Coachella Valley Weekly - April 2 to April 8, 2020 Vol. 9 No. 3

coachellavalleyweekly.com • April 2 to April 8, 2020

Vol.9 No.3

On The Frontline of COVID-19 Social Distancing & Recovery Virtual Viewing Desert Music Oasis At Home pg4

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April 2 to April 8, 2020

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Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

FAMILIES IN THE TIME OF QUARANTINE

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Kirby Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Head Music Writer Noe Gutierrez Head Feature Writer Crystal Harrell Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Tricia Witkower, Jason Hall, Esther Sanchez Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Craig Michaels, Janet McAfee, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Sam DiGiovanna, Dale Gribow, Denise Ortuno Neil, Rob Brezny, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dee Jae Cox, Angela Romeo, Aaron Ramson, Lynne Tucker, Aimee Mosco, Michelle Anne Rizzio, Ruth Hill, Madeline Zuckerman Photographers Robert Chance, Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Iris Hall, Esther Sanchez Videographer Kurt Schawacker Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS Families In Quarantine....................... 3–4 On The Frontline of COVID-19................ 4 A Note From The Publisher ..................... 5 Social Distancing in Recovery ................ 5 *NEW* VIRTUAL VIEWING ........................... 6 Desert Music ............................................ 7 Oasis At Home ............................................ 7 Consider This - Mustangs of the West.... 8 Pet Place ..................................................... 9 The Vino Voice ....................................... 10 Brewtality................................................11 Screeners ................................................ 12 Book Review .......................................... 13 Safety Tips ...............................................13 Haddon Libby ........................................ 14 Dale Gribow ........................................... 14 Swag For The Soul.................................. 15 Cannabis Corner .................................... 16 Mind, Body & Spirit ............................... 17 Free Will Astrology................................ 17

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s the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be prevalent across the country, communities are sheltering in place in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Trump administration announced that the social distancing guidelines currently in place would be extended through the end of April, meaning that only necessary businesses will remain open and people are to shelter in place at their homes to help curb the cases of COVID-19.

Coachella Valley families have been quarantined in their homes for quite some time already, with nonessential employees either working from home or being out of work for the moment. Children are also stuck at home with their parents as schools in Riverside County remain closed until the tentative date of April 30, with a likelihood of not going back into session until the next academic year.

Until the social distancing guidelines become less strict, families are confined to their homes for most of the day, their regular structure and routine drastically different from just a couple of weeks prior. Some families are having difficulties maintaining order and keeping their kids preoccupied.

Betty is a single mother who works as a critical care nurse in the ICU of a local hospital. She works three to four days a week and has a 5-year-old son named Caleb. While she is at working battling on the front lines against an invisible enemy, Betty has experienced firsthand the panic and despair caused by COVID-19 in the medical field. She herself feels evolving emotions throughout the day, coupled with the stress of ensuring that her work environment does not compromise the safety of her home life.

“When I get off work, I change my clothes in the parking lot so I don’t accidentally bring anything home with me that could potentially put my family at risk,” revealed Betty.

Since this pandemic has presented itself, Betty has been continuing the curriculum that her son’s teachers have sent home

with him as the schools have closed. Right now, they are practicing handwriting through tears—the tears coming from Betty as a mother trying to juggle multiple new responsibilities.

“I am not a qualified teacher and there’s no way they can be replaced. But one piece of advice that I can give to other people is to listen to your officials. I know no one likes to be told what to do, but now is not the time to rebel. Just stay home; and if you’re an essential worker, practice good hygiene. It’s common sense,” urged Betty.

See Betty’s article about being on the front lines on page 4.

Palm Desert resident Theresa Jewett and her family are dealing with these strange times like most other families are right now: taking it one day at a time. She has a 15-year-old son, another 15-year-old stepson, and a 20-year-old stepdaughter home from college.

“We also have a 7-year-old border collie mix that has taken on the role of personal trainer and life coach. He’s really good at barking orders,” commented Jewett.

Her two sons attend two separate high schools, one private and one public. The private school requires attendance for virtual classes and turning in assignments four days a week with an abbreviated schedule. Her son attending public school is, like most Coachella Valley students, waiting to see what the rest of the school year will bring.

To a create sense of normalcy and routine, Jewett still has daily expectations set in place for her sons such as keeping their rooms clean, finishing chores around the house, taking the dog for walks, and since both boys are athletes, they also utilize the gym equipment in their backyard.

“Social distancing for teenage boys really isn’t that difficult when they both have every video game known to man.

That keeps them pretty occupied in their downtime. And like most families right now, there is a lot of cooking and a lot of eating and a lot of Netflix. Have you watched Tiger King yet? I mean, what in the world,” said Jewett.

The most difficult part of being quarantined as a family is to create a new normal for the time being, according to Jewett. Her children miss their friends and

April 2 to April 8, 2020

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL

social lives, and she and her fiancée miss their own work and friends, plus being out in the community. Her parents live close by and Jewett has found it hard to stay away from them for the sake of their health.

“Because of the stress and anxiety of the unknown, it’s really important we practice a lot of patience, keep our sense of humor, get some fresh air and remember that this will pass. Every day I just remind these kids that they are safe, they’re loved and there is enough toilet paper for everyone,” concluded Jewett.

Bridgette McCarthy is another mother dealing with the circumstances of quarantining with young children. She has a 2-year-old, Louis, and has been helping watch her niece, Aubrey, who is in kindergarten. McCarthy is a stay-at-home mom, so she does not have to leave the house for work, but her husband is a Solar Sales manager and is having to adjust to a more impersonal format that he is not used to it yet. He usually goes to peoples’ homes to present proposals but has been home for the last two weeks.

“The hardest part is the uncertainty! I can’t tell if I’m over or under reacting. The stark contrast in behavior that I am seeing is confusing. I am generally a positive person and I remember learning in school that the Japanese word for crisis translates to ‘dangerous opportunity’. While this is undeniably a crisis, I notice that this is also an opportunity to shine a spotlight on important issues such as restoring our health care system and our environment,” stated McCarthy.

To pass the time, McCarthy and the kids enjoy spending time in their pool and walking around the neighborhood for exercise. There is a lot of play time indoors, but she still gets asked when they can go to the playground at the park.

“My niece asked me if the virus will be gone by her birthday, which is in June, and I felt uncomfortable that I did not have a clear answer for her. ‘Hopefully’ was the best I could do,” revealed McCarthy.

Jeremy and Tesla Roos are another family that has been feeling the effects of being quarantined at home. They have four children, 12-year-old Paula, 10-year-old Wyatt, 4-year-old Thomas, and 2-year-old Emily. continue to page 4

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April 2 to April 8, 2020

FAMILIES IN QUARANTINE continued from page 3

Tesla is a former caregiver and had more recently worked as a daycare teacher. She had just started a job at Dream Big Children’s Center in Rancho Mirage where she was the assistant to the director. Her job is to prepare and engage in activities for the children as well as help with administrative work and business development. She was told that they would have to shut the doors one day before Riverside County gave the order to shut down all the schools.

Jeremy still goes to work as the Chief Revenue Officer for a solar manufacturer/ installer that has been deemed essential.

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The business’ operations are down since many of the cities have reduced their operations, including not issuing new permits at this time.

“Two hours after being notified that our children would be home for a minimum of three weeks, our youngest got into some nail polish and got it all over the bathroom.

We knew she would be the hardest to deal with, but now we were scared,” recalled Jeremy.

Since the lockdown started, Tesla tries to keep the kids engaged with activities that are not just limited to watching a screen. The kids have been busy with

several STEM sets and craft kits they had received for Christmas. By the end of the first week of quarantine, all those kits had been used. Problems started almost right away with their 12-year-old, as she refused to get out of bed at a reasonable time and help with the younger children. The first week also involved Jeremy going to Costco early in the morning to wait in line to get food, toilet paper, paper towels, and other necessities.

“Now Tesla’s days include setting up and tearing down activities for the younger children, including helping Emily change clothes, mostly princess dresses, dozens of times every day. The boys play video games together, but often end up fighting, so Tesla has to break it up… We live near Palm Desert Civic Center Park, so we try to get out for a walk every other day or so while practicing social distancing. The younger kids get upset when we go because they can’t play in the playground. When we come home, we immediately take off our clothes and take showers and the babies take a bath,” explained Jeremy.

Autumn Bennett of La Quinta works in

ON THE FRONTLINE AS A CRITICAL CARE NURSE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND A SINGLE MOTHER DURING TODAY’S PANDEMIC, THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

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s a critical care nurse, an ER nurse and a flight nurse for the last 12 years, I have always known the, “what, why, how and where” of any situation and can easily anticipate and change accordingly to multiple evolving circumstances...when, however, first establishing the “scene if safe”. It doesn’t take a critical care nurse in the intensive care unit to know that we are amidst some very stressful and uncertain times and it is unclear, to me, if the “scene is safe”. Add raising a 5-year-old with a difficult co-parent and you have got a recipe for understandable panic.

I am a 45 year old single mom and critical care nurse in the ICU at a local hospital.

Life has been good to me and despite the obvious every day challenges, I think I have a pretty good grasp on balancing the two.

Today, however, there is a very understandable and overwhelming sense

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of panic and uncertainty, as I am on the front lines of this pandemic, the COVID-19 outbreak. The health of my son is concerning to me, and of course my own health is at risk, as well as the community as a whole. I no longer have the answers to the questions of “what, why, how and where”. My duty, as God has given me, is to do exactly what he’s called me to do and without question, however, my priority is to keep my son and his health from compromise.

So, my typical workdays are consecutive, 3-4. My son is with his father during this time. I care for very sick patients and I take all the precautions to hopefully prevent cross contamination and I change out of my scrubs in the parking lot, putting them safely in a plastic bag, shoes go in another, hoping that I am doing the right thing by continuing to go to work in the heart of the breeding ground of a deadly organism.

Exhausted, after 3-4, 15 hour days, I am looking forward to a day off, only to have a sudden surge of panic and then desperately attempt to search for all the press releases I have missed by the health department and the POTUS in order to be informed. These attempts have always resulted in failure because my need for rest has been decided without my conscious permission.

The morning of my first day off starts off with sheer terror of #1 not being informed with current information, #2 not having had the time to disinfect my house before my son comes home, and #3 rationalizing whether or not my son should even come home. Identifying and discussing these concerns with my co-parent has proven to be a blame and accusation protest against me, so I ultimately allow for being berated because I have no energy to defend my

thought process. It is clear that my concerns are unwarranted and my son will soon be home. It is at this time that I experience the peak of emotional instability. This has been the routine for the last 4 weekends. Thank God for my family, they have been the best support system for us. Caleb and I have been truly blessed by their love and support.

