Coachella Valley Weekly - June 18 to June 24, 2020 Vol. 9 No. 14

coachellavalleyweekly.com • June 18 to June 24, 2020

Vol.9 No.14

BarryMinniefield-RoseMallett-TiptoeStallone-Al RO$$i-GinaCarey-Dozzi Dozz Throw The Goat Cups Café pg6

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

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Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Kirby 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

Juneteenth & Black Lives Matter ............ 3 Desert Musicians Discuss Juneteenth. 6-9 Travel Tips & Local Happenings 4 U........ 9 Throw The Goat - "Don't Believe"......... 10 Comedy & Magic at The River................... 11 Breaking the 4th Wall................................ 12 Alliance Of Desert Theatres...................... 12 Consider This - The Staple Singers ....... 14 Graduation In The CV................................. 15 CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE ...................... 16 VIRTUAL VIEWING ..................................... 16 The Vino Voice ........................................ 17 Brewtality .................................................. 18 Good Grub - Cups Café ........................... 19 Pet Place .................................................... 20 Screeners ............................................... 22 Haddon Libby ........................................ 23 Dale Gribow ........................................... 23 Safety Tips .............................................. 24 Health - Keto ........................................... 24 Mind, Body & Spirit ............................... 25 Free Will Astrology................................ 25

June 18 to June 24, 2020

JUNETEENTH: THE REAL INDEPENDENCE DAY

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ost associate the idea of independence and freedom with the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, but June 19th is an often overlooked date that commemorates an integral part of American history and holds even more importance in the midst of the current social climate as Black Lives Matter protests take place worldwide.

Juneteenth, sometimes referred to as Freedom Day, takes place annually on June 19th and celebrates the anniversary of the day when a general read out Abraham Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation in Texas, freeing slaves in a portion of the last un-emancipated state in 1865.

Although it was signed by Lincoln in 1863, it took years and the end of the civil war for the emancipation proclamation to become a reality for hundreds of thousands of enslaved African Americans.

After more than two years, there were still thousands of enslaved African Americans unaware of their freedom.

That is why Juneteenth commemorates the day when Major General Gordon Granger, along with more than 1,800 federal troops, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure freedom for the last remaining slaves in the area.

46 of 50 states and the District of Columbia currently recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday or observance, with Texas becoming the first to do so in 1980. No president has yet supported declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday,

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL

“Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia” by F. Dielman (1866)

and last year, the US Senate passed a resolution recognizing “Juneteenth Independence Day” as a national holiday, but it has not yet been approved in the House.

There have been several

demonstrations and peaceful protests held throughout the last two weeks in desert cities across the Coachella Valley to bring attention to the call for racial equality and the end of black oppression.

Additionally, a mural of George Floyd with the words “I can’t breathe” was completed at the beginning of this week in downtown Palm Springs.

The artist responsible for the George Floyd mural goes by Mister Alek, a Los Angeles native who has been creating art for 17 years. He started with tagging and graffiti before landing a graphic design job that he had for eight years. He would still practice painting every day until he eventually began making murals for a living this past year.

“I think murals like this are important to have in every city. It encourages positive energy and makes the city look nicer. It also helps kids who love art when they see these murals. It gives them a sign that one day they can do art and make a living out of it if they wish to,” said Mister Alek.

The artist had previously made a mural of George Floyd in his neighborhood of Watts, and was reached out to by a friend of his at Flat Black Art Supplies to do another piece in Palm Springs, sponsored by the city’s Public Arts Commission.

“I had countless people come by while I was painting showing support and letting me know how much they appreciate it. continue to page 5

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

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JUNETEENTH continued from page 3 These gestures of support make it a lot easier painting 13 hours straight in 100+ degree weather, and I just want to say thank you,” expressed the artist.

The Public Arts Commission released in a statement that during times of crisis and protest, it remains an advocate for the arts within the City government and upholds a responsibility to support public art that can address social equity, racial awareness, and civic engagement.

“While we did not formally approve this mural before it was painted, it is definitely the type of street art that we would like to encourage, and are in the process of launching a grant program that will encourage this, by matching artists with businesses or building owners to create art installations that bring people downtown, engage the public imagination, and support the artists in our community,” stated the Public Arts Commission.

The Arts Commissioner who was most involved with this mural was Russell Pritchard, who viewed the available space on Indian Canyon as the ideal location for the mural.

“We have a very diverse population in the Coachella Valley, and the Arts Commission wanted to use our voice to address and bring attention to the need for social justice. We also didn’t plan on

June 18 to June 24, 2020

finishing the mural on the date of George Floyd’s memorial service, but it worked out that way,” revealed Pritchard.

In observance of Juneteenth, local activist group Young Justice Advocates have organized a barbecue to take place this coming Friday on 480 Tramview Road in Palm Springs, starting at 1 p.m.

This event aims to unify the community in celebration of the abolishment of slavery in the United States. To learn more, follow the group’s Instagram page, @youngjusticeadvocates.

The memory of Juneteenth illustrates the importance of retaining the meaning behind history as people across the globe continue to make an impact by bringing attention to silenced voices throughout the years.

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

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LOCAL MUSIC

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uneteenth has been observed for over 150 years and represents the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free.

In this moment we continue to call for racial justice and the Juneteenth 2020 observance embodies an even more significant purpose in guiding us towards equality and equity.

Since the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, the world has had to confront itself with the reminder that we are not where we need to be and have much work to do to narrow the racial divide between members of our global community. What happened to Mr. Floyd and countless others is not a peripheral occurrence. There was and is a rightful brewing of resentment towards law enforcement and the status quo of the social order in our black community. In accepting accountability, we must stand together and support the human rights movement that is Black Lives Matter.

Coachella Valley Weekly asked some of our most admired African-American artists to take part in a roundtable discussion via Zoom. We spoke with Barry Minniefield from NBC’s The Voice, CV Hip-Hop and Rap key players Tiptoe Stallone, Dozzi Dozz, Al Rossi, singer, songwriter, film producer and director Gina Carey and Jazz great Rose Mallett.

Below is our conversation: CVW: Please share your thoughts about Juneteenth.

Mallett: “It actually started two and a half years prior to Juneteenth where the

DESERT MUSICIANS COMMENT ON JUNETEENTH & BLACK LIVES MATTER

ROUNDTABLE WITH ROSE MALLETT, TIPTOE STALLONE, BARRY MINNIEFIELD, GINA CAREY, AL RO$$I & DOZZI DOZZ slaves were freed. It took that long before all slaves found out they were free. It’s quite significant in that regard because I don’t know how many people recognize that. I think people overall think Juneteenth is the general day of freedom, but no, that was two and a half years later than the actual signing.”

Minniefield: “I think all of us of color, and especially young people, should all know all of that and a lot of us don’t. I’ll be honest, I didn’t pay attention like I should have. I’ve been paying attention the last three and a half years of all the politics and everything else.”

Carey: “I learned a little more about it because I was raised in Inglewood and Central Los Angeles. They had more events that celebrated Black History and talked about it more within our community so it’s been something that has been a part of my life since I was a child; the coming together to have family time, barbecues, the acknowledgement, and of course there would be parades going on in LA. It’s always something that’s been recognized as I grew up. What I did notice here in the desert is that it’s not as prevalent in the community where I live. I’ve lived in the desert for quite some time and now I’m in Palm Springs. I notice that it’s not as recognized in the community.”

Mallett: “I don’t know how concentrated the black population is in the Coachella Valley that it would be a concentrated effort, not that it couldn’t be done. The way

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California itself is set up, we’re so sparse.

I don’t mind that we have concentrated neighborhoods of just all Blacks or just Latinos or all just Whites. We’re kinda spread out, maybe that’s why.”

Minniefield: “I’m from Indiana, so I didn’t know anything. Especially where I was raised. We were the first black family where we lived. They didn’t teach that so I didn’t know.”

Tiptoe: “I’m just glad we got something to celebrate, that’s good enough for me.

To shed light on a lot of the stuff we’re responsible for. We created a lot in this country. We’re responsible for a lot of the cultures that produced the most monetary value; Hip-Hop, Jazz, R&B, Reggae, Rock and Roll and that’s just music. We all know we go beyond that. Juneteenth celebrates all that. Without that day we probably wouldn’t have been able to make that impact we made thus far.”

CVW: What can African-American artists do to impact the movement positively while addressing the failures of the past?

Mallett: “For me, I did a tribute to Mr. Floyd on my home serenade. What I try to do is live by example. This is the deal, you can’t convert me and I don’t want to try to convert you. Because you already have made up your mind what you want to do or how to follow. I have one friend, she is a staunch Trump supporter, now we’ve talked about it and she’s Black like me. I just have to respect her space, I can’t call her any negative names. We just decided to respectfully agree to disagree, other than that all you can do is live by example.

So if you are living a life that exemplifies what you feel as being of good character, in addition to what you believe in, that, in a sense, is the most organic thing I can think of doing. I try to be good.”

Minniefield: “The best thing for us, we have to get the word out to the young people to vote. People of color are not voting. We have to vote. I hope every person of color would get out and vote. We could make a difference. You can complain about this and complain about that but the main thing is you gotta get out and vote.”

Tiptoe: “Some of us probably don’t follow each other on social media, but I’m a wisecracker on Facebook, I don’t really use it as a tool to socially attack a lot of stuff.

I like to clown a lot on my page. I’m kind of known for that and voicing my opinion in that way, but I think that, what are we gonna do voting wise, how is it going to stop all the police killing and all of that? I usually

BY NOE GUTIERREZ address stuff like this. Even when I went to the George Floyd vigil in Indio that we had, I went to support. Shouts out to anybody in whatever movement they got going on for whatever it is or the cause. They had voting booths there and I’m hearing ‘vote’ and all that, but how is who you vote for going to stop the violence. If we vote in the person you want tomorrow how is that going to stop the police from killing Al Rossi on his way home from work late one night, how is that going to stop that?”

Mallett: “A lot of people think that if you vote just on the level of presidency, that that’s going to be the miracle answer. It is not. It’s a problem if you are not voting on a local, state and national level. The president can’t do anything without support as you can well see. Congress and the Senate, he has support on one side but not the other, so it is up to you. Do you know how many people only vote for the president? That’s not all you have to do. You have to vote in our representatives, if he or she’s not doing what you want you vote his butt or her butt out. I think ultimately things can change but we’re not focusing on a local level, thereby when we vote for our police chief we demand certain changes be made, we demand that police officers be prosecuted, those are bills to be voted upon. If he commits a crime, he’s still going to get his pension, so you make sure you hurt him in the pocket. Those are the bills that we have to make sure that our representatives bring to the table to make change otherwise you’re right, nothing will change on the ground level. As citizens we are responsible for voting the person into local office who will do our bidding for us and if they don’t, you vote them out. If we didn’t vote locally then we are a part of the problem. We can’t say what are they supposed to do, no, what are we going to do?”

Tiptoe: “The last time they had local elections I voted. Since then I’ve seen several murders on camera. My own childhood friend was killed July 4 a few years back in broad daylight. I’m a little more biased because I have a surreal reality of the stuff we face out here just being black men.”

CVW: What can the public do to keep the movement moving in a positive direction?

Carey: “This is what concerns me is what I’ve noticed is you cannot create change when things become a trend. I hope that this particular movement is not a trend. It seems it’s almost in style now. We have been Black people all of our life. You move through life a whole different way in what we experience in our daily lives, it’s not a

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Gina Carey trend. The only way that there will be a change is through consistency. We see someone of color killed and then everybody says, ‘let’s march, let’s talk about Black Lives Matter’ and then it dies down. If you take a refrigerator and you lock it up and put a chain on there and you have a group of people in that house and they’re hungry they’re gonna continue to do whatever they need to do to break that chain. It’s a danger for things to become trendy because it dies down then everything happens again because there’s nobody trying to get into that refrigerator and break it open. You remember Treyvon Martin, everybody rose up, then it died down, something else happens then it calms down, there’s no consistency. Even as a Black filmmaker out here, I have been told things from media like ‘we don’t feel as though doing a particular story of a great achievement of yours was something the readers in our community want to read about’. This is what we experience every day, it’s not a trend. This is real life that we’re living.

When everything dies down and goes home I’m still Black. I’m still pushing and trying to do this. Getting push-backed, profiled and pulled over by the police, I went into a big department store out here, was watched was accused of taking something, I’ve been through it all.”

Dozzi: “I’ve had discussions with other people about voting and a lot of things happen because a lot of people don’t vote.

We didn’t look over the candidates and see who’s best for these positions. Will it stop brutality? Hell no! Voting, doin’ your homework, making some dialogue with these people and making sure it’s the right person. Things will only work if we come together. I’ve seen a lot of things happen in our community. Both sides of the road, if people come together things will happen. I talked to my dad, (Rev. Carl McPeters), my dad is so hurt right now. I’ve seen my dad

cry over George Floyd.”

Rossi: “I think it hit a little harder this time. Overseas really putting up numbers for this and what happened.”

Minniefield: “It’s not just Black folks.

