Steve Young, Brian Blueskye, Esther Sanchez, Scott Pam, Lani Garfield, Kurt Schawacker and Crystal Harrell.

Each and every one of you have made this publication the success that it is. I have the BEST TEAM!

And finally I must acknowledge and thank my very dear friend, our local legend, the late BB Ingle. His support throughout the years was immeasurable. He was on more of our covers than anyone. Most importantly he was on our very first mock cover. When I told BB I was going to start my own publication in 2012 and asked if I could put him on the mock cover to use to be able to go out and sell ads for our actual first issue he said “Absolutely!” So we did a St. Patrick’s Day cover; his favorite holiday.

Over the years, every chance that he got to speak publicly about CV Weekly, including his acceptance speech when he was honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award for Best Promoter” at the 2019 CV Music Awards, he would always say: “Tracy and Phil have never missed putting out an issue every week in all these years!” And you were right BB… even during the pandemic we still put out an issue every week. Love and miss you BB!

Old Town Artisan Studios is in their final days of the Eggstravaganza 2023 Art Show and Auction, raising funds to provide free and low-cost art instruction throughout the Coachella Valley. The art exhibit, showcasing over 200 decorated ceramic eggs, is now open to the public in the Leland Gallery at Old Town Artisan Studios, located at 78046 Calle Barcelona in the La Quinta Arts District. The nonprofit partnered with artists from the local community and across the nation to create these exquisite works of art. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the auction goes toward the non-profit’s extensive outreach program. In the last three years (even during a global pandemic), Old Town Artisan Studios served over 67,000 art experiences, providing art instruction to

children, adults, seniors, veterans, individuals with Alzheimer’s, and those with special needs.

“Bringing art into the lives of our community has always been the foundation of our work,” said Katie Thornton, OTAS Director of Development and Donor Relations.

Another exciting element to the art show is the inclusion of their Mobile Outreach display in the gallery, featuring egg masterpieces made by children from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Coachella and Indio. The nonprofit has invited these students to visit the campus for a field trip to view their work in an art gallery and participate in art activities on the 2.5-acre art campus. The eggs will be returned to the children just in time for Easter.

“Because so many do not have the ability or financial means to come to our studio, we bring art to them. Our unique Mobile Mission is at the core of our Outreach Programs, bringing art adventures all over the Coachella Valley at no cost to the student. Our Mobile Art Vans, fully stocked with tools and supplies for creativity, allow us to take our vision on the road, delivering art programs as far as Mecca, Thermal and Desert Hot Springs,” stated Thornton.

Old Town Artisan Studios is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization committed to providing positive art experiences for all people despite age, ability or financial condition. Fee-based classes help subsidize the studio’s operational costs, allowing donations to directly support the mission as they offer free and reduced-fee classes on-

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL

site and out in the community.

The Outreach Programs are at the core of Old Town Artisan Studios’ mission. With increased studio classes helping to fund the Outreach Programs, the unique Mobile Mission allows the studio to partner with local schools, senior centers, various nonprofits, and provide art instruction off-site. Old Town Artisan Studios brings art to those who cannot come to them, and their goal is to expand outreach services and increase the number of lives they touch through art.

“Through invaluable partnerships with local organizations such as Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, FIND Food Bank, Alzheimer’s Association, Jewish Family Services, Variety of the Desert and more, we are able to expand our reach and enrich the lives of so many,” continued Thornton.

For more information, please visit www. oldtownartisanstudios.org

L.A.’s preeminent Punk band, X, is set to return to Pappy & Harriet’s on Saturday, April 8th. As much as The Beach Boys and The Doors defined the Los Angeles music scene in the 1960s, as much as the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac epitomized the laid-back L.A. sound of the 1970s, X led the Punk Rock revolution that enveloped the smoggy metropolis at the dawn of 1980s. The four-piece came together when John Doe relocated from Baltimore and met Exene, a fledgling poet from Florida. The pair connected guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, Billy Zoom and Ex-Eyes drummer (and native Angeleno) DJ Bonebrake.

X’s first four albums, Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under The Big Black Sun and More Fun In The New World, were released between 1980 and 1983. All deftly produced by exDoors keyboardist, Ray Manzarek. Receiving his imprimatur, it felt as though he was passing the L.A. music torch to the next generation. The records were studded with instant classics like “Your Phone’s Off The Hook, But You’re Not,” “the World’s A Mess, It’s In My Kiss,” “The Once Over Twice, Adult Books,” “Hungry Wolf,” “The Have-Nots” “Make The Music Go Bang,” and “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts.” X became the first Punk band to play The Greek Theatre.

All told, the band has released seven studio albums, three live sets and two compilations. Despite some bumps in the road and occasional hiatuses that allowed each band member to pursue solo projects, X has been touring pretty consistently since the turn of the 21st century. These days, their audience is a healthy mix of original fans and millennials. Most X aficionados had been content to hear the hits and the deep cuts at shows. But in 2020, the band surprised and delighted their passionate fanbase by recording Alphabetland. 40 years after debut, and 17 years after their last official long-player, the band delivered an album that had fans falling in love with X all over again. Word is, the band has some new

MUSIC

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

music in the pipeline. In the meantime, their West Coast swing includes April 6 at The Music Box in San Diego April 7 at The Glass House in Pomona April 8 at Pappy’s and April 11 and 12 at The Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles.

(X with Special Guest James Intveld at Pappy & Harriet’s Saturday, April 8, 2023. Doors open at 5:00pm/Show at 7pm. 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown, CA)

Some say the rules are made by the future, but in the LaFleur home, the past controls the future. After all a Mother’s love IS forever. Well, at least it is in this series,” said Angela Romeo. “Always Here is an episodic, 30-minute Dark Comedy. Set in the present-day, the series is a mix of the original horror soap opera, Dark Shadows, with a touch of Soap and too much Mommy Dearest.”

Always Here will be streaming on Amazon Prime Direct. Season One is 10 episodes that follow the LaFleur Family as they straddle the everyday world and the cosmic netherworld that is home to Mother, Vandy. Cast away into the that world by her own vindictive spell gone awry, Vandy seeks to find a way back to that “real” world as she continues to disturb the lives of those she left behind – her smitten husband, Ambrose, her defiant daughter, Gardner, and her devoted son Bram. Vandy also contends with her former roommate, nemesis, and second wife to Ambrose, Nora Stanhope who may or may not hold a key to Vandy’s dilemma.

“Jody Litman, Steven Ciceron and myself were sitting at a party and BOOM! We decided we were our own dream team! Three peas in a

pod! Always Here is our first project. We filmed the series in the Coachella Valley. The principal actors are Jody, as Vandy; Steven as Bram; Stan May as Ambrose; and I play Gardner. I am also the Writer, Director, Chief Bottle Washer on the project! We were also blessed to have Steve Tanguy behind the camera and as our editor. Another local, Sonny Velozzi, came on as part of the crew. Our Musical Composer is the very talented New York based, Chris Phillips.”

As Steven noted “We could not have done this project without the support of our local actors - Delyn Meyers, Sue Neal, Angelique Yalda, Domingo Winestead, Ronald Douglass,

Ethan Brown, singer John Castanien, Adam Greene, and Tula Dean. We threw a lot of lines at them, and they stepped up!! A huge surprise was casting Delyn and Sue. We did not realize the chemistry they had. They are hilarious.”

“The challenge for me”, said Jody, “was shooting many of my scenes remotely with no other actor. Due to family illness and the pandemic, I was living in NYC or Pittsburgh. Coming to the Valley was not always an option. My partner, Adam (Greene), was instrumental shooting those scenes with me using my iPhone and green screen. If I had never told you, you would never have known how those scenes came about. Steve Tanguy did an incredible job editing. It is all so seamless.”

“Each one of the three peas brought a different strength and experience to the project,” continued Steven. “Jody is a multifaceted actor. Her many film credits playing Lorraine Olkowsky in Offstage Elements with Tony Darrow and Mike Starr and Angela Mills in Frank Lisi’s A Sicilian Tale with Vinny Vella. She is also a playwright! Her credits include Monster In My Brain, a one woman musical, part of a David Mamet’s Oleanna Response: A Whole New Ballgame and Don’t Ever a one act play she presented at the National Theatre Institute in Connecticut.”

“Angela is Gardner LaFleur. But she is more than that – she wrote and directed the series

Always Here. She and Steve Tanguy worked together on her show, Colliding Worlds TV. That relationship was key bringing all the pieces of the is show together”, said Jody. “We each brought complimentary skills to this project.”

“Steven’s love for searching for the truth in a character really gave Bram a vulnerable richness and fullness. But that same desire for truth is seen in every character he brings to life”, continued Angela. “His credits are amazing. Just a sample - he has worked on Creed, The Assumptions, and Rasputin’s Curse, Orange Is The New Black, Blue Bloods, Titanic, The Musical and 42nd Street. Talk about dedication!”

Always Here will stream on Amazon Prime Direct. “We are releasing all ten episodes simultaneously. We all like to binge watch! And the concept worked for House of Cards – we are hoping for the same success!” said Angela. “But this is far from our only project. We have an experimental short film that will be shot, hopefully here in the Valley, this summer. We are also seeking financing for two documentaries and a horror film. That film is inspired by female serial killer Elizabeth Báthory. Let’s just say that character makes Vandy look like the girl next door.”

Always Here debuts in early April on Amazon Prime Direct. Watch Trailer at youtube.com/ atch?v=kgKwL4QjyiA

Angela Romeo Jody Kay Litman Steven Ciceron

CYBERCORNER

BY DENNIS SHELLY

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a ubiquitous topic these days and it has already caused radical changes in multiple sectors, including cybersecurity. Enhanced scanning engines, faster detection speeds, and increased capacity to identify abnormalities all are factors that contributed to a higher degree of security and protection for companies and businesses, particularly against new and emerging threats as well as advanced persistent threats (APTs). Unfortunately, not only do defenders have access to this technology, but black hats, hackers, cybercriminals, and other malicious actors are also well aware of the benefits of “AI” and they practically try to incorporate it into their activities in some way or another.

AI can assist security teams in detecting and mitigating threats more rapidly. whereas, weaponized AI may help attackers with a variety of attacks, including deep fakes, data poisoning, and reverse engineering. Targeted attacks on businesses, monetary institutions, or critical data heists may become increasingly difficult to detect, track, and mitigate.

This article discusses an overview of “AIpowered Malware” and how it will change the cybersecurity and threat landscape.

AI-based Malware and other AI attacks

AI-based attacks occur when a threat actor uses artificial intelligence to aid in

an attack. For instance, social engineering attacks may use deep fake technology, a form of AI that generates false but convincing visuals, sounds, and videos. In many cases, AI serves as a tool to carry out an attack rather than design it. AI-powered malware, on the other hand, is trained through machine learning to be sneakier, quicker, and more successful than ordinary malware. In contrast to malware that targets a vast number of people with the intention to successfully attack a small

percentage of them, AI-powered malware is trained to think for itself, to change its activities based on the circumstance, and to specifically target its victims and its systems.

