Coachella Valley Weekly - March 31 to April 6, 2022 Vol. 11 No. 3 by CV Weekly

c o a c h e l l a v a l l e y w e e k l y . c o m • M a r c h 3 1 t o A p r i l 6 , 2 0 2 2 V o l .1 1 N o .3

All This Intimacy Nadia Popova Tales From Mojo Saturn Desert Arc Golf Classic Glow In The Park Patricia Welch pg6

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March 31 to April 6, 2022

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Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Kirby, Kathy Bates, Raymond Bill Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Head Music Writer Esther Sanchez Head Feature Writer Crystal Harrell Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Noe Gutierrez, Tricia Witkower Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Craig Michaels, Janet McAfee, Haddon Libby, Sam DiGiovanna, Dale Gribow, Rob Brezny, Denise Ortuno Neil, Dee Jae Cox, Lynne Tucker, Aimee Mosco, Ruth Hill, Madeline Zuckerman, Ed Heethuis, Daniel Paris, Michelle Borthwick, Nadia Popova, Dennis Shelly Photographers Robert Chance, Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Esther Sanchez Videographer Kurt Schawacker Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS CV Weekly 10 Year Anniversary............ 3-5 Theatre - All This Intimacy........................ 6 Nadia Popova............................................. 7 Tales From Mojo Saturn............................. 7 Consider This - Silk Sonic ......................... 8 Club Crawler Nightlife ............................. 9 Screeners................................................. 10 Society Scene-Desert Arc Golf Classic ... 11 The Vino Voice ........................................ 12 Travel Tips 4 U - Glow In The Park.......... 13 Pet Place ............................................. 14-15

his issue marks Coachella Valley Weekly’s 10 years of being a publication. Every year on our Anniversary we put all of the previous year’s cover on that issue’s cover. Last year and the year before we did the same, however, it was our 8 year Anniversary in 2020 that we were not able to actually print the paper due to the Covid pandemic and everything shutting down for quarantine. It was a devastating blow! I immediately 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 even if only online. And that is what we have done every week since over the last 2 years. Even when I was so very sick with Covid and pneumonia and the aftereffects of it throughout most of 2020, 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. That really helped keep us more relevant since we were not in print. The exciting news is that we have been back in print for a couple months now and are moving forward in a strong direction. 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). Especially when the majority of all of our advertising dollars dried up for months and it was by the skin of my teeth that I and we, were able to make every week happen. I also want to thank all the community members that have made very generous donations over the last 2 years and still continue to so that we can keep going. We also have another very exciting project in the works that I can’t quite mention yet, but it will take CV Weekly to another level so standby for that. I would also like to thank all of our loyal readers and advertisers over the last 10 years for all of your support. The last 10 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 10. 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 Esther Sanchez, our head music writer. You deliver quality music articles about the local music scene and have a unique voice with your interviews. Thank you Lisa Morgan, who has held many positions since day one, including Sales Manager, Head Music Writer and all round CV Weekly cheerleader. Thank you to Kirby our Advertising Account Executive who has been kicking but lately. And I’m very proud to announce our newest Account Executive Kathy Bates to our team. We go back 27 years and I’m glad she chose CV Weekly as she had many other offers. To all of our other current feature writers: Tricia Witkower, Rich Henrich, Denise Ortuno, and Laura Hunt Little, your contributions are most appreciated. Thank you to our current columnists, many who have been with us since the beginning, like Robin Simmons, 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 10 years and especially the last two has

March 31 to April 6, 2022

FROM THE PUBLISHER, TRACY DIETLIN

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, 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), Bronwyn Ison, Bruce Cathcart, Sunny Simon, Jason Hall, Dr. Peter Kadile, Marissa Willman, Elizabeth Scarcella, Aaron Ramson, Flint Wheeler, and the late Judith Salkin. Thank you to our Art Director for the first year, Oscar Arbulu, who helped shape the design of the publication, and Ivan Urias and Rudy Mendez who were the first to handle distribution. 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 continue to page 4

Safety Tips ............................................... 16 Cyber Corner ........................................... 16 Haddon Libby .......................................... 17 Dale Gribow ............................................. 17 Send Me A Trainer .................................. 18 Patricia Welch.......................................... 18 Swag For The Soul .................................. 19 Free Will Astrology................................. 19 Keg Whisperer......................................... 20

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10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY continued from page 3

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! ----------------------------------------------------MESSAGES FROM THE STAFF: Crystal Harrell - Head Feature Writer As a lifelong resident of the Coachella Valley, I grew up with a fervent passion for journalism and a longing to know more about the desert around me. To satiate my curiosity about the people, culture, and history of my home, I began freelance writing for various local outlets after graduating college a few years ago. I came across an open writing position at CV Weekly, and as fate would have it, quickly became Head Feature Writer. I am immensely grateful for the chance to write for this wonderful publication, and regard it as one of the greatest decisions I ever made in my journalism career so far. My gratitude towards Tracy, Phil, and the entire team at CV Weekly is immeasurable. I will always be thankful for how they took me in as a young writer and decided to take a chance on me. A special thanks also goes to those who read my stories every week. Through my various article assignments, I have gotten to meet so many talented, incredible people and attend phenomenal events that form the cultural fabric of our Valley. I will continue to prioritize bringing our readers stories that not only inform but inspire the creative, ambitious drive displayed within our community. A little over ten years ago, I stood up against corruption in city government and was fired by my employer as the result of a phone call to my CEO by that city manager. I eventually settled with the city and former employer - none of the city leaders were reelected, and the city got a new manager. While my efforts may not have changed the world, it did expose a problem in one city that voters quickly remedied. While exposing the bad behavior was the right thing to do, it showed who my true friends are. It also introduced me to newfound friends who came to my side as I fought the entrenched powers of government and business. Tracy and Phil were two of a small group of friends who were there for me throughout. Haddon Libby - Business Columnist Today I have a truly wonderful life with the noise of ten years ago far behind me. I own and operate an investment management business that operates to the fiduciary standard of care, a level of client care that less than one in 20 investment advisors adhere to. We have won small business awards for our

efforts in the community and with our clients. Additionally, I’m married to my best friend with our oldest daughter away at university and twins finishing 5th grade. While that moment in time ten years ago is not one I would choose to repeat again, it made it possible for me to reset my life and do the things I love to do with the people I care about. Thank you Tracy and Phil for being true friends through thick and thin! Dee Jae Cox - Theatre columnist I met Tracy Dietlin, a superstar businesswoman in the Coachella Valley, in 2013 when she appeared as a guest on my radio show California Woman, which featured women who lead and inspire, a perfect description of who Tracy is. The Coachella Valley Weekly was entering its second year of publication and she was taking desert publishing by storm. Towards the end of 2014, I approached her and asked about writing for her. I’m a playwright, director and producer and wanted to write a column on Coachella Valley Theatre. She immediately agreed and offered me the opportunity to write theatre reviews and features and so “Breaking the 4th Wall,” was created. In the seven and a half years (and over two hundred articles,) since I began writing for the CV Weekly, I’ve had the most supportive and incredible experience that a writer could hope for. Tracy inspires loyalty because she is not only a brilliant and creative businesswoman, but she’s a caring humanitarian who deeply cares about the people she works with and loves the desert community. I’m so proud to be a member of the Coachella Valley Weekly and I’m truly grateful for the opportunities that this publication has provided in allowing me to write about what I love, theatre! Michelle Borthwick - Keto is Easy Coach Columnist Tracy Dietlin is a visionary who has made so many positive changes in our valley. She combined a "what's to do" and "what's happening" with a community newspaper full of topics that people are genuinely interested in... without filler copy. I'm blown away by her tenacity during the pandemic to continue on and make the pivots necessary to not only survive but to thrive. It's with great honor that I've contributed a column on Keto for many years. Keep Going Tracy...celebrate your 10 years of taking an idea to the reality of a successful publication to a star shining so brightly over the Coachella Valley! Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna - Safety Columnist I am honored to be part of the CV Weekly team for many reasons. I feel the CV Weekly is a classy and diverse news publication that

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covers most every interest in the Coachella Valley. As a Fire Chief, I have seen many incidents that have injured or claimed/ changed the lives of many. Our world is changing quickly and providing safety messages to the public is important to me. As a good friend Gordon Graham says “if it’s predictable. It’s preventable!” The ability to write fire & life safety articles for the CV Weekly provides that opportunity to provide information (predictable) that may help save a life or protect assets (preventable) of people both in the Coachella Valley and beyond. Though my primary residence is in Orange County, and I serve in Los Angeles, the Coachella Valley has been my second home for over 25 years. Writing for the CV Weekly has made me feel ‘entrenched’ and part of the Coachella Valley. Writing for and reading

the CV Weekly has provided me opportunities to attend great events, restaurant’s, art exhibits & shows, concerts (thank you Tracy Dietlin) shops with great deals and visit places of interest I never knew existed. Most importantly, I have met new friends and, read some very interesting articles and keeping me abreast of what’s happening in each community out here in the Coachella Valley. Thank you, Tracy and Phil, for providing me the opportunity to write for the CV Weekly, but mostly, thank you for your kindness and friendship. I am truly honored! Lynne Tucker - Travel Columnist This is the fourth year I have been a contributing writer for your amazing publication. It’s been a challenging couple of years especially with Covid-19 but we all hung in and

came out better and stronger. I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity to be part of your team. I look forward to writing many more articles for CV Weekly. Congratulations on 10 fantastic years. Eleni Austin - Consider This Columnist A Cranky Mash Note To Tracy & Phil I can’t remember if Tracy asked me to write for Coachella Valley Weekly, or I just arrogantly offered up my services. We had already known each other for about a decade, and she knew I was an opinionated smart-ass with some music knowledge, but that doesn’t always translate to the printed page. Luckily, she decided to take a chance. I’d officially like to thank Tracy and Phil for allowing me to share my passion for music on a weekly basis with the world. I had written for the Desert Sun for about five years when I was in my early ‘20s, but exited stage left when they were subsumed by the giant corporate monster in the late ‘80s. I never looked back, but around the time CVW was up and running, the time seemed right to return to writing. Tracy and Phil have given me free reign with my column, they never filter me, even when I’m on a hypercritical rant. They allow me to channel my (not-so) inner Bitch Goddess and let the opinions fly, at a leisurely and sometimes long-winded pace. In a world where information is disseminated in tiny, snack-size bites, being able to state my case and spin a yarn is a luxury. More importantly, these two have worked tirelessly to create a great weekly newspaper that concentrates on entertainment and pop culture. It isn’t always easy, but somehow, week after week, Tracy and Phil continue to defy the odds. Obviously, it’s a true labor of love. So, I salute them, and I also want to give a shout-out to Robert Chance and Bobby Taffolla for all their hard work as well and all the writers at CV Weekly and the staff that give their all. Covid has cratered many businesses, I am happy that Coachella Valley Weekly is here to celebrate it’s first decade. You guys deserve this victory lap. Ruth Hill - Cannabis Columnist Congratulations to Tracy and Philip on Ten Years with CV Weekly In March 2017, I looked for a local publication for an article about cannabis. As a registered nurse, a writer, and a new convert I was under no illusion that my cannabis articles would find the lite of day in The Desert