It’s every denomination of color marching now, that’s why it’s different. Black, White, Mexican, Chinese, everybody’s out there and it’s because everybody is tired of this.

It’s been going on for 400 years, we’ve been oppressed, it’s time to stop!”

Carey: “When I saw caucasian people out there rallying it tore me up. I could not contain myself.”

Dozzi: “This generation of kids. Hip-Hop, Blues and R&B we run the world. White kids, Mexican kids, this is what they’re listening to. We have a great opportunity to make change.”

CVW: The visual of seeing George Floyd killed is horrific. That fact also brought to light the injustices that have been carried out for a very long time. What are your feelings on the tangible part of all of this?

Mallett: “The last two murders of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd were televised so you could see it, you could not deny it. It wasn’t somebody telling you about somebody. That was the difference.”

Minniefield: “As far as the number of people being killed, it’s no difference because it’s being taped, but if it wasn’t being taped it’s going to be the same amount of people.”

Carey: “For a long time we’ve not been heard and when you’re violated a lot of people who are non-Black are starting to hear it. They’re being proactive. People are seeing it with their own eyes. It’s not just that one bad cop. People are waking up.

You don’t have to have been raped in order to have empathy to understand that this person is in pain and hurting and to want to provide justice for the person. Don’t tell me that this is the past. I’m telling you of an experience I had, I’m telling you what

it is so believe what I’m saying. And when I’m telling you I’m not saying you are racist, I’m telling you as a Black woman this is my experience and what I’m going through.

And if you love me, fight for me.”

Dozzi: “I believe they weren’t listening.

We had Malcom X and Martin Luther King, Jr. They didn’t see it and people in their homes didn’t believe that it was there. But it’s there to us because we deal with it on a day-to-day basis. But now when we see a tape of a man getting choked for 8 minutes and 46 seconds it really hit home.”

Mallett: “The devastating thing about it is, you know the old saying, ‘if you see a roach, you can bet there’s 100 roaches in the wall’. What you saw was just a tip of some things that have happened.”

CVW: What more does law enforcement have to do to be a part of the solution?

Rossi: “Stop trying to kill us right on the spot. Apprehend us like you apprehend your own kind. That’s the first step. There’s other ways to handle somebody than straight up killing them. I get pulled over somewhat frequently and it’s straight to their pistol. I don’t believe in the defunding of police, go through your officers and pick out the ones with inflated egos.”

Minniefield: “The defunding of police departments is not about getting rid of the police they just need to organize it. If they got somebody with mental health problems out there, the cops got too much going on, so if they send somebody that deals with people with mental health instead of sending a cop and they get shot and killed it’s better to send the person who knows how to deal with those people. That’s what defunding is. It’s not about stopping it, but Trump is trying to make everybody think that’s the case.”

Millett: “Why are we shooting to kill, why don’t we shoot to wound?”

Carey: “When you murder someone you should get the same consequences

June 18 to June 24, 2020

of anybody else that murders someone.

I believe hatred is a spirit and it’s gonna jump from one person to the next so you can’t kill hate. What you can do is make the consequences the same for everyone.”

Tiptoe: “How about a monthly review of the police. What they’re doing, how many unnecessary pull overs and police reports.

We have to police the police a little bit.”

CVW: How do you feel about the overwhelming and growing support for Black Lives Matter and, in general, for people who are Black? What more can non-Blacks do?

Minniefield: “What they’re doing now, they’re supporting us. I have never seen so many people, a lot of my friends now are aware, they never said it before.”

Tiptoe: “Even just the ones who are supporting just because it’s about right and wrong. Standing up for what’s right and what happened, recognizing that was a fucked up thing that happened. I don’t want people to do it just because it’s cool to do it right now. I want people to organically be who they are. If you’re already rockin’ with people keep rockin with people. Don’t grip on a little more tight. Don’t invite Rossi, Tiptoe and Dozzi over for dinner just because this stuff is going on and then in six months they going to act like they didn’t see us at Walmart. Don’t feel sorry for me.”

Minniefield: “We gotta be aware of the fakers, especially in corporate America, they are fake as hell. A lot of them do really mean what they say, but a lot of them are doing it because it gets into their pocket.”

Carey: “Things that can help are creating opportunities for people of color. There are things that people with more privilege can do to help us where there are limited opportunities. Stop looking at people of color as though we’re lions. When you see a lion you immediately become fearful.

We are human beings, we’re not animals, continue to page 8

Tiptoe Stallone 7

June 18 to June 24, 2020

JUNETEENTH MUSICIANS continued from page 7

we’re not out to get you, I’m not out to steal your purse. It starts at acknowledging we are human just like you. Continue to be consistent, listen and be a support system.”

CVW: How do you feel about public monuments around the world linked to slavery and racism being torn down?

Tiptoe: “Why did they leave them up so long anyway?”

Mallett: “It’s a band-aid. It’s trendy and fashionable, it doesn’t solve the problem” Dozzi: “To me it’s all a game. It’s funny to me. When Colin Kaepernick was kneeling it was a problem and now they understand why he was kneeling. We’re not building a rocket.”

CVW: What are some ideas you have been thinking about in moving forward and creating hope?

Tiptoe: “I’ve been talking valiantly with other people in the community like Waymond Fermon about bringing back the Black Student Union, not just for Black students but a spot where people are interested can learn about the culture and we can also get the young black kids in there and set up little programs like study hall and showing them the importance of voting and instilling that in them at a young age. And I’m thinking 3rd and 4th grade not just high school. I think we should have a non-profit valley-wide Black Student Union. We can get sports and scholarships out of it”.

Carey: “It’s great for us to have opportunity and at this time we need to have a platform where there are people of different races who can sit down at a town hall meeting and talk. We need to be able to talk and share our experiences where people can have a conversation.

Keeping things segregated continues to keep us separated. We need to create an environment where we can come together and learn how to love one another. We want to be included just like everyone

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else. If we separate from each other we can’t learn from each other. We need to come together. We need to create an environment to come together. If you have a white privilege or have a certain type of privilege that you know you have, where you have a position open up the door for them, maybe they can’t get in by themselves. Maybe your privilege might be the one to get them in the door. If you turn a blind eye then you’re still not helping the cause. We know things will go back and die down how do we heal? I’m about resolution.

You’re not gonna win everybody, but there are some you will win.”

Dozzi: “A lot of it has to start with us.

We have to start loving each other first and spreading love, so when we get together we don’t start feeling a certain way. Like my pops said the other day, city council has meetings almost every night, you got 15 minutes of fame, go in there and say what you gotta say.”

CVW: On behalf of the CV Weekly team, I want to thank all of you for your art, what you have done for this area, and for being a significant part of the desert’s mosaic of people. CV Weekly will continue to support all you do and we love you. Do you have any final words Tiptoe: “Better days are going to come up. We have to keep striving. Love your family and yourself for sure. We have to do our part whatever our part is. Take a role in your community, take your role in the movement, start your own movement within the movement because at the end of the day it’s all for the same cause. More minds together are way more brilliant than one. We’ll figure it out. Keep your head up.”

Minniefield: “A change is gonna come.

We see the news every day. It feels different this time and I’m so glad that my 83 year old father is still alive to see this change happen. I want to let everyone know, it’s not Black or White it’s the human

Rose Mallett race, we’re all humans, it’s a human, we all bleed the same color.”

Dozzi: “Let’s stay in contact with each other, build ideas and try to set the tone for love. If others see us doing it then maybe it will catch wind. The time is now no matter what you’re doing. Everyone in the world should be woke. It’s time.”

Carey: “I want to thank Tracy Dietlin and Phil Lacombe at CV Weekly for embracing us as people of color and always being a support system. Love is key. Everything that you see in this world is because of hate. Love is the key to change. It’s going to start with one person at a time. When you begin to love you will help your neighbor.”

Mallett: “Growing up in Chicago in an all-black neighborhood, that’s all I knew. I didn’t know beyond that neighborhood. I never thought in a million years at this time in my life the people around me would be so diverse in terms of people who I care about and care about me. Things are changing

Dozzi Dozz

but at such a slow pace. But things are changing. In another 50 years, when our children and their children start blending you won’t be able to tell who’s who. That’s what a certain group of people are afraid of, of becoming the minority. You be the example. People are looking at you, how do you talk? How do you carry yourself?

Who are you associating with? You are being watched. Children are watching you.

What words do you use? Do you use them to elevate or do you use them to push people down? Realize this too, corruption will never be eradicated. Killing will never be eradicated, maybe minimized. You just have to take care of your small part of the world you live in and hope that something that you say or do or something that you characterize will elevate the man standing next to you.”

John Carey (vocalist/guitarist) Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending

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of slavery in the United States. What are your thoughts about the day?

John Carey: “Even though I'm very appreciative and how we have progressed from the day of freedom, I still have to look back and say America really didn't fix the problem. Yes, we put a band-aid on it to pacify the people at that time but only to appease those who were not in favor.

We are still fighting for Juneteenth here in 2020.”

What can African-American artists do to impact the (BLM) movement positively while addressing the failures of our past?

John Carey: “As a musician, I'm a songwriter and my main job and focus is to address issues that we face everyday.

I write freedom songs, songs of protest, songs of brotherhood and songs of peace.

We are the messengers for change and equality.”

Do you have any personal stories you’d like to share with regard to law enforcement interaction?

John Carey: “Growing up black in Chicago, I was given the talk from my mother on how not to get killed by a police officer. At 13 I was picking up my cousin from the bus stop and pulled over by a police officer with his gun out saying I had robbed a laundry cleaner. Frightened and

confused they put us in the car and took us to the cleaners and the lady said it wasn't us.

As a 25 year-old I had moved to the North side of Chicago in a mixed neighborhood where I was stopped by 8 or 10 police cars after I had just finished playing basketball.

They said I had just raped at 75 year-old white lady in some high rise apartment.

I had never been so scared in my life, but they took me to the lady’s apartment and she took one look at me and said it wasn’t me. We have a problem because we are at a disadvantage. Blacks weren’t supposed to be police officers. It was always about keeping blacks in line through scare tactics.”

What change(s) would you like to see start taking place to address racism?

John Carey: “I think there’s still a lot of people in denial because it’s not happening to them. It's not going to be fixed tomorrow because people are still getting rich with it.

It's better than it was because the younger generation of Blacks, Whites, and Latinos are tired of it.”

What are some things we can all do to be a part of the solution?

John Carey: “We can all look at it the same way we look at saving the whales, or saving a kid from a foreign country or fixing the pandemic. We know what to do, but we still have so many that don't want to do it.”

John Carey What are our next steps to unity?

John Carey: “You can no longer just dance to the music. You have to also understand the words to the song.” (taken from my song ‘Love, Peace and Understanding')

TRAVELTIPS&LOCAL HAPPENINGS4U

TAHQUITZ CANYON WATERFALL HIKE

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ahquitz Canyon is one of the most beautiful and culturally sensitive areas of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation. Tahquitz Canyon is home to a spectacular seasonal 60-foot waterfall, rock art, ancient irrigation

June 18 to June 24, 2020

linktr.ee/DOZZIDOZ barryminniefieldofficial.com itsmyurls.com/tiptoestallone rosemallett.com facebook.com/ALROS3RD ginacarey.net

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER

REOPENED MAY 6, 2020 PALM SPRINGS, CA

systems, native wildlife, and plants.

Located at the entrance to the canyon, the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center offers educational and cultural exhibits. The Center offers a display of artifacts, an observation deck, and a theater room for viewing The

Legend of Tahquitz Canyon Please note, during this time, the following is also in effect: Visiting times at Tahquitz Falls may be limited due to capacity.

No Ranger Talks or Ranger-led Hikes.

The Tahquitz Visitor Center remains closed for retail Admission: Adults – $12.50 Children (6-12) – $6 Military – Free (with U.S. military ID) Six-Month Pass – $60 Annual Pass – $90 Group rates available. Prices subject to change. For information call 760-323-6018.

Note: Hours and hike schedule are subject to change.

Hours: Oct. 1 – July 4 - 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily (Last hiker on trail at 3:30 p.m.)

July 5- Sept. 30 – 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. open only Fridays Saturdays and Sundays (Last hiker on trail at 3:30 p.m.)

No animals allowed For more information visit www. tahquitzcanyon.com Please remember to practice social distancing, verify their hours and stay safe!

Think Nature and Enjoy the Beauty.

“It is not about being all the same, it is about respecting differences.”

Lynne Tucker - A Passion 4 Photography 818.298.7007 Contributing Writer & Photographer for: CV Weekly (Coachella Valley) The Tolucan Times (San Fernando Valley) Conservation Ambassador for The Living Desert

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

LOCAL MUSIC

J

ust as it was prophesied, the video for ‘Don’t Believe’ by Throw The Goat (TTG) made its debut on June 16, 2020, (16 is the number of introspection), at 11:11 a.m. (the code of consciousness) and the song was first heard on Tuesday, June 17, 2020, (17 is the number of independent business), at 6:50 p.m. on 93.7 KCLB under the guidance of prophetic disc jockey Todd ’T.K.’ Killiam. It’s predicted that the song will be released on all major platforms on Friday, June 20, 2020, but the time has not been foretold.