At the 2018 Black Hat Conference, IBM researchers revealed the DeepLocker malware as a proof-of-concept for this new type of threat. The WannaCry ransomware was concealed in video conference software and did not start acting up until a specific face was recognized by AI facial recognition software.

The following are some potential uses cases of AI-based malware:

• Malware that adapts social engineering attacks based on data it gathers, such as data scraped from social media sites.

• Computer worms can modify their behavior to fit the next system they are trying to infect.

• Polymorphic malware changes its code to avoid detection or malware with the ability to change its behavior.

AI-based Malware for advanced Cyberattacks

AI could be used by malware developers to create new, difficult-to-detect malware variants. For example, some older malware families (such as Swizzor) were leveraging automation to manufacture new variants of themselves every minute. By utilizing machine-learning algorithms, this method might be reinvented and enhanced. These algorithms would discover which of the recently developed variants are the least likely to be identified and build new strains with similar properties. Similarly, malware can track the activities of network nodes and endpoints and create patterns that resemble normal network traffic.

A combination of different attack techniques can be used to locate the most effective solutions that are difficult to detect and prioritize them over less successful versions. Moreover, depending on the situation, an attacker can change the malware’s features and end target. For example, if an attacker wants to target web browsers, instead of including a comprehensive list of browsers and scenarios in the virus, they simply need to include only a few of the most commonly

used browsers. The AI system takes advantage of this training and learns immediately on the endpoint how to infiltrate less popular and previously unspecified browsers. They can also include a self-destructive mechanism inside the malware that is activated when unusual behavior is noticed.

If the algorithm recognizes a virtual machine, sandbox, or other tools used by malware researchers, it can modify the malware’s behavior or temporarily halt its operation to prevent detection. The pace of an attack can also be critical, particularly in cases of data theft. Algorithms can extract data faster than humans, making it difficult to detect and almost impossible to block - because the machine can replicate the data out of the secured perimeter before the defenders can respond. Learning and sharing knowledge over numerous nodes can benefit attackers because each enslaved bot can test alternative intrusion strategies and report back the findings.

How to prepare against the attacks involving AI

Where offensive AI lacks critical thinking and logic, it makes up for it in attack volume, speed, and overall reach. In terms of the human aspect of cybersecurity, it is essential to establish and enforce acceptable use policies. Finally, limit employee access to the assets required to do their tasks. If attackers manage to breach your system, this zero-trust method to network access will be your savior. AI can help security teams with threat hunting, malware detection, and phishing identification. AI can also be used to contain threats through automated responses. AI-powered responses have the added benefit of assisting businesses in managing burnout and the cybersecurity skills gap.

To Conclude

Organizations should adopt traditional malware detection approaches, techniques, and procedures since they also aid in the detection of AI-driven malware and, eventually, AI-powered malware. Security teams have long studied the techniques employed by threat actors to design and conduct attacks in order to detect malware based on behaviors and trends, rather than needing to keep track of every new version. As the prevalence of cyber-attacks grows and the threat of AI-powered malware persists, this two-in-one solution offers extra security in the present and future. Have more questions about securing your devices against Malware? Or perhaps have some general technology questions? We can help! Our Eggsperts are eggcellent in the newest security technologies and are standing by. Please contact us by visiting our website at www.eggheadit.com, by calling (760) 205-0105, or by emailing us at tech@eggheadit.com with your questions or suggestions for our next article.

IT | Networks | Security | Voice | Data

THE LONG RYDERS

Back in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, Los Angeles was something of a musical melting pot. There was a thriving Punk Rock contingent, headed by X, The Germs and The Weirdos, Skinny-tie bands like The Knack, The Plimsouls and 20/20, mined a Power Pop sound that originated the ‘60s. The Bangs, The Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade and The Three O’ Clock also took inspiration from music that came of age in the swinging ‘60s: Psychedelia and Garage Rock. They co-existed peacefully with the Punk/Blues/Rockabilly of Gun Club, the trashy Rock/R&B Mash-up of Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs and the Rootsier sounds of The Blasters and Los Lobos.

It was around this time that Kentucky native Sid Griffin arrived in L.A. He had always evinced a strong affinity for legendary L.A. bands like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and The Flying Burrito Brothers, who, along with former teen idol Rick Nelson and Monkees’ guitarist Mike Nesmith had synthesized Country, Folk and Rock into an irresistible musical elixir. After playing in a couple of bands, he struck out on his own.

Connecting with Virginia transplant, and Country music aficionado Stephen McCarthy, British Des Brewer and L.A. local, Greg Sowders, their sound began taking shape. As The Long Ryders, they wore their influences on the sleeves of their fringed, suede jackets. The four-piece hit the ground running, playing all the local clubs and recording their debut EP, 10-5-60 in 1983. Their sound was a sharp amalgam of Country, Folk and Rock.

Around the time they signed with Lisa Fancher’s local indie label, Frontier, Des bowed out and Indiana native Tom Stevens took over bass duties. They enlisted former Flying Burrito Brothers producer Henry Lewy to hem their first long-player, Native Sons. Critical acclaim was unanimous, and the album was hailed a “modern classic.” Big labels took notice and the band signed with Island Records. Their next two records, 1985’s State Of Our Union and 1987’s Two-Fisted Tales, cemented their position in L.A.’s shifting musical soundscape. While their melodies continued to reflect beloved antecedents, their lyrics were aligned with local contemporaries like X, The Blasters and Los Lobos. Each record explored the everwidening chasm between the haves and havenots in the era of trickle-down Reaganomics. Even though they were tapped to open a string of dates with newly-minted superstars (and label-mates), U2, commercial success continued to elude the band. Frustrated, Stephen and Tom left the band. A little while later, Sid and Greg quietly called it quits. Of course, it was The Long Ryders (along with The Rave-Up’s, Rank & File and Jason & The Scorchers) lit the fuse that was later labeled alt.country or Americana. By the ‘90s, bands like Uncle Tupelo (which broke up and became Son Volt and Wilco), The Jayhawks and I See Hawks In L.A. picked up that torch. The band has reunited sporadically throughout the years in 2004, 2009 and 2014. A few years later, the guys received an offer they couldn’t refuse from Larry Chatman. Larry began his career as part of The Long Ryders’ road crew. These days, he works for iconic Hip-Hop producer, Dr. Dre.

Larry was able to secure a week’s worth of recording time at Dr. Dre’s state-of-the-art studio gratis, as a thank you to the band that gave him his start. The guys jumped at the chance to make new music. They recruited producer Ed Stasium, and their long-awaited fourth album, Psychedelic Country Soul, arrived

“SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER” (CHERRY RED RECORDS)

in 2019. Rave reviews and respectable sales were sweet vindication for a band that had nurtured a sound decades before, It felt like they had come full circle.

At the start of 2021, Sid, Greg and Stephen were dealt a bitter blow when Tom Stevens suddenly died from undisclosed causes at age 64. Despite their personal devastation, the trio opted to soldier on. In the summer of 2022, they hunkered down at Kozy Tone Ranch in Poway. The result is their fifth long-player, September November.

The album kicks into gear with the driving title track, “September November Sometime.” Swooping violin, jangly guitar, and thrumming bass are tethered to a galloping gait. Playful lyrics update Smokey and The Miracles’ old rallying cry; “Calling out across the world, are you ready for a brand new tweet?” The band originally took their moniker (and tweaked it in a Byrdsian fashion) from Walter Hill’s scabrous Western, The Long Riders, so it feels wholly apropos that this song finds the band in full desperado mode. As manic violin notes dart and pivot through the mix, Sid, Stephen and Greg unspool a different kind of outlaw yarn; “September November sometime, the cracked bells so softly wind chime, the sound of guns on one hard climb, my band of fools is ridin’ against time, ridin’ against a Sea Of Holes while wearing black to fit my role, the task I chose, the life I lead, before a judge I’d never plead, never plead, never would concede.”

Following that raucous opening salvo, the band dials back the primal Punk attack, locking into a more peaceful, easy, feeling (without that bitter, Eagles aftertaste). “Hands Of Fate” is powered by meandering mandolin, beatific bouzouki, sylvan keys, chiming guitars, sturdy bass and a brushed beat. Something of a restless farewell, soulfully succinct lyrics bid adieu to this corporeal existence; “Now I sing this solemn song, sing it low, when I’m gone, the hand of fate it took me down this time.”

Then there’s the autumnal grace of “Seasons Change.” This mid-tempo groover weds twangy guitars, brittle bass lines and shadowy keys to a tilt-a-whirl beat. There’s a tender ache to lyrics that chart the inevitable passage of time, and the folks we lose along the way; “Have you seen the twilight turning today, the summer sun is slowly fading away, but I hope you know, any place you go, your love will always shine like an afterglow so we’ll meet again when the road comes back around, I have a memory and it’s triggered I have found, when leaves are falling down, seasons change, but my love will stick around.” Gritty guitars hug the melody’s aural switchbacks. Scorching riffs unleash on the break, leavening the doleful sentiments contained herein.

Cawing Ravens launch “Flying Down” before drifting into elegiac, Jimmy Webb territory. Baritone guitars lattice burnished acoustic licks, swoony strings, keening pedal steel, wily bass lines and a stutter-y beat. At first glance, aerial lyrics offer a bird’s eye view; “I am high, high, high, over my home, over and done with for a while, I am gone, gone, gone, only for so long, though I left with grace and style.” But upon closer inspection, the nuanced narrative seems to originate from a ghostly presence. Equal parts earthy and ethereal, the baritone notes on the break are spectral and majestic. The song closes as stacked acoustic riffs intertwine with lanky pedal steel.

Even in their earliest days, The Long Ryders dotted their albums with socially conscious songs. That tradition continues here with three tracks. On “To The Manor Born,” muscular

CONSIDERTHIS

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

ish croon as he optimistically extols the virtues of love; “As sure as you’re born, you’re gonna be warned, how this big day is coming, it’s quite au fait, that’s what they say about love.” At one point, he brightly exclaims; “loneliness, hey, that’s over, I tossed the bad times right over my shoulder.” Ultimately, this Gallic charmer is hard to resist.

guitars collide a wash of keys, throbbing bass and a Rattlesnake shake backbeat. The melody and arrangement, a potent combo-platter of Country twang, Yacht Rock elan and ‘70s AOR boogie. Perspicacious lyrics take a decadent dilettante to task; “Heavy-handed, hedonistic, got your lover and your mystic, yeah, speed of sound with a sonic boom, the loudest voice in every room, Darling, what are you going to do/Are you gonna go searching in the middle of the night, with a dashboard savior and a socialite, you can’t fake that image, all ripped and torn, ain’t so hard to know you’ll always be to the manor born.” Guitars rip, shred and synchronize on the break before reviving the shout-it-out chorus and quietly winding down.

“Song For Ukraine” arrives halfway through the record, the instrumental acts as a musical sorbet, a palate-cleanser between courses. Weepy violin crests atop liquid acoustic arpeggios, barely-there vibes and a bit of backporch banjo. Shot through with empathy and elegance, the listener can’t help but sideline petty personal thoughts and contemplate the strength and sacrifice the indefatigable Ukrainian people have displayed this last year.