After my son arrives home, it is a challenge for the first 2 days to allow him to hold me, kiss me, hug me, sit next to me and it breaks my heart because suddenly, I am not the person he knows. We go on our morning walks, I attempt to follow through with the curriculum that has been sent home for him by his teachers, handwriting without tears. You can be sure that I am the one crying after just 10 minutes. I have made a point to put all electronics away and play outside in the backyard, play in the hose, have art and music time. These are usually disastrous because, as you know, my son is very sweet...but he is still a 5-year-old.

By my third day off, I feel a bit more relaxed and my son gets some genuine physical attention from me. Things are

the fast food industry and is taking online classes at College of the Desert. Her son Wesley is two and he loves to go on walks, since that is something that Bennett makes sure they still do every day to get him out of the house.

“The hardest part is just feeling cooped up and having to come up with things to do to entertain him. I am working on building my patience between him and with how this is affecting my life, my job with school, and financially taking care of my son,” said Bennett.

Although juggling the different responsibilities as a single mother proves to be overwhelming sometimes, Bennett is thankful for the help of her grandparents, brother, and mother, who acts as Wesley’s main care giver when Bennett has to work.

While being cooped up in the house all day may be less than ideal to some, there is the reassuring truth that sheltering in place at home will better ensure the health and safety of others as the battle to prevent more cases of COVID-19 persists—keeping loved ones young and old out of danger.

COMMUNITY

BY BETTY R.N.

looking good and by day number four we feel normal and by day five, we start this entire disruptive and quite honestly, dysfunctional, cycle over again.

I have to say that even during these uncertain times and as the predicted surge is said to be coming, that I am ready to care for my community. If there is one thing I want to teach my son, it is that everything I do is based on love and courage. And there can be no fault in acting out of genuine concern for others. I hope I do not get sick, but if I do, I hope he remembers me this way.

I’d like to give a shout out to Brian Parnell for sharing his journey, trusting my professional judgement enough to answer his questions and opening up channels of communication when, whether he knew it or not, I needed a friend just to talk to about anything. He responded to me at any time of day or night and it made a difference to me.

I also have to say that throughout my years of nursing, notably during the rapid escalation of my career to becoming a flight nurse, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services and while adjusting to the reality of single motherhood, the CV music scene has kept me going, allowing me to release all the burdens I willingly and consciously absorb while attending to the sick and injured, so I can make room for more and also helping me get back to who I am. Without people like Aaron R, Robert P, Tracy and Phil, Brian P, Paul C, Johnny S, Melinda, Nikkola E, Rob G (yes, even Troy Z), also, Danny W and Marcus B, my heart and soul thanks those two every day. Music brings me back and the entire scene, I feel, are my family, even if we only see each other once in a while.

Thanks so very much for all you do. You are the heroes in my world!

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V Weekly has taken quite a financial hit like so many of us during this pandemic. We want to be able to continue to publish online every week and bring you the same great columns you love as well as the quality feature articles from Noe Gutierrez and Crystal Harrell. In order to do that, we need your help, yes, you the readers. Any contribution big or small will go

COMMUNITY

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f you are in recovery or seeking recovery, it can be a difficult mountain to climb on its own. Add the quandary of social distancing and the outbreak of COVID-19 and that loss of a road map and fellowship that are musts in ANY recovery program can be the determining factors in relapsing to any drug or behavior. We are no longer choosing to stay home but being told to stay home. We all have that need to stay connected and those in recovery are no different.

Coping with the current stressors in a healthy manner will make you and your recovery stronger while your loved ones and community members benefit. The fear and anxiety surrounding the pandemic can be intense and produce strong emotions for those in recovery. We all react and act differently to stressful situations. How we respond determines everything.

The recovery community in the Coachella Valley has responded in a huge way. No longer able to meet in person, people in recovery are utilizing their resiliency to stay abstinent by participating in online meetings, groups, counseling and therapy. Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with Pastor Bob Newby of Southwest Community Church in Indian Wells, California to find out what they are doing to help Celebrate Recovery members cope with the Coronavirus and social distancing. I also offer a few points of guidance to help those in recovery, those seeking recovery and their supporters.

BOB NEWBY, Pastor of Recovery Southwest Church, Coachella Valley CVW: Celebrate Recovery is a worldrenowned recovery program that has continued despite the pandemic. What are some of the services you continue to provide?

Pastor Newby: “We offer our big meeting every Friday night at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live at the Celebrate Recovery at Southwest Church FB page. This week we have a panel of four of our leaders sharing what they are doing to pursue sobriety and serenity as they are facing pressures from the effects of the COVID19 pandemic. Our leaders will give us a window into their world and what they are

to continue to pay our Art Director, Website Manager and Writers. Advertisers are slim right now as we are an entertainment based publication but we are seeing some new ads coming in. Help us stay strong during this time. Thank you in advance!

You can donate to my PayPal account– Name: CV Weekly. Email Publisher@ coachellavalleyweekly.com.

So here are my thoughts for the week: Can you imagine going through this COVID-19 pandemic with self- isolation back before 2000 when we didn’t have email, text, cell phones with face time or FB live, Instagram or YouTube? Or, how about not being able to stream music or have On Demand movies and Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon and Disney?

We would have no interaction with our friends at all, or the ability to experience live music in our living rooms right now. Try to take the positive from that and at the same time go back to those sacred times where families hung out playing board games, cards, etc. (I remember the times growing up in PA when we had to stay in for days during snow

April 2 to April 8, 2020 storms.) Take this time for those walks, to read a book, clean out a closet, take an online course, travel via the internet and learn about new places, start that novel you’ve been talking about for years, have a deep conversation with a loved one, things that we never have time for. Take time to call that single friend that’s alone or senior that hasn’t gotten out in forever and check on them. If you have a partner, kids, family you live with, be grateful to not be alone. They might be driving you crazy, but think how you’d feel if YOU were alone for another 30 days.

Like I said in last week’s issue, we are all in the same boat, some just have bigger holes in their boats than others…so throw out a life raft when and where you can.

COVID-19, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND RECOVERY

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

doing to manage their emotions under the pressure of the current situation. There are also online videoconferencing open share groups available. Invite your friends!”

CVW: What has been the biggest challenge in moving to an online only presence?

Pastor Newby: “We are making sure the open share groups are safe. We require people to wear earphones of some kind so that others do not hear. Another challenge has been the logistics of Zoom. Some of our folks are older and not familiar with some of the technology available.”

CVW: What has been the response from Celebrate Recovery members?

Pastor Newby: “The participants are extremely grateful we are having the meetings online. They are inviting others who they know would benefit. While it is not the same as being in person, it is a way to connect. During times like this, those of us in recovery know the importance of connecting rather than isolating. We are better together.”

Here are some potentially helpful guidelines for those in recovery: 1. Use social media outlets like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp or even the now traditional email and texting to stay connected. Connect with your sponsor via these means as well. Let your family know how you are doing and feeling. If you need something, ask. It’s recommended that you do this at least once or twice a day during this involuntary isolation. Remember to limit your screen time as well.

2. Many people who have significant

and long-term substance use may develop weakened immune systems and may be more susceptible to illness. Focus on your health. Exercise daily while remaining safe and go outside and get some sun, vitamin D and fresh air. Regulate your eating and sleeping patterns while staying hydrated.

3. This is stressful time for all of humankind; we must acknowledge that.

It’s a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. Find a routine that works for you.

I recommend starting the day with prayer, meditation, mindfulness or yoga; some space of time for you to rededicate your recovery on a daily basis.

4. If you’re working from home, step away from the desk and use other locations to be your worksite like outside or on the couch.

5. There are many online resources to support your recovery. Go to virtual-na.org or aa-intergroup.org for online mutual aid and community support group meetings. And of course, The Refinery’s Relapse Prevention During Social Distancing on Wednesday evenings from 5-6 p.m. (call (760) 385-3959 or email info@therefinerywellness.com for the Zoom link) and Celebrate Recovery at Southwest Church on Fridays at 7 p.m., both FREE and open to the public.

6. Start and keep a gratitude journal to keep track of the good things in your life.

There is always something to feel grateful for. Or just write down your thoughts, ideas and feelings.

7. Offer your support to another. Find where you can give back to your community or check in with your recovery peers to see how they are doing. It’s a good feeling

when someone, out of the blue, reaches out and says, “Hi, how’s it going?” You’ll find that when you do that, you build your own recovery and realize you are not alone in this.

8. Finally, if you have thoughts of relapse (a return to use/behavior after a period of abstinence), reach out to someone. If you do relapse, again, reach out to someone and tell them. It’s only a setback and is part of the process. This is your opportunity to rededicate and reconstruct your recovery plan.

If you’re someone who provides support for a loved one, here are some things you can do: 1. Reach out to your loved one. Remind them you are available.

2. Along with your loved one, confess that this is a tough time and that you can identify with their challenges while being vulnerable to your own.

3. Ask if they need anything.

4. If you come across any resources, share them.

--------------------------------------------Bob Newby is Regional Director for the West at Celebrate Recovery and Pastor of Recovery at Southwest Church, Coachella Valley. You can reach him at (760) 200-2000. bobn@southwestchurch.com.

Noe Gutierrez is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II who works at The Refinery Integrated Wellness Services in Palm Desert, CA and at Alert Program in Palm Springs, CA. You can reach him at (760) 4850948. noe@therefinerywellness.com.

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April 2 to April 8, 2020

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INTRODUCING THE NEW “VIRTUAL VIEWING” SECTION FOR POSTINGS OF LIVE MUSIC FROM ARTIST’S LIVING ROOMS

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emember back in the day when we had to choose between seeing only one show a night because we didn’t want to take the risk of getting a DUI driving from a show at Palm Canyon Roadhouse to a show at The Hood and then on to Big Rock Pub and then out to Date Shed?

THURSDAY:

Carlos Cruz (2Toxic) – Facebook – 11am, 4pm and 7pm Hey Bertha – Facebook – 4pm Cody White and the Easy Ride – Facebook – 7:30pm

FRIDAY:

Date Shed – Pescaterritory – Facebook – 11am, 4pm and 7pm Slim Man – Facebook – 5pm Rose Mallett – Facebook – 5pm Michael Keeth – Facebook – 7-8:30pm Tack Room Tavern – Lance Riebsomer – Facebook – 8:30pm

SATURDAY:

Date Shed – Giselle Woo – Facebook – 11am, 4pm and 7pm Derek Jordan Gregg – Facebook – 6pm Jetta King – Facebook – 6:45pm John Carey – Facebook – 7pm Daytime Moon – Facebook – 8pm

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And we certainly couldn’t afford to Uber to all those places in one night and still have drink money.