Also on Friday, Bandcamp is pledging 100% of their sales to benefit the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. You can go to throwthegoat.bandcamp.com to purchase the song and support the cause.

If you believe in the mystical relationship between numbers and the success of TTG, you are sadly mistaken. ‘Don’t Believe’ (Regurgitation Records/Combat Records) is a return to the birth, blood and sound of TTG that delves into the secret world of conspiracy theorists. The elaborate video for the song only confirms that TTG are imaginative and thought-provoking and not schizophrenic. Its seizure-inducing splicing of frames from FBI agents to Bigfoot to JFK to 9/11 to alien autopsies to COVID-19 provide a confidential observation of the unglued stargazers we give heed to during unique occurrences.

In all reality TTG is Brian ‘Puke’ Parnell on vocals/guitar, Troy Anthony Whitford on drums and Derek Wade Timmons on bass/ vocals. TTG are on pace to release a song and video every 2-3 months. Their prior video release, ‘PPL Like U’, has received almost 35K views on Facebook and ‘Don’t Believe’ is in position to surpass that number.

Coachella Valley Weekly interviewed the threesome via Zoom and that video interview will be shared online in the coming days.

Before we delve in to the interview, Puke wanted to announce that the 3rd Annual Idyllwild Strong Benefit Festival will return this year with online performances from some of the best artists locally and beyond.

The event will be simulcast from venues in Idyllwild and will alternate between live performances and pre-recorded footage. Go to idyllwildstrong.com to donate and find out more.

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THROW THE GOAT

NEW SONG AND VIDEO FOR ‘DON’T BELIEVE’

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THROW THE GOAT CVW: Congratulations on another cool song and video.

Puke: “Today was really cool man. It was definitely a weight that was removed because we’ve been working on it for a while gathering footage. It feels good to get it out there and for people to finally put ears and eyes on it. We’ve been working on this for a while, the lyrics had been coming and the song was written last year. It’s never not been a topic for discussion. The conspiracy thing is always a thing and it’s amplifying every day. With the COVID-19 thing and everyone having a bunch of time on their hands just watching YouTube and lose their minds. The timing was perfect.”

DWT: “We’ve been really excited for it for a long time and looking forward to it for quite a bit. Some people in the band, not so much me, have done a whole lot on making this thing come together real well. Also, thank you to our friends of the band and camera people.”

Troy: “In the beginning it was all kind of a ‘do-it-at-home’ thing because we were on lockdown. A lot of the footage, as you can see, we made little rooms with conspiracy walls. We did the best we can, Derek is in his backyard wearing a hazmat suit and digging holes for some reason and we were gonna put it together like that and then everything started opening up so we felt

more comfortable for Puke and I to go out into the forest and just do some things, we had more access after that.”

CVW: The lyrics are pronounced and inherently pair up great with the video. Not to mention I’m a big Sasquatch fan. What’s the angle of the song?

Puke: “The lyrics bounce back and forth from the point of view of somebody who is falling down that rabbit hole. The opening line, ‘You don’t know shit but I do, researched it, that’s what I do’ is written from that perspective. People who are those hardcore conspiracy types are going to maybe think this is their anthem and we’re singing their song, they’re going to agree with it. To everyone else it’s (fingers in ears) ‘la la la la la’. That’s the thing with these conspiracy videos is that It dabbles in enough truth to where people just get convinced enough if it falls along with what they want to believe in anyway.”

Troy: “Nobody believes what anybody says. It’s from everybody’s point of view. It seems like nobody is gonna believe what you fuckin’ say no matter what. Our game plan was take as much video as you can and send all of it to me and we’ll image it all together and see what happens. Then we were able to go out and make the story of it, take shots where the story makes sense. It was us basically being as subliminal as possible.”

DWT: “I hope it becomes the theme for the people we’re talking about. Bigfoot has

BY NOE GUTIERREZ picked up his hiding game through the years because now that everybody’s got phones on him, he’s still not getting caught on camera.

It’s not that he’s not real, he’s just adapting.”

CVW: Derek, how long have you been in the band now?

DWT: “Longer than it seems because time has flown because we’re having a good time. We were busy but then we were only able to do things remote for a little bit. It’s been a great time. I already like these guys but now I like them even more. True story.”

Troy: “It’s been just over a year right? My favorite part of band practice is driving all the way up to Idyllwild with Derek in the car.

It’s a good time, then on the way back.”

Puke: “I think it was the end of…”

CVW: In navigating TTG through the quarantine, how has the band orchestrated making music?

Puke: “Originally the plan was to get together during April and me staying with Troy while I so some work for Goldenvoice and FNB. So I was gonna be down in the desert anyway only working weekends where we would have all week to work on stuff. Then things got a little screwy.

Basically, now I demo stuff out, send it to everybody then get together and record bits and pieces of it when we could. So instead of getting together and jamming and working it out it was kinda more piecemeal but now we’re able to go in and we can go back to these songs that did start out more fluid and learn those again and learn all the other stuff that we recorded. It’s been much more like a straight up studio ‘come and do your parts’ thing rather than like an organic ‘making shit up as we go along.’”

Troy: “Sometimes it’s writing the song as you’re recording it. Then you listen back to it and give it a once over and do it again, see if it’s better, if it isn’t, you listen to it again.”

DWT: “It’s been fun because I’ve never really done that before, working remotely.

A lot of these things are fresh and captured right when they’re brand new. From my point of view, Puke spends hours and hours and hours doing lots of work to give me that thing to write to. He works really hard,

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com Troy works really hard, these guys are hard workers. We also have a little more time to write without having to rehearse for that 45 minutes that needs to be perfect a weekend show.”

Puke: “When you do, do it this way, when you get together and you start hammering stuff out when you get to the recording stage it gets confusing because when you’re in a room jamming stuff out you kind of know what everybody else is playing but you don’t really know until you get in and record it.

Sometimes there’s things that just absolutely don’t work and you have to rewrite it. It’s been a lot more fluid.”

Troy: “When you are writing a song, playing it all together and doing shows, and then you go into the studio and start laying down tracks you start realizing sometimes that certain things don’t fit then you gotta rewrite it. The way we were forced to do it was now there is none of that hiccuping, we’re hearing it clear and making it solid right away. Playing it live, we were able to take those hiccups out.”

CVW: TTG is moving as if there was no pandemic. What’s next?

Puke: “We’re already talking about the new video. We have 11 songs that are not so much in the can. It’s a lot of material. An old school TTG fan hit me up today to say

congrats on the new song and video and to tell me that it sounds like classic TTG. It’s a lot more like ‘Black Mountain’ (2012) than any of the other records.”

DWT: “We’re doing a lot of different things too. I’m real happy to say that there’s variety in these upcoming things.”

CVW: You had major U.S. touring plans for the end of 2020 that were to coincide with the election but unfortunately it didn’t come to fruition. Where does #VoteGoat2020 stand at this point?

Puke: “Biden has over 2K delegates already and you need 2K and something to get the nomination so there’s no way for anybody else to jump in and get enough delegates to take over so it’s basically Biden and Trump and there’s no way that I’m voting for Trump. So it’s either, do I write in Bernie Sanders like I have in previous elections, I don’t know.”

DWT: “Vote for the guy who’s less of an asshole, that’s always what I do. I wish they would give us voices. If you want your vote to count, and even then only maybe count, you have to pick which one you think will actually win. But if everybody would vote not on the two-party system it would make a huge difference. It’s very difficult so at least go vote. I don’t like anybody staying home that for sure doesn’t do anything.”

CVW: Finally, what would you like to say to your Goat Tribe?

Puke: “Thanks everybody for the continued support for TTG, I know things might look and sound different from what you’ve known over the years but we’ve got 100% of our hearts in it and this shit is going nowhere but forward. I appreciate everybody that’s along for the ride. Shoutout to Derek and Troy for being the awesomest band members that there could be and always putting what they can into it, my crazy ideas and their crazy ideas, we all put it together, it’s a rad little family. When

MAX MITCHELL’S COMEDY & MAGIC SHOW

M

PREMIERES JUNE 19 @ THE RIVER RANCHO MIRAGE!

ax Mitchell presents Coachella Valley’s hottest standup comedians and one cool magician in the Amphitheater at The River in Rancho Mirage premiering June 19, 2020 at 7:30pm.

Shows first and third Friday every month.

Show is FREE with general seating and tons of room for social distancing. Dress up! Get out of the house! See a comedy show!

MAX MITCHELL is a comedian and awardwinning filmmaker. He has written, produced and directed two feature-length comedies and two documentaries. Max has performed in comedy clubs all over the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Most recently, he appeared at Hotel Zoso Palm Springs with the fabulous Selene Luna & Friends presented by The Palm Springs International Comedy Festival.

Max studied standup comedy with Jerry Corley in Los Angeles. Comedy-Max.com.

SHANN CARR has been making Palm Springs audiences laugh for a long time.

Known as the gay man’s lesbian, Carr has been entertaining audiences from deserts to high seas cruises for longer than she’ll admit.

A tireless fundraiser for local charities, Shann is so popular almost anyone in town has a punchline of hers that they use as their own!

ShannCarr.com.

KRIS BOSSI is the desert’s unpredictable Snark Queen and guaranteed to send you into fits of laughter with her unapologetic candor and irreverent attitude. She will have you laughing at all the profane and inadvisable coping mechanisms she uses to survive her wild life. If you've never checked out her raucous style of smack talk, now is your chance! Known for her "No Mouth Brakes" comedy shows, she has a style all

her own of sharing life experiences that makes someone very funny or very angry. In her case, it made her quite a bit of both.

McHUGH is a thoroughly entertaining magician with a uniquely comic point of view. He is a performing member of the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.

123poof.com.

KEVIN DAVIS, headliner, hails from Pennsylvania where he started comedy at age 12. After high school, Kevin joined the military and soon was getting laughs teaching Marines. He soon became known as The Marine of Comedy. After a few years as a comedy club promoter, Kevin started performing standup all over the world. Kevin

June 18 to June 24, 2020

everybody believes in each other that much you know you’re gonna do good things.”

Don’t Believe (Official Music Video) https://youtu.be/IOndnIGTBAc Video Shout outs: Directed by Stanley Goatberg Camera & Editing by Cockroach Alley Productions Additional Camera: Stevie Jane Lee, Brian McWilliams, Brian "Puke" Parnell “The Agent” played by ‘Nasty’ Nate DeJarnette votegoat2020.com idyllwildstrong.com

COMEDY studied comedy with Jerry Corley in Los Angeles. themarineofcomedy.com.

Shows 7:30 to 9PM. The River at Bob Hope and Hwy 111 in Rancho Mirage.

FREE – NO COVER – NO MINIMUM General Seating Social Distancing and Masks please Contact: Max Mitchell 310-729-6390

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

FINDING A NEW NORMAL IN THEATRE

I

n this rush to get back to normal, we find ourselves searching for familiarity.

Places, people and things that feel safe and comfortable. COVID-19 has shown us that there is an abundance of good will, harmony, humanity and solidarity in our society. And, conversely, there are also examples in this critically vulnerable time of violence against women, pleas for racial justice in our streets and forces that work to divide us. Perhaps normal is being redefined. And as we seek to find the familiar, theatres across the Coachella Valley are moving forward in small increments in an effort to find their footing again. No confirmed dates yet on when the doors will open and live stage performances will resume. Social distancing is forcing theatre professionals to create new ways to present their craft and redefine normal.

Two desert theatres have noted events lined up that are well worth checking out.

Coachella Valley Repertory is venturing forward in their presentation of ‘virtual’ Theatre Thursdays. June 25th’s performance will present “Meet & Greet,” written by Stan Zimmerman (“The Golden Girls”, “Roseanne”, “Gilmore Girls”) and Christian McLaughlin (“Desperate Housewives”, “Married With Children”). “Meet & Greet” originated at The Hollywood Fringe Festival and went on to have a successful, five-month run in Los Angeles.

The comic story tells the tale of a quartet of fictional Broadway/Hollywood divas vying for a sitcom pilot lead. Not surprisingly, each diva finds the presence of the other three more than a bit irritating … and more than a bit of a surprise as well, since all four women are complete opposites.

The Cast includes JUDITH CHAPMAN as Margo Jane Marsden, a Broadway diva with multiple Tony Awards. DANIELE GAITHER as Desiree White, who stole the limelight on the hit Bravo reality show, "The Real Housekeepers of Palm Beach" and quickly earned her own spin-off series, "Cray Cray For Desiree". TERESA GANZEL as Teri Valentine, the sexy blonde bombshell who co-starred with Belinda Reid on the People's Choicenominated sitcom, "You Better Work". Besides her many charities and the occasional Lifetime movie, Teri keeps busy with her multi-million dollar product line. MELISSA PETERMAN as Belinda Reid, theatrically trained at UCLA and co-starred with Teri Valentine in the hit comedy series, "You Better Work". Now the only place she appears regularly is on TMZ and in the tabloids. BRENDAN ROBINSON is featured as the Casting Assistant, a baby shark exuding youthful enthusiasm.