Meanwhile, “Elmer Gantry Is Alive And Well” is a rollicking stomp that juxtaposes cantankerous guitars, plinky piano, thready bass lines and a thunderous backbeat. Of course, The Long Ryders take a page from Elmer Gantry, a 1920s novel from Sinclair Lewis that exposed the hypocrisy of organized religion. Building off that blueprint, lyrics deftly excoriate the country’s current political divide, laying the blame at the clown-size feet of the twice-impeached ex-Cheeto-in-chief; “You know you’re going to lose the crown when you hold the bible upside down, from sea to shining sea, hypocritical conspiracies, the 21st century has gone to hell, Elmer Gantry is alive and well.” Stinging guitar riffs on the break fly as fast and furious, as the sharp rejoinders that take aim at gullible followers; “By the fire, you’ll be baptized, yes, the coup will be televised, the rocket’s red glare has made you blind, I’m just looking for some peace of mind/They’re going to run you out of town, then your statues gonna hit the ground, the only people that see you won are hucksters, grifters and charlatans.” An extended break rounds the final hairpin turn, briefly powering down before roaring back to life, finally collapsing in a feedback-tastic heap.

A couple of tracks, “That’s What They Say About Love” and “Country Blues (Kitchen)” add some new colors to the Ryders sonic palette. The former shares some musical DNA with a Who deep cut, “Dreaming From The Waist,” but the arrangement and instrumentation lean closer to the Gypsy Jazz of Quintette du Hot Club de France. Grappelli-esque violin wraps around buoyant upright bass, Djangofied guitar and a trap-kit beat. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Sid adopts a Al Jolson-

The same can be said for the latter. A Bluesy shuffle, the song features bottleneck slide guitar, smoky harmonica, slap-back bass lines, barrelhouse piano and a see-saw beat. Something of a shaggy dog saga, it involves riding the rails, a prevaricating cousin and a confidence scheme gone horribly awry; “Tell the porter, the engineer, my destination is anywhere but here, how did I fall between the cracks, seems my nerve just jumped the tracks, my cousin Henry, he went bad, took all the money that I had, so I caught the first train, I hopped the freight, down to Mississippi, please don’t hesitate/So let it roll, down to Jackson, let it roll, you’ve got to leave it in the kitchen mama, that Country Blues got your soul.”

While it’s tempting to view certain songs through the prism Tom Stevens’ absence, the album’s final three tracks are explicit homages to The Long Ryders’ fallen brother. The most poignant in this aural triptych is “Tom Tom.” Filigreed acoustic fretwork, fluttery mandolin, quicksilver mandolin, and a bit of high lonesome-harmonica envelope feathery harmonies and a wistful melody. Melancholy, but never maudlin, lyrics like “Tom Tom, always right in tune, he’s grooving on the left side of the engine room, jammin’ in a dream from 40 years ago, I need to play along, and I want you all to know, keep the love but lose the sorrow, and let it fly into tomorrow,” allow us all a measure of catharsis.

Plucky guitars fuel the lithe and deceptively sunny “Until God Takes Me Away.” Ostensibly a sprightly ode to love, the final verse could also serve as a graceful encomium to the self-effacing Hoosier who anchored The Long Ryders’ low-end through thick and thin; “I have to state it once before I go, it wouldn’t do to live and not let you know, as our lives are shared in this display, let me sing to you without delay, you have love until God takes me away.”

Finally, to paraphrase James Brown, The Long Ryders’ “give the bassist some.” The closing number “Flying Out Of London In The Rain” was written and recorded by Tom Stevens, with some sweet backing vocals from his daughter, Sarah. While the other band members add some instrumental color, lyrics offer a sly victory lap, following the triumph of Psychedelic Country Soul; “The crowds they bring a smile, recognition in the street, promoter man wants to do another tour, and the world is at your feet.” It’s a bittersweet end to a beautiful record.

Along with Sid, Stephen and Greg, special guests included Murray Hammond (Old ‘97s) on bass, Kerenza Peacock on violin, Charles Arthur on piano, Ben Moore on organ and DJ Bonebrake (X) on vibes. Once again, Ed Stasium handled production chores.

September November is by turns, sharp, reflective, sly, tender, smartass and joyful. In fact, it’s pretty close to perfect. Somewhere, Tom Stevens is smiling. (book of ecclisiastes/ Tom’s Smiling)

Thursday, March 23

Babaloo Lounge – Bob Corwin Piano

Bar – 3:30-6:30pm, Live Music – 7pm

Casuelas Café – Avenida – 5:30pm

Chef George’s – Marc Antonelli –6:30pm

Coachella Valley Brewery – Open Mic – 6pm

Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm

Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Christine

Love – 6pm

Jazzville @ Agua Caliente – TBA – 7pm

Jolene’s – Rebecca Clark – 6pm

Lavender Bistro – Mark Guerrero, Scott

Carter on the Patio – 6pm

The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm

O’Caine’s – Ken O’Malley – 6pm

Old Town La Quinta – Live Music in the Plaza w/ Midnight Sun – 5-8pm

Pappy and Harriet’s – Zoso – 9pm

Plan B Live Entertainment & Cocktails

– Daytime Moon – 9pm

Pretty Faces Nightclub – Latina Night

w/ DJ LF – 9pm

Purple Room – Sharon Sills – 6:30pm

Runway – Derek Jordan Gregg – 6pm

Shanghai Red’s (PS) – Lisa Lynn and the Broken Hallelujahs – 6pm

Vicky’s of Santa Fe – John Stanley King

Trio – 6pm

The Village – DJ Cranberry – 9pm

Friday, March 24

Babaloo Lounge – Bob Corwin Piano

Bar – 3:30-6:30pm, Tony Grandberry –

7pm

Bart Lounge – DJs Dxsko and Axel –

8pm

Casuelas Café – The Myx – 6:45pm

Chef George’s – Lizann Warner – 6:30pm

Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm

Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Marc

Antonelli – 6pm

Jolene’s – Desert Crows – 7pm

Larkspur Grill – Live Music – 7pm

Lavender Bistro – Jeff Bonds, Scott

Carter on the Patio – 6pm

Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Tre’Sure – 9pm

Mitch’s on El Paseo – Alex Santana – 12-

2:30pm

The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm

O’Caine’s – California Celts – 6pm

Old Town La Quinta – Live Music in the

Plaza w/ DJ Pumba – 6-9pm

Pappy and Harriet’s – Good Morning – 8:30pm

Plan B Live Entertainment & Cocktails

– Red’s Rockstar Karaoke – 9pm

Pretty Faces Nightclub – Gimme

Gimme Disco – 9pm

Purple Room – Lorna Luft – 6pm

Sullivan’s – Hotwyre – 5:30pm

Tommy Bahamas – Alex Santana – 5pm

Vicky’s of Santa Fe – John Stanley King – 7:30pm

The Village – Rob & JB – 5:30pm, DJ Gio

the Ace – 9pm, DJ Cranberry – 9pm

Wildest – Derek Jordan Gregg – 6pm

Saturday, March 25

Babaloo Lounge – Bob Corwin Piano

Bar – 3:30-6:30pm, Frank Disalvo – 7pm

Bart Lounge – Luna Negra Presents:

Goth Night – 8pm

Big Rock Pub – Ghost Notes – 8pm

Casuelas Café – Michael Keeth – noon, Mod Professor – 6:30pm

Chef George’s – TBA – 6:30pm

Coachella Valley Brewery – 2nd Annual

CVB Comedy Fest – 2-9pm

Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm

Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Marc Antonelli – 6pm

Jolene’s – Journey and Toto Ticket Giveaway – 7pm

Larkspur Grill – Live Music – 7pm

Lavender Bistro – Jeff Bonds, Scott Carter on the Patio – 6pm

Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Tre’Sure – 9pm

Mitch’s on El Paseo – Alex Santana – 12-

2:30pm

The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm

O’Caine’s – Cillian’s Bridge – 6pm

Old Town La Quinta – Live Music in the Plaza w/ Avenida – 6-9pm

Pappy and Harriet’s – The War and Treaty – 8:30pm

Plan B Live Entertainment & Cocktails

– Red’s Rockstar Karaoke – 9pm

Pretty Faces Nightclub – DJs

Chicosounds and Dxsko – 9pm

Purple Room – Lorna Luft – 6pm

Sullivan’s – Paul Villalobos – 5:30pm

Tommy Bahamas – Alex Santana – 5pm

Vicky’s of Santa Fe – Rose Mallett –

5-7pm, John Stanley King – 7:30pm

The Village – Rob & JB – 1pm, Dio DJ the Ace – 9pm, DJ Cranberry – 9pm, DJ Erika Starr – 9pm

Wildest – Derek Jordan Gregg – 6pm

Sunday, March 26

Babaloo Lounge – Tristen/Flamingo

Guitar – 1pm, Bob Corwin Piano Bar –

3:30pm, Tim Burleson – 6pm

Bart Lounge – Latina Night w/ DJ LF –

8pm

Big Rock Pub – Michael Keeth –

11:30am

Casuelas Café – El Mariachi Coachella –

1pm, Voices Carrie – 5:30pm

Coachella Valley Brewery – Acoustic

Afternoon w/ Matt Davin and Josh Heinz

– 3:30pm

Fisherman’s Market, PS – Live Music

– 6pm

Jolene’s – Desert Crows – 6pm

Lavender Bistro – Scott Carter, Mark

Guerrero on the Patio – 6pm

Melvyn’s – Mikael Healey – 3:30-7:30pm

The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm

Pappy and Harriet’s – Pete Yorn and His Band – 12:30pm, Daniel Rodriguez

– 8pm

Plan B Live Entertainment & Cocktails

– Inakaraoke Karaoke – 7pm

Tommy Bahamas – Alex Santana –

12pm

The Village – Gio the Ace - 9pm

Monday, March 27

Babaloo Lounge – Bob Corwin Piano

Bar – 3:30, Tim Burleson – 6pm

Casuelas Café – Brad Byrd Band –

5:30pm

Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Larry

Copeleto – 6pm

Lavender Bistro – Abbie Perkins, Mark

Guerrero on the Patio – 6pm

The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm

Pappy and Harriet’s – Demob Happy,

Modern Love – 8pm

Vicky’s of Santa Fe – Richard “88

Fingers” Turner – 6pm

The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm

Wildest – Derek Jordan Gregg – 6pm

Tuesday, March 28

Babaloo Lounge – Bob Corwin Piano

Bar – 3:30-6:30pm, The Carmens –

6:30pm

Casuelas Café – The Desert Suite Band – 5:30pm

Chef George’s – Lizann Warner – 6:30pm

Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm

Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Patrice Morris, Marc Antonelli and Christine

Love – 6pm

Lavender Bistro – Abbie Perkins, Mark Guerrero on the Patio – 6pm

The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm

Purple Room – Rose Mallett – 6:30pm

Vicky’s of Santa Fe – Slim Man Band –6pm

The Village – DJ Erika Starr – 9pm

Wednesday, March 29

Babaloo Lounge – Bob Corwin Piano

Bar – 3:30-6:30pm, The Myx – 7pm

Bart Lounge – Karaoke – 8pm

Casuelas Café – Lisa Lynn and the Broken Hallelujahs – 5:30pm

Chef George’s – Tim Burleson – 6:30pm

Coachella Valley Brewing Co. – Trivia Night – 7pm

Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm

The Fix – Alex Santana – 5:30pm

Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Rebecca Clark – 6pm

Jolene’s – Open Mic – 6:30pm

Lavender Bistro – Mark Guerrero, Scott Carter on the Patio – 6pm

Lit @Fantasy Springs – Doo Wah Riders – 7pm

Mitch’s on El Paseo – Alex Santana – 122:30pm

The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm

Plan B Live Entertainment & Cocktails – Red’s Rockstar Karaoke – 9pm

Purple Room – Charles Herrera, Darci Daniels and Michael Holmes – 6:30pm

Tack Room Tavern – T-Bone Karaoke – 7pm

Vicky’s of Santa Fe – John Stanley King – 6pm

The Village – DJ Cranberry – 9pm, Banda Revolucion – 10pm

Wildest – Derek Jordan Gregg – 6pm

NEW LOCATION NOW OPEN IN LA QUINTA, CA

They're Here! You can find them in their new home in La Quinta at the northwest corner of Washington and 111 in the Point Happy Shopping Center!

