Coachella Valley Weekly - August 3 to August 9, 2017 Vol. 6 No. 20 by CV Weekly

coachellavalleyweekly.com • August 3 to August 9, 2017 Vol. 6 No. 20

iRecover Treatment Center

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Modernism Week

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Desert Town Hall

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Murph’s Gaslight

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August 3 to August 9, 2017

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August 3 to August 9, 2017

Suicide Is Permanent: Everyone Can Intervene

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 Domingo Winstead Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Denise Ortuno Neil, Morgan James, Avery Wood, Tricia Witkower Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Noe Gutierrez, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Janet McAfee, Haddon Libby, Dale Gribow, Laura Hunt Little, Jason Hall, Raymond Bill, Sam DiGiovanna, Rob Brezny, Sunny Simon, Dr. Peter Kadile, Bruce Cathcart, Flint Wheeler, Dee Jae Cox, Patte Purcell, Rebecca Pikus, Esther Sanchez, Angela Romeo, Jenny Wallis Photographers Robert Chance, Chris Miller, Esther Sanchez, Laura Hunt Little, Lani Garfield, Scott Pam, George Duchannes Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

Contents

Suicide Prevention .................................. 3 iRecover Treatment Center..................... 4 Losing a Child to Suicide......................... 5 Love Your Healthy Life............................. 5 Modernism Week 2017............................ 6 Desert Town Hall...................................... 7 Slim Man................................................... 8 Art Scene - Thomas & Amara Alban ....... 8 Olivia Newton-John at Fantasy Springs.. 9 Tower Of Power at Spotlight 29 ............. 9 Consider This - Glen Campbell.............. 10 Art Scene - Perez Rd Artwalk ............... 11 Pet Place................................................. 12 The Vino Voice ....................................... 13 Club Crawler Nightlife........................... 14 Pampered Palate - Murph's Gaslight.... 16 Screeners ............................................... 18 Book Review .......................................... 19 Safety Tips ..............................................19 Haddon Libby........................................ 21 Dale Gribow........................................... 21 Sports Scene.......................................... 22 Free Will Astrology................................ 23 Mind, Body & Spirit............................... 23 Beauty with Dr. Maria Lombardo......... 24 Life & Career Coach................................ 24

By Noe Gutierrez

We here at CV Weekly are aware that the images depicted on this week’s cover can be viewed as disturbing, graphic in nature & have been shown to be causal in determining future behavior. We want be very clear that there is nothing, in any way, worthwhile about suicide. Our intent is to educate & provide support. If you’re going through something difficult, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

ith the recent loss of Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington and Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, the public health issue pandemic that is suicide has continued to echo shockwaves within families across the United States. Despite their prominence, these music icons coped with the same types of stressors that many individuals who attempt suicide experience: mental health/psychiatric issues, substance abuse and relationship/social difficulties. Almost 45,000 Americans die by suicide each year. That makes it the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Locally our youth have become increasingly impacted by suicide. Between 2008 and 2014, more than 900 young people ages 10 to 24 attempted suicide in the Coachella Valley, with 100 deaths by suicide. With its widespread frequency, we must approach it with equal and increasing education and interruption along with persistent empathy and sensitivity. In my assessment, at the forefront of our approach should be prevention and treatment for those who disclose thoughts of harming themselves. If we can remove the stigma from suicidal thoughts and plans, then we can intervene on the individual’s behalf to provide emotional support and understanding. This type of psychosocial support system was missing from Erik’s life. Erik is a 49 year old, 6 ft. 2 in. tall of a man who had been smoking methamphetamine for over 35 years. Erik agreed to share his story of surviving suicide with Coachella Valley Weekly. When I met with him at a local treatment center he seemed like a happy-go-lucky gentleman with a big smile and humorous tone. He recently celebrated over 90 days abstinent from all substances and alcohol. How could it be that this luminous man drove his car off of Highway 74 into a 150 foot ravine completely sober just a short eight months ago? Erik’s substance abusing history runs deep. Erik told me that substances definitely played a part in his depression. He also identifies that, in his case, depression is hereditary and he suffered distressing symptoms prior to him picking up a methamphetamine pipe. “I’m certain that my depression has always been the underlying factor. I used methamphetamine to escape my feelings.” Research has found that mental disorders and/or substance abuse have been found in 90% of people who have died by