March 31 to April 6, 2022

Sun. Bob Knuuttila, a cannabis specialist, introduced me to Tracy Dietlin. I had never committed to any publisher with a regular schedule. So, in preparation I joined the Wordkeepers poetry group lead by Dorothea Bisbas, held every Wednesday afternoon at the Rancho Mirage Library. The poetry group demand of a 1st draft poem every week disciplined me with the success of creating a bimonthly article for CV Weekly. CV Weekly is the best news weekly for all the events in Coachella Valley. When my first article was accepted in April of 2017, to the Cannabis Corner, I was thrilled. Tracy and Phil allow me editorial license to write information that not everyone will agree. I feel Tracy and I are a team. We collaborate on graphics and when Tracy asks for an extra article, it pushes me to be on top of my writing. Thank you for 5 years, Tracy, and Phil, you are the best. Ruth A Hill RN Lola Rossi - Desert Rhythms Columnist Some of you may remember Desert Rhythms, a newspaper that was started by Robin Linn back in 1993. Her vision was to promote local musicians in the newspaper because she felt the local music scene was overlooked. I helped by selling some ads for her and a few times, I helped her layout the paper. It was truly a labor of love. Her paper only lasted one year, but soon after, the Nightlife issue was started in the Desert Sun. Before I moved to Palm Springs, I sang in a band called Sheer Pleasure in South Philadelphia. We were featured on a TV show called “Live at Nine” which is on YouTube now with several other performances. I started singing with Johnny Meza at the Riviera Resort in Palm Springs while working at The House of Fabrics. In 1995, we recorded our first CD and started performing at Country Clubs and private parties in the Coachella Valley and continue to page 6

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10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY continued from page 5

parts of Northern and Southern California. Jazz was being featured in a handful of restaurants and to help promote the Valley’s local music scene, I started writing the Palm Springs Jazz page in the LA Jazz Scene in June of 2002. This paper led me to the Desert Entertainer and on April 3, 2003, I was writing the “Out on the Town” column that was changed to the “Desert Rhythms” column one month later, in honor of Robin Linn. In the June 16, 2005 issue, the name changed to “Valley Rhythms”. In the September 15, 2005 issue, I announced “The First Annual Coachella Valley Music Awards will be held at Spotlight 29 Casino at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27. All Coachella Valley residents and especially

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music fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite soloist, vocalist and band who have been nominated to receive an award. Go to coachellavalleymusicawards.com to see the nominees and cast your vote. The voting ends at midnight on Saturday, September 24.” By the way, we won 3 awards. For those who participated and attended, this was quite an achievement for Tracy Dietlin. As we all know, time flies by and circumstances change. But the desire in her heart never wavered and for 7 years, she took the time to plan and was ready to unleash her “new baby”. I wrote my last column for Desert Entertainer in the February 17, 2011 issue. One year later on the same day, Tracy called

me and asked me to be one of the first writers to be part of the Coachella Valley Weekly mock copy to promote her new publication to the advertisers. On Thursday, March 29, 2012 all of their work was realized in the First Coachella Valley Weekly Issue. Soon after, they started an award show called The Best of The Desert, which led to the Annual Coachella Valley Music Awards. I was very happy to garner the Best Adult Contemporary Vocalist Award in 2014. Congratulations and May God Continue to Bless You, Your Family and the CV Weekly. Bobby Taffolla – Website Manager Congratulations Tracy and Phil for 10 years of CV Weekly! It’s been a pleasure to watch your dream grow and persevere even through

DESERT ENSEMBLE THEATRE PRESENTS "ALL THIS INTIMACY"

esert Ensemble Theatre (DET) concludes its record-breaking season at the Palm Springs Cultural Center in February with All This Intimacy by Rajiv Joseph. Performances are March 25–27 and April 1–3: Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 7pm, and Sundays at 7pm. Tickets are $35 and available at www.desertensembletheatre. org. In Joseph’s comedy, Ty Greene is a normal guy with three very big problems. In an unprecedented (for him) run of promiscuity, Ty has managed to impregnate three women in the span of one week. As the women converge and figure out what’s happened, Ty realizes his life is adrift and that he only has a limited time to try to piece it back together. All This Intimacy was first produced by New York’s Second Stage Theater. DET’s production is directed by Keith

M. Cornell. DET veterans Sean Timothy Brown (Election Day, Bad Jews, Asleep on the Wind) and Phylicia Mason (The Beebo Brinker Chronicles, Salty) return to the company. Eliza Convis, Clare Merritt, Raul Valenzuela, and Kudra Wagner make their DET debuts. Since taking residence at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, DET has received critical acclaim for its productions of The Beebo Brinker Chronicles, Artificial Morality, and Salty. DET was the February 2022 recipient of the Coachella Valley Spotlight Grant – a partnership of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation and CBS Local 2 – and is working with the Palm Springs Cultural Center on critical technical upgrades that will benefit both DET and other organizations performing at the venue. Rajiv Joseph’s play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama and also awarded a grant

for Outstanding New American Play by the National Endowment for the Arts. He has twice won the Obie Award for Best New

the hardest of times. I am honored to be a part of the team for the last 5 years. Here’s to 10 more my friends, cheers! Robert Chance – Art Director For nine of the ten years this publication has been operating, I have had the privilege to meet and work with some amazing people from all walks of life, from a variety of careers and talents. People who, in one way or another, impacted my life professionally, educationally, charitably, and even spiritually. I’ve been able to attend and contribute to some awesome events, to hone my craft of the visual arts, and to seize lucrative business opportunities along the way. All this is thanks to Tracy Dietlin… My friend, family and business partner all in one. Big thanks to you and Phil and all of the CV Weekly family!

THEATRE

American Play, first in 2016 with Guards at the Taj (also a 2016 Lortel Winner for Best Play) and in 2018 for Describe the Night.

PERSONAL PROFILE

hen Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the attack that was internationally considered a war of aggression has spiraled into something even more devastating. It has triggered Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, with over 3.8 million Ukrainians leaving the country, and millions more being internally displaced. The current crisis hits especially close to home for one Coachella Valley resident who still has family living in Ukraine. Nadia Popova is a life coach and business owner at Send Me A Trainer— a service that allows users the ability to have in-home verified personal trainers with fair rates and the ability to rotate trainers while keeping track of sessions and payments on an app. Growing up in Ukraine, Nadia moved to California in 2012 where she spent a year in San Diego first, and later relocated to the Coachella Valley in 2013. She still has family living in her childhood home in Mykolaiv, a city near the Black Sea in southern Ukraine. Her mother Valentina has lived there all her life. “It took us a while to realize the seriousness of the situation because when something like this happens, you think ‘how is this possible?’ You go through stages of realization and it takes time to process. It took us a while to believe that the Russians were seriously attacking Ukraine,” recalled Nadia. The sound of explosions near the apartment her brother and mother are living in have only just started to become distant after weeks of being scared to death to walk outside. Relatives from her mother’s side are spread out throughout the country and have relocated to Poland and Moldova.

LOCAL MUSIC

few weeks ago when Joshua Adams from local rock band Fever Dog informed me that he had a new solo, side-project under the alter-ego, Blue Diamond I was immediately intrigued. Already a fan of Fever Dog, I had a feeling that his flair for theatrics would likely be showcased in this project and folks, I was not disappointed. Tales from Mojo Saturn is truly a wild ride full of dramatic splendor that weaves tales of other worldly beings in a galactic fantasy tied together by a score that boggles the imagination. After listening to this album in its entirety, I had a plethora of questions for Blue Diamond. CVW: “So, first things first. You are a member of Fever Dog and that project has been your baby for some time now. This side project seems to have a vintage vibe in its sound and feel that transports the listener to a time before you even existed. Is this an idea that you have had for a long time?” Blue Diamond: “I've been composing, writing, & recording my band's music as well as my own for over ten years. In my school days I was obsessed with electronics so naturally I began to attempt to make recordings of our garage band with some make-shift equipment. There was a lot of trial and error, a lot of browsing internet forums, and a lot of trips to radio shack. That was all very useful stuff and I made some progress but. I think I learned the majority of what I know about songwriting and production by listening to my favorite records and trying to emulate what I heard. My intention has never been to sound vintage whatsoever; in fact I kind of dislike the comparison, although I do understand where

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March 31 to April 6, 2022

NADIA POPOVA FINDS HOPE DURING WAR IN UKRAINE

The reason why Nadia’s mother cannot leave the country is due to her health condition, as she had a stroke a year ago and has shown signs of the first stages of dementia. Her older brother is 52 years-old and is not permitted to leave the country due to the law by Ukraine State Border Guard Service stating that men ages 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving. Distance plays a factor in Nadia’s ability to assist her family trapped in Ukraine, and although there is not much she can do physically except send funds to them, she helps by sharing the conversation and support of others. “It’s worth mentioning how powerful we are when we are supporting each other. Support is crucial; if we aren’t supporting each other, we are actually harming each other. It helps relieve the stress immensely. As soon as I show my support to my family from other people sharing positive thoughts and energy, they know they are not alone,” stated Nadia.

Nadia has been dancing for many years and practices her passion at a dance studio in the desert to help relieve the stress she feels about the current war crisis. Her career as a life coach also enables her to give others guidance through her own transformations and journey, even during this difficult time. “I feel like I have so much to share to others when it comes to finding strength. It took me only ten years to realize how strong humans are and what we are capable of achieving if we just believe in ourselves. If we learn from a mistake and keep moving instead of sabotaging ourselves by not believing, then we won’t be trapped in our little cages of self-doubt,” said Nadia. Although the war in Ukraine has been devastating news to process for many, Nadia believes that the best way to cope with these circumstances is to remind ourselves every day, first and foremost, that the world is a safe, beautiful place. Despite the darkness

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL surrounding the war, she stands by the notion of holding on to that idea of safety to better cope with current events. “With the war going on, the belief of safety is going to get compromised. We need to be united and do our best to help stop this as soon as possible. We can keep spreading the word and giving to the cause. This world is a place of growth and love, not death and danger. This is a circumstance that we need to all overcome holding each other’s hands,” shared Nadia. Nadia is currently in the process of organizing a walk on El Paseo with the City of Palm Desert to help show support for Ukraine. More information on that event and any new developments will be featured in a future edition of CV Weekly.