Friendly service, personalized attention, and great wines!

Walking into a wine shop can be intimidating – so many bottles, so little time! You need a top-notch wine shop to help you navigate the seemingly endless choices. That’s where they come in!

They focus on selecting the very best wines for the price from around the world; from well-known brands to hidden gems. They taste every wine that is on the shelf

(tough job!) and can help you select the perfect wine for your pasta dinner, the wine to wow your clients, or that special occasion stunner.

EVENTS AT DESERT WINE SHOP - See what is happening at your favorite little wine shop!

A Taste For Tuesday $10.00. Join them every Tuesday from 4:30 - 7:30 pm to taste through an eclectic range of wines from all over the world! Sommelier Katie Finn will guide the tasting giving you insight into these wines, the region, and history. You’re guaranteed to find a new favorite and learn something new!

Finally Friday Wine Tasting

$10.00. Every Friday they pop the cork on a few of their favorite wines to kick off the weekend right! This is a fun and casual tasting where you’ll mix and mingle with fellow wine lovers and friends. They think you’ll agree...

its the best “happy hour” in town! Every Friday 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Become a Wine Warrior!

The Wine Warriors wine club offers a sommelier selected 6-pack of wine along with detailed tasting notes and the occasional recipe or two! Plus, you and a guest will enjoy complimentary weekly tastings, members only pick-up parties, and our members

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER

receive 10% off purchases (some exceptions apply) and priority for allocated wines.

Hours:

Sunday – 11AM-4PM

Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat – 10AM-6PM

Tue, Fri – 10AM-7PM

For more info visit desertwineshop.com. Think the Best Happy Hour in the Coachella Valley!

MULTIPLY YOUR HAPPINESS AT THE BEST EASTER BRUNCH IN PALM SPRINGS!

LULU’s Springtime-fresh choices from a delectable 3-course menu! Sunday, April 9. Served from 9am to 3pm

Featuring 6 delicious appetizers, 14 savory entrées and 6 decadent desserts. Just $49.99 per person. And a special Easter kids menu for $19.99 (children 12 & under)! Reservations now available, indoors or outside. 760-327-5858 (LULU) or visit lulupalmsprings.com. Lulu California Bistro - 200 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262

A SPRING FLING IN WINE THE VINO VOICE

If you’ve been playing the wine game for any length of time, you’ve come to realize that cases and cases of wines are released around the first of springtime and around autumn. And wine competition is as fierce as ever: As mentioned in one of our recent columns titled, “Wine Madness Marches On!” we alerted you that close to a thousand wines have just been released—and now more are on their way! Don’t be hesitant: just go out and enjoy your spring fling in wine—no one’s watching!

Thank God we’ve had all of the recent rains. It’s time to seize the spring day, for here in the desert, that dominant sun overhead in the next month is poised to squeeze the green right out of our pasta primavera.

So just appearing on my wine-release radar machine, we’re here to mention some of our readers’ favorite wines that are just arriving on the shelves as we spring along:

Those of you who have visited or are at least acquainted Andrew Murray Vineyards up in the Santa Ynez Valley are certainly fans of their Tous les Jours Syrah. It’s one of my favorite California Syrahs: the wine is a tasty collision of Syrah flavors of the Rhone, with its tar, smoke, peppered meat, and black olive, and, the new world notes of juicy black fruits. I personally procured this wine to the shelves over at the Palm Springs’ Ralphs aisle.

Here’s a new release to work on: 2022 Santa Ynez Valley Curtis Vineyard Espérance Rosé of Cinsault ($24) The Curtis Vineyard is planted to about 50 acres of a great selection of Rhône varieties, including a variety that is particularly well suited to Rosé production, Cinsault. It makes up many of the delicious, light, and dry Rosé bottlings.

For you folks who find this interesting—the wine is nearly 100% Cinsault. The grapes were all harvested at peak Rosé maturity (early, with a lower sugar and brighter acidity), in the middle of the night, and then gently pressed off skins as free-run juice. Fermentation was encouraged to start asap, in 100% stainless steel. It is then aged in the same tank, on lees, choosing to only pump it once, as it was transferred to the bottling line.

The winery notes wax romantic: “Espérance Rosé is a sensual experience that engages all the senses. Its delicate pink hue is like a sunset in a glass. The captivating aroma is released with every swirl and sip, with hints of red fruits and flowers that evoke the freshness of a spring morning.

“As you take a sip, the wine washes over your tongue, awakening your taste buds with a balanced and refreshing acidity. The flavors dance in your mouth, with notes of juicy red berries, watermelon rind, delicate florals, and a hint of citrus.

“The texture of the wine is smooth and velvety, like the caress of silk on your skin. It is light and refreshing, yet satisfying, like the perfect balance between desire and fulfillment. As you savor the wine, you are transported to a place of relaxation and pleasure, where worries melt away and the moment is all that matters. It is a sensory experience that fills you with joy and contentment, leaving you feeling fulfilled and refreshed.” Existentially—I guess this wine is all we need!

Another very, very popular winery and wine—one that, for some reason, evokes a sense of cult knowledge; or, maybe we can

BY RICK RIOZZA

use that very familiar French phrase that simply says “I don’t know what” (je ne sais quoi), in other words, “I don’t know what it’s got, but I’m all in.” We’re talking about the Austin Hope Winery in Paso Robles which sure has its demeanor and a large fan base. (Troublemaker and Treana are their popular red blends.)

2022 Austin Hope Paso Robles Cellar Select Rose of Mourvèdre/Grenache ($33) Refreshing and crisp, this beautiful salmon colored Rose, of Mourvèdre and Grenache, is equally ideal on the patio or the dining room table. On the palate this dry style Rose expresses flavors of ripe strawberry and watermelon, finishing with a hint of minerality. Try it with Oysters & Mignonette Sauce or— should you dare, with a pineapple pizza!

Aperture Cellars—whom we introduced to the valley’s vino hearts three years ago or so, has just released a slew of wine. And as you may re-call, artist and winemaker Jesse Katz makes fabulours wines. A couple we tried are perfect for our desert patio weather.

Aperture Cellars 2022 Clarksburg Chenin Blanc ($30), These heritage grapes from the Clarksburg vineyard benefit from naturally warm days and brisk, cool nights made possible by the “Delta Breeze” from the San Francisco Bay. These temperature gusts help create a long growing season and beautifully developed fruit. This is a vibrant and bright wine, showing peaches, pears, quince, grapes, and stones.

Aperture Cellars 2022 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc ($45). The winery notes include: “We work with a combination ofvineyards for this wine. 31% of our estate sémillon and sauvignon musqué in Russian River Valley, 26% sauvignon blanc from Dry Stack Vineyard in Bennett Valley, and 19% sauvignon blanc from our estate property, Farrow Ranch in Alexander Valley.”

This is quintessential California Sauv Blanc for those who love lime, grapefruit, green apple, fig, and melon in a glistening glass. Superb stuff!

Finally—a shout-out to the Papapietro Perry Winery. They were in town pouring at the recent Passion for Pinot, Palm Springs Pinot Noir tasting over at the Westin Rancho Mirage. A wonderful event—catch it next time!

2020 Pommard Clones Pinot Noir ($82)

An effusive nose of dark berry, stone fruit, purple flowers kissed with caramel and toast notes. The flavors are a seductive blend of cherry, black raspberry, fresh plum with a wellintegrated line of sweet, toasty oak. The wine will impress all on its own.

Here’s to your spring fling—Cheers!

ARTSCENE

BY DEANN LUBELL

Maria Victoria Castillo, M.Ed, was born in Mexico. In 1952, her father came to the United States through the Bracero (Spanish for manual laborer) Program. The program was the result of a series of laws and diplomatic agreements initiated on August 4, 1942, when the United States signed the Mexican Farm Labor Agreement with Mexico. A year later, after Mariia’s father had arrived in the Coachella Valley, she and her five siblings and her mother immigrated here, as well. Maria entered kindergarten through the Desert Sands Unified School District and Coachella Valley Unified School District. By the time she was eight-years-old, when not in school, she was working in the fields or orchards alongside her family.

“I wanted to be an educator ever since I can remember,” said Maria, a mother of three and grandmother of eight. “After telling a high school counselor this, he discouraged me and suggested I go into cosmetology. I worked as a hairdresser for about two years. The desire to work with children would not subside, so I decided to work as a paraeducator and thought that would be as close as I would ever get to my dream of teaching. I worked as a para-educator with DSUSD for seventeen years. However, through the encouragement of others, I started going to College of the Desert at the age of forty and didn’t stop until I earned a master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University. I retired from teaching with CVUSD in 2013 and am presently working as a substitute teacher.”

Maria enjoys photography and writing. She has authored books about her life such as Field Work Through the Eyes of a Child and its Spanish version Trabajo del campo en los ojos de una nina. She gets great satisfaction speaking to others about her experiences as a former field worker.

“My most recent books begin with me as an eight-year-old girl helping my family pick lemons for the first time,” said Maria. “It ends with me as a member of the United Field Workers Union during my high school years in the early 1970s and meeting César E. Chávez! The books consist of six chapters; each one about a different Coachella Valley crop. I consider the last chapter the most

important. In this chapter I wrote about how difficult it was for my parents to go on strike and join the United Farm Workers Union. I wrote about how we almost lost our house because, due to striking, we did not have money to pay the mortgage. I also wrote about how scared I felt striking in the fields because huge men from the Teamsters Union were present telling workers not to listen to the strikers and to get back to work. They would do this while swinging long sticks.”