suicide. “That day I drove off the cliff, I did it to kill myself. It wasn’t the first time I had tried to take my life. I remember crawling out of the car and climbing the ravine. I cut a huge gash in my head but I survived. After I survived, I knew I had a greater purpose. God was with me.” Erik has a supportive family and young teenage son who has had his own battles with mental illness and substance dependence. “These problems definitely run in families. My son and I talk about everything that has happened. I have gained humility from my experiences. I lost everything and now I’m slowly returning to foundation. Recovery includes mending my heart; the same heart that gave up.” Erik has successfully received support from many different local and national agencies. Jessica van der Strad is the Inland Empire and Desert Cities Chapter Area Director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, (AFSP). The AFSP is the leading national notfor-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. “We engage in Five Core Strategies; we fund scientific research, offer educational programs for professionals, educate the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention, promote policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention and provide programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk, and involve them in the work of the Foundation.” Van der Strad continues, “In support of our mission, we engage and train dedicated and passionate volunteers in the Coachella Valley to offer educational programs for professionals, educate the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention, promote policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention and provide programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk.” As a member of the helping professions, the best things we can all provide to those enduring the pain of mental illness, substance abuse and thoughts of suicide is recognition and interruption. If we can acknowledge the need for our participation in helping a friend or loved one, we should take the opportunity. Once we have provided a thought-stopping opportunity we can support and guide the person. Below are a list of warning signs and what you can do to help. Please share this article and actively speak with your children about suicide on a regular basis. If we are like-minded in a collective front, opposing the statistics, we can help save lives and lead those being tormented by suicide to a more hopeful outlook. WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE Most, but not all, people who die by suicide exhibit warning signs: • Talking about wanting to die • Looking for a way to kill oneself

• Talking about feeling hopeless, helpless or having no purpose • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain • Talking about being a burden to others • Increasing the use of alcohol and/or drugs • Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly • Sleeping too little or too much • Withdrawing or feeling isolated • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge • Displaying extreme mood swings The more of these signs that a person shows, the greater the risk. Warning signs are associated with suicide, but may not be what causes a suicide. WHAT TO DO If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: • Do not leave the person alone. • Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt. • Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). • Take the person to an emergency room for evaluation or seek help from a medical or mental health professional. Jessica van der Strad, Area Director, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)– Inland Empire & Desert Cities Chapter (760)459-9959. jvanderstad@afsp.org The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) suicidepreventionlifeline.org A free, 24/7 service that can provide suicidal persons or those around them with support, information and local resources. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services www.samhsa.gov. Noe G. Gutierrez is a final year Master of Social Work student at California State University San Bernardino. He has worked as a Behavioral Health Specialist III and Prevention Specialist for Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health for over 25 years. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and is a Certified Addictions Treatment Counselor. You can reach him at (760) 863-2856 or nggutierrez@rcmhd.org.

August 3 to August 9, 2017

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local business Hollywood filmmaker partners with iRecover Treatment Centers to help battle the opioid epidemic

rug overdoses kill more Americans than car accidents and gun related deaths a year. The numbers are tragic and they’re getting worse. This is where iRecover Treatment Centers is doing something different. iRecover is a Canadian based company that opened its first U.S. facility in the fall of 2014 by visionary founder and CEO Jim Gray. After 3 years of service to hundreds of suffering addicts and alcoholics, Jim’s passion for recovery led to bringing in longtime friend and independent filmmaker Christian Sesma. Having helmed Hollywood feature films across the globe for the last decade, Sesma was moved to action when attending an addiction symposium with Gray where the staggering numbers of opioid abuse and overdose deaths overwhelmed him. Personally, he felt he needed to join the battle, now. 91 Americans die every single day from

opioid overdose! That is a fact that can’t be ignored and was why Sesma’s passion for addiction advocacy became his new venture. Sesma’s view on it all was this, “The moment you realize you can make a real difference and provide a real service to the suffering addict is the moment you

can no longer sit by and not get involved… action can change the world.” And Jim Gray’s mission statement had been that all along, CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME. iRecover prides itself in being the premiere “technology-driven addiction