TALES FROM MOJO SATURN A SCIENCE FICTION CONCEPTUAL ROCK OPERA BY BLUE DIAMOND

it comes from. The toolset I'm working with and what I measure my own music against has always been my favorite records, which just happen to be rather old fashioned.” CVW: “You will have to forgive me but, although I have seen Xanadu, it has been many years. Explain to me what I am listening to. Is this a remake of something or some sort of fan fiction and how/when were you inspired to do this?” Blue Diamond: “It's actually not related in any way and I've only seen Xanadu one time in a bar and the sound was off. Xanadu is a fictional place that has been used in poems and stories dating all the way back to 1798. I guess I just enjoyed the way the word sounded and needed a stand in title for a fantasy planet covered in thick vegetation and dangerous

wildlife (imagine the Coachella Valley Wildlife Refuge.) No disrespect to Olivia Newton John. I suppose it's too late to change the title. Damn!” Blue Diamond continues: “I've always had a love for fantasy & science fiction stories, roleplaying games, impenetrable progressive rock concept albums, radio dramas, and wild music. The work I do in Fever Dog is definitely more of a collaboration with the other members but my solo-work, this album especially, is where I'm able to brazenly cram in as much awesome bullsh*t as I want! Screw Danny!” CVW: “When did the project turn from whatever your idea was to something you were actually working on in real life and who helped you with it?” Blue Diamond: “I record very wildly. The majority of what I write and record is never released. So this album began to very organically take shape over the course of a few years, just randomly coming together. My ideas are very much like that. I never plan, or think, or decide to do something specific. Usually, just a completely manic obsession will visit me, make my life completely miserable, ruin my relationships, ruin my home and professional life, and basically not leave me alone until I decide to get my ass in gear and bring it into fruition. I don't consider myself as having ideas, it feels like ideas just visit me and drive me insane. Sometimes I wish my ideas would go and bother someone more talented and qualified than myself but here we are.” Blue Diamond continues: “As far as help, I did this album all by myself. All the playing,

BY ESTHER SANCHEZ engineering, producing, composing, mixing etc. Although one song I did think it would be cute to have my friend Danny Graham come in and play a little guitar. I like to throw him a bone every once in a while.” CVW: “Have you or are you planning on performing any of this live?” Blue Diamond: “If you are a musician who can help me with that and you aren't a complete joke, find me on instagram and we'll see what we can do.” CVW: “Do you have any other unusual project ideas in the works or at least in the back of your head?” Blue Diamond: “Yes! Apart from my Rock & Roll, I want to compose an operetta. Outside of music, I want to take a crack at writing theological essays and designing a Dungeons & Dragons module. I've always wanted to run a marathon and my mom says I should go on Jeopardy. But most importantly, I want to play more drums!” CVW: “Anything else that you want to mention? Go nuts!” Blue Diamond: “Yes! I'm looking to open a 24-hour alcohol free, topless donut shop in Cathedral City or Old Town Indio. If you have serious advice or want to get in on the ground floor, contact me via email, my bandcamp page, or instagram.” Bluediamond.bandcamp.com Instagram:@oldschoolprogger

March 31 to April 6, 2022

CONSIDER THIS

fell in love last week. Musically, that is. I’m a little late to the party, the record came out in November, and has received a couple Grammy nominations. Somehow, it’s existence snuck under my radar. But me being tardy to the party doesn’t lessen the deep and majestic feelings I have for Silk Sonic’s spectacular debut, An Evening With Silk Sonic. Silk Sonic is the brain-child of protean Pop/R&B superstar Bruno Mars and his equally talented pal, Rapper Anderson. Paak. Born out of lockdown boredom during the pandemic, the pair weren’t sure if either would ever perform live again, so they decided to go for broke, recording a nine-song set that echoes the epochal Soul and R&B that ruled the airwaves back in the early ‘70s. Not only did they write all the songs together and play the instruments live, splitting singing duties and “going for crazy notes” that they assumed they would never have to replicate live, But they doubled down on the Me Decade verisimilitude by enlisting the help of Soul/ funk legend Bootsy Collins. Something of a child prodigy, Bruno Mars jump-started his solo career back in 2010, garnering favorable comparisons to old school entertainers like Michael Jackson and James Brown. Over the course of four critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums he has already won an astonishing 11 Grammy Awards. Anderson has also achieved critical and commercial success by creating a fizzy fusion of Hip Hop and R&B. Of course, Bootsy Collins is in a class of his own. The legendary bassist made his bones in James Brown’s original J.B’s line-up before forging his own path by forming Parliament/Funkadelic, and finally Bootsy’s Rubber Band. A hero to both Bruno and Anderson, Bootsy came up with the Silk Sonic moniker. The album kicks into gear with a fun and flirty intro, pithily entitled “Silk Sonic Intro.” A fluttery, free-flowing prologue that blends insistent handclaps, and a walloping backbeat, setting the mood for things to come. Bootsy breezes in and adds his own perspective; “Well alright it is I, Blaster Of The Universe, Bootzilla himself, fellas, I hope you got somethin’ in your cup/ And ladies, don’t be afraid to make it to the front of the stage for a band that I name Silk Sonic.” The intro immediately folds into the first single, “Leave The Door Open. Quivery guitars and percolating keys cascade over an insistent kick-drum beat. Bruno’s glossy falsetto intertwines with Anderson’s pliant tenor and the pair trade verses that are intended to allure and seduce; “I’m sippin’ wine, in a robe, I look good, to be alone, my house clean, my pool warm, just shaved-smooth like a newborn/We should be dancing,’ romancin’ in the east wing and the west wing of this mansion, what’s happenin’?” Languid and urgent in equal measure the result is simply incandescent. The instrumental break, accompanied by exigent “la-la-la’s,” urges the song toward a tumescent crescendo before powering down, spent and sated. Both “Fly As Me” and “777” offer up greasy slabs of 21st century Funk. The

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SILK SONIC

former sounds like the best Blaxploitation theme you’ve never heard. From the opening 1-2-3 count-off, to the boomerang bass lines, the shivery keys and ricocheting wah-wah guitar, the arrangement summons antecedents like James Brown, the JB’s, the Isley Brothers and Curtis Mayfield. Once the syncopated horn section drops in to see what condition their condition is in, you might assume that vocals would almost be superfluous, but you’d be wrong. Bruno floats like a butterfly while Anderson stings like a bee. Cocksure lyrics confirm that their flirtation game is on fleek; “Now have you ever been with a player, take you downtown where they treat me like the mayor, take you to the crib, we can take you upstairs, ‘what’s upstairs?’ Shit, I’ma show you later.” On the hooky chorus, these louche lotharios button up the seduction with this brash declaration; “I deserve to be with somebody as fly as me, somebody this fly, and you deserve to be with somebody as fly as me, somebody this fly.” The whole enterprise cools down on the bridge, then ramps up for the final chorus before stopping on a dime. On the latter, static-y guitars buzz and strafe over jet-set keys, throbbing bass and an artillery burst of percussion. Love and sex (sex and love?) are momentarily on the backburner as these playas indulge in a different game of chance. Anderson spits verse at a furious clip; “Pretty motherfucker with some money to blow, I’m ‘bout to buy Las Vegas after this roll, I’m ‘bout to buy Las Vegas after this roll, come on 7-7-7, let’s go/Blackjack, Baccarat, dealer where you at, deal for me, woo, give me the tips, give me the tips, give me some magic, go all in, I can see the champagne fallin,’ I got bills to pay, but bills can wait, ah, fuck it, we ballin.” Salted into the mix is a peppery horn section, chicken-scratch guitar, a wash of guiro and a conga-riffic beat. Bruno leaps into the fray, slyly channeling his inner King Of Pop; “Stacks on stacks, racks on racks, Moonwalk to the money like I’m Mike Jack, yes, I’m faded, pupils dilated, but the man in the mirror sayin’ ‘go on, get your paper.” A triptych of tracks unfurls like an informal song-suite charting the highs and lows of a relationship born from a onenight stand. Guest vocalist Krystal Miles opens “After Last Night,” with a spent and breathy intro that gives Sylvia’s classic “Pillow Talk” a run for it’s money. Lush strings and bloopy synths envelope the the voluptuous melody. Here, Bruno and Anderson trade verses with Bootsy and rapper Thundercat as the song locks into a fecund, post-coital groove. A declaration of new millenium commitment is offered; “If I still had my phone, I’d call every girl I know and tell them goodbye, ah, bye-bye (Uh, toodle-oo, ooh) cars, clothes, diamonds and gold anything you want, anyplace you want it, we’ll fly, fly yeah.” Bruno rips a stinging guitar solo on the break, easily rendering this the best baby-makin’ music since the heyday of Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, the Stylistics, Teddy Pendergrass and Prince. Sadly, the bloom is off the rose on Smokin’ Out The Window.” Fluttery strings partner with pliant horns, luxuriant synths,

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

willowy guitars, thrumming vibraphone, rubbery bass and a kinetic backbeat. Trading verses, Anderson and Bruno limn the heartache of betrayal. Lyrics paint a vivid portrait of manipulation and cuckoldry; “Must’ve spent thirty-five, fortfive thousand up in Tiffany’s, got her badass kids runnin’ round my whole crib like it’s Chuck E. Cheese, put me in a jam with her ex-man in the UFC, can’t believe it I’m in disbelief/This bitch got me payin’ her rent, payin’ for trips, diamonds on her neck, diamonds on her wrists, and here I am all alone, I’m so cold, I’m so cold, you got me out here smokin’ out the window…” Sure, Sting said “if you love somebody, set them free,” but Silk Sonic finishes out the song with a different perspective; “Look here Baby, I hope you find whatever it is you need, but I also hope that your triflin’ ass is walkin’ ‘round barefoot in these streets, Look out!” Finally, the moodily elegant “Put On A Smile” opens with a cinematic string section before paring down to a barebones arrangement, as lyrics navigate a post break-up landscape. Weepy guitars connect with plangent sitar notes, wily bass and a pulsating conga beat. Much like Pagliacci and Smokey and The Miracles, the Silk Sonic mens spend most of the song trying to camouflage the heartbreak; “If I could turn back the hands of my Roly, you know I would, I would’ve spent all my time makin’ sure that my baby good, I’m tryin’ hard to hide the shame, I know I’m playin’ a dangerous game but since you’ve been gone I ain’t been the same, there’s only so much a man can fake/Oh, not tryna to be the life of the party, oh, not buyin’ shots for everybody, but it’s all an act, I can’t have you back, without you I been goin’ crazy, tryna put on a smile, tryna fight these tears from cryin’ but Lord knows I’m dyin’ tryna’ put on a smile Baby.” A propulsive horn section and sympatico keys are filtered in sparingly, but drums gather speed on the panoramic crescendo as Bruno’s acrobatic falsetto leaps in and sticks the landing. Silk Sonic closes out this splendid ninesong set with a couple of bangers. On “Skate” lithe horns, lush strings bee-stung bass, piquant sitar and shang-a-lang guitars are wed to a pounding beat. Honeyed harmonies wrap around lyrics pay fealty to a roller-boogie babe. The opening couplet alone is worth the price of admission; “In a room full of dimes, you would be a hundred dollars, if bein’ fine was a crime, Girl, they’d lock your lil’ fine ass up in a tower.” The

melody and instrumentation echo the exuberance of Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall era as well as polished Yacht Rock staples like Pablo Cruise and Boz Scaggs. The final track, “Blast Off,” immediately achieves lift-off, locking into an imperial intergalactic groove. The melody is buoyed by an ethereal string section, rippling synths, liquid keys, sinewy bass lines, stately piano and plush guitars. Unabashedly sensual lyrics tease out an invitation to some extraterrestrial wonderland; “Oh let’s tiptoe to a magical place, blast off and kiss the moon tonight, and watch the world go crazy from outer space, blast off into the sky.” On the break, Bruno unleashes a cyclonic guitar solo that feels like a sideways homage to His Purple Majesty, the late-great Prince. But it’s Bootsy who gets in the final word; “Blast off straight to some good vibrations, can we take it higher (oh yeah), all the way from the stratosphere sendin’ love from up above, Happy Trails Baba.” It’s a brilliant finish to a pluperfect debut. While Bruno and Anderson provided vocals, guitar, sitar, percussion, congas, vocals and drums, respectively, they were joined in the studio by a wolfpack of players. The horn section included Kameron Whalum on trombone, Marc Franklin on trumpet, Kirk Smothers on alto and baritone sax and Lannie McMillan on tenor sax. The string section featured violinists Emma Kummrow, Tess Varley, Natasha Colkett, Luigi Mazzochi, Blake Espy and Gared Crawford, Jonathan Kim and Yoshihiko Nankano on violas and Glenn Fishbach on cello. Jeremy Reeves, Charles Moniz and Alex Resogali added percussion. David Foreman played rhythm guitar. Ella Feingold provided additional guitar and vibraphone. James King, Krystal Miles and Babyface tackled backing vocals. But MVP status belongs to D’Mile, a veritable oneman-band playing Fender Rhodes, B-3, percussion, bass, guitar, piano, organ and keys (phew). For me, this album magically transports me back to my L.A. childhood, exploring the not-so-mean streets of Hollywood, coveting my cousin Anthony’s blue 1969 Schwinn Stingray three-speed (banana seat, no sissybar) and watching Soul Train on Saturday afternoons. A time when “la-la-la-la-la- lala-la-la” meant I love you, and we were all “digging the scene with a gangster lean” even if we weren’t quite sure exactly what that entailed. An Evening With Silk Sonic is by turns sleek, sly, salacious and sincere. It’s break-up-to-make-up, booty shakin’ Soul. Their music effortlessly conjures comparisons to Blue Magic, The O’Jays, The Main Ingredient, Al Green, The Delfonics, The Spinners, David Ruffin, Bloodstone, Stylistics and Billy Preston, without ever feeling derivative. Silk Sonic has distilled all those influences and given them their own 21st century spin. This is one of those records that feels like an instant classic.