Maria recommends her books for students in third grade through adult. They offer an inside look for readers to become more familiar with aspects of the Hispanic cultures, as well as the hardships and joys of working in the fields. It is her hope that her books will instill respect and compassion for the field worker community, as well as an interesting and enjoyable read. She wants to encourage others to pursue their dreams. What inspires her to write is the desire to help others see the beauty in nature, as well as each other.

For more information on Maria’s books, presentations, or to request an author visit, you may contact her at dvcastillo1@ outlook.com and/or follow her on Instagram at victoriac240. Her books may be ordered directly through Maria or through Amazon.

(Photo credit: Maria Victoria Castillo)

PET PL ACE EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS FOR PETS

2. Get your animals microchipped by a veterinarian or low cost spay clinic. A microchip is a tiny device the size of a grain of rice inserted near the pet’s base of the neck. It contains its owner’s address, phone, and all contact information. All shelters and veterinarians have scanners that can read this information. However, a significant percentage of microchips are not registered, so please be sure to do so and make sure you keep information updated.

3. Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date in case he is exposed to contagious illnesses during an emergency. Keep copies of your pet’s medical records in your earthquake kit.

4. Pack bandages and other first aid items, pet food, bowls, emergency contact information, kitty litter, basic cleaning supplies, and favorite toys for comfort.

5. Have enough crates and carriers to contain all your pets should you need to evacuate.

6. Keep your vehicle’s gas tank at least ¾ full and keep sufficient cash on hand.

BY JANET McAFEE

11. Locate “pet friendly” locations ahead of time, including hotels and out-of-town friends who would welcome your pets into their home during a crisis.

12. Take current photographs of your pets and store them on your cell phone. If your pet goes missing during a natural disaster, or for any reason, check local shelters online and in person. Planning ahead brings peace of mind and could save your life and the lives of your 4-legged family members.

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com

California has been shaken by hundreds of mini quakes in recent years as scientists speculate about the timing of “The Big One” that could bring serious destruction. A major earthquake fault runs through the Coachella Valley. Preparing ahead of time is crucial, and those of us with pets must plan for them as well.

We recently witnessed the crisis of Southern California mountain residents running out of food due to heavy snowfall. Desperate people attempted to walk through heavy snow only to find that the small nearby grocery stores had closed. While the desert region need not worry about snow, we must be prepared for earthquakes.

The 10 freeway, our primary egress from the area, could become so crowded that there is no way to evacuate from the Coachella Valley. In addition to stocking up on food and water for our human family members, it is wise to have a month’s supply of dog and cat food on hand in case local businesses are closed or run out of merchandise. If your pet requires medication, have refills on hand.

Here are some additional tips to ensure that Fluffy and Fido are well cared for during an emergency:

1. Make sure your pet wears a collar with an engraved ID tag containing your contact phone number. Petco and PetSmart can make personalized ID tags for a nominal cost. It’s best to use your cell phone rather than a land line number. Make sure you keep information up to date. An engraved ID tag is the quickest way to get your pet back to you should he escape for any reason.

7. Again, have a month supply of food for you and your animals should you be unable to evacuate.

8. Have flashlights with extra batteries in case of power failures.

9. Have sufficient leashes and harnesses to contain all your dogs as you may have to walk them in unfamiliar areas.

10. Arrange with a neighbor to take in your pets should you be away from home when an emergency strikes and unable to get their quickly.

MEET LIL MEET DILL

This adorable large breed female puppy was rescued by Loving All Animals along with 3 siblings. They are 10 weeks old, very active, and need a yard for exercise and people with time to train and provide care. Call (760) 834-7000 for an appointment to meet them.

This adorable male large breed puppy and his siblings was rescued by Loving All Animals along with 3 siblings. They are 10 weeks old, very active, need a yard for exercise and people with the time to potty train & provide care. Call (760) 834-7000 for an appointment to meet them.

COACHELLA VALLEY ANIMAL CAMPUS –

Open 10:00-4:00 Monday through Saturday

View animals online at all 4 county shelters www.rcdas.org, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, (760) 343-3644. (Public)

PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER –

Open to the public, closed Tuesday View animals online at www.psanimalsshelter. org and complete application for the one you want to meet, 4575 E Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, Call (760) 416-5718 (Public)

DESERT HOT SPRINGS ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL - Open daily 9:30-4:30. www. cityofdhs.org/animal-care-control.com , View animals at www.petango.com/dhsacc 65810 Hacienda Ave, Desert Hot Springs, Call for appointment (760) 329-6411 ext. 450.

ANIMAL SAMARITANS – Open to the public View their animals at www. animalsamaritans.org. Email volunteer@ animalsamaritans.org to foster or volunteer Located at 72307 Ramon Rd, Thousand Palms, (760) 601-3918. (Private)

CALIFORNIA PAWS RESCUE - Call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at www.californiapawsrescue.com, (760) 656-3833. (Private)

HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY – Fill out an application online www.orphanpet.com and call for an appointment This shelter has dogs of all sizes and cats, Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 329-0203. (Private)

KITTYLAND – Open to the public to adopt cats and kittens Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs, www. kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700. (Private)

PRETTY GOOD CAT – Foster based rescue for cats located in La Quinta Contact

them at www.prettygoodcat.com, (760) 660-3414 (Private)

LOVING ALL ANIMALS – Call for appointment to adopt dogs Located at 83496 Avenue 51, Coachella, www. lovingallanimals.org, (760) 834-7000. (Private)

ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER OF CALIFORNIA (ARC), Foster based rescue for dogs and cats in Indio. www.thearc-ca.org, (760) 877-7077. (Private)

FLUFFS & SCRUFFS – Foster based rescue for small dogs in Cathedral City FLUFFSANDSCRUFFS@AOL.COM, (310) 980-3383. (Private)

SOCIETY’S OUTKAST ANIMAL RESCUE

– Foster based rescue for dogs in Rancho Mirage, www.societysoutkasts.com, (760) 832-0617. (Private)

LIVING FREE ANIMAL SANCTUARY –

Large outdoor shelter for dogs and cats up Hwy 74, Mountain Center, www.living-free. org, (951) 659-4687. (Private)

CITY OF BANNING ANIMAL SHELTER –

Open daily 10am-6pm Located at 2050 E. Charles Street, Banning. Many beautiful animals of all sizes. View animals at www. arerecue.org/banning (951) 708-1280 Short staffed so don’t always answer phones (Public)

CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ANIMAL SHELTER – Open 12:00 – 3pm Tues through Sat Google “City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter” for website to view animals and get the ID number of the animal you want. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 3847272. (Public)

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ANIMAL

SHELTER AT DEVORE – Open 7 days a week. Call (909) 386-9280, www.sbcounty.gov/ acc and get the ID number of animal you are interested in adopting, 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino. (Public)

Coachella Valley Repertory closes its 2022-2023 Season with the irreverent and hilarious five-time Tony® Award nominee and winner of Best New Play HAND

TO GOD by Robert Askin. The NY Times called HAND TO GOD a “darkly delightful play.” Audiences will laugh and, perhaps, wonder if they shouldn’t be quite so totally entertained. It is truly a wild and wonderful ride! HAND

TO GOD OPENS runs March 28-April 9. Craig Wells returns to CVRep to direct, set design is by Jimmy Cuomo, costumes by Emma Bibo, lighting design by Moira Wilke and the stage manager is John M. Galo. Puppets are by Ryan Marquart and Thomas Mitchell.

Performances of HAND TO GOD are Tuesdays through Sundays, March 28-April 3, 2023 and March 4-9, 2023. Curtain time for Wednesdays through Saturday evening performances is 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Audiences

Free Talkback Thursdays are held after every Thursday performance, offering audience members the opportunity to discuss the plays with the directors and casts.

Single tickets for HAND TO GOD are on sale now and are $58, $63 and $73. They may be ordered online at www.cvrep.org, by calling (760) 296-2966, ext. 115, or at the CVRep box office located at 68510 East Palm Canyon Dr., Cathedral City. Box office hours are MondayFriday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and two hours prior to performances. Group tickets are available and can be arranged by calling the box office. In order to better serve audiences, patrons requesting accessibility assistance are encouraged to contact the box office at least 24 hours prior to their ticketed performance.

Audience members should note that this dark comedy contains sexualized scenes, violence, profanity, and puppet nudity.

In the tiny, decidedly conservative town of Cypress, Texas, shy, mild-mannered (albeit

lust-filled) teenaged Jason is just trying to be a good son. His mother, Margery, is struggling with the recent loss of her husband. Jason’s only solace is the Christian Puppet Ministry that his mother has established in the basement of the town’s Lutheran church, led by Pastor Greg. Her pupils are nerdy hot girl Jessica, juvenile delinquent Timothy, and Jason. Jason discovers that he has a talent for puppetry, and it seems like all will be well following his father’s death. Then - along comes Tyrone, Jason’s puppet, who has other plans. He is foul-mouthed, disruptive and full of the devil. Jason begins to feel that he is possessed by Tyrone. Under the influence of the puppet, Jason confronts bully Timothy, hits on Jessica and confronts his mother about her bad life choices. Decidedly inappropriate and hysterically funny, HAND TO GOD does explore ideas of faith, morality, and human nature in an original and irresistible way. However - things get slightly out of hand before. Tackling the nature of good and evil, HAND TO GOD is a metaphor for getting to the crux of matters.

CREATIVE:

ROBERT ASKINS – PLAYWRIGHT

Robert Askins was born in Cypress, Texas, eventually relocating to New York City. He has received two Ensemble Studio Theatre/Sloan grants, and an Arch and Bruce Davis Award for Playwriting. He has received commissions from Divercity Theatre and Baylor University. His play Princes of Waco was produced and developed by Youngblood. Askin’s one act play, Matthew and the Pastor’s Wife, was part of Marathon 2010 at the Ensemble Studio Theatre. Another play, Doll Parts, was read with the Write Club sponsored by Arlene Dahl. He has also part of the 52nd Streets Heads or Tail: The Chancey Plays. His work, The Love Song of the Albanian Sous Chef, won a Dallas Outer Circle Critics award. Hand to God

opened on Broadway in 2015, and received five Tony Award nominations, winning Best New Play. For television, Askins wrote and produced “The Umbrella Academy,” and was the editor for another series, “The Son.” He also appeared in the TV series “Unicornland,” as Benjamin Franklin in “Here’s What I Like: Our Forefathers. And “Now I’ll Tell You Why,” and in the comedy TV movie, The Share

CRAIG WELLS – DIRECTOR

Prior to moving to the Coachella Valley, Craig was on faculty in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Vermont. His classes included Introduction to Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theatre Performance and The Business of Show Business. During this time, he directed Shakespeare in Love, Hand to God, Stupid F#@king Bird, and A Grand Night for Singing During his 20 years as a professional actor in NYC, Craig made his Broadway debut in the musical Chess (original cast recording) and a few years later joined the Broadway cast of Les Misérables after spending over a year on the U.S. National Tour of that musical. He was a regular performer for several years in the off-Broadway hit revue, Forbidden Broadway, which he also performed in Los Angeles, and can be heard on the original cast recording Forbidden Broadway Vol. 3. He appeared offBroadway in Closer Than Ever, Colette Collage, and Balancing Act (original cast recording). Television credits include All My Children, Another World, and Reading Rainbow. He performed lead roles at numerous regional theatres including Arena Stage, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, and The MUNY in St. Louis. While in Vermont, Craig performed lead roles in The Drowsy Chaperone, Unnecessary Farce, and Rumors at St. Michael’s Playhouse. @cewellsdirector.