Way back in the olden days of February 2020. Well as we know things have changed drastically and we can no longer go to the bars to see our favorite bands play. However, we can try to look

SUNDAY: Date Shed – Jae Rawkwell and Luthergates – Facebook – 11am, 4pm and 7pm Pete Campbell – Facebook 4:20pm Blasting Echo – Facebook – 5pm Krystofer Do – Facebook – 7-9:30pm Justin Ledesma (Allies) – Facebook – 7:30pm

MONDAY: Slim Man – Facebook - 5pm

TUESDAY: Rose Mallett – Facebook – 6:30pm Michael Keeth – Facebook – 7-8:30pm

WEDNESDAY: Slim Man – Facebook - 5pm

at the positive of home isolation as it pertains to music.

A few weeks ago, when this all began, CV Weekly did our first “CVCV Virtual Festival” on FB Live with 28 artists participating. Since then all

genres of musicians across the valley have been doing amazing heartfelt FB Live shows that you can enjoy in the comfort of your living room, in your PJs, with or without makeup ladies, or your hair done, you can drink as much as you want without worrying about getting a DUI, and you can watch several of your favorite musicians in one night without leaving the house. Okay... I realize it’s not the same, but at least we get to interact with them live on FB and leave them comments for them to see in real time and they get to give shout outs to their fans.

So since the Club Crawler isn’t necessary right now I decided to create the “Virtual Viewing” section in its place... for now...so musicians can let their fans know in advance when they will be going live. Don’t forget to tip them in their virtual tip jars. And if anyone wants to help support CV Weekly during this difficult time so we can keep this all going online, we will appreciate your support.

You can donate to my PayPal account – Name: CV Weekly. Email Publisher@ coachellavalleyweekly.com.

LOCAL MUSIC

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ach week Coachella Valley Weekly will provide you with an update on many of our favorite artists and what they are up to.

INSTIGATOR First we have Instigator. The four-piece Thrash Metal band made up of four young men who play like seasoned veterans. Their new debut full-length album, Necessary Evil, will be dropping this Friday, April 3, 2020, and the band can’t wait. The album was recorded by Brian “Puke” Parnell (Regurgitation Records) at his Emesis Studios in Idyllwild, California.

All four band members will be hosting an FB Live event to commemorate the release at 7 p.m. on the same night. The band debuted their first single and video for Exothermic on March 28th via YouTube.

The song must be listened to at a loud volume. It’s a no nonsense, groovy, dualguitar riffing, performance video of Thrash fingers, hands and feet. Shot to feature the musicianship and moxie of Instigator, the bass breakdown at around the 2:30 mark gives the song a left turn to “release the heat” of high-flying solo trade-offs. The video was directed and edited by Kurt Schawacker. instigatorusa.bandcamp.com DATE SHED - ARTIST TAKEOVER For the next two weekends, we can watch several of our artists perform live as part of an event presented by Date Shed and the Desi Strong Foundation. These amazing performers will be taking takeover the Date Shed’s social media pages in an effort to unite the community through music and by giving back to the children in our community.

We spoke with two of the desert’s principal Hip-Hop representatives about their participation: 2Toxic: “Date Shed manager Kristen Reinhagen Ortiz reached out to me. I’m going to set up in my garage and outdoors to bust out some new music that’s about to be released. I have a pretty active team.

Going to have a lot of features to present it as a showcase, we’ll be talking about my music because it’s better enjoyed when you get the story behind it. I may have artists like Lootenant, Sol Akiva, Frank Villa, Blasphamy and others. I’m just excited to interact with everybody and be able to explain a little more about the music indepth. In this down time, I’ve been creating a lot, mixing and mastering, sitting down and finalizing projects. I’m really excited for the Blasphamy album release on 4/17/20 under my label 2Toxic Music.”

Luthergates: “Rawkwell and I will each be spinning a set, playing something that we hardly get to play. Rawkwell will be doing a Reggae vibes set with a bit of 90’s. I will be playing an Electro set with a bit of something for everyone. We’re both staying positive and sending good vibes to everyone out there. Be Safe!”

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DESERT MUSIC HAPPENINGS

April 2 to April 8, 2020

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

Go to the Date Shed’s Facebook page for more information and to view the live performances: WEEKEND ONE 2Toxic - Thursday, April 2, 2020 Pescaterritory - Friday, April 3, 2020 Giselle Woo - Saturday, April 4, 2020 Jae Rawkwell and Luthergates - Sunday, April 5, 2020 WEEKEND TWO Provoked - Thursday, April 9, 2020 Slipping Into Darkness - Friday, April 10, 2020 Mozaiq - Saturday, April 11, 2020 Bo Napoleon - Sunday, April 12, 2020 dateshedmusic.com WAXY Desert rockers Waxy have a new splitsingle release with Avon as well as a new video. DesertFest Vol. VI features the new single “It’s No Mistake” by Waxy and “Man of Medan” by Avon. The album is available on vinyl here: https://h42records-shop. de/ The video is for the song “Fine!,” a tune from the award-winning album Betting On Forgetting (2019). The “pick up the pace” song reminds us that some bands are still mindful of that Punk feel and breadth, clocking in at 1:35. Vocalist and guitarist Robbie Waldman wails in his upper register comfortably. The video, released on 3/16/20, was shot and directed by the irrepressible Rick Rodriguez. The video shows the band performing at a very recognizable desert site in Desert Hot Springs, California known as “Lost Heads”.

See for yourself below: Watch “Fine! (Official Video)” on WAXY’s YouTube.com channel. waxy-music.com FEVER DOG Recently, Psychedelic desert rock band Fever Dog released the new singles “Solid Ground” and “Bruiser! Solid Ground” is classy and gritty. Danny Graham’s vocals are visionary. The drum sound distorts nicely and the keys boost the guitar sound forward magnetizing it all together to solidify the particles. “Bruiser!” is straight out of the 70’s. I can hear elements of T. Rex, Supertramp and The Darkness. Fever

Dog has found that balance between the Desert Rock persuasion and enveloping well-crafted background vocals and keyboards.

You can find the new songs on Apple Music, Spotify and at their Bandcamp link below: feverdog.bandcamp.com THROW THE GOAT In true Throw The Goat fashion, their new “PPL Like U” video incorporates a message to the status quo that is politics.

Dressed in superhero masks and capes, the band forge ahead to point out to those in power that, indeed, the power lies with the people; as guitarist and vocalist Brian ‘Puke’ Parnell insists, “I’m one of the good

OASIS AT HOME

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guys!” Enlisting fellow super heroes and desert music influencers Dan Dillinger, Johnny and Chelsea Sugarbritches, Nick Hales and Joshua A. Fimbres and Valerie Morales, a majority of the video was filmed atop Highway 74 and features the Coachella Valley as a backdrop. The concept of the video is a reminder that we should all look beyond ourselves to see the true tragedies that are taking place. The video is also accompanied by a cool three part “behind the scenes” documentary showing the prowess of videographer and Assistant Director Caleb Cruz-Whitford.

Each member of the band also played a part in the production of the video.

The song itself, recorded at the Fireside Inn in Idyllwild, California, is a wonderful mix of Metal, Punk and Rock; just Heavy Music. Derek Wade Timmons (bass) and Troy Anthony Whitford (drums) kill it!

Throw The Goat - PPL Like U (Official Music Video): youtu.be/op4m6esrZDE Throw The Goat - Behind The Scenes PPL Like U: youtu.be/qDk6fttB0rI votegoat2020.com You can reach Noe Gutierrez at: Phone: (760) 485-0948 Email: desertmusic1@gmail.com

EXPERIENCE GREATER PALM SPRINGS VIRTUAL DESTINATION ACTIVITIES AT HOME

s stay-at-home isolation continues, online content plays an important role in keeping people connected to each other and to the community. In support of our community during this time of social distancing, The Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is excited to launch Oasis at Home at GPSoasisathome.com.

Oasis at Home is an online resource that brings signature Greater Palm Springs experiences home for the entire family.

Greater Palm Springs attractions, local businesses and organizations are the source of all of the Oasis at Home content.

This compilation of all-local resources covers a variety of Coachella Valley topics including:

kid-friendly activities at home virtual workouts foodie activities (like cooking classes and recipes) a variety of lessons and classes virtual tours of local attractions It’s like taking a trip to our beautiful destination without leaving your home!

The Oasis at Home page comes in addition to two other resource pages created specifically for our Greater Palm Springs community since the outbreak of Coronavirus. The CVB has also created Stay in. Take out. a dining resource page that has already reached 20k page views and the Seniors First grocery store/pharmacy shopping resource page that details special hours of operations for seniors.

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April 2 to April 8, 2020

CONSIDER THIS

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ountry Music got its start in the Southern states, but thanks to the Dust Bowl diaspora and the Great Depression, the genre found a second home in California. Both the oil and agricultural capitol of Bakersfield and glittery movie colony of Los Angeles became bastions of Country sounds.

The Honky Tonks that provided entertainment in Central California, shaped the sound of legends like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Jean Shepherd and Joe Mapis. In Hollywood, Singing Cowboys like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Tex Ritter opened the door for musicians like Sons of The Pioneers and Spade Cooley. By the ‘60s, Rock N’ Roll became the lingua franca of the L.A. music scene, still, the influence of Country persisted. Three unlikely artists, Rick Nelson, Mike Nesmith and Gram Parsons (separately) began integrating Country flavors into their brand of Rock N’ Roll.

Rick Nelson had grown up in public, found fame on his parents’ TV series and parlayed that into a music career. By the mid ‘60s, his Rockabilly Roots sound was laced with Country accents. Mike Nesmith also became a household name via television as part of “The Monkees.”

But the Texas transplant was a serious musician and quickly chafed at the restrictions and ridicule he suffered as one of the “Pre-Fab Four.” He slipped as many of his own compositions as he could onto Monkees albums and Linda Rondstadt scored her first hit with his song “Different Drum.” Pretty soon his own solo efforts bore his signature Twang-Rock style. Georgia native Gram Parsons grew up in Florida and matriculated at Harvard for a bit before finding his niche as part of L.A.’s Rock N’ Roll demi-monde. Joining the Byrds in 1968, he completely recalibrated their Folk-Rock sound, adding fiddle, banjo and pedal steel. After leaving the band, he teamed with ex-Byrd Chris Hillman formed The Flying Burrito Brothers. Soon after, he discovered Emmylou Harris and incorporated her voice into his short-lived solo career. Sadly, Gram died of a drug overdose in Joshua Tree in 1973.