This show can be watched on Thursday, June 25th at 6pm. CLICK HERE to register for this special online reading The Palm Canyon Theatre, (PCT) will hold a 5-week theatre camp beginning Monday,

ALLIANCE OF DESERT THEATRES CONNECTS PRODUCING COMPANIES DURING PANDEMIC

W

ith concerns about how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the performing arts community in the Coachella Valley and beyond, a new group has formed for a common good. Six local, producing theatre companies have created the Alliance of Desert Theatres. Its mission statement reads: The Alliance of Desert Theatres is a cooperative of producing theatre companies that network and take

action in order to advocate for and nurture a vibrant performing arts community.

The Alliance of Desert Theatres started as many people and businesses are doing these days, with a Zoom call. Since that first virtual meeting on May 15, 2020, the group, which consists primarily of the theatres’ artistic directors, senior management, and business representatives, has created several working committees, shared information

Theatre stages in the Coachella Valley were left empty in mid-March. Now, members of the theatre community are supporting each other through the uncertain times of the coronavirus pandemic.

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BY DEE JAE COX

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

June 22. Kids camp is for young artists, ages 6-17-years-old and will be held Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. This will be the 24th year that PCT will be holding its summer camp, but this year, the camp will be guided by additional health and government regulations amid the coronavirus pandemic, as the country’s economy reopens. PCT will follow detailed guidance from the California Department of Public Health.

Each week has a special theme including Western, Halloween, Princess and Super Heroes, and more. Participants will be divided into small groups to learn different components of theatre.

The camp includes instruction in acting, singing, dancing, makeup, set design, props, costuming, stage combat, improve and more.

Campers will learn skills that will help prepare them for an audition or improve their selfesteem for a school presentation.

“As more businesses are opening, parents are going back to work, and they are looking for a safe, quality activity for their kids,” said Se Layne, PCT camp director. “For kids who are interested in the performing arts

and even those kids who need to boost their self-confidence, our camp is a great option.

It is our sincere desire to provide a fun camp experience, during these challenging times, while doing our utmost to maintain a safe and sanitary environment for both campers and staff,” said Layne.

Palm Canyon Theatre is located in the historic Frances S. Stevens School, which has several rooms to separate camp groups. PCT will follow state, county and city guidelines for running day camps, and will continue monitoring any changes in the guidance.

For more info or to register for Summer Kids Camp, call the Palm Canyon Theatre Box Office at 760-323-5123 or download the registration information online at PalmCanyonTheatre.org.

Palm Canyon Theatre is located at 538 North Palm Canyon Drive, at the corner of Alejo Road and Palm Canyon Drive.

Dee Jae Cox is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder & Artistic Director of The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project. losangeleswomenstheatreproject.org palmspringstheatre.com

BY CARA VAN DYKE AND TRACY ESSEX and ideas about bulk purchasing power, co-op advertising, health regulations, and other important updates, as the coronavirus information is a moving target.

At the forefront of the discussions are how to open live performing arts venues safely and how theatre companies can continue to enrich people’s lives until they do. All theatres are awaiting state and county guidelines, which they expect will include information about social distancing, wearing masks and sanitizing.

With Coachella Valley theatres located in five different cities and with auditoriums ranging in seating capacity from 80-208, individual theatres may have hyper-local regulations to comply with as well. Some area companies must also reinvent themselves under policies currently being established by the Actors’ Equity Association. These regulations will likely focus on the health and safety of its members, American stage actors.

The theatre companies currently participating in the Alliance are: Coachella Valley Repertory (CV Rep), Desert Ensemble Theatre Company, Desert Theatreworks, Dezart Performs, Green Room Theatre and Palm Canyon Theatre. These theatres are all nonprofit organizations that rely heavily on donations, grants, fundraisers and ticket sales to break even each year. Since the pandemic, some theatres have reached out to donors independently or held virtual fundraisers, knowing the current economic climate is

THEATRE

volatile.

Although much is unknown about the reopening of venues and events, including theatre productions, local producing companies are still creating and planning for the future. Some companies are producing online performances and concerts. Some theatres are anticipating a fall reopen, while others are planning for January 2021.

No matter the speculated date, which will ultimately be determined by health and government regulations, production royalties must be paid in advance for the number of potential ticket sales per performance – a difficult number to commit to with capacity policies unknown. Auditions and casting must still take place in order to secure performers and begin preproduction such as costuming.

Many of the valley’s theatres stopped mid-production or ceased to open a readied production, so their stages remain as they were when stay-at-home orders were announced in mid-March. With these images in mind, the Alliance is discussing ways to get the word out to patrons that the local stages await the return of their audiences. The group continues to make itself known and welcomes other area producing theatres, including those in the Hi Desert, to join. Individuals or businesses interested in supporting the local performing arts community are encouraged to donate directly to their beloved Coachella Valley theatres.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

June 18 to June 24, 2020

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

CONSIDER THIS

C

hicago has been the birthplace for a lot of great music. That rich history began nearly a century ago when Black workers began migrating from the South to find industrial jobs in the North.

The confluence of Jazz, Gospel and Blues was immediately felt. Muddy Waters, Nat King Cole, Junior Wells, Howlin’ Wolf, Gene Ammons and both Sonny Boy Williamsons are just a few of the legendary artists that got their start there.

Two of the greatest acts to emerge from the Windy City were Curtis Mayfield and The Staple Singers. They each got their start in Gospel music, but as their careers progressed both found ways to incorporate Jazz, R&B and Blues, resulting in a Soulful alchemy.

The Staple Singers got their start on the Gospel circuit and turned professional in the ‘50s. A true family affair, the act featured Mavis out front along with sisters Cleotha, Yvonne and brother Pervis. Their dad, Robuck “Pops” Staples played guitar.

Their music was steeped in traditional Gospel and Folk, but as they continued to hone their sound, they began blending more secular influences. They added sanctified heft to Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” and “The Weight” by the Band.

Each song exhibited a spiritual subtext that mirrored the struggles of the Civil Rights movement.

In 1968, The Staple Singers signed with the Stax/Volt label. Small, in comparison to R&B hit machines like Motown and Atlantic, it was founded in 1957. The Stax recording studio was situated in a converted movie theater in Memphis, Tennessee. Despite their small size, the label boasted an impressive roster of artists including Booker T. & The MG’s, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Eddie Floyd, Johnny Taylor, Rufus Thomas and his daughter Carla and Sam & Dave.

The Staples found their greatest critical and commercial success on Stax, charting eight songs in the Top 40. Hits included “Respect,” “I’ll Take You There” and “If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me). Their music offered a potent combo-platter that matched themes of self-empowerment

14

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THE STAPLE SINGERS

“LET’S DO IT AGAIN” & “PASS IT ON” (OMNIVORE RECORDINGS)

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

and spiritual fulfillment with infectious Soul-Funk melodies that featured prickly harmonies, and tight instrumentation.

The Staples seemed to lose their footing during the Disco era, even though Mavis remained in the group, she also embarked on a solo career. Her output was sporadic in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but in 1989, she was courted by mega-fan Prince, and he convinced her to sign with his Paisley Park label. He wound up producing the two albums she recorded under his aegis. In 1996, she returned to her Gospel roots with Spirituals And Gospels: Dedicated To Mahalia Jackson. The Staples were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1999. Sadly, a year later Pops died from complications he sustained from a concussion.

In the last 20 years, Mavis has released a series of rewarding albums, mostly released on Anti-, an independent label that began life as an offshoot of the Punk label, Epitaph.

Collaborating with younger musician/ producers like Ry Cooder and Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, she created instant classics like “We’ll Never Back Down,” “You Are Not Alone,” “Livin’ On A High Note” and “If All I Was Was Black.”

Not only has she won multiple awards and reinvigorated her career, she’s also introduced her music to younger generations by playing festivals like Bonaroo and Coachella. Her most recent effort is a live album, recorded in London in time for her 80th birthday. She remains committed to social change and has been at the forefront

of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Curtis Mayfield’s career ran parallel to the Staple Singers. He got his start singing in a Gospel choir in the ‘50s. He segued into secular music in the early ‘60s when he became lead singer and primary songwriter for The Impressions. By 1965, he wrote their first #1 hit, the politically charged “People Get Ready.”

In 1970 he struck out on his own, launching a solo career. He released a string of brilliant albums that married socially conscious, occasionally controversial lyrics to impossibly catchy melodies that were anchored by electrifying instrumentation and innovative arrangements.

His soundtrack to the 1972 Blaxploitation film, “Superfly,” was a watershed moment, heralded as a powerful touchstone for the nascent Hip-Hop community.

Although his career cooled in the ‘80s, Curtis continued to record and tour. In August, 1990, he became paralyzed from the neck down after a lighting rig fell on him at an outdoor concert venue in Brooklyn. Still, he managed to write and record. He made his final album, New World Order lying on his back, recording his vocals line by line. It was released in 1996. A year earlier, he had received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Ill-health prevented him from attending his induction ceremony from the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. He passed away seven months later, the day after Christmas, leaving behind 10 children.

For one brief shining moment in the mid ‘70s, Curtis and the Staple Singers came together to work on the soundtrack for the Blaxploitation comedy film, Let’s Do It Again. The collaboration proved so successful they reteamed a year later for the Staples for their sixth album, Pass It On. Now the cool kids at Omnivore Recordings have re-released remastered versions of both records.

Let’s Do It Again opens with the one-two punch of the title track and “Funky Love.”

Both songs redefine the term “Baby Making Music.” The former blends sinewy guitars, treacly strings, tumescent bass lines and a thwocking backbeat. Cleotha and Yvonne wrap their sagacious harmonies around Mavis’ raspy ache. The lyrics are surprisingly salacious; “Like a hammer on the clock, love began to rock, give the sister pride, feel good

and satisfied/I’m not a girl that could linger, but I feel like a Butterfinger, I wanna do it again, do it again, do it again.” The vibe is sensual, and the Staple Singers go with the flow.

The latter locks into an Afro-Cuban groove anchored by a dazzling conga rhythm, squiggly keys, syncopated horns, swelling strings, boinging bass and Ricochet Rabbit guitars. Mavis admits to being “blind out of my mind with love,” before laying down some unambiguous instructions to “Get down and do it till the morning comes, Baby rock my soul, I’m yours to hold/You’ve loved me so long and you’ve been so strong, keep me hangin’ on, love me to the bone.”

On the instrumental break rattlesnake guitars slither between slippery conga, sawing strings and a swaying horn section.

Ominous wah-wah riffs wash over the outro.

For Led Zeppelin, a “Whole Lotta Love” involved squeezing um, lemons, until the juice ran down their collective leg.

Conversely, Curtis and The Staple Singers’ “A Whole Lot Of Love,” puts the group on wholly romantic ground. Here, the action slows, as feathery strings cascade over quivery guitar riffs, warm keys, tranquil bass and an unobtrusive beat. Mavis is simply allowed to testify to the power and perseverance of love. Expansive and eloquent, the arrangement downshifts, locking into an in the pocket groove, as Mavis, Cleotha and Yvonne engage in a call-and-response tradition they mastered during their years on the Gospel circuit.

The lyrics of “New Orleans” services the narrative shift of the film, but the melody, powered by a horn-driven arrangement, fiery wah-wah riffs, shaded keys, rumbling bass and a walloping backbeat, eschews the standard, Crescent City Jazz. The lyrics find Mavis extoling the brash allure of the Big Easy; “Sho’ nuff like to talk about it, Baby how you turn me out, got to the real nitty gritty in this fine, Funky city.”

Meanwhile, “I Want To Thank You” is a majestic shout-out to the Messiah.

An infectious melody is wed to whipsaw guitars, slapping bass and a hissing hi-hat/ handclap beat. The sisters’ joy is palpable as they lift their voices to exalt in a higher power and concurrently, make no apologies to the decidedly non-secular sound; “We’ve become strong because of sacrifice, inspiration is what you gave to my life/It’s true, the love of you, spiritual affection, lifelong protection, Jesus, I want to thank you, thank you/It’s been fun and all the things we’ve done through his footsteps all the work has been done, Funky music will never destroy the faith and love we enjoy.”

The balance of the record is given over to Curtis’ vivid and compelling score. “Big Mac” is a Philly Soul/Afro-Cuban mash-up that is equal parts slinky and sinister. Ripe

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com and languid, “After Sex” is suitably sultry, offering a bit of post-coital exhale. Finally, the aptly titled “Chase” is a high-octane collision of shang-a-lang guitars, punchy horns, wiry bass lines, flinty keys, see-sawing strings and an elastic beat.

The soundtrack was a bigger hit than the film, with the title track reached #1 on both the Pop and R&B charts. It made sense to continue collaborating, but when Curtis reconnected with Cleotha, Yvonne, Mavis and Pops a year later, a lot had changed.

The music industry had shifted allegiances. Disco was the prevailing lingua franca, radio stations and nightclubs had completely embraced the hybridized style.