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Thursday, March 31

Casuelas Café – Avenida – 5:30pm Chef George’s – Marc Antonelli – 6:30pm City of La Quinta – Live Music – 6-9pm Coachella Valley Brewery – Open Mic – 6pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm Four Twenty Bank – Open Mic – 6pm Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Patrice Morris and Kristi King – 6pm Jazzville @ Agua Caliente – The Jive Aces – 7pm Jolene’s – Christine Love – 6pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Doo-Wah Riders – 7pm The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm O’Caine’s – Midlife O’crisis – 6pm Pappy and Harriet’s – Jesse Daniel w/ Summer Dean, Brad Byrd and Victoria Bailey – 6pm, Vanishing Twin w/ Relief and Sonoda 8pm Plan B Entertainment & Cocktails – DJ Boochie Cat – 9pm Shanghai Red’s (Palm Springs) – Lisa Lynn and the Broken Hallelujahs – 7pm Tommy Bahamas – Alex Santana – 5pm Vicky’s of Santa Fe – John Stanley King Trio – 6pm

Friday, April 1

Bart Lounge – Picopalooza w/ DJs Axel Alatriste, Frankthadank, Meowsenburg, Moeski and Pico – 8pm Casuelas Café – Live Music – 7pm

Chef George’s – Lizann Warner – 6:30pm City of La Quinta – DJ Pumba – 7-10pm Coachella Valley Brewing Co. – Krystofer Do, Crucial Culture and When Tides Turn – 7pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm Four Twenty Bank – Comedy Show – 6pm Hotel Zoso – DJ Manny – Lounge – 5pm Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Marc Antonelli and Patricia Welch – 6pm Jolene’s – Chenza Puno – 7pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – B.I.G. – 9pm Mitch’s on El Paseo – Alex Santana – 12pm The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm O’Caine’s – Ken O’Malley – 6pm Pappy and Harriet’s – Fuzz w/ Warm Drag – 7:30pm Plan B Entertainment & Cocktails – Red’s Rockstar Karaoke – 9pm Rockyard @ Fantasy Springs – Generation Idol (Billy Idol Tribute) and Hi-Fi Academy – 7pm Tommy Bahamas – Alex Santana – 5pm The Village – Rob & JB – 5:30-8:30pm, Rapmarz – 10pm, DJ LF – 10pm, DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm Vicky’s of Santa Fe – Kal David Trio – 4:30pm, John Stanley King – 7pm

Saturday, April 2

Bart Lounge – More Bass w/ DJs Femme A, Sugarfree, Alex Updike, Madeuza, Bumparoo and Optimisticgrind – 8pm

Casuelas Café – Live Music – noon, Live Music – 7pm Chef George’s – Michael D Angelo and Tim Burleson – 6:30pm City of La Quinta – Live Music – 6:308:30pm Coachella Valley Brewing Co. – “Brewhouse Rock” w/ Matt Davin, Matt and the Kings and Cody White and the Easy Ride – 7pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm Desert Fox – Mikole Kaar Jazz Club – 9pm Four Twenty Bank – Fleetwood Mac Tribute – 6pm The Hood – Flames of Durgo, Vinny Berry and Moxi and Loon – 9pm Hotel Zoso – DJ Dxsko – poolside – noon, DJ Meowsenburg – 5pm Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Marc Antonelli and Patricia Welch – 6pm Jolene’s – Fun with Dick and Jane Band – 7pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – B.I.G. – 9pm Mitch’s on El Paseo – Alex Santana – 12pm The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm O’Caine’s – California Celts – 6pm Palm Canyon Roadhouse – Derek Jordan Gregg Band – 8pm Pappy and Harriet’s – Guided by Voices – 7pm Plan B Entertainment & Cocktails – Red’s Rockstar Karaoke – 9pm Rockyard @ Fantasy Springs – Strangelove (Depeche Mode Tribute) and Steel Rod – 7pm

March 31 to April 6, 2022

Tommy Bahamas – Alex Santana – 5pm Vicky’s of Santa Fe – Rose Mallett’s Company – 4:30pm, John Stanley King – 7pm The Village – Rob & JB – 1-4pm, Rapmarz – 10pm, DJ LF – 10pm, DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm

Sunday, April 3

Bart Lounge – Latina Night w/ DJ LF – 8pm Blu Ember – Gina Sedman – 5pm Casuelas Café – Live Music – noon, Barry Baughn Blues Review – 5:30pm Coachella Valley Brewing Co. – Acoustic Afternoon w/ Kelsey Manning, JR Junior and Wes Gainey – 3pm Fisherman’s Market, PS – Art of Sax – 5pm Jolene’s – Patrice Morris – 6pm Kitchen 86 – Jojo Malagar – 7pm Melvyn’s – Mikael Healey – 5pm Palm Canyon Roadhouse – Sunday Night Jam – 5pm The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm Tommy Bahamas – Alex Santana – 12pm Vicky’s of Santa Fe – John Stanley King – 6pm The Village – Rapmarz - 10pm

Monday, April 4

Hyatt – Derek Jordan Gregg – 5-7pm Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Larry Capeloto – 6pm The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm

Tuesday, April 5

Babaloo Lounge – The Carmens – 6:30pm Casuelas Café – Desert Suite Band – 5:30pm Chef George’s – Lizann Warner – 6:30pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm Hyatt – Derek Jordan Gregg – 5-7pm Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Patrice Morris and Johnny Meza – 6pm Lit @ Fantasy Springs – Brad’s Pad – 7-10pm Mitch’s on El Paseo – Alex Santana – 12pm The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm Pappy and Harriet’s – Caroline Rose w/ Number One Popstar – 8pm Vicky’s of Santa Fe – Slim Man Band – 6pm The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm

Wednesday, April 6

Casuelas Café – Lisa Lynn and the Broken Hallelujahs – 6pm Chef George’s – Tim Burleson – 6:30pm Cunard’s Sandbar – Bill Baker – 6pm Indian Wells Resort Hotel – Rebecca Clark – 6pm The Nest – Live Music – 6:30pm Plan B Entertainment & Cocktails – Red’s Rockstar Karaoke – 9pm Vicky’s of Santa Fe – John Stanley King – 6pm The Village – DJ Gio the Ace – 9pm, Banda Revolucion – 10pm

March 31 to April 6, 2022

SCREENERS No. 520

’m writing this as the latest Academy Awards show is ending. After a butt numbing four hours, there were intermittent moments of rewarding content, besides the awkward but fun amateur fisticuffs between Oscar nominee Will Smith and Chris Rock. My only wish was that the laughable altercation could have gone on a bit longer. The other highlights included the multiple and well deserved wins for “DUNE,” Jessica Chastain’s win for her incredible performance as Tammy Faye Bakker and her moving, heartfelt acceptance speech. Best Picture wins for “CODA” was widely cheered by waving hands (applause sign for the deaf). It’s so nice to see films rooted in empathetic and universal themes take center stage. Movies matter, and the awards for films that touch the human spirit in an authentic and positive way with stories extolling the best that we humans can become is encouraging during these times of global stress and inhuman cruelty chaos. The PSA (?) announcements in support of Ukraine were surprising and welcome, especially after Mila Kunis (a Ukrainian) made her eloquent but brief statement. She and husband Ashton Kutcher have vowed to match up to $2 Million in a GoFundMe campaign to help the Ukraine war refugees. If you are looking for something different for home theater viewing, here are two cult classic films, in stunning new hi-def transfers from the previous millennium. THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM (1962) This lush, fanciful biographical account of brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm has been unavailable in a true “Smilebox” aspect ratio that recreates the visual format of Cinerama or even a DVD transfer due to water damage and the resulting mold on the original negative. Thanks to the magic of current hi-tech restoration techniques, the three-strip film print has been cleaned up and the lines where the original films overlapped to recreate the ultra widescreen experience have been perfectly erased. Sixty years ago, MGM and Cinerama joined forces to produce this lavish spectacular built around the lives of Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm. Besides the drama of their lives, the

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OSCAR POST MORTEM

film includes enchanting cinematic version of three of their most popular fairy tales. “The Dancing Princess,” “The Cobbler and the Elves” and “The Singing Bone.” It’s the incredible restoration (headed by David Strohmaier) that makes this vintage big screen worthy of a place in the home film library and a fun diversion for the entire family. The cast is truly all-star, as they used to say. Check it out. Here’s the line up of name actors: Laurence Harvey, Claire Bloom, Karl Boehm, Walter Slezak, Oscar Homolka, Barbara Eden, Yvette Mimieux, Russ Tamblyn, Jim Backus, Terry Thomas, Beulah Bondi and Buddy Hackett. “Puppetoon” creator and producer Gorge pal, a stop motion specialist directed the fairy tale segments. Disc1 is a letterbox version; Disc2 is the “smilebox” edition.