Progenitors like Rick, Mike and Gram, paved the way for the Countrified Rock of Linda Ronstadt, Eagles, Jackson Browne and Poco. That music dominated airwaves during the ‘70s until the more outlier elements of Disco and Punk took hold. By the early ‘80s, those bucolic styles took a backseat to the Day-Glo sound of New Wave and the acrid decadence of Hair Metal.

Although it was marginalized, Country continued to influence even the crustiest Punks. L.A. bands like X, The Blasters began to explore rootsy antecedents. Tony and Chip Kinman, shapeshifted from the spit n’ safety pin style of the Dils to full-tilt Honky

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

MUSTANGS OF THE WEST

Tonk as Rank And File. Pretty soon all kinds of Los Angeles bands added a little hitch to their giddyup. From The Rave-Ups and Lone Justice to Sweethearts of The Rodeo and The Beat Farmers, they ushered in a new genre, dubbed Cowpunk. Although they never received national exposure, The Mustangs were part of that thriving L.A. scene.

The nucleus of the band, guitarist/ vocalist Sherry Rayn Barnett, lead vocalist/ guitarist Suzanna Spring and bassist Holly Montgomery became a part of The Mustangs (there were a lot of line-up changes in the early days), back in the ‘80s. The distaff outfit immediately began playing locally. Paying their dues, the band landed gigs at venerable L.A. venues like Club Lingerie, Genghis Cohen, Largo, The Music Machine, as well as the ne plus ultra Country Rock club, The Palomino. They also shared stages with artists like Rosie Flores, Jim Lauderdale and Lucinda Williams.

Although The Mustangs only recording is a self-released EP they sold at their shows, they still managed myriad world tours opening for Bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and disparate acts like Edie Brickell and Brian Setzer. They even played at Pappy & Harriet’s when the high desert juke joint was it was still owned and operated by Harriet Allen.

In the mid ‘90s, The Mustangs decided to hang up their spurs. Sherry quickly stepped into a second career as widely published music photographer. She also managed to sit in with friends and played with an alt. ukulele band for seven years, bending classic songs by David Bowie and Led Zeppelin, among others, toward fourstringed arrangements. Holly relocated to the DC area, where she concentrated on raising her three adopted kids. She still found time to form her own band and record two albums of solo material with a third on the way. Meanwhile, Susanna moved to Nashville and wound up with a career as a well-respected staff songwriter for Bluewater Music publishers.

Throughout the years, the three remained in touch, continuing to bounce song ideas off each other. When everyone was back in Los Angeles, they decided to reboot the band. First, they recruited Suzanne Morrisette Cruz on drums, percussion and vocals, as well as multi-instrumentalist Aubrey Richmond who provided fiddle, mandolin, ukulele, organ and vocals. With these new additions it only seemed right that this 21st century edition of the band should recalibrate their name, so they became Mustangs of The West.

Once they signed with Blue Elan Records, they connected with veteran producer Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, the Neville Brothers and Lucinda Ronstadt, to name a few), and headed into the studio. The

“TIME” (BLUELAN RECORDS)

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

result is Time, as in, it’s about time they finally made a full-length album.

The album opens on a tender note with “Long Gone Down The Road.” Acoustic and electric guitars lattice over keening fiddles, tart mandolin thumping bass and a do-sido rhythm. Trenchant lyrics advise only time and distance can heal a broken heart; “The way we were in better days is just a blur, here on the highway/I want to look back, but I won’t, till I’m long gone down the road.”

Several songs on the record match catchy songcraft with sharp instrumentation and soaring soral harmonies. Take “How Blue,” sugar rush acoustic licks sidle around prickly mandolin, sawing fiddle, taut bass lines and a crackling beat. The lyrics take a reckless Romeo to task; “You keep tellin’ me I got the right stuff, guess you don’t think I’ve been knocked around enough/You keep actin’ like you haven’t won yet, tell me, how blue do I have to get, how blue do I have to get?” The shuddery electric guitar solo on the break shares some musical DNA with “Lyin’ Eyes” from the Eagles.

Fiddle and guitar intertwine on the opening notes of “Dancing On The Moon.”

Here true love becomes a casualty of youthful ambition. Something of a lovelorn lament, aching harmonies ponder the road not taken; “Life is all hard choices, and it’s living with the ones you made/I just heard other voices, but I still wonder what if I had stayed.”

The script is flipped on “You Haven’t Seen This Part Of Me Yet.” Even as throbbing bass lines and rattlesnake percussion bookend dulcet harmonies and shimmering acoustic guitars, the lyrics attempt to convince an old friend that real romance is right in front of them; “Sometimes I wonder if you see me at all, I’ve been right here loving you all along/Waiting and hoping you’ll see who I am, the fire beside you, a forever friend, you haven’t seen that part of me yet, no, you haven’t seen that part of me yet.”

Meanwhile, “Do The Math” is a tensile rocker. Squally electric guitar rides roughshod over ricocheting bass lines and a rattle-trap beat. Lyrics insist on a little more than instant attraction or chemical reaction. The sum must equal the parts;

“One and one sometimes equal one, two and two sometimes equal one/One and one are one when love is fun, two and twos stay one when love is done.”

Although Mustangs of The West had a surfeit of original material to choose from, they’ve salted the mix with a few outside compositions and the results are flawless.

“This Is Me Leaving” weds willowy fiddle, jangly guitars and a tick-tock beat to sparkly harmonies. The lyrics issue a stern edict of romantic emancipation; “This is me leavin’, leaving while I’ve got my pride, this is me leavin’ you can’t take the tears I cried/There are some horses, baby, that you just can’t ride, this is me leavin’ leavin’ while I’m still alive.”

Aubrey handles lead vocals on both “I Blame Love” and “In The Real West.”

The former is a tough-minded rocker that could easily sandwich between Heart and Pat Benatar on any AOR radio playlist.

Searing guitars skitter and shapeshift atop angular bass lines, spikey keys and a jittery rhythm. Succinct lyrics unravel the mystery of heartache; “I blame love, I blame tenderness…for promising me heaven just to kill me with a kiss.”

The latter was written by San Antonio songstress Tish Hinojosa. The Austin-based singer-songwriter also began her career in the ‘80s, managing to meld Folk, Country, Rock and the traditional Mexican music of her childhood into a seamless blend. A rollicking two-step, it’s equal parts torch and twang. Anchored by fluttery acoustic guitar, gritty bass, reverb-drenched electric riffs, high lonesome pedal steel and a boomerang beat. Aubrey and Suzanna trade verses, each singing the praises of the authentic cowboy way. The song rides into the sunset with a bit of yodel-tastic vocalese.

Other interesting cuts include the romantic see-saw of “A Little Undone, the dashed dreams of “Potter’s Field” and the melancholy title track which is suffused with regret. The album closes with “Seven Summers” a restless farewell to an absentee dad. Wistful and bittersweet, it’s shot through with tenderness and mercy.

This record deserves a place on the shelf next to albums like Trio, from Dolly, Emmylou and Linda,” Rosanne Cash’s King’s Record Shop as well as recent additions from First Aid Kit and Larkin Poe. To say time has been good to Mustangs of The West is more than an easy pun. The five-piece have all weathered life’s highs and lows in one way or another. Musically, they have rebounded with style, grace, grit and gravitas.

PET PLACE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY JANET McAFEE

ADOPTING A HOMELESS DOG DURING THIS PANDEMIC

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reat news! The adoption of homeless pets is helping home bound humans cope with the pandemic crisis! With people adopting more animals from shelters and rescue organizations, these “angels in fur” pay it back with lots of unconditional love and loyalty.

What better way to shelter-at-home than spending time with your new rescue dog or cat. Surrounded by bad news and fears of an uncertain future, many folks are finding comfort from a purring cat sitting on their lap. A tail wagging dog with his hugs and kisses brings contagious joy to your family.

Many people have thought about adopting, but busy work schedules and travel plans led them to postpone. Now with time on your hands, training a new dog provides you with a rewarding project.

Watching the playful antics of your new cat will give you respite from depressing news watching. There is a wealth of information online to help with training and assimilating him to your home.

Animals work miracles in our lives, and bring us joy during these dark days. Rescue animals, having already experienced the trauma of losing their first family, teach us to live in the moment, becoming stronger and wiser through adversity.

Some of the organizations listed below offer foster programs that help prepare animals for their “furever” homes. Pictured here is Celine Dusablon with her two foster puppies, Boo Boo and Logan from Loving Animals. The organization rescued these puppies from a situation of severe neglect. Siblings Boo Boo and Logan spent their entire lives (4 months) shut inside a guest bathroom, never let outside, and bereft of human contact. Celine explains, “The puppies were shaking for several days when they arrived at the shelter.

They were still timid when I brought them home to foster. They didn’t know how to play or how to explore the back yard.

But they warmed up quickly, followed me everywhere, and loved to cuddle. They took away my worry about what’s going on in the world.” This week, the bonded pair was happily adopted TOGETHER. Below is a partial list of shelters and rescues in the Inland Empire. The information is current as we go to print, but please call them for update as things can change. If you cannot adopt or foster right now, consider making a donation to one of these private rescues as they rely on public donations. “Like” their Facebook pages and become part of the rescue army.

COACHELLA VALLEY ANIMAL CAMPUS This large county shelter is open for adoptions, but limits the number of people

April 2 to April 8, 2020

entering at one time. View the animals at all 5 county shelters at rcdas.org, and get the ID number of the animal(s) you want to meet. Open Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. Located at 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, (760) 343-3644.

(Public) PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER Shelter closed, and you must call for an appointment to adopt. They schedule appointments Wednesday through Monday, closed on Tuesday. View their animals online at psanimalsshelter.org, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5718. (Public) CALIFORNIA PAWS RESCUE Open for adoptions. Located at the Barkingham Pet Hotel, 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at californiapawsrescue.com, (760) 6563833. (Private)

BEAUTIFUL SIAMESE

MEET RINGO

This beautiful Seal Point Siamese cat would love to cuddle with you during the quarantine. She’s just 1-yr-old, spayed & ready to go home, cat ID#A1575901.

Come meet her at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, www.rcdas.org, (760) 343-3644

This handsome fellow would love to join you for some outdoor exercise during the quarantine! Ringo is a high energy 3-yr-old Shepherd/Huskie mix, rescued by the HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY. The shelter is open only by appointment, call (760) 329-0203 to meet Ringo or one of his buddies. Then come out to 17826 N. Indian Canyon, North Palm Springs, www.orphanpet.com.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY Shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at orphanpet.com. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 3290203. (Private) KITTYLAND Open for adoptions, but only admit one adopter at a time. Open 12noon-2pm Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday.

Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs. kittylandrescue.org, (760) 2512700. Cats also at PetSmart Palm Springs.

Currently only adult cats. (Private) LOVING ALL ANIMALS Shelter currently closed, dogs in foster homes. Located at 83496 Ave. 51, Coachella, lovingallanimals.org, (760) 8347000. (Private) CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ANIMAL SHELTER Shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Hours for adoption 10am – 4pm Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sun/Mon. Google “City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter” to obtain website to view animals and get ID number of the animal(s) you want to meet. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 3847272. (Public) DREAM TEAM ANGELS Foster based rescue located in Grand Terrace/San Bernardino area. Contact them through website DreamTeamangelsrescue.com. (Private) If you need assistance in locating a rescue animal of any kind, please email me. There is a great website www.

Petfinder.com where you can enter your zip code and the specifications for your desired pet, and you will receive a list of nearby rescue animals. Hugs & Wags!

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com

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April 2 to April 8, 2020

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THE VINO VOICE

BY RICK RIOZZA

STAY PUT PASTA PAIRINGS

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n the days when we’re not helping our business community by ordering takeout, many in the household are in the kitchen with Dinah trying out some tried & true recipes and experimenting with new ones. It’s been said that when you cook, you’re drawn to the things that have a place in your heart, and home is where the heart is.

So what are your top five favorite foods —as if you could only eat from these five categories for the next five years (God willing of course!). Or—if it’s not too soon, what major food staples could you be happy with, staying home, for the next three four months?

Well—mine, and perhaps yours, would be: meat, cheese & dairy, potatoes, bread & pasta, salads, and of course wine for a beverage. How do you like that grouping? And how do you like the way I count?

Okay—all right, and then there’s tacos. There are a lot of great tasting tacos out there with many variations on a theme. One could probably eat a different type of taco every day of the year. And because we can utilize all the must-have food categories in the preparations, tacos (and maybe even burritos) get to stay in our food club as a matter of right!

But Momma Mia! This article will focus itself on one of the best culinary pairings in the gastronomic heights: Pasta & Wine Pairings. It can be as simple as matching pasta Bolonese with a decent bottle of Chianti, or, a Tuscan wild boar ragú with pappardelle and a Vino Nobile di Montipulciano. As a duty to the readership stuck at home,

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we decided to do the right thing and experiment with different pasta dishes and different wines, and this is our report.

Pairing wine and pasta is more of an art than science. It’s all about balancing the flavors of the dish with the flavors in the wine. Pasta, as we all know, tastes like anything that one makes it to taste—via spices, herbs, sauces, cheeses; you name it—make it yours!

Popular sauces are traditionally added to pasta, such as red, tomato-based sauce, creamy-white sauce, pesto sauce, etc.

Our tasting panel consisted of myself, representing the CV Weekly; Paolo Max and Penny Ione from the

Palm Springs Wine Blog; and Desert Arc’s Guy Laurent/Guido Lorenzo— that French-Italian over-eater who can consume a dish in seconds flat! Further, we all brought together some wine we already had on hand on our shelves and refrigerators—so avoiding unnecessary travel. And we’re using wine to dictate the pasta preparation.

So whether you have a Barbera d’Asti or Barbera d’Alba or even a good Lodi Barbera, the wine’s highacid character and its alluring display of red fruits can stand up well to the array of pasta dishes that goes big on the tomato sauce, a Bolognese for example. We also found that this same Barbera is the bomb with a beef lasagne where the acidity helps to balance the cream béchamel sauce. You’d think that a bold red would work, but when we tried a big oaky Cabernet Sauvignon the dish showed some bitter notes.

We know plenty of folks who serve a Chardonnay with their gloriously comforting macaroni cheese dish; but don’t be scared! A Barbera can cut through the richness and provides a nice tasty fruit relief—which means, one can probably enjoy another helping or two of the pasta, and, another glass of wine while we’re at it.

Experienced red wine lovers have always found a likable link between the Italian Barbera and the French Beaujolais as to feel, flavor, acidity

in a lighter body. Thus, have at it with a Villages or Cru Beaujolais and Bolognese or beef lasagne.

And I’ll even out on a lasagne limb and offer that an Austrian Zwiegelt would be a fine substitute for Barbera or Beaujolais as well. If you don’t believe me, go ask Austrian- born Chef Johannes Bacher, owner and executive chef of his eponymous Palm Springs Restaurant (currently doing take-out) and I think he’ll agree with me on the under-the-radar red wine from Austria.

We all know Piemonte’s two wine gifts to the world, Nebbiolo’s Barolo and Barbaresco, where a vintage Nebbiolo simply takes your truffle pasta dish and herbs to the heavens.

If you’re short on truffles, try a wild mushroom concoction with herbs, a dash of cream in the sauce served with egg-rich, but thin, tagliatelle.

The Nebbiolo will provide cherries, mushrooms, violets, wild herbs, and a touch of tar and tobacco—don’t wince, that dish is delish!

That brings us to Sangiovese, which in its various guises can offer vibrant red fruit, sanguine and iron notes, herbs and a touch of spice, depending on the style. Its heartland is Tuscany, of course, with Chianti Classico being the most popular wine for the area.

Chianti is pretty versatile on the dinner table, but watch out for younger wines with too much tannin or structure, because they might overpower your dish. And speaking thereof, always throw in a good splash or three, into your tomato-based sauce when cooking.

For those who have a fancy wine collection, you’ll want to display your Brunello di Montacino with your pasta.

Remember though, the much less expensive younger cousin, Rosso di Montalcino, works great with spaghetti and pork or beef meatballs, particularly if the meat is infused with herbs and a bit of black pepper.

Sausage and fennel, perhaps with fusilli, is another classic that often works well with Sangiovese’s red fruit and wild herb character. Cabernet Franc could also be a great partner here.

Now that we’re on a roll, we’ve run out of space. Since no one’s going anywhere—quite literally.

We’ll continue this story later. Buon Appetito! Saluti!

BREWTALITY

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

April 2 to April 8, 2020

BY AARON RAMSON

I DRANK .99 CENT STORE BEER PART III: QUARANTINE EDITION

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he absolute worst thing about quarantine is not being able to escape the extra-magnetic pull-of-boredom your phone and refrigerator begin to possess. You find yourself compulsively checking your social media almost as often as you check the pantry for new and exotic foods that may have magically appeared while you were binge watching Tiger King for the third time. It’s the twelfth day of the great shelter-in-place movement of 2020, and the odds of contracting cabin fever seemed inevitable. Luckily for me, I’d run out of milk, bread and beer, and a monotony-breaking trip to the grocery store was in order.

I’d also run out of toilet paper, but winning the lottery seemed more likely than actually finding TP at this point in the pandemic. Panic shoppers were hoarding the Angel Soft, and toilet paper suddenly became a valued commodity. If Charmin overtakes the dollar as our national currency, I can’t wait to tell my grandkids that this was the year it happened.

My chanced trip to the .99 Cent Only Store was a total success for no other reason than that there was new beer on the shelves, Korea’s #1 selling beer to be in fact. I still don’t know what the hell a Cass Fresh is, but this beer is named for it. Decked out in a snazzy blue box, a 6-pack of the 4.5% pale lager sold for $4.99. While that price seemed kind of high for a no-name beer from a discount bargain store, I’ve noted a specific lack of promotionalpriced beer around town since this whole quarantine thing started. In short, people are stuck at home and drinking more, and the demand for beer has gone up. When beer you’ve actually heard of is no longer on-sale, that $4.99 stuff from the dollar store doesn’t sound so bad after all. Luckily for our unemployed wallets, the .99 Cent Only Store has an assortment of beer that’s awful on your palate but easy on the bottom line.

I brought my 6-pack of Cass Fresh home and promptly refrigerated it. 99 Cent Only Store beer must always be

rated in dumpster fires, and today’s haul was no exception. I fired up my laptop and readied my favorite pint glass, because Cass Fresh was ready for review.

Cass Fresh – 4.5% ABV, Oriental Brewery Co., Ltd Cass Fresh is 1 of over 500 global brands currently owned by AB InBev, although its direct parent company is the Oriental Brewery, Korea’s largest beer conglomerate. Smartly marketed as the beer favored by Korea’s youth, Cass Fresh has the distinction of being endorsed by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who described the beer as “not pretentious”, “easy”, and “fresh”.

It should be known that Ramsay was later accused of having shit taste in beer.

Cass Fresh poured straw-gold with an effervescent head of foam that dissipated rather quickly. There was absolutely nothing noteworthy about the nose of this beer, it smelled exactly like every other cheaply made adjunct beer. So far, it was nailing the whole mass-market American lager thing.

The first sip of this beer revealed little about the taste, a second sip yielded even less. Apparently, I was only paying for the packaging of this product because it didn’t come with any flavor. In a desperate attempt to prove to myself that I wasn’t in a quarantine-induced psychosis and just hallucinating a beer, I drank the entire 6-pack, madly trying to taste something all the while. By the time I’d gotten to the last can, it had warmed a little, and I was finally able to taste the metallic twang and vegetal notes that come with all cheaply made lager. A medium-thin mouthfeel and high carbonation gives Cass Fresh the classic American lager feel. There was an odd, starchy quality to this beer that I recall tasting in Sapporo Premium as well. I’m not sure what it’s a product of, but it’s definitely there, and only off-putting for the first couple of sips before you accept the fact that this is what you get for buying your beer from a .99 Cent store.

Cass Fresh tastes like a cheap PBR

clone, and that is the best descriptor I can give for this beer. Bland but not offensive, forgettable but not upsetting, cheaply made but not poorly done, you could do a hell of a

lot worse than choosing this tepid, if not competent import. On a scale of 1 to 5, Cass Fresh gets 1 socially distanced dumpster fire.

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April 2 to April 8, 2020

SCREENERS

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

No. 415

REMEMBERING MAX VON SYDOW

wickedness before finding himself face to face with the Flash himself.

Sydow's is as genuine as any actor in the original Star Wars. And that’s quite a feat considering the campy source material.

Clearly, Sydow knew what he was doing playing a role meant to dazzle the minds of kids worldwide.

C

arl Adolf von Sydow was born on April 10, 1929 in Lund, Sweden. He was interested in acting and the theater as a young man. By the early 1950s, he established himself as one of Sweden’s most promising young actors. He made his film debut (a minor part) in 1949. and his first Bergman film Det sjunde inseglet in 1957.