CAST:

LUKE WEHNER – JASON/TYRONE

Luke Wehner makes his CVRep debut as the troubled Jason and trouble-maker Tyrone. In a previous production of Hand to God, Wehner received a Cleveland Critics Circle nomination for Best Actor. He has also performed in Peter and the Starcatcher and John at the Dobama Theatre, The Crucible, Everything Will Be Different at the Hunger Theatre, Dog Sees God at the Inner Circle Creative, A Clockwork Orange for Hubris Theatre Company, poor little lulu at Cleveland Public Theatre. Wehner has appeared in the Jordan Presents, receiving the New Visions & Voices Festival Best Supporting Actor award, plus Crosby, Willy, Farmer Al!, and Arbor Day. He is lead vocalist of the New York-based rock band Permanent Revolution (find them wherever music is streamed). Wehner is a graduate of Circle on the Square Theatre School and is a student of Ken Schatz and Amy Lyndon. Many thanks to Craig, Adam, and everyone at CVRep. For Ally and Yury, and for Pauline… who always spoke her mind!

ALEISHA FORCE – MARGERY

Aleisha Force is a Texas native and was a high school teacher in Houston before embarking on her acting career. She is most proud of the roles of Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra at the Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Emilia in Othello at the Greer Garson Theatre, Jeannie in Fat Pig at Dallas Theatre Center, and as Jane Roe in Roe and Meagan in their world premiere of Human Interest Story at LA’s Fountain Theatre. Her films include Subconscious, The Promise, Hold Your Peace and Making It Real and can be seen on TV in “This is Us,” “For All Mankind,” “Prison Break,” and In “The Cut ” Force holds an M.F.A. from Southern Methodist University (SMU) and studied with The Groundlings and UCB NYC. www.aleishaforce.com

KENNY STEVENSON – PASTOR GREG

Stevenson makes his CVRep debut as Pastor Greg. He is a noted comedian, actor, writer, sketch and improv artist, having performed in Los Angeles for 20 years and Upright Citizen’s Brigade for 15, as well as The Groundlings, The Jim Henson Company, UCB Sunset and Westside Comedy Theater. Stevenson has had recurring roles on “Parks and Recreation,“ Comedy Bang Bang,” and “Brooklyn 99,” and has appeared on the series “This is Us” and “Hawaii Five-0.” He voiced and puppeteered the character Edgar on “Duff’s Happy Fun Bake Time” and worked as an additional puppeteer on the Netflix show “Julie’s Greenroom” starring Julie Andrews. He is sending love to his wife and daughter in Los Angeles.

LEA MADDA – JESSICA/JOLENE

Lea Madda is a native Southern California, and is making her CVRep debut in Hand to God She originally trained to be an opera singer trained with the SITI Company as well as at the Grotowski Institute in Wroclaw, Poland. She later studied at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. She has appeared in Knot Free Productions’ In Trousers, Anne, A New Play at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, The Sound Of Music with Anchorage Concert Association, in Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You at Hollywood Fringe, She Loves Me at the Actors Co-op in Los Angeles, in Dezart Performs production of A Bright New Boise, and in Haiti at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. She is also voiceover artist and teaches the Suzuki/Viewpoints techniques at various venues throughout the city.

BLAKE KEVIN DWYER – TIMOTHY

Blake Kevin (He/Him) is thrilled to be back on the CVRep stage, following his debut in Fun Home. His television credits include “With Love” for Amazon, “Good Trouble” for Freeform, “Saved by The Bell” for Peacock and “Cupid’s Match” for CW Deed. He has performed in more than 20 productions, including Carrie The Musical, Title of Show, On Borrowed Time, Spring Awakening, Rent, Nine and Dogfight. Dwyer’s film credits include Debunckers on Showtime, Magic Carpet Rides and The Harvest. He would like to give special thanks and love to his fiancé, Peter, his entire family, Malissa Young Management and Circle of 10 talent. @Blakekevindwyer

HAND TO GOD

Dates & Times:

Tues-Fri, March 28-31 and April 2-5, 2023 at 7 p.m.

Sat, April 1 & 8, 2023 at 2 & 7 p.m.

Sun, April 2 & 9, 2023 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $58, $63, $73

Online - www.cvrep.org

Phone - (760)296-2966, ext. 115

Box office - 68510 East Palm Canyon Dr., Cathedral City

Facebook: facebook.com/CVRep

Twitter: @CVREP

COACHELLA VALLEY REPERTORY is a nonprofit, professional regional theater. It is the only theater in California’s Coachella Valley that has Small Professional Theatre (SPT) status with Actor’s Equity.

CVRep produces professional theater and educational programs that present thought provoking theatre of substance. It also offers professional level theatre training for young people and adults in its Conservatory, Writing Competition, and other meaningful, socially, and culturally relevant children’s outreach programs. As a member of the Coachella Valley community, CVRep is committed to enriching the quality of life for all residents and to providing memorable experiences for the Valley’s many visitors.

THE ADVANTAGE OF BROKERAGE ACCOUNTS OVER BANK ACCOUNTS

The recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank have forced the Federal Reserve to step in to ensure depositors that all deposits at banks are money good. As the Fed have made this statement but not offered anything that ensures a government bailout, let’s take a minute to review how you can be certain that your money is insured.

If you have a personal account, you have up to $250,000 in cash insured by the FDIC or SIPC. The FDIC insures banks while the SIPC insures brokerage firms. The SIPC further insures non-cash balances to $500,000.

If you have a retirement account at the same bank or brokerage firm, that

retirement account is also insured to $250,000/$500,000. If you have a joint account, you can add another $250,000 of insurance for each person on the account. Maybe you have a business account? Add another $250,000.

As you can see, insurance covers you in most situations.

Investment firms like Charles Schwab get additional insurance as well. In the case of Schwab, each relationship is insured by up to $600 million. The reason why a firm like Schwab can have so much insurance is because your funds are not commingled with the funds of the firm or other clients. The assets in an investment account

SHUT DOWN DRUNK DRIVING

Afew years ago, I was asked to speak to the Coachella Valley Association of Government (CVAG) on how to SHUT DOWN DRUNK DRIVING. A few days earlier I was the only attorney invited to join a Blue Ribbon Committee on DUI’s. I joined members of law enforcement at the Coachella City Hall to speak about a young girl who was jogging and killed by an alleged drunk driver, whose family I was representing for her Wrongful Death.

CVAG is made up of representative of each city and every law enforcement department in the valley. I shared with CVAG, that as a lawyer who has sued Drunk Drivers for injuries and Wrongful Deaths for 40 years, while at the same time defending the rights of those charged with Drunk Driving, I have a unique perspective on the subject.

MY SUGGESTION ON HOW TO SHUT DOWN DRUNK DRIVING, STARTS AND ENDS WITH EDUCATION… AS A COMPLIMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

1. Initially, we need to teach the public the correct criminal charge is not Drunk Driving, but rather (DUI) Driving Under the Influence or (DWI) Driving While Impaired in other states. You don’t have to be drunk. You merely have to be under the influence, and in California that occurs whenever the blood alcohol is .08 or higher…. although law enforcement will arrest with a .07 here in the Coachella Valley. Being under the influence occurs after about three drinks, but it depends on one’s weight,

how much you ate, the time lapse between drinking and driving. How much of the food was protein is also a factor. Most people mistakenly think they have to be loaded to be drunk…. that is incorrect.

2. The crucial thing to understand is that it is not the number of drinks, but rather the amount of alcohol in each drink. A drink is 12 oz. of beer, 1 oz. of hard alcohol or 4 oz. of wine. Many restaurants pour a 6-9 oz. pour of wine. Thus when you have two 6 oz. drinks with dinner you have really had 3 drinks. Often restaurants and bars pour a 3 oz. pour of hard alcohol. That equals 3 drinks… not one.

I recently had a kid and his mother, in my office. He swore he only had 1 vodka and OJ. I told him his high reading was impossible from one drink. Then I asked if he used a red Costco 16 oz. cup and filled it 2/3 of the way with vodka, and topped it off with OJ…. he said yes. My client, and the public, must understand that using a 16 oz. cup meant he was consuming about 12 oz. of alcohol … and that is the same as 12 drinks. In addition, people always forget when the bartender tops off their drink, when they are half way through it.

3. Alcohol and prescriptive drugs do not mix. When your RX bottle, says on the label, that you should not operate heavy machinery/equipment they mean cars… not tractors. We should probably revise the law to mandate a pharmacy explains, on the

are held in a segregated account with a third-party custodian like the Depositary Trust Company. In comparison, a bank commingles your money as your deposit helps finance loans and buy securities at that bank.

Banks are different than most companies in that they buy investments like US Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) to earn income used to pay depositors and cover its costs. Accounting rules allow banks to hold these securities in two imaginary buckets on their balance sheet. One bucket is called ‘available for sale’ (AFS) while the other is called ‘held to maturity’ (HTM). AFS investments are valued each day like your 401k or investment account. From a profit and loss standpoint, this means that the bank must post the profit or loss on each investment as part of its financial statements.

HTM securities are valued differently than AFS securities in that the value of these investments do not change as the bank plans on holding the investments to maturity. Unlike the AFS bucket, these holdings are not revalued.

When a bank puts an investment in the HTM bucket, accounting rules do not allow it to be moved to the AFS bucket later. This caused a major problem for Silicon Valley when depositors began to leave. The bank could not sell the loans on their books, and it had sold all of its AFS securities. When they were forced to sell the HTM investments for as little as 50 cents on the dollar, the bank burned through more than $17 billion in capital in days.

If you want a simple way to judge the strength of your bank, look up its stock price. Most banks trade at book value or

BY HADDON LIBBY

higher. When Silicon Valley and Signature Bank failed, each had a stock price that was 50% of book value. Logic suggests that a bank with a book value of lower than 50% is in trouble.

While your deposits are most likely to be safe, a bank with such a weak stock value has some problem that could force the bank to raise more in equity and dilute existing shareholders, make fewer loans or search for another firm to merge with.

If you want to have accounts that have more insurance, a brokerage account with a reputable firm may be a better option than your bank. These brokerage accounts typically earn much higher interest rates to boot!

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Winslow Drake Investment Management and uses TD Ameritrade Institutional and Charles Schwab & Co. As a reminder, this article should not be construed as accounting or financial advice. If you want investment or financial advice, please contact us at WinslowDrake.com

DALEGRIBOWONTHELAW

prescriptive vial, that you should not operate a car/vehicle after drinking and/or taking a pill with that warning. Many people think that heavy machinery/equipment is a just a tractor.

We must teach the public there is something called Potentiation. This occurs when the RX pill, such as anti-depressants and diet pills, bearing this warning, are combined with an alcoholic drink. The result is that someone is more under the influence than they would be without the pill. Thus, the driver becomes a LOT more under the influence because of this combination of alcohol and a drug.