AKIRA In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after nuking the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles against anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural power suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets. At first viewing, Akira's strangeness is startling and perhaps a tad bewildering. But there is a rapturous allure to its vision of a whole world ending and then being reborn as something else. The opening motorbike chase is still thrilling, but the dedication to the backgrounds as well as crowds of people filling the screen, the explosions happening in the distance, and the eye-popping sense of scope that make Akira the classic that it is. This singular piece of Japanimation belongs with, if not the head, the most astonishing animated features ever made. It’s a fever dream, a twisted dystopian parable of violence and rock and roll, no doubt and influence of George Miller’s “Fury Road.” Some fans consider it “Classic Disney animation on PCP. It’s the mean, psychotic, incredibly vivid, extremely violent classic that introduced anime to Westerners. This 25th anniversary edition features all

three audio tracks, the remastered Japanese, the original English (and remastered English). Extras include: ~ Director Interview. ~ Storyboard Collection. ~ Restoring Akira. ~ Akira sound clips. ~ Original trailers. ~ Original commercials. AKIRA isn’t just a movie – it’s the genesis of a genre. Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark cyberpunk classic obliterated of feature length animation and forced the world to look into the future. AKIRA’s arrival shattered traditional thinking creating space for movies like “The Matrix” to be dreamed into reality. Funimation. Blu-ray. I want to hear from you. What are you watching these days? robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

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March 31 to April 6, 2022

SOCIETY SCENE DESERT ARC TO HOST 12TH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC FUNDRAISER

BY MADELINE ZUCKERMAN

PHOTOS BY LANI GARFIELD

esert Arc, established in 1959, to provide person-centric programs, vocational training, and services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has announced plans for its 12th Annual Golf Classic Fundraiser on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at Eagle Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Designed by renowned Architect Clive Clark, the par 72,6715 yard Eagle Falls Golf Course showcases challenging water features for the enjoyment of all golfers who participate. Desert Arc Board Member Nancy Singer will serve as this year’s Event Chair, along with Mistress of Ceremonies Brooke Beare, Emmy Award-winning journalist, Board Member and immediate Past Chair of the Desert Arc Board. “It is my honor once again to chair this year’s golf tournament to benefit the many outstanding programs offered by Desert Arc,” stated Nancy Singer, Event Chair and Past Board Chair of Desert Arc. “Each and every year we are grateful for the support of the community, as well as our staff members, as we continually strive to enhance the lives of over 700 adults with disabilities,” Singer continued. This event will feature a BBQ Luncheon at 11:00 am, followed by a 12:30 pm Shotgun Scramble, and will conclude with an amazing Golf Awards Banquet Dinner at 5:00 pm by renowned Chef Freddy. “It’s so terrific to continue the legacy Desert Arc has created over the past 62 years for adults with disabilities and their families in our community,” stated Brooke Beare. “The services and opportunities Desert Arc provides are due to the generous contributions of the players and sponsors, who participate annually in this fun golf tournament for a very good cause,” Beare continued. Entry fee to participate in this year’s event is $ 375 per person, and Golf Foursomes are priced at $1,250. Individual banquet dinner tickets are priced at $85 per person. Tables of 10 sponsorship opportunities are immediately available starting at $ 200 for a Tee Sponsorship, all the way up to $ 10,000

(left to right) Brooke Beare, Event Emcee, who is also a Desert Arc Board Member and Immediate Past Chair of the Desert Arc Board, Lori Serfling, Desert Arc Board Member, Damian Jenkins, Chair of the Desert Arc Board, Nancy Singer, Event Chair and a Board Member of Desert Arc, and Richard Balocco, President/CEO of Desert Arc.

for a Presenting Sponsor. Proceeds raised support the various Desert Arc programs and services that are not funded by the State. “The community’s participation in this important fundraiser for Desert Arc will have an immediate and profound impact on the people we serve,” stated Richard Balocco. “Some of the players are new to Desert Arc, and we are grateful for their involvement and look forward to our continued friendship. Many of the golfers are longtime friends, who have played a significant role in our 62-year history of making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. All in all, our donors’ belief and generous support of our mission means the world to us!” Balocco continued. Reservations are required. For additional information on Desert Arc and this significant fundraising event, please call 760-404-1368. To order inline please visit www.desertarc. org/golf-tournament-classic. ABOUT DESERT ARC Desert Arc is a leading nonprofit, with an impressive 62-year history of providing comprehensive services for over 700 adults, ages 18 and older, with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the Coachella Valley, the Morongo Basin, and outlying desert communities. Since its founding in 1959, Desert Arc has been offering life-changing programs designed to meet the needs of its clients

including: an adult day program, vocational training, job development, job placement and employment, nutrition, social and recreational programs, support and training for supportive independent living, case management and personalized coordination of services, and advocacy for community integration. Desert Arc has been recognized within the community for its mission of enhancing their clients’ quality of life and creating opportunities for each person.

Dedicated to social innovation, Desert Arc has also created a variety of enterprises providing Essential Business Services including their Shredding, Recycling, Landscape Maintenance, Janitorial, and Fulfillment Divisions. For more information on how you can assist Desert Arc with its vital programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, please call 760-404-1368 or visit www.desertarc.org.

March 31 to April 6, 2022

THE VINO VOICE

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BY RICK RIOZZA

SAVVY BLANCS OF SOUTH AFRICA

s we are typically experiencing, the desert winter here in the valley quickly springs into summer-type weather, and thus, avoiding any prolonged spring—if you will. And because our climate is so sunny, we enthusiasts—almost out of necessity, but more-so out of love, cherish our Sauvignon Blancs because they are so refreshing and lively. The wines are such a savvy pick for the season as they pair wonderfully with the light cuisine of our valley. So much so, that we’ve coined an affectionate term for this wine: Enter now the savvy blancs. Our coverage of the savvy blancs these past ten years in this column has been extensive— as they should be. I know there’s a group of Pinot Grigio lovers out there, but our valley shops for the savvy blancs as much as they do for the charming Chardonnay, which is the largest selling varietal in the state—but not so much out here in the desert. We know of the zippy Sauv Blancs from kiwi-land; we know the subtle ones from the Loire Valley in France; and we cherish California’s savvy blancs that round things out and show a bit more of the tropical flavors. But how many of us realize the wealth of reasonably priced Sauv Blanc from South Africa. Most enthusiasts haven’t spent the time trying them. And it’s too bad because the wines are absolutely delicious. And they quite often fit the demand for the savvy blanc person who likes a “middle-of-the-road” quaff. It’s been said that the South African Sauv Blanc is indeed the culinary center between the New Zealand zest and the softer Sancerre. South African is as vibrant as kiwi-land but more pungent and aromatic than French. Okay—as one would expect, let’s do a little wine appreciation didactic. Wine emeritus, Hugh Johnson has stated, “There are many contestants in the world’s vineyard beauty contest, but South Africa is always in the finals. Blue-shadowed stacks of Table Mountain sandstone and decomposed granite rise from vivid green pastures dotted with the brilliant white façades of 300-year-old Cape Dutch homesteads.” In other words, the expansive scenery is so beautiful, that you just know the wines from those vineyards have to produce some tasty vino! Grapes were first planted at the Cape of Good Hope (now in South Africa) in the mid1600s. It provided wine for sailors of the Dutch East India Company on the month’s long voyage from Europe to the highly valued Spice Islands of what is now Indonesia. The Cape was a midway point, just as the style of the savvy blanc is midway between Europe and the New World. The Cape boasts the oldest geology in the wine-growing world: ancient, weathered soils, typically based on either granite, sandstone, or shale, which naturally curtail the vigor of the vine—meaning more intense flavors in the grape. Most South African vines thrive in an almost perfect Mediterranean climate, cooler than their latitudes suggest, thanks to the cold current from Antarctica that washes on the south-west Atlantic coast. Quite interesting to note: most climatologists predict that of all of the New World wine producers, South Africa is least likely to be seriously affected by climate change. Looks like this region will become

more and more known and appreciated in the coming decades. Cheers to that! All right—as we always write, it’s better to enjoy a cheeseburger than to read about it. We importune you readers to contact your favorite wine shop and have them stock some savvy blanc for your pleasure: Here are three wonderful South African Sauvignon Blancs to seek after: 2021 Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc ($17). The PR on the wine states: “Founded by the family of Hamilton Russell Vineyards with the aim of creating serious, age-worthy wines that combine distinct South African fruit and flavor with classic styling and refinement. The winery is named after the rare Southern Right whales that frequent Walker Bay, and each bottle sold makes a contribution to their conservation.” The Hamilton Russell vineyards are one of the most popular wines of the region and are a great example of the area’s craft. Their wines are perfect for our desert desires: low alcohol and a perfect balance of citrus, easy grass, grapefruit, green apples, herbs, lemon & lime, and stone fruit. And the minerality is just right! 2020 Rustenberg Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc ($13). For those of you who like to collect wine labels, the label of the Rustenberg is one you’ll want: Classic “old world” Dutch-looking label. Anyway—the real joy is the classically styled wine that shows structure, complexity, and elegance. It’s a sexy savvy blanc, so reasonably priced, for your patio parties and dining. The winery commentary hits the spot: “The intrinsic Sauvignon Blanc characteristics of tropical fruits, melon and gooseberry, with underlying tones of pineapple and passion fruit sustained on a fresh, crisp and well-balanced palate with prodigious length.” 2021 Lomond Cape Algulhas Sauvignon Blanc ($17). A delicious bright and vibrant wine. The aroma shows white fruit, hints of kiwi fruit, and minerality. The palate has layers of fruit that gives the wine great complexity and dimension. Not just a one-note or threenote Sauv blanc, but probably ten notes of classic savvy characteristics. The fresh acidity gives the wine a liveliness that makes it great for any occasion. And a final note: Congratulations to CV Weekly Publisher Tracy Dietlin and her team for a decade of the best coverage of the valley!! It’s been my pleasure to act as your Vino Voice. In Vino Veritas! Cheers to you all!

TRAVEL TIPS4U

PALM DESERT, CA

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THE LIVING DESERT PRESENTS “GLOW IN THE PARK” – A SPRING LANTERN FESTIVAL

March 31 to April 6, 2022

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER

You won't want to miss this! Nightly, March 27- April 29. 6:30pm - 10:00pm. Tickets on sale now. et ready for The Living Desert’s brand new and larger-than-life illuminated experience. This extraordinary nighttime event will feature intricate, immersive, and truly awe-inspiring animal and nature-scape lantern creations representing wild places from around the globe. Dozens of displays featuring illuminated lanterns and light displays will create unforgettable moments and experiences. Watch the desert come alive with spectacular installations that will delight guests of all ages. Explore the lighted pathways, immersive photo-opportunities, and see The Living Desert in a whole new light. Unlike any other light festival in Southern California, don’t miss your chance to experience Glow in the Park – A Spring Lantern Festival. Enjoy and don’t forget to bring your camera!

March 31 to April 6, 2022

PET PLACE

here are many animal heroes in the Coachella Valley. Some are well known, and appear often in the media showing a lovely adoptable dog or cat and promoting their organization’s events. Others work quietly behind the scenes, rescuing and adopting the homeless, and responding to a myriad of phone calls about animals in distress. It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Loving All Animals’ Shelter Services employee, Rachelle Sykes. She passed away unexpectedly at her home on March 17, with her beloved dog Brody sitting loyally by her side. Rachelle reflected the “heart of rescue”. She grew up with dogs and understood how much they do for us humans.

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REMEMBERING RACHELLE SYKES office daily, and posted flyers of LAA’s dogs and cats needing homes at the store. She networked the animals with shop customers, leading to many happy endings. At the end of 2018, near the time the thrift store closed, Loving All Animals was gifted the Pet Rescue Center shelter in Coachella. Rachelle was a natural to work at the Coachella facility, considering her dedication to the agency and its animals. Dedicated and hard-working, Rachelle worked Sunday through Thursday and every holiday. She had a unique ability to work with and train frightened animals that even most ardent dog lovers don’t possess. She is pictured here on Brody’s happy adoption day and attending Sandy Miller’s dog training class. Rachelle was a quiet person, but a great listener. Responsible and never complaining, she never called in sick or was late to work. Her home was pristine and beautifully decorated. She loved to go to movies and concerts with her nieces and friends. She and her niece Monique enjoyed repeating quotes from comedies. Will Ferrell was one of Rachelle’s favorite comedians. The entire family had a fun sense of humor, especially Rachelle’s late cousin Ralphie May, an American comedian and actor. Rachelle loved good old Rock N’ Roll, especially 70’s oldies. Favorite musicians included Sammy Hagar, the Eagles, and Motley Crue. She enjoyed watching Joel Osteen, the “happy” Christian minister. Family was always #1 in Rachelle’s life. And for this amazing “dog mom” family included her cherished Brody.