He passed away last month in Provence, France at the age of 90 after a celebrated acting career that spanned 70 years during which he appeared in over 150 films Sydow (pronounced “soo-dorf”) played an astonishingly colorful cast of characters throughout his career, including some of the most memorable roles in all of cinema.

Not all, but some of his most known films are available for home viewing in pristine Blu-ray editions.

When dedicated film buffs think of Sydow, some of the movies that likely first come to mind are: FLASH GORDON (1980) This outrageously fun 1980s fantasy action epic saw Sydow incarnate into the galaxy's most notorious space opera villain aside from Darth Vader. He cranked out a full-bodied performance full of cruelty and

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SOLOMON KANE (2012) Sydow plays Solomon’s father Josiah Kane in this mostly unseen action adventure film based on characters created by Robert E. Howard.

English mercenary Solomon Kane is a brutally efficient 16th Century killing machine. Armed with his signature pistols, cutlass and rapier, he and his men unleash their bloodlust as they fight for England in war after war on all continents.

As the story opens, Kane and his band of pillagers are carving a bloody path through hordes of defenders in an exotic city in northern Africa. But, when Kane decides to attack a mysterious nearby castle to plunder its rumored riches, his mission takes a fateful turn. One by one, Kane's men are picked off by demonic creatures until he alone is left to face the Devil's own Reaper -- dispatched from the depths of Hell to lay claim to his hopelessly corrupt soul.

Kane converts to Puritanism and renounces violence after an encounter with a demon makes him believe his previous violent actions have damned his soul.

Though Kane at last manages to escape, he converts to Puritanism and redeems himself by renouncing violence and devoting himself wholly to a life of peace and purity.

It’s Sydow’s powerful but minimalist turn as Kane’s father that gives Solomon Kane, the character and the movie, credibility.

THE MAGICIAN (1950) Set in the 1840s, Sydow plays Vogler, a magician of dubious talents who takes his traveling show to entertain at the home of a local Stockholm police commissioner.

Vogler's powers are put on display for the commissioner, a doctor, and a civil servant.

Despite the magician’s doubtful abilities,

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS many strange and mysterious events transpire illustrating man's fascination with the murky world of the unexplainable including answers to questions about love, death and life itself. Criterion.

THE SEVENTH SEAL (1957) It's hard to believe that Sydow was only 28 years old when he starred in this medieval morality play masterpiece about the search for God in a world gone mad.

This is the iconic film that features Sydow’s disillusioned and exhausted Knight Antonius Block playing a fateful game of chess with Death, while journeying home after a crusade. Criterion.

THE EXORCIST (1973) The part of Father Merrin in this iconic horror masterpiece is easily the most renowned of Sydow's performances.

Though he only appeared during the first and final acts of the film, Sydow employed his substantial acting skill (along with an excellent makeup aging job) to play -- like the Biblical Job -- a tormented Father who clings to his faith in the face of insurmountable evil.

Novelist William Peter Blatty based his best seller on the last Catholic-sanctioned exorcism in the United States. The Exorcist received a theatrical rerelease in 2000, in a special edition that added 11 minutes of footage trimmed from the film's original release and digitally enhanced Chris Newman's Oscar-winning sound work.

Warner Bros.

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965) Filmmaker George Stevens’ stately and reverent epic biopic of Jesus Christ (Max Von Sydow) is more a medieval mosaic or tapestry than an emotionally compelling tale. Sydow has some effective moments -- like the scene when Jesus first begins his ministry he stands in a darkened doorway and watches a rag-tag stream of humanity pass. Sydow captures the moment with a look of compassion and pity that jolts the film forward and reminds what it’s really about.

Sydow was a versatile actor with an incredible skill set who brought a powerful gravitas to both his large and smaller roles.

There are dozens of see-worthy films in Sydow’s filmography that are worth considering, note especially Ingmar Bergman’s “Wild Strawberries,” “The Virgin Springs.”

The original roadshow of “The Greatest Story…” clocked in at 260 minutes. It was later made available in a 195-minute version. MGM. Perfect for Easter.

NEW BLU FOR THE HOME THEATER: THE STAND How convenient that Paramount has made available this sharply restored version of the original miniseries. This is faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling and currently widely referenced pandemic novel. What could be a more perfect series to binge on (all six hours!)? Stay healthy, and stay home. It's OK to just watch a movie.

Doctor's orders. Paramount. robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BOOK REVIEW

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"THE HOT ZONE"

BY RICHARD PRESTON NONFICTION "THE STAND"

BY STEPHEN KING FICTION

----------------------------------------------------veryone on the planet is experiencing this pandemic and it has yet to reach its zenith. Our Coachella Valley has had more deaths than any other specific region in Southern California. If you have become desensitized or are in denial that this global event is a serious health threat, two books -- one nonfiction and the other a fictional story -- can help you get perspective and an understanding how a virus can erupt, spread, and be destroyed.

NON-FICTION The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story

by Richard Preston (Random House, 303 pages) Published in 1994, The Hot Zone was a huge bestseller. Preston is an awardwinning journalist and in this book reports on the appearance of rare and lethal viruses, including AIDS and Ebola that “crashed” into the human population.

The book reads like a thriller and is nearly impossible to put down!

The author begins by recounting how “patient zero” brought an unknown virus into the human population. Preston puts the reader in the shoes of a tourist exploring a cave and explains how bat guano morphs into something deadly.

E

SAFETY TIPS

PANDEMIC FACTS & FICTION

The book is divided into four terrifying, but fascinating and informative parts.

Preston also chronicles how a Level 4 Biosafety facility in Reston, Virginia circa 1989 became a hot spot when 100 imported monkeys tested positive with the Bola Zaire virus. Concerned the airborne virus would spread into the community; the military guerdoned off the area, quarantined the workers and destroyed the animals.

The author gives evidence that “Emerging viruses” are due to environmental changes and warns there will be more.

FICTION The Stand by Stephen King (Signet, 1,141 pages) Originally published in 1978, The Stand is considered one of King’s scariest stories and is his longest work of fiction. It sold more than 4.5 million copies.

King revised his novel in 1990 to include 500 additional pages – 150,000 words – that were cut from the first publishing. He brought the story up to date by a decade to include the changes in our “modern”

culture.

The story is about a deadly virus that quickly turns into a global pandemic when a weaponized strain of influenza escapes a military testing facility via a soldier who tries to get out of town with his family after the outbreak.

King’s description of his fictional virus in The Stand is similar to the symptoms of Corvid 19 (see chapter eight). The first third of the book is particularly chilling as we see how quickly it can be transmitted, spread and terminate its host.

The book then becomes a story about the world after the virus has taken out much of the population and a new dystopian society emerges -- a life as terrifying as the virus itself. * * * Both these books offer insight and understanding how viruses function and require human beings in order to survive.

King read The Hot Zone and said: “The first chapter is one of the most horrifying things I’ve ever read in my whole life … and then it gets worse.”

Environmentalist author Bill McKibben

FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER

April 2 to April 8, 2020

BY HEIDI SIMMONS said at the time of publishing: “The Hot Zone is scary in deep and unsettling ways, because it is clearly an early chapter in a deadly saga that will play itself out for decades to come.”

The Corona virus is just getting started and we all must do our best to keep it at bay – make the growing curve as flat as possible -- until a vaccination is obtained and there is a treatment protocol available to all.

With the publishing of these books years ago, one would think that the Federal government would have taken note and put protocols in place in the event of a global pandemic -- even if only theoretically.

A virus is an amazing organism.

Understanding the nature and science of viruses and how they function is important to our survival as a species.

But so is having a view into our human nature and what can happen when a cast of characters must confront a plague and survive it. What role will you play?

If you are home self-isolating or are quarantined, these books are still available and can be purchased online.

As frightening as they are, they are also insightful and entertaining.

Reading is a great way to pass the time at home, and The Hot Zone and The Stand are no less terrifying than the nightly news.

Be healthy and be happy.

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND BRUSH FIRE SEASON

I

t’s important to remember this year’s brush fire season will be a very active one with so much rain over the winter months. Unfortunately the Covid-19 virus is putting many at risk as its hampering mitigation efforts with local fire agencies.

From brush mitigation management, prescribed burns, to multi-agency training for firefighters, local, state and federal fire agencies are trying to adhere to the country’s new social distancing guidelines to slow the spread.

The U.S. Forest Service, announced last week that it was suspending prescribed burns. This is an effective way to reduce hazardous vegetation from hillsides.

Fire Chiefs concern now is that we’re going to be more reactive to fire than proactive. We need the public’s help more than ever. We’ll do our part, but the

public has to do their part!

Multi-jurisdictional spring fire training has been cancelled with many agencies.

Mutual aid is critical during these wildfires. Brush inspections and other mitigations may be disrupted/delayed.

Large scale wildfires typically draw hundreds, if not thousands, of firefighters into packed tent cities, where they work, eat and sleep together for weeks. Virus outbreaks are common, and the more severe coronavirus would probably find ripe breeding grounds there.

Firefighters need the public’s help and cooperation more than ever!

For more information visit: readyforwildfire.org/prepare-forwildfire/get-ready/defensible-space Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

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April 2 to April 8, 2020

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

HADDON LIBBY

CASH RELIEF IS COMING!

A

fter two weeks of partisan efforts, the Democrat-controlled Congress and Republican-controlled Senate agreed on a $2 Trillion relief package for American workers, small businesses and other impacted industries like the airlines industry.

Despite an estimated price tag of more than $2 Trillion, it is expected that additional aid will be required in order to keep this prolonged economic shutdown from causing long-term damage to the US economy. As a reminder, the US economy generates $2 Trillion in Gross Domestic Product each month.

Relief for People – An estimated 93% of all Americans will receive $1,200 deposited into their accounts by the middle of April. For couples, this means $2,400. For each child under 17 who you claim on your taxes, you will get another $500. According to Congressman Chuck Shumer’s (D-NY) office, seniors and others who do not file tax returns due to a disability will be able to get a check as well although there was no guidance as of March 30th. Visit irs.gov/coronavirus for updates.

Unemployment benefits are $600 per week higher and 13 weeks longer than normal through the end of June.

If you have a retirement account like a 401k, the maximum that you can borrow is up $50,000 to $100,000. If you don’t believe you will be able to pay the loan back to your retirement account over the next five years, hardship withdrawals will not be subject to a 10% early withdrawal as is normally the case.