One drink with a RX drug, could causes the driver to be as much under the influence as having consumed several drinks. The same is even more true with illegal drugs like MJ or Cocaine. MJ today is often 13 times stronger than it was in the 60’s and 70’s, but the public does not realize this.

4. With repeat DUI offenders, as a condition of the standard 5 years of probation, I would require the driver have to attend refresher DUI classes every year, until the probation is over. This is on top of the regular DUI classes currently mandated by the courts and DMV.

The Blue Ribbon Committee worked in collaboration with CVAG, and MADD, TO SHUT DOWN DRUNK DRIVING and make a difference! I am proud to be an integral part of that committee. In addition, I was selected as the only lawyer, by the Clinton Foundation

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

Committee on Drunk Driving.

Don’t Drink and Drive!

If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns, please contact Dale Gribow, Attorney at Law at 760837- 7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com

DALE GRIBOW - REPRESENTING THE INJURED AND CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

“TOP LAWYER” - California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-23

“TOP LAWYER” - Inland Empire Magazine

PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating

5 STAR RATING

AV Pre-Eminent Peer Rating- The highest possible rating in both legal Ability and Very high ethical standards, reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary by Martindale Hubbell legal directory.

Legal Columnist for LA/CV Papers/Society

Columnist, The Desert Sun / Legal Talk Show Host “ACCIDENTALLY YOURS”

“DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT. CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER. THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME”. SO DRIVE SOBER, OR GET PULLED OVER.

BUILD THE SWIMMING POOL OF YOUR DREAMS WITH LUXURY POOL CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

Modern life has become filled with deadlines, speed, speedand more speed! It’s a travesty. Before we know it, a day, a week, a month, an entire year has drifted right by us, and many have had little time to relax, destress, and create worthwhile memories with loved ones.

It is bothersome to have to dive in at the deep end and begin with a less than positive article opener. However, to walk safely ashore, often one must swim through tumultuous waters to get there.

To combat the modern daily grind, culture has witnessed a rising tide of various “relaxation-based” pastimes. The powers-that-be proclaim that these assist the stressed and manic to unwind and become “enlightened”. Yet, to engage in such pastimes still requires payment, travel to-and-fro, which adds more time spent driving, more money spent on gas, and takes away time from creating shared memories. In short, are these supposed relaxation pastimes (that cost) outside of the home really that relaxing after all?

If you live anywhere within the Coachella Valley, you are never too far from natureeven though some [those who are caught in the rat-race], never get the opportunity to get outside and enjoy it. Imagine that. Nature on your doorstep, yet so caught up in work, and the world of social media that you never get out and experience true beauty.

As “truly enlightening” as our valley nature can be, with warming spring weather, and summer hot on its heels, our nature may not always be the most enjoyable of pastimes. Heat inevitably lures out desert critters from winter hibernations, and one strike from a rattler while hiking in the great outdoors may be all it takes to land a decisive blow to one’s existence. Wouldn’t it be safer to experience natural

beauty in our contained outdoor natures? Our backyards.

During springtime, ideas about construction and design are aplenty for most home dwellers. If someone is working a hectic Monday to Friday, nine to five, perhaps the backyard is the only “safe” haven in which to switch-off and truly relax. It doesn’t take money, don’t take fame, don’t need no credit card … nor a drive to an overcrowded gym, hypnosis studio, and it’s not the great outdoors where if temperatures soar and you’re caught without hydration, there is no escape. If you’re in a backyard and it gets too hot, you simply walk into the house and cool off. Or …

The backyard is an extraordinary

accentuation of a home. Here in the Coachella Valley, backyards are as prevalent as concerts at the new Acrisure Arena, and fortunately home builders choose to construct them with plentiful wide-open spaces.

One element that our paradisical valley doesn’t see much of during the warmer months is water. Sadly, our lush blue skies remain so with but-a-hint of clouds for at least eight full months of the year. Water, as the vast majority well know, is extremely soothing to the senses. While a dip in a warm shower before work is enough to stimulate the vagus nerve, rouse the senses, and sharpen the mind; diving, swimming, and relaxing in a finely crafted swimming pool

APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

April marks National Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to highlight the dangers of alcohol misuse. It is reported that alcohol contributed to more than 200 diseases and injury-related health conditions, ranging from liver diseases, road injuries, and violence, to cancers, cardiovascular diseases, suicides, tuberculosis, and HIV/ AIDS. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers additional facts and statistics about alcohol misuse in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Dietary Guidelines for Alcohol defines drinking in moderation as one drink or less in a day for women and two drinks or less in a day for men. The NIH defines a standard drink as having about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which can be found in:

• 12 ounces of regular beer, about 5% alcohol

• 5 ounces of wine, about 12% alcohol

• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, about 40% alcohol

Warning Signs of Alcohol Misuse

As we all cope with the challenges in our

daily lives, it is important to be sure to stay healthy and resilient. Alcohol misuse is any consumption of alcohol that exceeds the recommended daily limits and can include uncontrolled drinking and a preoccupation with alcohol. You may have a drinking problem if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Inability to stop drinking even if you want to

• Difficulty controlling the amount you drink

• Challenges in your personal or professional relationships due to drinking

• Hoarding, stashing, or excessively seeking out alcohol

• Risky behaviors due while drinking, such as driving, swimming, or unsafe sex

• Combining alcohol with other addictive substances

BY TIAR’A LITERARY & ILLUSTRATION

is enough to drown away every troubling work hour frustration - guaranteed.

LUXURY POOL CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN has been “Taming the Tides” of Coachella Valley residents’ by constructing the most lavish swimming pools our valley has to offer. If you, or someone you know have been contemplating about that dream pool in your yard - a place to get away and recharge, get in touch with Luxury Pool Construction & Design 442-400-3070.

TIAR’A LITERARY & ILLUSTRATION is a premier content creation, marketing, and public relations company producing works for individuals and businesses worldwide. Email: tiarapublications@gmail.com

SAFETYTIPS

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

• Drinking to manage emotional stress or trauma

What can I do?

Here are some steps you can take today to ensure that alcohol doesn’t become a problem for you or your loved ones:

• Take this short self-assessment to evaluate your drinking habits and share it with your friends and family. ( rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/Howmuch-is-too-much)

• Educate yourself about the basics of alcohol use, including drink limits, and work to stay within those limits.

If you feel you need assistance due to alcohol or substance abuse, contact a licensed qualified therapist or organization that specializes in substance abuse.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

MAKING A NEW PACT WITH MOTHER EARTH

Mother Earth has always been humanity’s greatest champion. Indigenous cultures incorporate this understanding into their practices, as did many of our ancestors, but as our world becomes increasingly more technologically advanced, the occasions to disconnect from the gifts and wisdom of nature are plentiful. If we are not paying attention, we grow distant from memories of how beneficial deep and clear connectivity with Earth truly is.

The body of Mother Earth is our home, but she is so much more than that. She is an ancient sentient being who lives and breathes just as we do. We each have an important soul contract with Earth which makes us partners with her from the moment we take our first breath in this world. She is a great partner because she is so filled with wisdom, and she is in constant communication with each one of us to impart this wisdom even when we are not thinking about it or managing communications from her. She has always kept up her end of the bargain.

We are transitioning to a new paradigm as the current spiritual era comes to a close. During this transitional time in our spiritual development, the soul contracts we made prior to coming into these bodies are up for review. Our relationships are evolving on every level, as all things are, so if we respond to the guidance of inner spirit, we are likely to become aware that it is time to take a closer, conscious look at this important partnership with Mother Earth.

If you are feeling the call to make a new, intentional pact with Mother Earth, one that honors both her sacred nature and yours, a good place to begin is by addressing the energetic communications that must be upshifted to elevate the quality of your interactive relationship.

Everything is energy, including you, including Earth. You communicate with one another through your respective energetic channels. When you stand in the grass barefoot, you feel her body beneath you, and she feels your feet standing on her. You are communicating by exchanging

SWAGFORTHESOUL

BY AIMEE MOSCO

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Sometimes, I give you suggestions that may, if you carry them out, jostle your routines and fluster your allies. But after trying out the new approaches for a short time, you may chicken out and revert to old habits. That’s understandable! It can be difficult to change your life. Here’s an example. What if I encourage you to cancel your appointments and wander out into the wilderness to discuss your dreams with the birds? And what if, during your adventure, you are flooded with exhilarating yearnings for freedom? And then you decide to divest yourself of desires that other people want you to have and instead revive and give boosts to desires that you want yourself to have? Will you actually follow through with brave practical actions that transform your relationship with your deepest longings?

WEEK OF MARCH 30

© Copyright 2023 Rob Brezsny

A muse can be a spirit or hero or ally who inspires us, no matter what work and play we do. A muse may call our attention to important truths we are ignoring or point us in the direction of exciting future possibilities. According to my astrological analysis, you are now due for a muse upgrade. If you don’t have one, get one—or even more. If you already have a relationship with a muse, ask more from it. Nurture it. Take it to the next level.

your energy. As with any kind of two-way communication, the clearer the better. So, whenever you stand in the grass or stand anywhere for that matter, set your intent to open a clear line of communication with Mother Earth. Then listen closely to her using all of your senses.

If you work with her and infuse all of your interactions with the highest degree of awareness, you will have brought your partnership with Mother Earth into full alignment with the new era, and that is a beautiful thing for you and for her.

In my pursuit to help you communicate clearly with Mother Earth, I invite you to join my Telegram group DIVINE PURPOSE Discussions. Go to https://t. me/+8XQ9bgCiF0A2YzIx and enjoy the light of this supportive community.

Aimee Mosco is an Author, Intuitive Channel, Spiritual Teacher and Co-Founder of Intentional Healing Systems, LLC. Aimee’s desire to help others inspired her first book “Gratitude + Forgiveness x (LOVE) = Happiness”. Aimee serves as a leadership advisor to the World Game Changers Board of Directors, a charitable CIC based in the UK. Find Aimee’s Channeling page on Facebook with @ihsaimeemosco or visit Aimee at www.ihsunity.com.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have done all you can for now to resolve and expunge stale, messy karma—some of which was left over from the old days and old ways. There may come a time in the future when you will have more cleansing to do, but you have now earned the right to be as free from your past and as free from your conditioning as you have ever been. APRIL FOOL! I lied. In fact, you still need to spend a bit more time resolving and expunging stale, messy karma. But you’re almost done!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Businessman Robert Bigelow hopes to eventually begin renting luxurious rooms in space. For $1.7 million per night, travelers will enjoy accommodations he provides on his orbiting hotel, 200 miles above the Earth’s surface. Are you interested? I bet more Geminis will be signing up for this exotic trip than any other sign. You’re likely to be the journeyers most excited by the prospect of sailing along at 17,000 miles per hour and witnessing 16 sunsets and sunrises every 24 hours. APRIL FOOL! In fact, you Geminis are quite capable of getting the extreme variety you crave and need right here on the planet’s surface. And during the coming weeks, you will be even more skilled than usual at doing just that.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to become the overlord of your own fiefdom, or seize control of a new territory and declare yourself chieftain, or overthrow the local hierarchy and install yourself as the sovereign ruler of all you survey. APRIL FOOL! I was metaphorically exaggerating a bit—but just a bit. I do in fact believe now is an excellent phase to increase your clout, boost your influence, and express your leadership. Be as kind you can be, of course, but also be rousingly mighty and fervent.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In his poem “The Something,” Charles Simic writes, “Here come my night thoughts on crutches, returning from studying the heavens. What they thought about stayed the same. Stayed immense and incomprehensible.” According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you Leos will have much the same experience in the coming weeks. So there’s no use in even hoping or trying to expand your vision. APRIL FOOL! I lied. The truth is, you will not have Simic’s experience. Just the opposite. When your night thoughts return from studying the heavens, they will be full of exuberant, inspiring energy. (And what exactly are “night thoughts”? They are bright insights you discover in the darkness.)