recovery” program. Every new participant receives their very own tablet, complete with all iRecover courses and materials for a unique interactive experience. Jim’s renewed vision for iRecover is that of continuing to provide their premiere program coupled with Sesma’s known brand as a filmmaker in spreading a message of hope across the U.S. as part of a new roll out starting with their Palm Springs facility. Both men serve as success stories of recovery in their own right. “I decided to start a treatment center to get drunk drivers off the road after my youngest son was nearly killed by an impaired driver,” states Jim, who has almost 30 years in sobriety himself. When asked as to where the initial spark to begin iRecover came from his response was, “Necessity! The world needs help and iRecover can do its part every single day!” And this is how Jim and Christian’s paths were connected. To save lives, to battle not only the national opioid epidemic sweeping our country, but to offer services for the full array of mental illness that come with alcohol and substance abuse. iRecover is more than a company providing the highest quality treatment for addiction and alcoholism...it is the belief that an evidence based 12 step program can provide the foundation for life long sobriety. At iRecover we are a company founded and run by partners whose personal success stories infuse the very fabric of our core values. Honesty, Service, Compassion, Communication and Unity set us apart as our individualized care gives our participants the learned skill set to recover from a seemingless, hopeless state of mind and body. At iRecover there is an answer.... one step at time. Upcoming event: iRecover will be holding their first official ribbon cutting ceremony as part of a new grand opening on September, 7th 2017 at 5pm. Guest speakers, food and live music will be part of the community event. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Christian Sesma or Brian Moran iRecover Treatment Centers, Palm Springs - 37066 Bankside Dr., Cathedral City, Ca. 92234. 760-534-2179 christian.sesma@irecoverpalmsprings.com brian.moran@irecoverpalmsprings.com

Losing a child to suicide

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n November 23, 2014, Palm Spring’s based world champion boxer Mia St. John lost her 24 year old son Julian to suicide. It was determined that Julian had died from asphyxiation when he put a plastic bag over his head. St. John is well known for her championship boxing career and earned the name “The Knockout” going 49-14-2 with 19 knockouts. Her ex-husband, and Julian’s father, is soap opera star Kristoff St. John, Neil Winters from The Young & the Restless. We spoke with Mia St. John about her son, suicide & what we can do. “My son is gone but he’s still here with me. His life here on this earth is no longer as it was. Julian had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia when he was 17 and had become suicidal while off his medication and on a powerful substance, methamphetamine. The staff upgraded him to a 14-day hold, and then lengthened it again for an indefinite period, to give him adequate time to recover from methamphetamine use. I never looked at my son as ill. My son was a very gifted artist. Losing a child is the worst thing that can happen to any human being. There is nothing worse. What was taken from me is forever in this life. I cannot fully recover. The whole family has been injured and will never fully recover. But what can we do? What St. John has done is help others who continue to deal with the same types of issues her son did.

“What I do to get through my day is working with these young adults and helping them get through their life. We couldn’t save my son’s life. They tell me how much we’ve helped them. It brings me joy. I tell them, you’re helping me more than I’m helping you. That’s what gets me out of bed are these kids. In every single one of them I see my son. I loved my son for the person that he was, the artist that he was and the humanitarian that he was. All of this is because of him. He loved the homeless. He used to get mad at me because I would just pass them some money and keep walking and I wouldn’t talk to them. Now I will talk, sit and cry with them. There’s nothing so crucial in my day that I cannot give up some time for them, even if we’re busy. Anyone

local business

August 3 to August 9, 2017

By Noe Gutierrez can give up 60 seconds to say ‘Hi, do you need anything? Are you OK?’ That’s all because of my son, because that’s what he did. We have a lot of people who reside in the Coachella Valley with mental health issues. I’m not going to say illness because they are all very gifted. A lot of them are young adults. They suffer from certain disorders; schizophrenia, bipolar, anxiety, depressive disorders and addiction. They also have a gift. They’re very compassionate, empathetic, artistic, and articulate, with severe mood swings and hear voices. If you met them you’d realize they are intelligent and so enlightened that at the same time they have something that can be torturous at times. That can lead them to attempt

suicide. All of my students have attempted suicide. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I doubt there’s anyone out there who can say they’ve never been depressed or have had anxiety. We’ve all suffered from time to time in our lives. None of us should ever be ashamed to say that.” St. John is also the founder of the El Saber Es Poder/Knowledge is Power Foundation. An organization developed to empower our youth by providing educational material, equipment and development of Health & Wellness programs. miastjohnfoundation.org. This article originally ran in an October 2016 issue of CV Weekly and has been edited for this issue.

by craig michaels

Holistic Health Coach & Lifestyle Practitioner Leads by Example

ove Your Life Healthy - is not only the name of her business but an example she sets every day. Dipika Patel, who is originally from Manchester England, has been a full-time desert resident for seven years. Her charming British accent and beautiful smile instantly get your attention but there is so much more to her then meets the eye. She became a certified health coach and lifestyle practitioner in 2014 but has been working in

the social sector for over 15years. In addition to being a certified health coach, she is also a certified Reiki Master (Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation.) Other skills she poses include, dream coach practitioner, aroma touch therapist and certified training consultant by Success Resources Inc. Dipika shares why she is so passionate about helping others - “I know I have the ability to change lives, perspectives and visions so people can really achieve what they truly desire in their lives.” Leading by example is just one way she inspires others to reach their full potential. Pushing her limits is a regular part of her lifestyle, from hiking the Himalayas to participating in marathon charity bike rides, she is constantly pushing the envelope. Sometimes just getting started can be the