To withdraw the funds, you will need to prove that your withdrawal is due to the economic fallout created by COVID-19. As monies from a tax-exempt retirement account are usually

taxed as income in the year withdrawn, taxes due on COVID-19 related withdrawals will be paid over three years instead one as is normally the case. If you already had an outstanding loan, you can defer those payments for an additional year while extending the remaining term of that loan by one year.

Retirees do not have to take their annual required minimum distribution this year if they do not want to.

People will student debt, have their payments suspended until the end of September. Employer student loan repayment programs will exclude $5,250 from your income.

There are also special protections for workers who contract COVID-19 and cannot work as a result.

For those who can give charitably during these times, a special $300 deduction from gross income is part of the legislation.

Separate to this Federal relief, California is offering special assistance to those who

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

HOW COVID 19 IMPACTS THE LAW

T

he Corona Virus, better known as COVID 19, is in full swing throughout the US. The average person does not consider the impact on legal matters. They say justice delayed is justice denied and with the courts closed, but for emergencies, one can imagine the nightmare that is facing the judicial system whenever the courts reopen. The Desert Bar Association's monthly lunch a few weeks ago featured Riverside's Presiding Judge. The Judge gave her annual presentation about the status of the court's congestion and what we can do about it. That was before COVID 19 and the courts closing.

When the courts are congested, your case cannot be heard and all these continuances will cost litigants more money for their hourly attorneys. But they are only losing money.

However, what about those in custody expecting to have a judge reduce their bail or give them an OR release on their own promise to return. How much extra time will they spend in custody? Will their cases have to be dismissed because of the delay in prosecution?

Lawyers and the Courts have no script for how COVID 19 will affect your legal case. We are all flying blind. The courts are closed and there is no way to know when this will be over and the continued cases put back on calendar. Courts are closed for at least 2 weeks because of the health risk. There is no playbook on what to do during this pandemic.

Here are examples of how it might affect you

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are temporarily unemployed or experiencing reduced hours at work. Assistance includes protections like preventing evictions, getting banks to defer mortgage payments and the prevention of service disconnections by utility companies. For more information, visit covid19. ca.gov.

Relief for 1099 Employees and Small Businesses – If you are a 1099 worker, sole proprietorship or small business with fewer than 500 employees, the CARES Act has something to help you. For a relief loan, go to SBA.gov and apply.

The maximum loan will be for 2.5 times your payroll for the previous 12 months and for no more than $10 million in total. This relief loan which can be forgiven is for 10 years at a rate of 3.75% with no origination fees. While these loans will be administered by your local bank, all relief loans are started at SBA.gov.

The application process is all electronic so be prepared to upload a lot of PDF files.

The part of the loan that will be forgiven occurs after you have provided full documentation to your local bank that proves the expenditures to be eligible for forgiveness.

Forgivable expenses include rent/mortgage and utilities for two months and compensation to all employees for four months. Reimbursable salaries are capped at $100,000 per year. If you pay someone more, Uncle Sam will not reimburse you. This is also not a chance to give everyone raises – it is based on your previous tax records. Salaries covered are from February 15th through June 30th.

The CARES Act wants workers rehired and will reimburse businesses for it. If the rehired employee has received some other federal assistance during their unemployed period, that employee will have to pay those monies back as part of their 2020 taxes.

Expect additional aid to be coming in the months ahead as the economic wreckage is uncovered and evaluated.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management. Less than 5% of all firms perform to the Fiduciary Standard of Care as we do.

To find out the difference as well as why we won Small Business of the Year by the Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce, email HLibby@WinslowDrake. com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

on a simple auto accident or DUI case. Initially, since we are not supposed to drive, there are going to be fewer cars on the road and thus fewer accidents. Bars, restaurants, hotels are also closed and no one wants to attend a party and be around people who may be carrying the virus. A big factor in a legal case is finding a lawyer. Most are working from home and not going into the office. Finding a doctor and lawyer may be a problem in the foreseeable future.

Let's say you were in an auto accident and assume you were driving legally on the roads.

Can you get a tow truck quickly or a body shop to repair your car, let alone getting an adjuster to come out to appraise the damage?

More importantly, the body shop must get authorization to start work on your car from the insurance company. What are you going to do about the delays? Payout of pocket?

However, these are not the only delays when you are in an accident. Will you be able to get into an ER or Urgent Care Center? Not to mention you may not want to even go there because of the threat of COVID 19. Many of my personal doctors have closed their offices and are very selective about who comes in their doors.

You or your lawyer must find a doctor that knows how to both treat your injuries and prepare a proper med/legal report. Doctors on accident cases will tell you it will take a while to heal and will require your attending physical therapy 3 times a week. Will you be able to find

a doctor and do you really want to be going out in public with this crazy virus haunting us?

Finding a doctor that knows how to write med/legal reports is not easy to find. There are very few in the desert trained on how to do so.

I lectured for years to the International College of Surgeons' annual convention teaching them what to put in a report and what to leave out.

Most doctors do NOT know how to prepare a proper medical/legal report that goes to the insurance company. The report is how you get more or less money on your case.

You also need a doctor who will take the case on a lien and wait to be paid until the case is concluded. All the delays that are about to take place may convince a lot of physicians to not take future cases on a lien. That would mean you, and your medical insurance would have to pay upfront. Doctors on accident cases will tell you it will take a while to heal and will require physical therapy where you go 3 times a week.

Will we be able to find one and do you really want to be going out in public with this crazy virus haunting us?

The value of an accident case depends on a number of factors. Clearly, liability is an issue.

You are not going to be paid if you are at fault.

The amount of property damage is also a factor.

With a sideswipe and $500 in damage, you will not collect the same amount of money as you would with a rear-ender and $9,000 in PD. One of the biggest factors is that Insurance Companies DENY AND DELAY. There is an overnight value for money. The insurance companies have claims all across the US. If they can delay sending millions of dollars for a day

then that is worth a lot of money to them. If they can stall for months or years, imagine how much more they will make. The interest on the money can pay the claims. If the insurance company knew that a lawsuit is going to be tied up in the courts for 5 years why settle for top dollar now? I assure you the insurance companies will do whatever they can to take advantage of this terrible situation.

One of my biggest concerns is the Census. It controls how many congressional representatives we add or delete from California. Without enough votes, the laws may change and the insurance companies have the money to donate to politicians to change the laws in their favor. If either party loses too many congressmen or congresswoman, that could change the vote on important issues.

This morning I woke up and birds were chirping and the sun shined bright...but all was not the same. At least I am stuck at home and able to hear the birdies.

Dale Gribow - Attorney at Law "TOP LAWYER" Palm Springs Life 73-061 El Paseo, Suite 220 Palm Desert, CA 92260 Office - 760-837-7500 Fax - 760 837-7502 Dale@DaleGribowLaw.com www.DaleGribowLaw.com

SWAG FOR THESOUL

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY AIMEE MOSCO

POWERING YOUR INTUITION

“All of us are born into a human body and bestowed with the most beautiful and gentle gift of intuition to guide us through our journey.” Gratitude + Forgiveness x (Love) = Happiness, by Aimee Mosco and Donald L. Ferguson, pg. vii ave you ever had a psychic moment? Have you ever caught a glimpse into another time and space and been surprised by it? If you think that psychic communication is not part of your skill-set, and you are taken aback when you inadvertently tap into a transmission of this kind, it’s important to understand that this seemingly isolated event may be a signal from your inner spirit to revisit your beliefs on what you can and cannot do on this front.

Intuition is internal guidance with which we come equipped. It is one of the “attachments on board” that comes standard with the human package. It’s not even a deluxe feature. We all get it.

Often times it is the belief that these forms of communication are not available to you that blocks your ability to receive them. As you intentionally open to an acknowledgement that you are innately intuitive, you send a signal back to your inner spirit. You let your inner self know that you are ready to exercise your innate intuitive abilities at will.

This acknowledgement is a game changer. It acts as a key to unlock abilities that were once dormant and shielded from your view. When you initiate this kind of opening, and feed these abilities with recognition, they come alive. This is when the magic begins.

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You are in charge of plugging this ability in, therefore you are the guardian of its function. You get to decide how to use it. Will you use it to see possibilities before they come to fruition? Or to understand the true motivations of others? Or as a personal healing tool?

There is no limit to the ways in which your intuition can be utilized.

You have probably heard the saying “Intuition is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.” This is a true statement, so if intuitive communication is new to you, your best course of action is to explore and further strengthen the skills you have fed with belief. See what comes through when you listen in your mind, see with inner sight, and feel sensations as messages in your body. If you do these exercises with regularity, you will find that intuitive communication feels natural, and more importantly, provides profound insights that no other forms of communication can touch.

In my pursuit to help humanity connect more deeply with inner Spirit, I invite you to join Facebook group Evolve through Love hosted

by Elizabeth Scarcella, BB Ingle and me. Go to facebook.com/groups/ evolvethroughlove and share with us your experiences.

Aimee Mosco is an Author, Intuitive Channel, Global Ambassador for SpeakingfromOurHearts.org, and CoFounder of Intentional Healing Systems, LLC. Aimee’s passion for helping others inspired her book “Gratitude + Forgiveness x (LOVE) = Happiness”. For more information, find Aimee at www. ihsunity.com

CANNABIS CORNER

April 2 to April 8, 2020

THE LAST PRISONER PROJECT BY RUTH HILL R.N. RESPONSE TO COVID-19

I

magine sitting in a cell for years or even life convicted for something that is no longer a crime while politicians (Boehner) are getting rich doing exactly the same thing. According to Last Prisoner Project, 15.7 Million people were arrested for marijuana offenses in the last decade.

Annually over $47 Billion has been spent on the war on drugs. Legal marijuana industry sales for 2018 in the US is $10 Billion. There’s an oxymoron in there somewhere. The BBC notes: “Handcuffed people cannot cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, sinks [in prisons and jails] often lack soap, and hand sanitizer is considered contraband due to its alcohol content.”

U.S. prisons are hotbeds for COVID-19.

Overcrowding, poor nutrition, toxic stress, and an aging prison population put incarcerated individuals at exceptionally high risk. A 2016 report from the Brennan Center for Justice concluded that nearly 40 percent of imprisoned Americans are behind bars with no compelling public safety reason all to combat the war on drugs. As of Saturday, at least 132 inmates and 104 staff at jails across New York City had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the Chinese coronavirus.

Governor Andrew Cuomo exploits prison labor at 10-33 cents/hr. for a six-hour day to make hand sanitizer (NYS Clean) for distribution to NY government agencies.