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): If there will ever come a time when you will find a gold bullion bar on the ground while strolling around town, it will be soon. Similarly, if you are destined to buy a winning $10 million lottery ticket or inherit a diamond mine in Botswana, that blessing will arrive soon. APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating a bit. The truth is, I suspect you are now extra likely to attract new resources and benefits, though not on the scale of gold bullion, lottery winnings, and diamond mines.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Do you have a muse, Libra? In my opinion, all of us need and deserve at least one muse, even if we’re not creative artists.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Dear Valued Employee: Our records show you haven’t used any vacation time over the past 100 years. As you may know, workers get three weeks of paid leave per year or else receive pay in lieu of time off. One added week is granted for every five years of service. So please, sometime soon, either take 9,400 days off work or notify our office, and your next paycheck will reflect payment of $8,277,432, including pay and interest for the past 1,200 months. APRIL FOOL! Everything I just said was an exaggeration. But there is a grain of truth in it. The coming weeks should bring you a nice surprise or two concerning your job.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian poet and artist William Blake (1757–1827) was a hard-working visionary prophet with an extravagant imagination. His contemporaries considered him a freaky eccentric, though today we regard him as a genius. I invite you to enjoy your own personal version of a Blakelike phase in the coming weeks. It’s a perfect time to dynamically explore your idiosyncratic inclinations and creative potentials. Be bold, even brazen, as you celebrate what makes you unique. BUT WAIT! Although everything I just said is true, I must add a caveat: You don’t necessarily need to be a freaky eccentric to honor your deepest, most authentic truths and longings.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Some of my friends disapprove of cosmetic surgery. I remind them that many cultures throughout history have engaged in body modification. In parts of Africa and Borneo, for example, people stretch their ears. Some Balinese people get their teeth filed. Women of the Indigenous Kyan people in Thailand elongate their necks using brass coils. Anyway, Capricorn, this is my way of letting you know that the coming weeks would be a favorable time to change your body. APRIL FOOL! It’s not my place to advise you about whether and how to reshape your body. Instead, my job is to encourage you to deepen and refine how your mind understands and treats your body. And now is an excellent time to do that.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I invite you to make a big change. I believe it’s crucial if you hope to place yourself in maximum alignment with current cosmic rhythms. Here’s my idea: Start calling yourself by the name “Genius.” You could even use it instead of the first name you have used all these years. Tell everyone that from now on, they should address you as “Genius.” APRIL FOOL! I don’t really think you should make the switch to Genius. But I do believe you will be extra smart and ultra-wise in the coming weeks, so it wouldn’t be totally outrageous to refer to yourself as “Genius.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Your body comprises 30 trillion human cells and 39 trillion microbial cells, including the bacteria that live within you. And in my astrological estimation, those 69 trillion life forms are vibrating in sweet harmony with all the money in the world. Amazing! Because of this remarkable alignment, you now have the potential to get richer quicker. Good economic luck is swirling in your vicinity. Brilliant financial intuitions are likely to well up in you. The Money God is far more amenable than usual to your prayers. APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating a bit. But I do believe you now have extra ability to prime your cash flow.

Homework: What’s the best blessing you could give someone right now? Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.com

Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

What Is A Flat Back Posture?

Flat back posture is a type of posture that is characterized by the lack of natural curves in the spine. It’s a condition where your back loses some of the normal curvature (Lumbar Lordosis). A person cannot maintain a proper balance if such natural spinal curves stop functioning effectively. Without them, the spine becomes a straight line from the neck to the pelvis. Resultantly, it causes the center of gravity to move too far forward. As a result, the alignment of the spine is flatter than normal.

In Flat back posture, the spine has a poor ability to absorb and distribute mechanical stress evenly throughout the body. The muscles may have to work harder to help stabilize and move the spine.

Symptoms: Chronic pain, Thigh and Groin Pain, Neck Pain, Obscurity in standing straight, Muscle Fatigue, Trouble in performing daily tasks efficiently.

Corrective Exercises recommended:

1. Thoracic Stretch with a foam roller: Lie on foam roller with both head and pelvis supported by the roller. Gently bring your arms out to the side and allow your chest to relax as you stretch your back and chest. Hold this stretch initially for 15 seconds and then bring your arms up to the ceiling.

2. Standing intersegmental cat/cow: Whilst standing, wrap your arms around an exercise ball as much as you can. Try to get your fingertips to touch. Starting from the neck: Proceed to round your spine down one vertebra at a time until you reach midback. Emphasise the rounding over the areas where your spine is the flattest. From

here, reverse your movements back to the beginning. Repeat 20 times.

3. Intersegmental cat/cow: Get into the 4 point kneel position. Hands in line with shoulder joints. Knees in line with the hip joint. Starting from the neck: Proceed to round your spine down one vertebra at a time until you reach mid-back. Emphasise the rounding over the areas where your spine is the flattest. From here, reverse your movements back to the beginning. Repeat 20 times.

4. Foam rolling hamstrings: Place your hamstrings on top of a massage ball. Use your body weight to apply pressure onto

your hamstrings. Make sure to cover the whole hamstring muscle on both sides.

5. Lower hamstring: Whilst standing, place a straight knee in front of you. Lean forward by hinging at the hips. Remember to keep your back straight! Aim to feel a stretch in the mid/lower portion of your hamstrings. Hold for 60 seconds. Alternate legs.

6. Abdominal: Lie on your stomach. Place hands on the floor directly under shoulders. Straighten your elbows. Arch backward. (Note: Be careful if you have lower back issues) Aim to feel a stretch across your abdominal region. Breathe and expand your stomach as you

BY COACH NADIA POPOVA

stretch. Hold for 60 seconds.

7. Superman: This is to activate the lower back muscles. Lie on your stomach. Stretch out your arms in front of you. Lift your upper body and legs off the floor. Hold for 5-10 seconds. Repeat 30 times.

8. Chest stretch: Place both hands on the door frame. Lunge forward. Do not flare out your ribs. You should feel a stretch in the front part of your shoulder/chest region. Hold for 30 seconds.

9. The bird dog: Get down on your hands and knees, hips over knees, hands under shoulders, so you form a nice square. Raise your left leg and your right arm, balancing on the opposite hand and knee. Hold that position for a count of five. Then switch to the opposite side.

Flat Back Strength Exercises:

1. Straight-Leg Deadlift.

2. Strengthening Thoracic, upper back, mid back exercises.

3. Strengthening Core (front, side and back) exercises.

Our Trainers can create a custom corrective exercise program for your particular case. Please reach out to us so schedule your Free Assessment/Consultation at (760) 880-9904 or visit our website: www.cvsendmeatrainer. com

CANNABISCORNER

In the newspapers today, you will read about youngsters in CA dying from unregulated cannabis. There are over 207 pages of cannabis regulations in the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). In addition, there are regulations promulgated by counties and cities. So why are youngsters under the age of 21 ingesting unregulated cannabis?

There are 708 chapters and 707 pages in the 2022 Alcohol and Beverage ACT in CA, yet alcohol is available in every corner store, every big box outlet, Rite Aid, every restaurant in CA. Eleven percent of entering college students are already heavy drinkers leading to nearly 2,000 students dying each year. So why isn’t the journalist talking about how youngsters die of alcohol ingestion? Why are colleges prohibited from teaching the Science of cannabis, yet any business is allowed to obtain a liquor license?

There is not a single death from cannabis consumption by anyone, any age, any where in the world, ever. That is a fact. What allows the public and media to denigrate a natural plant that God made to mimic the biology of living mammals? Poor research? Government lies?

Pharmaceutical influence? Alcohol commercials?

I’m watching football while writing this and 50% of the commercials are showing and telling me how cool it is to drink alcohol. Children watch this. Are the parents telling children that alcohol kills? I doubt it.

So, what is the science that tells us alcohol kills yet cannabis does not? The

endocannabinoid system (ECS) is the science. The ECS has millions of receptors all over the body for cannabis, more than any other chemical in the body. This abundance of receptors for the plant cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are the exact replica of the natural cannabinoids we make, anandamide and 2-AG. What makes people believe cannabis kills, is the erroneous comparison between natural cannabinoids (NC) and synthetic cannabinoids (SyC).

SyC act on the same brain cell receptors (CB1 and CB2) as THC. The defining reason NC does not kill mammals as opposed to alcohol is there are NO, NONE, ZERO receptors for THC in the brain stem which controls breathing. The caveat to this Scenario is two very important principles. First, there is a major lethal difference between the THC and CBD in the plant and synthetics which are

made in the lab.

SyC are human-made mind-altering chemicals that are either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material so they can be smoked or sold as liquids to be vaporized and inhaled in e-cigarettes and other devices. These products are also known as herbal or liquid incense. Manufacturers sell these products in colorful foil packages and plastic bottles to attract consumers, especially teenagers. Hundreds of brands have been around for years. Now they are packaged as K2, Spice, Joker, Black Mamba, Kush, and Kronic.

The second caveat is NC are partial agonists whereas Sy the plant cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

C are full agonists. A full agonist is when the drug locks onto a receptor completely. Receptors are not simply off-on switches. They are more like light bulbs on a dimmer

BY RUTH HILL R.N.

switch. A full agonist will crank the receptor to its full level of “brightness” which is not possible with THC. The black-market SYC are full agonists causing medical emergencies, including adverse cardiovascular events, stroke, and death.

Deaths can also occur when dangerous synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are added to the packaged mixture without the user knowing it. A small class of molecules designed expressly to evade legislation passed in China in July 2021 banning SYC containing one of seven general core new chemicals, called OXIZID cannabinoids. These alternative core structures are technically legal – or at least not explicitly illegal.

Prohibition creates a market for completely unheard-of drugs that can be talked about as marijuana-like. While lazy journalists cause a sensation by inflating a mother’s grief some important scientific nuance gets left out of the writing regarding SYC which the media, legislators, and “say no to cannabis promoters” cannot or will not understand.

Learn more about how to use Marijuana

Without the High on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Vault Dispensary Lounge. Call 760-866-9660 or send comments to cannaangel16@gmail. com