The Sykes family moved from Bell Gardens in Los Angeles County to Chino, California, when Rachelle was just a toddler. She played on a girls softball team, and graduated from Chino High School in 1987. Rachelle began a long career in retail sales, initially in the music industry. She was promoted to management once employers realized her skills. Rachelle’s career at All Animals began when she was hired as the store manager at their retail thrift store in Palm Desert. She was popular with the volunteers at the shop. Rachelle created beautiful displays showcasing the merchandise, and the funds raised helped the homeless animals, including veterinary costs. Rachelle reflected “the heart of rescue”. Rachelle checked with our rescue

MEET SPENCER

MEET RAVEN

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT PUP? Handsome & happy Spencer has never met a dog or a human he didn’t love. This 3-yr-old Lab/Shepherd mix boy was rescued by the Humane Society of the Desert from the county shelter. He is a great hiking buddy by day and a cuddle bug to snuggle with in the evening. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, N. Palm Springs, adoption application at www.orphanpet.com. Call (760) 329-0203 to schedule appointment to meet Spencer.

This petite 2-yr old Tuxedo girl will “talk” to you when you pay her a visit. She is the sweetest cuddle cat. Raven waits for a home at Kittyland in Desert Hot Springs. Call (760) 251-2700, www.kittylandrescue.org.

BY JANET McAFEE We remember the quiet, hard-working, unassuming young woman who never sought credit for her accomplishments. In her memory, we animal lovers can do something special for a homeless pet. Rachelle volunteered at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding on her days off, an organization that provides equine therapy pairing horses with people having mental or physical disabilities. She rarely talked about her work there with the horses and children. She worked quietly helping people and animals. Rachelle was 52 years old. She is survived by her brother Max Sykes, nieces Brittnei Sykes and Monique Sykes, and many extended family members and friends. Monique now has her best buddy Brody, telling us, “Rachelle would want him to be with me.” Loyal little Brody is grieving too, though comforted by the family who know and love him. Rachelle’s family welcomes you to attend her memorial service on Sunday, April 10, 11:00am, at Forest Lawn, 69855 Ramon Road (on the corner of DaVall), Cathedral City. Sammy Hagar’s song, “I never said goodbye” will be among the songs at her service Flowers can be sent to Forest Lawn in Cathedral City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made to Loving All Animals or Pegasus Therapeutic Riding in Rachelle’s memory. Janetmcafee8@gmail.com

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--------------------------------------------------Here are some places where you can adopt a wonderful rescue dog or cat! 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, 65810 Hacienda Ave, Desert Hot Springs, (760) 329-6411 ext. 450. ANIMAL SAMARITANS – Open to the public. View their animals at www. animalsamaritans.org. Email acorrow@ animalsamaritans.org to foster. 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) 656-8833. (Private) HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY – Call for an appointment. This shelter has lots of big dogs and some cats, www.orphanpet.com. 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)

March 31 to April 6, 2022

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) 9803383 (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 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).

March 31 to April 6, 2022

SAFETY TIPS

ou’ve seen it, and likely have even done it. They’ve drifted into your lane, driven right through red lights, blown past you in a hurry only to sit when the light turns greens because their texting or distracted. They injure or kill thousands annually according to Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. At any given daylight hour there are over 700,000 drivers using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices in this country. Over one third of drivers admit to texting and driving and three quarters say they regularly see or encounter others doing it. Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. April is Distracted Driver Awareness Month, reminds Chief DiGiovanna. “Now is

CYBER CORNER

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YOU DON’T WANT US RESPONDING TO YOUR TEXT! BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

the time to unplug yourself before you hurt yourself, others, or worse: “drive yourself to death.”

When driving, put your cell phone away. Not where you can see it light up for every notification you receive. Your cell phone

oday's business phones are more than just equipment for making or receiving calls. Telephone systems today are far more advanced and have a variety of extra functions than their predecessors. VOIP versus POTS is a comparison of the two telephone systems based on a variety of criteria. While both POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) have their advantages and disadvantages and may be appropriate depending on your organization's needs. In most circumstances, employing VoIP (or Hosted VoIP) is less expensive than traditional Analog Phone lines such as POTS. To begin, it is important to comprehend the differences between the two and what each offers at the business level. But, before we get into the VOIP vs POTS debate, let's take a closer look at each service. Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) POTS is an abbreviation for Plain Old Telephone Service, which refers to the traditional telephone system in which analog speech transmission occurs via copper twisted pair wires. Also known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), It is an old and basic mode of communication. It is typically limited to 52 kbps and supports bidirectional or full-duplex voice band connections. In all of its existence, the POTS system has had little change or upgrade. Even today, a copper phone line creates a dedicated circuit between two places during transmission. While the operator no longer connects the two parties manually, automated switching operates on a similar basic concept. POTS Advantages: • Since its inception, analog telephone technology has seen significant evolution. It is a well-established concept with a solid core platform that is supported by a global network of wires linking even the most remote of locales. • Analog endpoints may not always be important, but for the time being, the technology is well known and is seen as a preferable means of voice communication,

should also be on silent mode. Just because your hands aren’t on your phone doesn’t mean the distraction has been eliminated. If a phone call or text message is important, it’s best to pull over into a safe location — preferably a parking lot — before using your phone. The same holds true with eating and driving, pets on lap or fumbling for your smokes. It’s all called “Distracted Driving” and it’s deadly! Be safe, be civil and be smart, without the phone! For more information visit: https://lnkd. in/gQY63cMu Stay Safe!

BY DENNIS SHELLY

even in commercial settings. • POTS, or landline, is one of the simplest services to set up. When it comes to installation and operation, this 2-wire telephone service is simple. However, this is also because it lacks the features of modern internet-based voice communication. • POTS has a distinct benefit over VoIP in that the phone can continue to function even if power is lost. This is because the power to the landline is supplied directly by the carrier rather than the end-user. As a result, even if your building loses electricity due to a storm or other unforeseen events, the telephone connection can continue to function, which is especially beneficial in an emergency. • Even today, POTS is a popular means of communication for a variety of applications. Elevator lines, fax lines, and, most crucially, emergency phone line services are examples of these. VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol): VoIP refers to voice over internet protocol, as opposed to traditional phone lines. IP telephony, or Internet telephony, is another name for it. VoIP is a phone service that is provided via the internet. It turns speech signals into digital signals and

transmits them as a packet through Internet Protocol (IP) networks. Simply said, Voice over IP technology enables us to make and receive phone calls via the internet. The internet is used as the transmission medium for VoIP phone calls. It is also known as Voice - Over - Internet (VOI). A hosted PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is often used to set up a VoIP service. Currently, are also being utilized to set up VoIP phone services. Moreover, the service is available with an on-premises PBX system. SIP trunking is used to enable VoIP phone service in such systems. Because the VoIP phone system is fully reliant on internet access, it is critical to ensure that internet connectivity is consistent, with no disruptions in connections, and that latency and packet loss is kept to a minimum. Typically, for small offices, a minimum of 5 Mbps upload, and download is recommended to ensure voice quality of service. VoIP Advantages: • VoIP telephone systems are more versatile since they can integrate with other business applications such as email, CRM, and so on. This increases overall productivity because the firm can manage all of its

processes using the phones in a single place. • VoIP's flexibility and mobility are comparable to that of mobile phone users. Employees do not need to be physically present in their offices to answer calls or access the system. Such qualities enable employees to be productive regardless of where they work. • Every add-on feature in traditional analog telephone installations comes at a cost. In the case of VoIP, additional services such as voicemail-to-email, voicemail-totext, auto-attendants, call forwarding, call transfers, DND capabilities, and so on are typically included in the package. • VoIP ensures that your company does not incur new equipment or call volumerelated expenses as its requirements grow. One of the primary reasons why some businesses are reluctant to use VoIP is that new technology might make people perceive it as a complicated thing. While POTS may appear to be easier to use, VoIP does have a learning curve. However, VoIP's support for business development and expansion surpasses the convenience of older analog telephone systems. Furthermore, newer technology like VoIP is gradually replacing older systems, making it harder for users to get replacement parts or upgrade their existing equipment. Finally, one of the primary reasons why businesses are choosing VoIP through business internet access rather than traditional analog phone lines is cost. In this case, newer is superior in every way. Considering upgrading your business communications solution or have a question regarding VOIP technology? Our Eggsperts are standing by to help. Please contact us by calling (760) 205-0105 or emailing us at tech@eggheadit.com with your questions or suggestions. IT | Networks | Phones | Security | Audio/Video

HADDON LIBBY

mazingly, I have written articles in every edition and not missed one deadline in ten years. That equals roughly 520 articles and 325,000 words. If the articles were a compiled as books, it would be a four-part series. The very first article way back in 2012 was about Social Security and how Congress changed the way it calculates future increases in benefits. The key point of that article was that Washington DC reduces what a person expects to receive by changing how the Consumer Price Index is calculated. Simply put, if the inflation rate or CPI excludes things like food, fuel and housing, it is hardly a true measure of price increases. When a statistic like CPI is gamed, you can see how social security payments for younger workers should be inadequate when they reach retirement age. Ten years later and I am still explaining the same things, albeit in a different form. Today, I talk about negative real interest rates and how inflation is caused by the creation of 40% more money as part of the bipartisan plan to keep the fabric of society together through the pandemic. The easy money that was used to keep people clothed and fed during the pandemic also served to reduce the value of the currency. As such, everything costs more. Where the official inflation rate is 8% at present, it is at least 15% if you add things like food, fuel and housing. Throw on the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and prices go even higher due to constraints on oil, grains, and rare minerals. Back in April 2012, I was explaining how the STOCK Act was passed six years after it was first introduced to Congress. The

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TEN YEARS ON – CONGRATULATIONS TO TRACY AND PHIL FOR TEN YEARS OF COACHELLA VALLEY WEEKLY!

BY HADDON LIBBY

acronym STOCK stands for Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act. It seems that Congress could trade on confidential information when buying or selling stocks. Words ‘confidential’ and ‘insider’ mean different things inside the DC beltway. Until the STOCK Act, legislators could trade stocks on ‘confidential information’ – that was fine. If you want to know how your favorite legislators on both sides of the aisle became millionaires while in Congress, the ability to trade on what everyone else calls ‘insider’ information helped many become very wealthy. Ten years later and the abuse of power

DALEGRIBOW ON THELAW

continues. We have a former President who praises authoritarian regimes more than democracies while contesting an election that he clearly lost. We also have a current President with a problematic son who demonstrates how those with power and influence can make huge amounts of money from these connections. Whether we are discussing Democrats or Republicans, both parties are led folks most of us would not consider our brightest or our best. Both sides have folks at the top who may not have the best interests of most Americans at heart. More often than not, bad behavior in politics is not by intent but due to dysfunction

and a general dumbing down of America. In a March 2013 article, I proved this by sharing nonsensical laws. For example, in Chico, California there is a $500 fine for detonating a nuclear device within city limits. While you and I cannot change many of the large, macro issues that impact our daily lives, we can make a difference in our local community by getting involved. Whether it is through volunteer work at a charity you care about or paying attention to the actions of your city council, you can make a real difference with a little bit of effort. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. If we want a better town, city or world, we need to do our part.” Those words once spoken by Albert Einstein sum up what you and I should do. Thank you to you, Tracy and Phil for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you for over a decade. Haddon Libby is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer for Winslow Drake Investment Management. For information on investment management services, please visit www.WinslowDrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

ON CV WEEKLY’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY, YOU STILL NEED THE SAME THINGS TO WIN A PI CASE

his is the 10 year Anniversary Issue of our paper. It is hard to believe I have written so many weekly legal columns for CV Weekly. It is even more amazing that many of my weekly readers forget my advice when they have been in an accident. I still get calls asking “What do I need to win my accident case or Why Didn’t You Accept My Case? I have shared that a case requires Liability and Damages. Without Liability (who’s at fault) and damages (money lost, usually meds and loss of earnings) lawyers are not going to accept your case. There are many reasons for a lawyer to reject a case. The most common is no liability. If you rear end someone, obviously liability is bad. However, if someone rear ends you, that is good liability. However, if you are rear ended and don’t seek medical treatment, the damages are usually poor. Likewise if you rear end someone and then have major injuries such as loss of limb or vision, the damages would be good…but what about liability?