Curtis was at his peak as a producer, and probably had a little too much on his plate. Meanwhile, someone talked the family into dropping the “Singers” part from their name, so for three years they were just “The Staples.”

Released in 1976, Pass It On is very much a product of its time. The album kicks into gear with “The Real Thing Inside Of Me/ Party.” Essentially two songs inexplicably shoehorned together, the first part matches

COMMUNITY

E

asing of pandemic restrictions came just in time for the Class of 2020 graduates here in our Valley!

While they still could not have a traditional ceremony due to social distancing in place and the order for no large group events, the stay-at-home orders were relieved and this opened an opportunity for school officials to creatively plan and conduct drive-through graduations to recognize this important milestone for our youth.

lush strings, fluid guitar licks, angular bass, billowy horns and a kick-drum beat. Explicitly carnal lyrics pay homage to a comforting and controlling guy who makes Mavis feel “the real things inside of me.” About two minutes in, the concupiscent mood is shattered as the song shifts into party mode, and the lyrics tout the salubrious effects of “Goin to the Disco to mess around, diggin’ the guitar sound…funky place, funky beat.” The result feels slick and generic.

This sets the pattern for a desultory collection of tracks that are either wantonly licentious, vaguely romantic or hazily spiritual. The G-spot centric songs include the four-on-the-floor Disco pulse of “Take Your Own Time,” wherein Mavis is made to rhyme “cream” and “scream” with “sex machine.”

Meanwhile on “Making Love,” stabbing strings, whiplash guitar riffs crest over rubbery bass lines and a Funky backbeat.

The lyrics alternately repeat the title and weave a confusing tale of suspected infidelity. Mavis doesn’t seem completely comfortable with the subject matter, but she gives it her all.

She’s on more solid ground on crushworthy cuts like “Sweeter Than Sweet,” “Love Me, Love Me, Love Me” and “Take This Love Of Mine.” “Sweeter...” simply shimmers before locking into a Conga-fied groove. The lyrics offer an uneasy mix of sin and salvation, as Mavis connects the Holy Ghost to more earthly delights; “Never ever in my life have I had such an appetite for the sweeter, sweeter things in life.” But the song would benefit from some judicious editing.

It’s just too long.

“Love Me...” is actually a stand-out track, pairing stacked harmonies with luxuriant strings, buttery horns, waspish guitars, and a stuttery beat. This track simply swings, the groove is equal parts infectious and hypnotic.

Finally, on “Take...” all the elements coalesce. Sleek and supple strings lattice over percolating keys, pulsating horns, chunky percussion and zig-zag guitars. The sisters’ patented call and response vocals are simply sublime.

While the chicken-scratch symphony of the title track rails against gossip and dishonesty, the album’s closer, “Precious,

A SWEET ENDING TO A NEW BEGINNING FOR THE CLASS OF 2020

All three school districts in the Valley quickly organized drive-through ceremonies to officially congratulate students and hand them their diploma. One of the last was Palm Desert High School’s taking place on June 11, with 450 graduates. Those that chose to participate dressed in their cap and gown, walked the red carpet, and proudly crossed the stage while receiving their diploma and a proclamation from the City of Palm Desert.

To keep things rolling along smoothly, graduates were scheduled to arrive in groups at different times, based on last names, with one car per family. There were two stages with Principal Zink conducting the honors on one stage, and Superintendent Scott Bailey on the other. Upon exiting the stage graduates posed for a photo with the backdrop being the Aztec colors of

black, red and gold. During the progression “Pomp and Circumstance” played over the loud speakers, and with many decorated cars there were honks and hoots from the drivers and passengers inside. Students as well as parents were clearly excited to have this moment for an official recognition of their achievement. Parents remained in their cars while taking videos and photos as their graduate had their moment on stage.

Addressing the Palm Desert High graduates in the virtual ceremony following event, Principal Zink stated, “Your toughness and resilience will define you as you go out into the world and take on leadership roles.”

He encouraged graduates to not dwell on what they have lost due to the pandemic, but to instead look at what they have gained through academics, arts, athletics, and

June 18 to June 24, 2020 Precious” finds The Staples returning to to the theme of enduring love. Here, Mavis announces “You make me feel so proud, understanding gave us a plan/I’m not your kissing buddy, Honey, cause I’m your woman and you’re bein’ my man.”

Pass It On isn’t unpleasant, it just misses mark. Weirdly, the social conscience that stoked the fires of inspiration for both The Staple Singers and Curtis Mayfield’s music, is curiously absent here. Perhaps by the mid ‘70s, Curtis, Cleotha, Yvonne, Mavis and Pops felt like it was safe, in that moment of time to celebrate the vicissitudes of love, be it carnal, conjugal or spiritual. Maybe they needed to indulge in that luxury, and who could blame them?

There’s something bittersweet about listening to these albums right now, at this pivotal point in history. 45 years later, the struggle rages on. Say their names: Ahmad Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Robert Fuller, Malcolm Harsh, Oluwatoyin Salau and Victoria Sims.

No justice, no peace. Right now, right this minute, we could all do with a little respite.

BY CHRIS MARTELLO leadership talent as they venture ahead, while noting how this challenging time will enable them to tackle other obstacles in life as well.

With COVID-19 ending the school year short and halting sports, prom and other celebratory events in one’s senior year, the Class of 2020 definitely makes an unprecedented footprint in history.

This class will always be remembered for having survived a tumultuous time with senior year coming to an end abruptly, but also for sparking the creativity in ways to celebrate one another and this important rite of passage. Some of us remember our graduation ceremonies vaguely, some with more gusto, but this class is sure to remember a pandemic forever changing an important moment in time for them, and how they had to adjust and discover unique ways to commemorate this accomplishment.

Congratulations Class of 2020!

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

Thursday, June 18

Casuelas Café – Michael Keeth – 6-8pm Chef George’s – Marc Antonelli – 6:30pm AJ’s on the Green - Chris Bennett and Mikole Carr – 6:30pm Fantasy Springs – Lit – Country Night w/ Rye Brothers – 7pm

Friday, June 19

Frank’s Place – Terri Olsen and the Perfect Blend – 6-9pm AJ’s on the Green – Marc Antonelli – 6:30pm Lit – Remix – 9pm La Quinta Brewery – Alex Rodriguez – 7-9pm Pete’s Hideaway – Alex Santana – 7:30-10:30pm Plan B Live Entertainment & Cocktails – Red’s Rockstar Karaoke – 9pm Desert Fox – Derek Jordan Gregg – 9:30pm

Saturday, June 20

Frank’s Place – Terri Olsen and the Perfect Blend – 6-9pm AJ’s on the Green – Open Mic w/ Les Michaels and Joel Baker 6:30pm Chef George’s – Marc Antonelli – 6:30pm

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Casuelas Café – Desert Suite Band – 6:30-9:30pm Fantasy Springs - 12th Floor – Mark and Chad – 7pm Lit – Remix – 9pm Plan B Live Entertainment & Cocktails – Red’s Rockstar Karaoke – 9pm Palm Canyon Roadhouse – That 80’s Band – 9pm

Sunday, June 21

Palm Canyon Roadhouse – Derek Jordan Gregg hosts Jam Session – 7pm

Tuesday, June 23

Casuelas Café – Michael Keeth – 6-8pm Chef George’s – Lizann Warner – 6:30pm Fantasy Springs – Lit – Brad’s Pad – 7-10pm

Wednesday, June 24

AJ’s on the Green - Doug MacDonald Jazz Band 6:30pm Chef George’s – Barry Minniefield – 6:30pm Fantasy Springs – Lit – Latin Night w/ Renacimiento Norteno – 7-10pm Plan B Live Entertainment & Cocktails – Red’s Rockstar Karaoke – 9pm

Thursday, June 18

Warsaw Poland Bros – Facebook – 11:30am Chase Huna – Facebook – 6pm Coachella Valley Facebook Page – Courtney Chambers – 7pm Cody White and the Easy Ride – Facebook – 7:30pm Nicholas J. Sosa – Facebook – 10pm

Friday, June 19

CCCovid Relief Webpage – Silver Sky, Barry Baughn, Kal David and Lauri Bono, Doug and Meg Duo, and Kevin Henry – 5pm Slim Man – Facebook – 5pm Rose Mallett – Facebook – 5pm Nicholas J. Sosa – Facebook – 10pm

Saturday, June 20

Chase Huna – Facebook – 2pm Nicholas J. Sosa – Facebook – 10pm

Sunday, June 21

Sticky Doll – Facebook – 11am

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Blasting Echo – Facebook – 5pm Bonnie Gilgallon and Eric Frankson – Facebook – 5pm Krystofer Do – Facebook – 7-9:30pm Nicholas J. Sosa – Facebook – 10pm

Monday, June 22

Slim Man – Facebook - 5pm Nicholas J. Sosa – Facebook – 10pm

Tuesday June 23

Chase Huna – Facebook – 6pm Rose Mallett – Facebook – 6:30pm Lizann Warner – Facebook – 6:30pm Alex Harrington – Facebook – 7pm Nicholas J. Sosa – Facebook – 10pm

Wednesday, June 24

Sergio Villegas – Facebook – 3pm Slim Man – Facebook - 5pm Nicholas J. Sosa – Facebook – 10pm Contact Phil Lacombe to have your Virtual Performance listed here. philip@coachellavalleyweekly.com

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THE VINO VOICE

J

ust as we wrote last month about Mother’s Day, I can write the same words for this fast-approaching Father’s Day: Goodness! It’s already here!

And whether things have changed as far as one’s intention to get out and visit family, or, to continue to play it on the safe side— if we’ve not already, there’s still time to get our wine enthusiast dad, grandfather, husband, or father figure a notable gift.

Wine always fits the bill for gifting; and, if it’s wine accoutrement that you’d think would bring a smile to dad, one can simply google Father’s Day wine gifts—everything out there is for sale.

One very reasonably priced wine accessory gift that I find is so practical, usable, and re-usable is the Vinakas silicon wine stoppers. They are as simple as can be, and just as simple to fit on the top of the wine bottle. The company writes, “PRESERVE YOUR FAVORITE WINES Designed to keep your wine fresh and preserve the taste for weeks providing an airtight seal that is leak proof. Does not add flavor – Guaranteed.”

Honestly, I’ve become spoiled over their use. When I have any appreciable amount of wine left in the bottle—be it white, red,

June 18 to June 24, 2020

DAD’S SUMMER GIFTS & SIPS

or even sparkling, I’ll flip these little silicon caps on the bottles in seconds flat and shove the bottle into the fridge. It can be standing up or on it’s side, wherever I find the room!

Of course there are a few companies that manufacture a product like this. And they all seem to work the same. Vinakas’ cap/stoppers are made of premium quality FDA approved food grade silicone material that can seemingly last for a few years— at least. Hand-wash or throw them in the dishwasher as many times as you need.

For grins and giggles, each wine stopper has a different saying and color design: Wine Not? Sip Happens, Rough Day, Liquid Therapy and Wine me up. They also fit standard sized wine, beer and other bottles.

And as I hinted above, they can fit on a Champagne/sparkling wine bottle—most of the time—and has enough grab to keep the carbonation within the bottle without any leakage. In a gift box, five Vinakas Stoppers sell for $14.99 on Amazon with a $5 overnight delivery fee.

Another great gift for the dad who loves chilled sparklers, the Riedel Performance Champagne Glass serves as the ultimate compliment to all things wonderful ($59/

set of 2). We recently wrote on this glassware—coachellavalleyweekly.com/ drink-with-your-eyes-first. It’s specifically designed to optimize the flavors and aromas of the world’s most finely crafted bubbly.

And it absolutely does!! Every sparkling wine we enjoy gets a quality bump up in aromas, flavors, textures and finishes. The phenomenon is close to amazing—the gift that keeps on giving!

And now, a couple of Father’s Day sippers of particular note: Louis Roederer—producer of the iconic Cristal, as we know, also owns a phenomenal portfolio of great Champagne.

In years when Cristal isn’t being produced, some of the fruit destined for their 250+ ultra, top-quality wine is passed along to their Brut Nature Philippe Starck Label, recently the 2012 vintage was released ($89) This renown Champagne House writes: “This is very rare for the haute Champagne producers and is only possible because Louis Roederer owns almost 75 percent of its own vineyards (the highest percentage of any major Champagne house). With designer Phillipe Starck involved in the blending and label design, this wine’s bright and pleasing label uncannily perfectly matches it’s white and yellow fruit flavors and crisp acidity.”

For dads and Champagne lovers all over, this is one Premier Cru Cuvèe not to be missed! Produced in the Vallée de la Marne and made from 55% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay, and 25% Meunier. And you’ve no doubt noticed it’s a Brut Nature— meaning there are no added sugars and less than 3% residual sugars in the cuvèe. This puts the Champagne at its driest—a real trend for lovers of the bubbly.

It’s described by the winemakers as “Brut Nature 2012 Blanc is a Champagne of action and movement, which exudes intelligence; taut and lively, bright and

BY RICK RIOZZA

elegant. This is a Champagne of daylight, of instant pleasure.”