The Governor lifts a finger to Mr. Purell, Mr. Amazon and Mr. eBay who are price gouging. NYS Clean is superior at 75% alcohol vs. the CDC recommendations of 60%.

The prisoners are prohibited from using it themselves due to the alcohol content.

Cannabis prohibition is making a terrible situation even worse. The pandemic has magnified the damage wrought by U.S. drug policy. My article in last weeks CV Weekly explained how there is no scientific evidence of cannabis mitigating virus infections.

That article also talked about the cytokine storm that occurs with infections. Federal prohibition prevents research and the media languishes in misinformation. It’s easy to latch on to rumors when frightened with an infection that leaves you in a terminal state. We in California are fortunate to have the best advocates as many states do not consider dispensaries an essential service.

Dispensaries are not able to use banking services, so cash is king putting frontline dispensary staff, other industry workers, and state tax collectors at risk. Handling cash can be dangerous during the pandemic.

The New England Journal of Medicine did research that demonstrates the corona virus “is stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces.”

There is a call for nurses to come out of retirement however will the government

or the State Boards of Nursing waive the drug testing. Trump is challenging private companies to devise new ways to streamline supply chains. There is not a single automobile being manufactured in America today. This has not happened since the 1940’s. They are all being converted into health products. The Mercedes team at the University College London took four days to initiate manufacturing a CPAP devise that can convert into a ventilator. Wow. There is a silver lining.

Follow the CDC guidelines for separation, washing hands with soap and water, cleaning down surfaces and lastly sign the petition on the lastprisonerproject.org website.

We need to urge the President and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to: take the necessary steps to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus on our incarcerated communities; identify people who are scheduled to be released from prison or jail in the next six months and release them into home confinement; suspend copays for medical visits made by incarcerated persons; and finally release all cannabis prisoners. No one incarcerated for a victimless cannabis offense should continue to be incarcerated today. Now is the time to free our cannabis prisoners and further reduce the risk of outbreaks in correctional facilities. Prison health is public health.

Contact Ruth Hill at hilruth@gmail.com with questions comments.

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

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April 2 to April 8, 2020

MIND,BODY & SPIRIT

MINDFUL MOMENTS

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indfulness. This word or the attempt to be mindful gets tossed around often. Yet, in times of uncertainty, angst and wrestling with your fears, engaging in the present moment as often as you can, will relieve most of the unstable feelings you are experiencing.

You may be busier than ever or you’re trying to find things to do. You may find that there isn’t enough time in the day because you are fighting hard to keep your business alive. Or, you’ve already cleaned your pantry, garage and closet. We’re all in different circumstances but we are in this together. So, I thought I’d give you a few tips on how to make the best use of your time and being mindful while doing so.

While shopping, stop to take a moment and recognize not only what you are feeling, but how others may be perceiving what our country is experiencing. I’ll admit, my last outing to the store, I became very anxious.

I couldn't wait to leave, get home, unload my groceries and begin meal prepping. What did I learn? I learned that my freak out was exaggerated and that I need to be more mindful when I leave the house to shop. I created unnecessary anxiety and I need to remain cool and calm in the future. If this sounds familiar… take a deep breath and refer to this column as a friendly reminder to be calm.

You've stopped going to the gym and you miss the camaraderie. I get it. I operate a yoga studio and I was used to seeing my students 5-6 days per week. I miss them too.

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BY BRONWYN ISON

However, I took my lemons and turned them into Zoom lemonade and my students and I are practicing together Monday through Friday via LIVE video. Plus, I invite my friends to join me on Facebook LIVE. I’m hiking six days per week with my family. It’s a great time to enjoy the outdoors.

Feeling stir-crazy? Yep, I hear you on that one too. Get creative. Join a FaceTime call with your pals. Ladies, by this time you definitely need a mani and pedi. Treat yourself. That Netflix series you’ve always wanted to indulge in… now is the time treat yourself.

Feeling fear and a loss of control? We’re all feeling this way. When will it end? What’s next? Can we expect it to get worse before it gets better? While we do not have all the answers, we can follow what’s being recommended. Hopefully by following the guidelines, we can and we will, eventually get back to a new normal way of living.

We can wash our hands, practice social distancing and stay indoors… One thing I can say, we are experiencing a time in history that is leading us to trust something bigger than ourselves. Be sure to breathe, meditate and pray. Remain kind and gentle to one another. It’s what the world needs right now.

Bronwyn Ison is the Founder of EvolveYogaOnline.com & BetterForItNow. com. Contact Bronwyn ~ bronwyn@evolveyoga.com or bronwyn@BronwynIson. com

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF APRIL 2

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “If all the world’s a stage, where the hell is the teleprompter,” asks aphorist Sami Feiring. In my astrological opinion, you Aries are the least likely of all the signs to identify with that perspective. While everyone else might wish they could be better prepared for the nonstop improvisational tests of everyday life, most of you tend to prefer what I call the “naked spontaneity” approach. If you were indeed given the chance to use a teleprompter, you’d probably ignore it. Everything I just said is especially and intensely true for you right now.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When Nobel Prizewinning Norwegian author Knut Hamsun was 25 years old, a doctor told him that the tuberculosis he had contracted would kill him within three months. But in fact, Hamsun lived 67 more years, till the age of 92. I suspect there’s an equally erroneous prophecy or unwarranted expectation impacting your life right now. A certain process or phenomenon that seems to be nearing an end may in fact reinvent or resurrect itself, going on to last for quite some time. I suggest you clear away any misapprehensions you or others might have about it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I invite you to remember what you were thinking and feeling around your birthday in 2019. Were there specific goals you hoped to accomplish between then and your birthday in 2020? Were there bad old habits you aimed to dissolve and good new habits you proposed to instigate? Was there a lingering wound you aspired to heal or a debilitating memory you longed to conquer? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to take inventory of your progress in projects like those. And if you find that you have achieved less than you had hoped, I trust you will dedicate yourself to playing catch-up in the weeks between now and your birthday. You may be amazed at how much ground you can cover.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I can’t swim. Why? There was a good reason when I was a kid: I’m allergic to chlorine, and my mom wouldn’t let me take swimming lessons at the local chlorinetreated pool. Since then, the failure to learn is inexcusable, and I’m embarrassed about it. Is there an equivalent phenomenon in your life, my fellow Cancerian? The coming weeks might be an excellent time to meditate on how to correct the problem.

Now excuse me while I head out to my solo selfadministered swim lesson at Bass Lake, buoyed by the instructions I got from a Youtube video.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Is William Shakespeare the greatest author who ever lived? French philosopher Voltaire didn’t think so, calling him “an amiable barbarian.” Russian superstar author Leo Tolstoy claimed The Bard had “a complete absence of aesthetic feeling.” England’s first Poet Laureate John Dryden called Shakespeare’s language “scarcely intelligible.” T. E. Lawrence, a.k.a Lawrence of Arabia, declared The Bard had a second-rate mind.

Lord Byron said, “Shakespeare’s name stands too absurdly high and will go down.” His contemporary, the poet and playwright Ben Johnson, asserted that he “never had six lines together without a fault.” I offer these cheeky views to encourage you Leos to enjoy your own idol-toppling and authorityquestioning activities in the coming weeks. You have license to be an irrepressible iconoclast.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo-born Jack Ma is China’s richest person and one of the world’s most powerful businessmen. He co-founded Alibaba, the Chinese version of Amazon.com. He likes his employees to work hard, but also thinks they should cultivate a healthy balance between work and life. In his opinion, they should have sex six times a week, or 312 times a year. Some observers have suggested that’s too much—especially if you labor 12 hours a day, six days a week, as Jack Ma prefers—but it may not be excessive for you Virgos. The coming months could be a very erotic time. But please practice safe sex in every way imaginable.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): How hard are you willing to work on your most important

© Copyright 2020 Rob Brezsny

relationships? How might your life change for the better if you gave them your most potent resourcefulness and panache? The next eight weeks will be a favorable time for you to attend to these matters, Libra. During this fertile time, you will have unprecedented power to reinvigorate togetherness with imaginative innovations. I propose you undertake the following task: Treat your intimate alliances as creative art projects that warrant your supreme ingenuity.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I make mistakes,” confessed author Jean Kerr. “I’ll be the second to admit it.” She was making a joke, contrasting her tepid sense of responsibility with the humbler and more common version of the idiom, which is “I make mistakes; I’ll be the first to admit it.” In the coming weeks, I’ll be fine if you merely match her mild level of apology—just as long as you do indeed acknowledge some culpability in what has gone amiss or awry or off-kilter. One way or another, you need to be involved in atonement and correction— for your own sake.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you have been thinking of adopting a child or getting pregnant with a new child, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to enter a new phase of rumination about that possibility. If you’ve been dreaming off and on about a big project that could activate your dormant creative powers and captivate your imagination for a long time to come, now would be a perfect moment to get more practical about it. If you have fantasized about finding a new role that would allow you to express even more of your beauty and intelligence, you have arrived at a fertile phase to move to the next stage of that fantasy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I suggest you make room in your life for a time of sacred rejuvenation. Here are activities you might try: Recall your favorite events of the past. Reconnect with your roots. Research your genetic heritage.

Send prayers to your ancestors, and ask them to converse with you in your dreams. Have fun feeling what it must have been like when you were in your mother’s womb. Get a phone consultation with a past life regression therapist who can help you recover scenes from your previous incarnations.

Feel reverence and gratitude for traditions that are still meaningful to you. Reaffirm your core values— the principles that serve as your lodestar. And here’s the number one task I recommend: Find a place of refuge in your imagination and memories; use your power of visualization to create an inner sanctuary.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Are we just being poetic and fanciful when we say that wonder is a survival skill? Not according to the editors who assembled the collection of essays gathered in a book called Wonder and Other Survival Skills. They propose that a capacity to feel awe and reverence can help us to be vital and vigorous; that an appreciation for marvelous things makes us smart and resilient; that it’s in our selfish interests to develop a humble longing for sublime beauty and an attraction to sacred experiences. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to dive deep into these healing pleasures, dear Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): For decades, the city of Sacramento, California suffered from severe floods when the Sacramento and American Rivers overflowed their banks. Residents authorized a series of measures to prevent these disasters, culminating in the construction of a 59,000-acre floodplain that solved the problem. According to my analysis, the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to plan an equally systematic transformation. It could address a big ongoing problem like Sacramento’s floods, or it could be a strategy for reorganizing and recreating your life so as to gloriously serve your long-term dreams.

Homework: It’s a good time to think about Shadow Blessings: tinyurl.com/ShadowBlessings ---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

April 2 to April 8, 2020

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April 2 to April 8, 2020

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com