March 31 to April 6, 2022

A good cases demands both liability and damages, and without both, lawyers usually reject a case. That does not mean there is no case, but rather that a lawyer doesn’t feel the value of the case is worth pursuing. This is true since a lawyer is billing on a contingency, not an hourly. In addition, if you are rear ended and delay seeing a doctor for 1-2 months, most PI lawyers would reject the case. Adjusters will think the driver was not injured from the accident, if a month later one started treatment. The insurance company will think that maybe the Victim slipped and fell in the shower and thought, “I was just in an accident two months ago, I will say it is from that?” Many firms do not want an average rear end case where the victim has been rear ended and had medical treatment, but has been talking to the adjuster. The problem is that the lawyer will never know what was said, or what the adjuster THOUGHT s/he heard the victim say. Every years greater Palm Springs is

flooded with tourists from all over the world, travelling here for our beautiful weather, fun in the sun last week IW Tennis or Art Festival. However, when here, most celebrate in our local clubs and restaurants. Some get arrested for a DUI or have an ACCIDENT. Now, the question is which lawyer do you choose. Do you retain a large TV NUMBERS firm, where you will be handed off to a young lawyer or a small PI firm? You have probably heard this before, but the adage “you are not just a number” has never been more important than when you are facing a DUI or Accident. I know this first hand as I had a 30 person law firm in my name, and the young lawyers would handle most of the small cases. The million dollar cases were left to the senior trial attorneys. Throughout the entire legal process, clients have questions or concerns regarding their situation or status of the case. Sometimes those questions come after hours or on weekends. My clients always have access during these trying times. We pride ourselves on always being a phone call away. A larger “TV NUMBERS FIRM”, has many

lawyers. This can lead to items falling through the cracks because no single attorney feels responsible for your case. However, the “that is not my client or responsibility” mentality does not occur at my office. I honestly believe that a small firm, hands on approach, is the only business model that truly works to maximize results for clients. The lawyers and staff must be on the same page, both knowing the case and upcoming dates. There is no other way to successfully run a PI or DUI firm. DALE GRIBOW Representing the injured and criminally accused “TOP LAWYER” - California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 201122 “TOP LAWYER” - Inland Empire Magazine PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating “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” SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW 760-837-7500/ dale@dalegribowlaw.com.

March 31 to April 6, 2022

SENDME A TRAINER

egative thoughts about your body are simply just thoughts. Your thoughts are what create feelings and emotions. Your negative thoughts about your body may trigger uncomfortable emotions of shame, frustration or guilt. These feelings may seem so intense that the action you want to take is to start restricting your food, in order to change your body. I hate to breakout to you, but this NEVER works! Negative Thoughts About Your Body Negative thoughts about your body and desires to restrict food are simply a web of thoughts that are all conditioned to come up together when you are working on learning to eat adequately and heal. Restricting your food—not giving yourself enough to eat when you are hungry—will reawaken and intensify the urges to binge. Let’s Talk Urges Urges to restrict are habitual, just like the urges to binge. Urges to restrict may come automatically when you are thinking about your body in a negative way. For example: You’re not happy with what you see in the mirror or what you weigh, so you decide to eat less than you need, and soon you may find your binge urges intensifies and you binge eating more, and therefore you start eating more than if you never restricted in the first place. Start at the beginning of this cycle to dismiss it as a whole: start with the negative thoughts about your body. Your negative

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YOU NEED TO STOP NEGATIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR BODY!

BY NADIA POPOVA body in a compassionate way right now doesn’t mean you won’t change. Try to take that negative focus on your body and bring it to neutral. This will allow you to avoid being tempted by any desire to restrict, so that you can eat adequately and support your efforts to dismiss urges. If you need help with staying accountable and focused my Coaching Program is for you. Nadia Popova - (760)880-9904

thoughts are not fact; they are simply well practiced stories about your body. Thinking this way keeps you stuck, and gets in the way of your learning to eat adequately and heal. Try thinking about your body in a compassionate way—a way that feels better and more importantly believable. An example of thoughts like these might be: I am healing my body right now. I am working on learning to eat adequately and stop bingeing, and my body will eventually normalize. I am doing the best I can and my priority is to be peaceful about my body in the process. Hating your body or any part of you doesn’t create change. And, accepting your

BROADWAY LEGEND PATRICIA WELCH PERFORMS APRIL 2, 2022

EVENTS

EXPERIENCE ONE-OF-A-KIND DINNER AND SHOW FOR WELCH'S SEASON FAREWELL AT INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL The Beautiful" on two separate occasions for be viewed at: www.patriciawelch.com. roles and featured soloist acts with Robert Goulet, Yul Brynner, and Wayne Newton. As an accomplished singer with vocal versatility, Welch's other numerous accolades include appearances on major TV networks; being a guest anthem singer at Dodger Stadium, as well as for NASCAR; singing the National Anthem and "America

roadway Legend Patricia Welch is presenting a special season farewell solo performance on April 2, 2022, at IW Live inside of the beautiful Indian Wells Resort Hotel. While she continues to perform at other venues, galas, and special events in the Coachella Valley yearround, this will be the final performance to experience a unique dinner and show setting in the quaint IW Live restaurant and lounge. Welch is well-known for her starring

former President Clinton, former President Ford, and General Schwarzkopf; and singing "United We'll Stand," which she co-wrote with her husband (Adrian DuBarry). Patricia performed this song in Washington, D.C., at the September 11th, 2002 Memorial. She has released five albums and boasts over 5,000 performances. Patricia's website can

The performance is from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 plus the cost of menu service. Reservation can be made at (760) 797-8700 or via email to manuel@indianwellsresort. com at the Indian Wells Resort Hotel, located at 76661 Hwy 111 in Indian Wells at the corner of Club Drive.

SWAG FOR THESOUL

“Some of us are better at letting the energy of others go, but if you are not one of those people, it is important to maintain the integrity of your personal space by clearing the build-up of collected energy away.” Daily Agreements, Guidelines & Intentions, by Aimee Mosco and Donald L. Ferguson, pg. 83 ave you ever walked into a room where people have been fighting? Even if you don’t consider yourself to be an empath, chances are, you felt unpleasant energy that didn’t belong to you! We are actually all empathic to a certain degree. It is in our nature and as the atmosphere around us shifts to align with the new era, empathic function is amplified. So now more than ever, it serves each and every one of us to first be aware that energies generated and emanated by others affect us. Next, have some tools or practices that assist in neutralizing and clearing the energies that do not belong to you or that affect you without your knowing. Your energy field is your space. It belongs to your soul, and it is part of who you are. Just as you would not allow someone to wipe their dirty hands on your clothes or skin, you do not have to allow others to leave their energetic dirt floating around your energy field either. Since most people are not trained to identify this energetic debris, they don’t know that it’s there. So, it builds up in the energy field to leave a person feeling as if they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

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BY AIMEE MOSCO

There are many different ways, tools and practices out there for you to investigate that will help you address this phenomenon, but what you can do, starting right now, is level up your awareness in each moment. Pay attention to what is happening around you. Check in with yourself to see if anything outside of you feels heavy. Listen to the tones in people’s voices, look more closely at their facial expressions, look into the eyes of those with whom you are interacting. If you see or feel anything that you do not want to hold on to, open your heart in that moment and allow the love flowing through you to neutralize that heaviness. Then draw a circle around yourself, claiming the area surrounding your body as your sacred space. Choose what kinds of energies live in that space and fill it with them using conscious and mindful intent. In my pursuit to help you align with your highest spiritual potential, I invite you to join my Facebook group SACRED Light Code Keys. Go to facebook.com/ groups/621727488898099 and bring your light to 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 Vice Chair 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.

March 31 to April 6, 2022

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF MARCH 31

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1904, it wasn’t illegal to use performance-enhancing drugs during Olympic competitions. Runner Thomas Hicks took advantage of this in the marathon race. The poison strychnine, which in small doses serves as a stimulant, was one of his boosters. Another was brandy. By the time he approached the finish line, he was hallucinating and stumbling. His trainers carried him the rest of the way, and he was declared the winner. I recommend you make him your inspirational role model in the coming weeks. How might you cheat to gain a great victory? APRIL FOOL! I Lied. While it’s true that a meaningful triumph is within your reach, you’re most likely to achieve it by acting with total integrity, following the rules, and imbibing no stimulating poisons. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Science fiction aficionado Wil Wheaton suggests that all of us should have the following: 1. a nemesis; 2. an evil twin; 3. a secret headquarters; 4. an escape hatch; 5. a partner in crime; 6. a secret identity. Dear Taurus, I have doubts that you possess any of these necessities. Please embark on intensive efforts to acquire all of them. Your deadline is April 21. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. There’s no way you could add all those things to your repertoire in such a short time. See if you can at least get a secret identity and a partner in crime. It’s time to have wicked fun as you add to your potency and effectiveness. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I hate being on my best behavior,” wrote Gemini author Colleen McCullough. “It brings out the absolute worst in me.” In the coming weeks, I hope you avoid the danger she describes. Don’t be on your best behavior! Emulate Gemini filmmaker Clint Eastwood, who said, “I tried being reasonable, but I didn’t like it.” APRIL FOOL! I lied. Here’s the real truth: Being kind and generous and reasonable will be your secret weapon in the next three weeks. Doing so will empower you to make interesting and unforeseen progress. CANCER (June 21-July 22): A Tumblr blogger named Alyssa complains, “I’m still peeved that I can’t fly or set things on fire with my mind.” You might share that feeling, Cancerian. But here’s the good news: I predict that you could soon acquire, at least temporarily, the power to fly and set things on fire with your mind. Use these talents wisely, please! APRIL FOOL! I lied. In fact, you probably won’t be able to fly or set things on fire with your mind anytime soon. However, you may acquire other superpowers that are only slightly less fantastic. For example, you could change the mind of an ally who has been ridiculously stubborn. You could uncover a big secret that has been hidden. You could mend a wound you thought would never heal. Any other superpowers you need right now? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I suspect that only a Leo would say what Leo filmmaker Stanley Kubrick once asserted: “You know, it’s not absolutely true in every case that nobody likes a smart ass.” In accordance with astrological omens, I authorize you to prove his assertion. Be the kind of smart ass that people like. APRIL FOOL! I’m half-joking. The truth is, I hope you will be the kind of smart ass that people absolutely adore and get inspired by. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In honor of your arrival in the most lyrical and soulful phase of your cycle, I offer you advice from poet Richard Jackson: “The secret is to paint your own numbers on the clock, to brush away those webs that cover the wild country of the soul, to let your star hover between the flowers of the moon and the flowers of the sun, like words you have never spoken yet always hear.” APRIL FOOL! I partially lied. I don’t think you should paint your own numbers on the clock. But the rest of what Jackson said is totally applicable and useful for you. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I want excitement,” declared Libra novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, “and I don’t care what form it takes or what I pay for it, so long as it makes my heart beat.” In the coming weeks, I hope you will make that statement your motto. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. While I do foresee