Back down to earth, what about this reasonably priced red wine sipper for the Father’s Day dinner table? Cellier des Dauphins 2018 Cotes Du Rhone Reserve Grenache Syrah at only $11.99 a bottle; such a deal and such a tasty Cotes du Rhone.

And let’s face it: these southern French Grenach Syrahs have the attention of most red wine quaffers as to quality, tastes, and pricing!

This 2018 Cellier des Dauphins Reserve shows aromas of flowers, garrigue, spice and forest floor. On the palate, there’s a rich blend of sunbaked red and black fruit. It’s full of flavor, super supple, with authentic Cotes du Rhone bouquet, taste, and finish.

A father’s delight for sure!

Because ordering time is of the essence, as I mentioned in our Mother’s Day article, I really recommend Saucey.com: This company delivers wine, beer, spirits, gifts, and more (bar paraphernalia). And it isn’t a subscription service; instead, it partners with local bottle shops in major cities including Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York City, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Washington DC. Such being the case, one can order something very specific, as with the Riedel Champagne glasses, the Roederer Stark Label Champagne or the Cellier des Dauphins Cotes du Rhone. If your dad lives in one of these large city general areas, when they find a shop that has it, they offer to get it to his door as quickly as 30 minutes after you order. Otherwise, the company says they can have the wine delivered in two days.

Our Best Wishes! Cheers to all the Dads out there!

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

BREWTALITY

C

an you remember the last time a beer blew your mind? Maybe it was your first barleywine, with those intensely deep and vinous flavors. Hazy IPAs definitely blew people away when they first appeared on the scene; looking like a tall glass of calcium enriched orange juice and smelling like the whole damn exotic fruit section at

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GAIJIN DREAM SUBVERTS EXPECTATIONS

Whole Foods. With their thick mouthfeel and candylike flavors, heavily-fruited sour ales were a game-changer for many novice beer drinkers who liked their brewski to be more Mai Tai than Maibock. If we go all the way back to 1996, Stone’s Pale Ale was a game changer in San Diego, taking what was once thought of as a tepid style of beer, and

bittering it to the point of aggression. What blows your mind depends on your individual palate, but what every game changer has in common is subverting your expectations and making you go “WOW”.

A beer doesn’t have to be big and imposing to make an impression, sometimes all it has to do is interpret the rules differently. Mexican lagers were once considered the slightly spicy cousin of the boring ass American lager; yellow, fizzy, tastes like crap once it’s warm, made in massive batches with the cheapest ingredients possible. Once artisan craft breweries saw that there was a market for Mexican lagers, they took that style to the next level. The standout version comes from Alesmith, with their Sublime themed Mexican lager that tastes like if Fritos were a beer. By taking corn, an ingredient found in almost all north-American lagers, and adding so much of it that it offsets the flavor profile and tastes overwhelmingly like toasted corn nuts, Alesmith created a product that stands out among a slew of similar tasting competitors.

While there are detractors who don’t like the extreme flavor tilt, it doesn’t change the idea that Sublime’s Mexican lager took a taste that we were all familiar with, and turned it on its head.

Oregon’s Stickmen Brewing Company elevated one ingredient typical of a style, and did the exact same thing with their Japanese lager, Gaijin Dream. The Sorachi Ace hop was developed in Hokkaidō, Japan for Sapporo Breweries in the late 1970s, and is known for having one of the most unique flavor profiles in all of hops. While flavors of dill, coriander, white flower and tea can be common, it’s the intensely lemony flavors of Sorachi Ace that make Gaijin Dream taste like no other Japanese lager on the market.

GAIJIN DREAM – Stickmen Brewing Company, Tualatin, Or. 5.9% ABV, 20 IBU APPEARANCE: For over a hundred years, beer makers used their ability to clarify a beer as a selling point. The Miller Brewing

BY AARON RAMSON Company even used the tagline, “the champagne of beers” to describe the bright and bubbly character of their product. A cloudy, murky beer no longer symbolizes a lazy beer or inferior brew, now it just means flavor. Gaijin Dream is as opaque and cloudy as the thickest hefeweizen you’ve ever seen, thanks to the ability of rice to cause protein haze. While Japanese lagers are usually as brilliant and clear as their American counterparts, Gaijin Dream goes the opposite direction. 4.5/5 NOSE: Twangy, herbal, and slightly metallic. The famed “dill” notes of Sorachi Ace are big in the nose, with the grainy sweetness of rice behind it. 4/5 TASTE: With the tartness level of a Gose, it’s hard to imagine that this beer doesn’t contain an acidic fruit puree in it, but Gaijin Dream gets all of its intense flavor from its hops. Yuzu or Meyer lemon like up front, this isn’t the kinds of hop flavor that you find in an IPA. Right behind the intense citrus notes is a starchy sweetness that only rice gives. A stern bitterness keeps the beer from being sugary, and it ends on a crisp, dry, almost astringent note. 4.5/5 MOUTHFEEL: Medium, which is surprisingly full for a lager. The carbonation level is appropriate without being high, and adds to the impression of fullness to this beer.

4/5 OVERALL: Look for Japanese lagers to be one of the next styles that craft brewers take from niche to mainstream, and for many breweries to infuse their versions with fruit to add appeal. Gaijin Dream will remain as an excellent, early version of the style that took everything you thought you knew about Japanese lagers, and turned it on its head.

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CUPS CAFÉ IN PALM DESERT

D

made red or green sauce, eggs any style, and finished with cotija cheese and pools of crema. You can add any available meats, but I recommend the chorizo. Their tortilla chips are thick enough to retain a nice crunch even though they are flooded with the perfectly-spiced sauces. Cups is expert in all things avocado from benedicts and toast to beautifully presented tacos.

Their brioche French toast is excellent and the pancakes are crisp and light. The standard egg omelet and breakfast meats are satisfying and filling. Hey, and the coffee is really good! Five benedicts are offered: crab cake, avocado, Mexican, lox, and

BY DANIEL PARIS traditional.

Lunches shine as well. Calamari, shrimp, grilled fish, Ahi towers, fish and chips, which can all be served in tacos or wraps, are all prepared at a perfect temperature. No dry seafood here. Sandwiches include chicken, flat iron steak (both with caramelized onions and green peppercorn sauce), BLT salmon, tuna melt, Ahi burger and several wellcrafted burgers.

Cups also offers Dunch (dinner for lunch).

Entrees include Steak Dunch served with potato chorizo croquettes and fresh veggies with a mushroom peppercorn sauce.

Tamarind Sea Bass, Hawaiian Ahi, Sweet Devil Shrimp, and Risotto with scallops,

June 18 to June 24, 2020

GOOD GRUB

salmon or shrimp. Wine, beer, and cocktails are also available for purchase. Prices are very reasonable. Keep your cups half full!

Cups Café 77192 Country Club Drive Palm Desert, CA 92211 Open every day: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

760-200-0333

ue to Covid restrictions, the Cups Cafe is half full. Owners Marco and Gustavo are enthusiastically optimistic about their restaurant. They greet and seat their patrons with eyes sparkling above their masked faces. They are grateful to the diners for their support and their positive energy fills the space along with a fun and eclectic décor with cups being the main design element.

With over twenty years of restaurant experience, Marco and Gustavo serve flavors from their childhoods and add some original dishes they have developed. Their Mexicanthemed breakfasts are bursting with flavor.

The chilaquiles are available with house-

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

PET PLACE

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BY JANET McAFEE

INTRODUCING A NEW DOG TO YOUR RESIDENT DOG

T

housands of folks, isolated during the quarantine period, adopted dogs from animal shelters. These dogs eased the stress and loneliness of staying at home. Now as people return to work or school, adopting a second pup may be just the right anecdote to help Fido when he is suddenly left alone all day.

Ideally, you want to bring your resident dog to the shelter to meet a prospective match before adopting. However, during the pandemic you need to check with each shelter on their meeting policy.

Sadly, many dogs are returned to shelters and rescues because of problems between them and the resident dog(s).

This might include fighting or disinterest in each other. You may be disappointed there isn’t an immediate happy bond.

Local dog trainer Jim Turcott advises you give dogs 3 to 4 weeks to adjust. One older dog sulked in a corner for a week when a younger pup arrived……but several weeks later the two happily ran through the house in endless joyful games as the youngster miraculously gave the oldster a “new lease on life”.

Two dogs doubles the fun and the love in your household. Dogs are pack animals, and almost always thrive on each other’s company. But just like humans, not all dogs like each other. In a few cases, two dogs may never be compatible house mates. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time in getting to know one another.

Here are some things to think about and some techniques to help things go well with the transition.

INTRODUCTION TECHNIQUES Prior to meeting: Dog trainer Jim Turcott has some excellent advice to help ensure a good result, “Before they meet, put some of the new dog’s saliva on your

hand, and present it to your own dog to smell. A dog’s strong sense of smell allows them to detect the other dog’s mood from the saliva, and helps them relax when they finally interact.” Remain calm, in control, and optimistic. The animals will sense your mood and respond to it.

Choose a neutral location: Introduce the dogs in a fenced neutral location, such as a park or neighbor’s yard, keeping them both on a leash. This makes it less likely that your resident dog will view the newcomer as a territorial intruder. A separate person should handle each dog.

Use positive reinforcement: Let the dogs experience good things when they first meet. Use a happy tone of voice when you speak to them. It’s normal for them to sniff each other, however don’t allow them to investigate and sniff each other for a long time which could culminate in an aggressive response. Have them “sit” and reward them both with a treat.

Each person walks with their dog walking parallel, continuing with periodic food rewards. Keep the leashes loose. Don’t use punishment.

MEET ERIN

MEET BUDDY

Pregnant and homeless, this sweet 1-yr-old Torti was rescued

by Kittyland in Desert Hot Springs.

Her kittens were all adopted, and now it’s this sweet mama’s turn to get a loving home. Call Kittyland at (760) 251-2700 for an appointment to meet and adopt Erin. www.kittylandrescue.org

Buddy would love to be your new “best buddy”. This Labrador Retriever mix fellow is extraordinarily affectionate, walks well on a leash, likes other dogs, and his hobby is going with you on car rides. This long term shelter resident was rescued by the Humane Society of the Coachella Valley in N. Palm Springs from a shelter that closed down.

Now 9-yrs old, this sweet dog deserves a loving family. Call HSOCV for appointment to meet Buddy (760) 329-0203.

Application at orphanpet.com/adopt

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Pay attention to body postures: A “play bow” body posture is a sign that things are going well. When he assumes this position with front legs on the ground and hind quarters in the air, this is your dog’s invitation for playtime which usually brings a friendly response. Jim cautions adopters to exercise caution as things can happen fast, “Watch for aggressive responses that include hair standing up on the back, ears back, teethbaring, deep growls, lengthy staring, and whale eyes where the whites of the eye show. If one of these negative behaviors starts, interrupt by calmly redirecting and putting more distance between them.

Start giving them treats as they calm down, gradually bringing them closer for a treat party!”

Taking the dogs home: Once things seem to be going well, and any fearful or aggressive behaviors have subsided, it’s time to happily head home. If you have more than one resident dog, it’s advised you introduce them one at a time. Two or

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more could gang up on the new dog. Let the new dog explore the house first.

Feed the dogs separately: It’s wise to put some distance between their food bowls. This prevents the friction from anyone stealing food until you get to know their proclivities.

Separate them when you go out: Even if they seem like they’re getting along well, put them in separate rooms the first few times when you go out. Don’t leave bones and toys around that they might compete for.

Introducing puppies to adult dogs: Puppies can pester adult dogs without mercy, and they may not recognize their signals that they’ve had enough. Adult dogs with good temperaments may set limits with a growl. However, adult dogs that aren’t well socialized may set limits with aggressive behavior such as biting, therefore a puppy should not be left alone with an adult dog until you’re confident there is no danger. Jim adds, “Sometimes an adult dog with a young puppy acts like a surrogate parent and takes over training and caring for the newcomer. The puppy follows it through the doggie door and learns potty training.”

WHEN TO GET HELP Consult with a professional dog trainer for assistance if things don’t go well.

When you adopt from a private animal rescue, they may assist with training

tips. Remember, a dog can be seriously injured if a fight breaks out. Negative behavior becomes ingrained with time, so act quickly when issues arise. Charts of dogs’ body postures are available online.

The video, “How to Introduce Dogs the Right Way” is available on www.petmd. com. You can contact Coachella Valley dog trainer Jim Turcott at (206) 380-7776.

Be optimistic! Give the dogs time to adjust. Acknowledge the positive interactions between your dogs and enjoy watching their lifelong friendship bloom!

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com ----------------------------------------Below is a partial list of shelters and rescues in the Inland Empire with animals for adoption. You can view most of their animals online in advance of calling. If you cannot adopt, consider making a donation to one of the private rescues that rely on those funds.

COACHELLA VALLEY ANIMAL CAMPUS – This county shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. You can view the animals at all 4 Riverside county shelters at www.rcdas.org, and get the ID number of the animal you want to meet.

Email them with the animal’s ID number at shelterinfo@rivco.org and call (760) 343-3644. Located at 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms. (Public) PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER – The shelter is closed but you can call for

an appointment to adopt. They schedule appointments Wednesday through Monday, closed on Tuesday. View their animals online at www.psanimalsshelter. org, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5718. (Public) ANIMAL SAMARITANS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at www. animalsamaritans.org. Email acorrow@ animalsamaritans.org to foster. Located at 72307 Ramon Rd, Thousand Palms, (760) 601-3918. (Private) CALIFORNIA PAWS RESCUE - The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at www.californiapawsrescue. com, (760) 656-8833. (Private) HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt a dog or cat. View their animals at www. orphanpet.com. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 3290203. (Private) KITTYLAND – The shelter is closed so call for an appointment to adopt a cat.

Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs, www.kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700. (Private) FOREVER MEOW – Foster based rescue for cats located in Rancho Mirage.

Contact them through website www.

ForeverMeow.org, or call (760) 335-6767.

June 18 to June 24, 2020

(Private) LOVING ALL ANIMALS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 83496 Avenue 51, Coachella, www.lovingallanimals.org, (760) 834-7000. (Private) MORONGO BASIN HUMANE SOCIETY – Located at 4646 Sun View Rd, Joshua Tree, www.mbhumanesociety.com, call between 11am-4pm for updates (760) 366-3786 (Private) CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ANIMAL SHELTER – Shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Hours for adoption 10am – 4pm Tuesday thru Sat. Google “City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter” for website to view animals and get the ID number of the animal you want to meet. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 384-7272. (Public) SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AT DEVORE – Shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt.

Call (909) 386-9280 daily between 9am & 5pm. View animals at www.sbcounty. gov/acc and get the ID number of animal you want to meet. Located at 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (Public).

DREAM TEAM ANGELS RESCUE - Foster based rescue located in Grand Terrace/San Bernardino area.

Contact them through website www.

DreamTeamangelsrescue.com, (360) 688-8884. (Private)

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

SCREENERS

STREAMING NOW: ARTEMIS FOWL It’s so disappointing, and frustrating, to be in a position to find, watch and share new movies during this time when we need movies more than ever, only to realize the movie under discussion is a fail. And that’s not just my opinion.

Rotten Tomatoes gave Artemis Fowl the lowest rating of any film appearing on the new and popular streaming site Disney+.

The trailer for this film gives the false

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No. 426

FOWL IS A FAIL

impression young Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw) is a Harry Potter-llke hero. But this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth of the narrative – as confusing and convoluted as it is. Artemis is a know-it-all whereas Harry is an innocent on a journey who becomes a shade darker as a result of his experiences.

The movie was announced in 2001 back when Harry Potter was peaking as both a literary and cinematic phenom. The film started shooting in 2018.

Irish author Eoin Colfer’s eight volume series is about a precocious boy who discovers he’s living in a magical dimension of fairies, dwarves and elves that share a parallel existence. The books are about a villainous prodigy who wages war with weaponized fairies.

In the movie, Artemis is not really a villain but is merely another superkid trying to rescue his dad.

The screenwriters ( Conor McPherson and Hamish McColl) rely on the first two volumes for plot points.

The tale is mostly told, literally, by Mulch Diggums (Josh Gad), who we quicly larn is an unreliable narrator. But this device does not clarify the confusing plot threads.

There are a number of changes from the books in Branagh’s lush-looking film.

One big change is one of gender. Judi Dench plays Commander Root, the leader of the Fairy Police Force Lep-Recon.

Director Branagh said the changes made in the source material come with author Colfer’s blessings. But fans familiar with the book, may not recognize the film as the story they love. Gone are the edgier elements like the tougher dialogue or as one critic put it, “where’s the anarchist wit and the psychopathic avarice?”

Artemis Sr. is an antiquities dealers accused of stealing ancient artifacts for his own secret experiments. A scholar of Irish legends – especially leprechauns, banshees and goblins, he’s passed the legends and myhths to his son, training

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

him in the waya of thaty world, but at age 12, he’s a skeptic.

But all that changes when dad disappears from his giant yacht in the South China Sea. The raspy voice on the Fowl manor phone line belongs to shadowy female fairy who demands that Junior find the Aculos, a powerful and dangerous device in exchange for his dad’s safe return.

That’s when young Artemis realizes that the tales his dad’s ben telling are true and that the fantasy worl exist in a city at the center of the earth, and it’s inhabitants driven underground by humans in a battle eons earlier. Bla bla bla… Streaming now on Disney+ This film has a great look, Branagh is a gifted director (Thor, Hamlet, Cinderella) especially when it coms to composition.

His films have an elegant and convincing look and the beautifully crafted worlds seem lived in.

A disappointment. Even for pre-teens. robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

HADDON LIBBY

SAVING FOR COLLEGE

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mongst the thoughts of many parents and grandparents is how to pay for a child or grandchild’s educational expenses. In a time when higher education is more necessary than ever in building one’s career, so too are the costs.

As a result, many parents and grandparents think about the best way to save up for higher education.

To understand the way to set-up the best educational account for your needs, let’s review the three basic ways to set-up an account: 529 Plan: These accounts are set-up with after-tax monies. When monies are withdrawn for educational purposes, none of the earnings or appreciation are taxed.

Coverdell Education Savings Account: Contributions are limited to no more than $2,000 per year for each beneficiary up to the age of 18. To use these accounts, your income must be less than $110,000 a year if you are a single tax filer or $220,000 if you are married.

Your 401k or IRA: Monies contributed to your 401k or IRA are not taxed until withdrawn. When these funds are used for educational expenses, the 10% penalty on early withdrawals does not apply. Monies withdrawn are subject to income tax as no tax has ever been paid on earnings used to fund the account.

Let’s assume that you want to set-aside $1,000 that is withdrawn for education in seven years. To keep the analysis simple, let’s avoiding future contributions in years 2 through 6.

As a 529 plan and a Coverdell ESA are essentially the same, go with the Coverdell ESA if you can. With the Coverdell, you can invest in anything that your brokerage account allows. In my experience, 529 plans have higher costs and weaker investment options. Coverdell ESAs can only be used by those with adjusted gross incomes of less than $110,000 for single taxpayers and $220,000 for couples filing jointly.

When making the decision as to whether to put the money in an educational account or your retirement account, the final decision comes down to your tax rate.

DALEGRIBOW ON THELAW

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If you pay a tax rate of 25% or more, the 529 is your best choice. If you have a tax rate that is under 25%, contributing to your 401k/IRA is the better choice. The reason why you might use a Coverdell over an IRA is because you want to separate education and retirement funds. You also might do it if your tax rate is low today, but you expect it to be higher in seven years.

Simply put, the more concerned you are with keeping your taxes down, the more you need accounts like your 401k, IRA, 529 or Coverdell.

Armed with this knowledge, all you need to know is your tax rate. Do not worry if you do not know – virtually no one does.

To find your tax rate, find your last state and federal tax returns. I’ll use the 2019 Form 1040 from the IRS and Form 540 from the

State of California to help guide you this.

Federal taxes can be calculated by looking at the first two pages of your tax return. Line 8b is your adjusted gross income and line 16 is your total tax. If you divide total tax by your adjusted gross income, you have your federal tax rate. Let’s pretend that this number comes out to 11.1%.

To get your state tax rate, line 19 is your taxable income and line 35 are your taxes.

Let’s pretend that this number comes out to 3.9%.

If you add your federal and state tax rates together, we get your tax rate which is 15%.

At a 15% tax rate, your best option is to keep the money in your retirement account unless you think that you will be paying a much higher tax rate down the road. If your tax rate is 25% or higher, 529s and Coverdells produce the best results.

Need help understanding any of this?

Drop me a note and I’d love to help. I can be reached at Hlibby@WinslowDrake.com.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management. For more information, visit WinslowDrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

INSURANCE COMPANY RIP-OFF #1

nsurance companies are only interested in making money. Thus you will soon realize that YOU ARE NOT IN GOOD HANDS AND YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR will NOT GIVE YOU A PIECE OF THE ROCK. Those concepts are for their ads.

In this article, I will address the first of several ways in which the Insurance Company Rips you off. Initially they try to get you to settle fast. Then they will tell the insured/ victim that they may lose their claim. Getting a quick signature by saying "Sign Here" is the next stage and when you purchase insurance the agent will ask if "You Want To Save Some Money". They will often give you a substandard company that historically doesn't pay.

To save money, common sense suggests, that you have to limit the coverage you will receive. All to often, drivers call me and to their amazement they do not have the full coverage they always thought they had.

After an accident the insurance company will do whatever is necessary to settle the case quickly. A quick settlement means their injured driver will not be able to draw out the treatment with medical providers. Less treatment means less medical bills. Less meds means a lesser value of the case, and that means a smaller settlement.

To get a lower settlement, the insurance co will initially assign a nice sweet adjuster to

June 18 to June 24, 2020

contact you, and pump you for information.

Later they will reassign a tougher gruff adjuster.

However, “Remember that Silence is Golden and Handcuffs are Silver.” It is not always What You Say, But Rather What the Police or Insurance Investigator Thought They Heard You Say. When the adjuster contacts you, my suggestion is that you don't talk, settle or deal with anyone from the insurance company, without the permission of your lawyer. When you get the call, simply explain, you would be happy to talk to them.

However, your lawyer asked you to not talk without his/her permission. That way you are the "good guy" and the lawyer is the bad one. I call this setting up your lawyer to be the "fall guy" or "strawman".

There are many reasons a victim should not accept an early settlement. Not only does a victim not know the value of the case but what happens if you settle and months later find out you have a serious problem. Now there is no insurance coverage to pay for this additional expense...the case is settled.

I advise my clients that when they get a call from the adjuster, to get their name and number, and then call me. I will call the adjuster to explain it is the policy of our office to not allow a client to talk at this point.

With respect to the adjuster or investigator

writing down something that is incorrect, it is not just that the adjuster is lying but rather that s/he misunderstood what you said. I had that happen with one of my best friends in the CV, when he was in an accident. He did not listen to my suggestion, and went to his own doctor. The doctor was not used to preparing a med/legal report, and I suspect had the nurse prepare the medical report for the doctor.

She misread the doctor's note because she could not read his handwriting. She thought it said that he fell from a horse. The medical office refused to change it to an auto accident.

DALE GRIBOW Representing the Injured and Criminally Accused "TOP LAWYER" - California's Prestige

Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20 "TOP LAWYER" - Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating "DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT... CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER....THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME" If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow at 760-837-7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com.

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

SAFETY TIPS

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE THIS 4TH OF JULY WITH SAFETY!

HEALTH

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE READY TO KETO?

K

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ith Covid-19 forcing cancellation of large-scale events, many of the Nation’s and local city public fireworks displays and 4th of July parades have been cancelled.

Unfortunately, this will increase the use of more dangerous and deadly illegal fireworks as well as the "safe and sane" fireworks that many community organizations will be supporting and selling. Remember, though safe and sane, a simple sparkler can put out 1,200 degrees. Sparklers account for roughly one-quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries!

Did you know: * There are more than 19,500 reported fires are started by fireworks annually. * Burns account for 44% of the 9,100 injuries treated in emergency rooms seen in the month around July 4th. * Half of the fireworks injuries seen at emergency rooms were extremities: hand, finger, or leg. One-third was to the eye or other parts of the head.

We usually tell the public "leave it to the professionals" and attend a public show. This will not be the case this year, as most have been cancelled. The shows that will go on will have more than normal attendance.

Late season rains have promoted light grassy fuel growth in hillsides and residential neighborhood vacant land and lots. We have already seen an abnormal increase in brush and grass fires this year. With no precipitation in the forecast, each day the fuels dry out and become ripe for a small spark to ignite them.

This will likely be one of most dangerous 4th of July as well as the days ensuing and after since 4th of July falls on a Friday. This will mean firework stands will open Tuesday the 1st of July and the celebration will continue through the weekend.

Here is a list of cities that will allow safe and sane fireworks: ca-fireworks.presskit247.com/content/ content-article.asp?ArticleID=508 (updated 5/26/2020) Here are some important firework safety tips: readyforwildfire.org/more/fireworkssafety

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Here are 14 alternative ways to entertain children safely this 4th of July: lnkd.in/ gf4uwZy There are plenty of fun things to do but keeping safety in mind is a priority! Here is some additional 4th of July Safety Tips: Travel Safety: * Buckle up, slow down, do not drive impaired. * Do not text and drive! * Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive.

Water Safety: Paddle Board? Jet Ski? Surfing? It is all harmless fun, right? Fun, certainly, but think before you play. Whatever the activity, observe these important rules: * Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. * Know local weather conditions. Let others know when you hit the water and when you plan to return! * Swimming pools. Learn to swim. Do not swim alone or leave children unattended! Let someone know where and what time your leaving and intend on returning!

Barbeque Safety: This fun seasonal ritual has a flip side, though-namely, an onset of injuries and home fires due to careless cooking practices.