you being able to gather a wealth of excitement, I hope you won’t be as extreme as Fitzgerald in your pursuit of it. There will be plenty of opportunities for excitement that won’t require you to risk loss or pay an unwelcome price. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “If you can’t make fun of yourself, you don’t have a right to make fun of others,” said comedian Joan Rivers. I agree! So if you are feeling an irresistible urge to mock people and fling sarcasm in all directions, please prepare by first mocking yourself and being sarcastic toward yourself. APRIL FOOL! I lied. I will never authorize you to make fun of others. Never! In the coming weeks, I hope you’ll do the opposite: Dole out massive doses of praise and appreciation toward everyone. To prepare, dole out massive doses of praise and appreciation toward yourself. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In the traditional opera performed in China’s Sichuan province, magical effects were popular. One trick involved characters making rapid changes of their masks. The art was to remove an existing mask and don a new one with such speed that the audience could not detect it. An old master, Peng Denghuai, once wore 14 different masks in 24 seconds. This is an antic I think you should imitate in the coming days. The more frequently you alter your persona and appearance, the more successful and popular you’ll be. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. I recommend that you gleefully experiment with your image and exuberantly vary your self-presentation. But don’t overdo it. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A nutritionist named Mark Haub decided to try losing weight by eating only sugary treats. For 10 weeks, he snacked on junk food cakes, cookies, and sweet cereals. By the end, he had lost 27 pounds. In accordance with astrological omens, I suggest you try the metaphorical equivalents of this project. For instance, work on deepening your relationships by engaging your allies in shallow conversations about trivial subjects. Or see if you can enhance your physical fitness by confining your exercise to crossing and uncrossing your legs as you sit on the couch watching TV. APRIL FOOL! I lied. Here’s your real horoscope: For the next four weeks, take better care of your body and your relationships than you ever have before in your life. Make it a point to educate yourself about what that would entail, and be devoted in providing the most profound nurturing you can imagine. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquariusborn Giordano Bruno (1548–1600) was bravely heretical in his work as a philosopher, poet, mathematician, and friar. He angered the Catholic Church with his unorthodox views about Jesus and Mary, as well as his belief in reincarnation, his practice of occult magic, and his views that there are other stars besides our sun. Eventually, the authorities burned him at the stake for his transgressive ideas. Beware of a similar outcome for expressing your unusual qualities! APRIL FOOL! Luckily, no punishment will result if you express the rich fullness of your idiosyncrasies in the coming weeks. I’m happy about that, since I’m encouraging you to be as eccentrically yourself as you want to be. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Life is too complicated to accurately comprehend. There’s too much to know! It’s impossible to make truly savvy and rational decisions. Maybe the best strategy is to flip a coin or throw the dice or draw a Tarot card before doing anything. APRIL FOOL! While it’s a fact that life is too complex for our conscious minds to fully master, we have massive resources available on subconscious and superconscious levels: our deep soul and our higher self. Now is an excellent time to enhance your access to these mother lodes of intelligence. Homework: What’s the most compassionate prank you could perform? Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.com ---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

March 31 to April 6, 2022

KEG WHISPERER

he Coachella Valley received its first brewpub in 2002 when Don Callender opened Babes Bar-B-Que and Brewery in Rancho Mirage and it was to be the lower desert’s only locally produced craft beer for eleven years. Don was a visionary and pioneer; in addition to Babe’s at The River, he also built two additional showpiece brewpubs, P.H. Woods in Moreno Valley and Slim Pign’s in Redlands. The Brewhouse is expertly manned by Coachella Valley Brewing alum Juan Higuera and while classic Babe’s beers like Blackfin Lager and Honey Blonde remain staples on the beer menu, Juan has upped the ante with experimental brews like Gingerbread Milk Stout and Babe’s Hazy IPA. This iconic ‘Que joint with more brass than an 1880 locomotive was the only craft brewer in town until these last (almost) ten years. Fast forward to the autumn of 2013 when two new breweries were spawned almost simultaneously as Coachella Valley Brewing and La Quinta Brewing Company flung open their doors. Both hit the ground running, offering kegs to bars and restaurants while packaging beer for grocery stores and Mom & Pop retailers. While the two operations started at the same time, each took a different road to product development. Coachella Valley Brewing, winner of the “we opened first” competition, opted to keep their flagship lineup small and feature a dizzying array of one-off specialty brews. Their approach was to work with the diverse and expansive agricultural East end of the valley to produce unique flavored beers. One of my first samplings was a Vienna Lager made with locally-sourced

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TEN YEARS OF COACHELLA VALLEY BEER! BY BREWMASTER ED HEETHUIS

dates and I recall the marriage with much fondness. Operational and personnel issues took the brewery off the rails for a short time, but the ship seems to be righted once again. La Quinta took the old-school approach by launching with a core of several mainstays and simply doing occasional seasonal offerings. They’ve stuck with the plan, all the while launching satellite tap rooms in Old Town La Quinta and DT Palm Springs. They also opened a new brewery home in what will be a bustling part of Palm Desert once the new Acrisure Arena opens in December of this year. The new location boasts 14,000 square feet, a full-service kitchen, and 24 tap handles which feature all of La Quinta’s available beers and guest brews as well. Devon Sanchez, another Coachella Valley Brewing spinoff, launched Desert Beer Company in July of 2019 and just celebrated a pandemicdelayed second anniversary a few weeks ago.

Desert Beer has followed the Coachella Valley model with several mainstays followed by a big list of rotating and one-off beers. The fact that there are always 21 beers on tap staggers the mind. The fervent local following keeps the taproom busy six days a week and there is almost always something new to sample. Later the same year, Rey Romero and Sam Gill opened Las Palmas Brewing on N Palm canyon Drive and DT Palm Springs finally had a brewery to call its very own. The two have taken a more traditional approach in producing classic, traditional styles from California, England, and Belgium. Their Table Beer is light, breezy, and exceptionally refreshing; the perfect complement to our desert climate. The batches are small, giving Las Palmas excellent rotation of product and super-fresh beer at all times. Guest beers are offered in both cans and bottles and the all-natural wine program is well curated.

Spotlight 29 built a brewery as part of Taproom 29 and opened in December of 2020 in the waning days of the pandemic. Full disclosure: I am employed by the tribe and am the Brewmaster of 29 Brews. The brewery currently produces four classic styles and the Taproom features almost 20 rotating taps of both currently trending beers as well as throwback timeless offerings from the USA and Europe. The Taproom offers a wideranging menu, with everything from barroom appetizers to a 34oz Tomahawk Ribeye certain to satisfy even the biggest of appetites. I’ve often remarked on these pages that the climate in the Coachella Valley and the beer climate are quite similar; both are a desert. The beer scene in this region is still in its infancy, seemingly awaiting the right operation to come along and grab the educational bull by the horns. To date, this has yet to happen and growth continues as slowly as a desert tortoise. As demographics continue to shift in the region, my prediction is that one day, the entire valley will resemble an oasis of beery goodness in an otherwise expansive desert. When Ed Heethuis isn’t brewing at Spotlight 29 Casino for 29 Brews, you will find the Certified Cicerone / Brewmaster out on his road bike, searching for the perfect Ribeye, or talking beer with the patrons at Taproom 29. He may be reached at: heethuis.ed@gmail.com or wherever beer may be found in the wild.

CANNABIS CORNER THE OPIATE CRISES WITH SYNTHETICS: CAN CANNABIS HELP?

entanyl, a synthetic opiate has been used for decades for severe intractable pain in terminally ill patients. It is also used by anesthesiologists in surgery. Currently, opioid overdose is the number one cause of death in United States residents 18–50 years of age. The Centers for Disease Control reported that fentanyl and its analogs (F/FA) were the cause of death in >50% of United States deaths related to opioids in 2016 and were estimated to be >70% for 2017 and 2018 (Hedegaard et al., 2018; Jannetto et al., 2019). Unfortunately, the F/FAs that are driving the current overdose rates are not from prescription sources or diverted pharmaceutical products, but are manufactured in other countries, sold over the internet, and delivered via private mail sources and conventional ports of entry (Ciccarone, 2017; Armenian et al., 2018). Policies to curtail this crisis must be tempered with common sense and not fear. Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) continued

to rise with 56,516 overdose deaths reported in 2020. There are test strips available that can test if a street drug is contaminated with FT/FA. Those involving psychostimulants with abuse potential (primarily methamphetamine) also continued to increase to 23,837 (Source: CDC WONDER). (Fig1) Drug overdose deaths involving heroin rose from 1,960 in 1999 to 15,469 in 2016. Since 2016, the number of deaths has trended down with 13,165 deaths reported in 2020. The bars are overlaid in fig.1 by lines showing the number of deaths involving heroin in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any other opioid from 1999 to 2020 (Source: CDC WONDER). Drug overdose deaths involving prescription opioids show an interesting trend. While deaths rose from 1999 to 2017, from 2017 to 2019, the number of deaths declined to 14,139, followed by an increase to 16,416 in 2020. (Fig 2) There was also at that time a drop in pharmaceutical opiate prescription

deaths. Many patients substituted cannabis for opiates, antianxiety, and insomnia medications. In 2020 the uptick in deaths was most probably due to the lockdowns from the Wuhan virus making users resort to street drugs for a high due to the pandemic. Naloxone is readily used for opiate overdoses, however, it will not reverse overdoses from other drugs, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine, cannabinoids, or amphetamines. Immediate definitive medical attention is needed for every suspected drug overdose situation. ER physicians and emergency personnel must distinguish muscle rigidity and laryngospasm from respiratory depression. “Respiratory depression can be reversed with naloxone. Muscle rigidity of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles can be eliminated by administration of the muscle paralytic succinylcholine” (Janssen Pharmaceutica, 2017). Another synthetic in the US and Europe is so-called “synthetic marijuana” (a misleading term favored by news media) has been

BY RUTH HILL R.N. marketed under names such as “Spice” or “K2.” Synthetic marijuana is invoked to describe virtually any herbaceous material treated with a chemical concoction designed to mimic the effects of THC by supercharging the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the brain. When these synthetic compounds are banned, manufacturers just tweak a molecule or two to stay ahead of the law. Yes, cannabis is more potent today than in the sixties, but the issue is not the greater potency of these compounds, but their greater efficacy. Potency refers to the concentration of the drug required to activate a specific receptor. Efficacy refers to the maximal activation of the receptor in response to the drug. THC at 2 mg can activate the CB1 receptor but 2 mg may not be effective to relieve the pain. It is human nature for the addictive person to find ways around the laws to acquire a more potent high. The opiate crisis is a complex problem requiring a holistic and commonsense solution. Opiate overdose deaths will continue to rise until the federal government legalizes cannabis and closes the MexicanUS border. One thing I know for sure is the California legislators will most likely insert themselves politically due to the coming election. I pray they do not make laws that keep legitimate patients from having access to these drugs. Comments send to hilruth@gmail.com

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March 31 to April 6, 2022

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March 31 to April 6, 2022