Here are some tips you can follow to stay safe while enjoying those tasty treats at your cookout. * Never grill indoors or unattended - not in your house, camper, tent, or any enclosed area. * Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire. Hot grease or ashes could spill from the grill onto the wooden deck or into dry leaves or grass.

Hiking Safety: * Watch out for rattle snakes * Let others know your destination and time of departing and returning * Bring fluids (water) and stay hydrated * Wear appropriate clothing * Wear sunscreen The most important thing is to practice common sense...

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

BY MICHELLE BORTHWICK

eto is growing in popularity every single day. The world is loving all the success stories of hope around weight loss and health. It’s no wonder. It may have YOU thinking about Keto and wondering…. Am I ready to give it a try?

Keto is often used for weight loss but there is so much more to it. You feel more energized, sleep better, you aren’t hungry, food cravings go away, mental focus improves, skin conditions clear up…just to name a few. Does this sound too good to be true? It’s not hype. It’s popular because it works!

Read on to find out my top 8 things you should know before deciding to go Keto: 1. Keto is more than a diet.

You’ll often hear people describe their Keto diet as a “lifestyle” or “way of eating.” That’s because it’s not something you stop and start like most other diets. Going on and off keto, or carb cycling, can mess up your metabolism and confuse your body, possibly causing you to gain more weight. For Keto to be effective it must be consistent and a permanent lifestyle change.

2. Keto requires time.

You’ll hear about keto success stories where weight starts to melt off almost immediately.

That is typically associated with people who have lots of weight to lose. The more weight you have to lose, the faster it’ll come off at the beginning. However, slow and steady weight loss is healthier, more sustainable and effective for the long haul. The chances of the weight staying off increases. This isn’t another yo-yo diet. Simply put… it really could be your last diet ever!

So be very patient with yourself. Don’t give up on Keto because you don’t immediately see drastic weight loss. Give it the time and energy it deserves…and allow the magic of Keto to work for you.

3. Keto can be customized.

My focus is on making Keto considerably more enjoyable and effective as a lifestyle. By using my Proprietary Customization Codes, I can create a program designed to help you lose weight in the FASTEST way! What are these codes? Think activity level, age, hormones, overall health, lifestyle, cravings, food palate and more. This is way beyond the standard “one size fits all Keto” you see online which generally focuses on macros and tells you to eat 75% fat, 20% protein, 5% carbohydrates. That isn’t necessarily true for everyone and many other factors need to be considered. Customization is all about getting the results you want that works for you.

4. Ketosis varies by person.

Achieving ketosis is different for everyone. It can happen quickly for some, slowly for others.

Be patient and let your body make the changes

in your chemistry.

5. The Keto Flu is normal.

This describes a flu-like feeling that hits some people in the beginning of starting the keto diet. This can happen as your body switches from carb-burning to fat-burning. Your brain may run low on energy, leading to nausea and headaches. Basically, you are dehydrated and low on electrolytes. The more you replace electrolytes in your diet it will minimize this transitional period.

On the other hand, the keto flu is a positive sign you’re headed in the right direction and switching from burning glucose to ketones.

6. Keto treats some important medical conditions.

The keto diet is very effective treatment for certain medical conditions. Think cancer, skin conditions, diabetes, autism, heart disease, MS, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, inflammation and joint pain, seizures and much more.

7. There is a myth that eating Keto is expensive.

Carbs are cheap fillers so when you replace them with keto-friendly foods such as meat, cheese, and fresh vegetables, it’s easy to assume your grocery bill will go up. However, you’ll find that you need less food to feel full so changes to your grocery bill are minimal.

8. Are you ready to make a commitment?

Give yourself at least 6-8 weeks on Keto before you decide if it will work for you or not.

Stay the course and be in the right mindset and know WHY you are willing to give Keto a go. If you decide to move forward with the ketogenic diet, Congrats! It’s a huge step toward improving your health and life.

If you need help on your keto journey or simply have questions, please reach out to me. Think of me as an expert resource for Everything Keto. I’ve lived it for nearly two years and been trained as a coach to make Keto easy and sustainable. Not to mention, I have a successful track record of clients who have challenged themselves and changed their lives for the better.

About Michelle Borthwick: Michelle is a Keto Lifestyle coach, a Seasoned expert on Customized Keto. Keto weight loss results can be improved with Coaching, Customization, accountability and a trusted partner to guide you every step of the way. Michelle offers private sessions, proven Keto diet hacks, meal plans, proprietary customization, goal setting and more. If you are interested in customizing Keto for you and your lifestyle, book a complimentary private coaching session online at KetoIsEasyCoach.com Or, to get my complete list of health conditions that Keto helps with or reverses send me a message.

MIND,BODY & SPIRIT

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY BRONWYN ISON

OUR COMMON THREAD

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hat I have learned, with all that is occurring in our world, we share a common thread. Not just one but many. First, we're all in this together. Secondly, we’re all in quarantine.

Thirdly, each person is experiencing uncertainty. Lastly, I believe we have a strong desire to remain healthy and well.

My therapist told me, the most common thread she's recognizing with her patients is anxiety, stress, uncertainty and depression.

Trust me... this is not to be a Debbie Downer, rather I'm sharing the good news. Good news? Yes, that if you are experiencing these feelings, you are not alone, you are human. As a wellness advocate and voice for our community, I’m here to help! Yes, I can help you because I share some of these feelings too.

Let's make a wellness plan together and make each other accountable... you'll need a piece of paper and a pen. While I will not have the ability to check on you, find an accountability partner. Your spouse, a best friend or the entire family. Here is a check list to get you started.

1. Establish a morning routine (if you don't have one already) Dedicate time to prayer, a devotional or a positive affirmation. Reflect on it throughout your day. Place it on sticky note or someplace visible to you.

2. Establish an exercise routine. Yoga,

walking, hiking or swimming. Just Move!

This is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors before it gets too warm.

3. Hydrate. Make sure you have plenty of liquids. (Preferably water) Avoid soda, high sugar fruit juices and alcohol.

4. Eat healthy. Resist high carbs and sugar. These soul good feeling foods can make you sluggish in the long run. Plus, they are weight gainers.

5. Read and/or watch something that is inspirational or educational. Feed your soul and mind with goodness.

6. Journal your thoughts. Make a vision board of what your next 90-days may look like to you. This is the perfect time to reinvent yourself or start something new.

(You can’t say that you don’t have time.)

7. Call a friend and let them know that you are thinking of them. Encourage them and send kind thoughts and words their way.

I can almost guarantee that if you are feeling frustrated, depleted, depressed or uncertain… it’s time to get up, move and make some healthy changes for yourself.

Bronwyn Ison is the owner of EvolveYogaOnline.com and BetterForItNow. com. Follow Bronwyn on FB, Bronwyn Ison and Instagram, @Bronwyn_Ison or @ evolveyogaonline Also, on FREE yoga classes on YouTube, SUBSCRIBE for FREE.

June 18 to June 24, 2020

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF JUNE 18

ARIES (March 21-April 19): My Aries friend Lavinia told me, “The fight I’m enjoying most lately is my fight to resist the compulsion to fight.” I invite you to consider adopting that attitude for the foreseeable future. Now and then, you Rams do seem to thrive on conflict, or at least use it to achieve worthy deeds—but the coming weeks will not be one of those times. I think you’re due for a phase of sweet harmony. The more you cultivate unity and peace and consensus, the healthier you’ll be. Do you dare act like a truce-maker, an agreement-broker, and a connoisseur of rapport?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “The answers you get depend upon the questions you ask,” wrote physicist and philosopher Thomas Kuhn. That’s always true, of course, but it’s especially true for you right now.

I recommend that you devote substantial amounts of your earthy intelligence to the task of formulating the three most important questions for you to hold at the forefront of your awareness during the rest of 2020. If you do, I suspect you will ultimately receive answers that are useful, interesting, and transformative.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “A finished person is a boring person,” writes author Anna Quindlan. I agree! Luckily, you are quite unfinished, and thus not at all boring—especially these days. More than ever before, you seem willing to treat yourself as an art project that’s worthy of your creative ingenuity—as a work-in-progress that’s open to new influences and fresh teachings. That’s why I say your unfinishedness is a sign of good health and vitality. It’s delightful and inspiring. You’re willing to acknowledge that you’ve got a lot to learn and more to grow. In fact, you celebrate that fact; you exult in it; you regard it as a key part of your ever-evolving identity.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “To hell with pleasure that’s haunted by fear,” wrote Cancerian author Jean de La Fontaine. I’ll make that one of my prayers for you in the coming weeks. It’s a realistic goal you can achieve and install as a permanent improvement in your life. While you’re at it, work on the following prayers, as well: 1. To hell with bliss that’s haunted by guilt. 2. To hell with joy that’s haunted by worry. 3.

To hell with breakthroughs that are haunted by debts to the past. 4. To hell with uplifts that are haunted by other people’s pessimism.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Experiment #1: As you take a walk in nature, sing your five favorite songs from beginning to end, allowing yourself to fully feel all the emotions those tunes arouse in you. Experiment #2: Before you go to sleep on each of the next eleven nights, ask your dreams to bring you stories like those told by the legendary Scheherazade, whose tales were so beautiful and engaging that they healed and improved the lives of all those who heard them. Experiment #3: Gaze into the mirror and make three promises about the gratifying future you will create for yourself during the next 12 months.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Vincent van Gogh’s painting The Starry Night is one of the world’s most treasured paintings. It has had a prominent place in New York’s Museum of Modern Art since 1941. If it ever came up for sale it would probably fetch over $100 million. But soon after he created this great masterpiece, van Gogh himself called it a “failure.”

He felt the stars he’d made were too big and abstract. I wonder if you’re engaging in a comparable underestimation of your own. Are there elements of your life that are actually pretty good, but you’re not giving them the credit and appreciation they deserve? Now’s a good time to reconsider and reevaluate.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Now is a favorable time to make adjustments in how you allocate your attention—to re-evaluate what you choose to focus on. Why? Because some people, issues, situations, and experiences may not be worthy of your intense care and involvement, and you will benefit substantially from redirecting your fine intelligence in more rewarding directions. To empower your efforts,

© Copyright 2020 Rob Brezsny

study these inspirational quotes: “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” —philosopher Simone Weil. “Attention is the natural prayer of the soul.” —philosopher Nicolas Malebranche.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio poet Marianne Moore’s poem “O To Be a Dragon,” begins with the fantasy, “If I, like Solomon, could have my wish...” What comes next? Does Moore declare her desire to be the best poet ever? To be friends with smart, interesting, creative people? To be admired and gossiped about for wearing a tricorn hat and black cape as she walked around Greenwich Village near her home? Nope. None of the above. Her wish: “O to be a dragon, a symbol of the power of Heaven—of silk-worm size or immense; at times invisible. Felicitous phenomenon!” In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to be inspired

by Moore in the coming weeks. Make extravagant wishes for lavish and amusing powers, blessings, and fantastic possibilities.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Poems, like dreams, are a sort of royal road to the unconscious,” writes author Erica Jong. “They tell you what your secret self cannot express.” I invite you to expand that formula so it’s exactly suitable for you in the coming weeks. My sense is that you are being called to travel the royal road to your unconscious mind so as to discover what your secret self has been unable or unwilling to express. Poems and dreams might do the trick for you, but so might other activities.

For example: sexual encounters between you and a person you respect and love; or an intense night of listening to music that cracks open the portal to the royal road. Any others? What will work best for you?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “We must combine the toughness of the serpent and the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.” Capricorn hero Martin Luther King, Jr. said that, and now I’m conveying it to you. In my astrological opinion, his formula is a strategy that will lead you to success in the coming weeks. It’ll empower you to remain fully open and receptive to the fresh opportunities flowing your way, while at the same time you’ll remain properly skeptical about certain flimflams and delusions that may superficially resemble those fresh opportunities.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “If it makes you nervous—you’re doing it right,” says the daring musician and actor Donald Glover. Personally, I don’t think that’s true in all situations. I’ve found that on some occasions, my nervousness stems from not being fully authentic or being less than completely honest. But I do think Glover’s formula fully applies to your efforts in the coming weeks, Aquarius. I hope you will try new things that will be important to your future, and/or work to master crucial skills you have not yet mastered. And if you’re nervous as you carry out those heroic feats, I believe it means you’re doing them right.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean author Patricia Hampl understands a lot about the epic tasks of trying to know oneself and be oneself. She has written two memoirs, and some of her other writing draws from her personal experiences, as well. And yet she confesses, “Maybe being oneself is always an acquired taste.” She suggest that it’s often easier to be someone you’re not; to adopt the ways of other people as your own; to imitate what you admire rather than doing the hard work of finding out the truth about yourself. That’s the bad news, Pisces.

The good news is that this year has been and will continue to be a very favorable time to ripen into the acquired taste of being yourself. Take advantage of this ripening opportunity in the coming weeks!

Homework: What is the greatest gift you have to offer your fellow humans? Have you found good ways to give it? FreeWillAstrology.com ---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

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June 18 to June 24, 2020

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