biggest challenge. “It’s incredible how many people say they’d like to get fitter and live a healthier lifestyle, but aren’t quite sure where to start. That’s where I come in,” says Dipika. Whether you want to heal an ailment, lose weight, become an entrepreneur, find more balance, or simply improve your physical and mental fitness, Love Your Life Healthy provides a variety of treatments, classes and services to help you achieve optimal health. When working with her you will notice she is very genuine which allows people to connect with her - “I like to see their energy shift, and really see how they have

transformed from the inside out. I challenge each and every one of you to think differently and do things differently. I am teaching you how to take back your own power, to have control in your life not have life control you.” If you would like more information on her services you can check out her web site at www.liveyourlifehealthy.com or follow her on Facebook. To find out about her clean eating/ cooking classes you can call (760) 821-3119. Written By: Craig Michaels Productions (760) 880-3848

August 3 to August 9, 2017

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Modernism Week Announces Fall Preview 2017 Schedule Weekend Provides Sample of February Festival Activities

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Including Tours, Educational Programs, and Receptions

odernism Week’s 2017 Fall Preview has now been expanded to four days and will take place October 19-22 at various locations in the Coachella Valley. Tickets for all events may be purchased at modernismweek.com and will go on sale August 1, 2017. The weekend’s events provide attendees with a sampling of the events and activities that will be offered during the annual 11-day festival in February 2018. Highlights of the October Fall Preview include a wide range of tours in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and Indian Wells (including walking tours, Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus and Charles Phoenixled bus tours, a new tour showcasing homes across a range of neighborhoods, and a new mix of home tours), educational events, and evening cocktail parties. “The Fall Preview is a wonderful opportunity for attendees to get a taste of what our 11-day festival in February will offer,” said Lisa Vossler Smith, Executive Director of Modernism Week. “This fun, four-day event offers entertaining tours, lectures, iconic architecture and parties similar to the upcoming 2018 festival.” On Friday, October 20, Fall Preview attendees are invited to attend the festive Opening Night Party and Early Buying Preview Reception at the Modernism Show & Sale at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The popular Show and Sale, which offers important 20th and 21st century objects, furniture, art and textiles from more than 40 premier national and international decorative and fine arts dealers, continues on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available in advance for $60 at modernismweek.com or at the door for $75 and include daily re-entry to the show. Weekend show hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Several tours will be offered for the first time during Fall Preview. The “Cul-de-Sac Experience” at Canyon View Estates #4 will take place on Sunday, October 22 at 10 am. This tour combines vintage automobiles artfully displayed on the driveways of six homes designed by William Krisel in a quaint cul-de-sac in South Palm Springs. Participants have access to all of the homes on the tour, and tickets are $65. The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation will offer tours of the recently restored Kirk Douglas residence, located in the city’s Old Las Palmas neighborhood, and of the historic Frank Sinatra “Twin Palms” Estate in the Movie Colony. A unique tour and brunch event will take place on Sunday, October 22 in Indian Wells.

Guests will have a rare opportunity to view the historic Cavanagh Adobe (1922, H. Addison Sanders; Historic Landmark No 1, Indian Wells Historic Preservation Foundation), one of the oldest surviving homes in the Coachella Valley. After the tour, designer Christopher Kennedy will give an interactive lecture on home décor that integrates his Palm Springs studio with insights from Indian Wells homes he’s curated. The presentation will be followed by a champagne brunch at The VUE at Indian Wells Golf Resort. The brunch and tour runs from 9 am-12:30 pm, and is priced at $75. A special free lecture by the owners of the Cavanagh Adobe will also be presented on Friday, October 20 at 10 am at Indian Wells City Hall. The “Framed Spaces Home Tour” on Saturday, October 21 will feature a collection of modernist homes that accentuates the “art” of living in the desert. The self-guided driving tour in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage will feature amazing spaces with framed views of landscaping, decorative features and art collections. The tour will conclude with a light reception at an iconic E. Stewart Williamsdesigned building. Tickets are $75. The Palm Springs Modern Committee will offer the Wexler National Register Fundraising Party at Historic Leff/Florsheim Residence on Saturday, October 21 from 5-7 pm. PS ModCom has previously raised funds to place the works of Albert Frey and E. Stewart Williams on the National Register of Historic Places, and is now raising funds to nominate architect Donald Wexler’s significant body of work. This event will take place at the Wexler-designed Leff/ Florsheim residence, once described by Julius Shulman as “elegant but also romantic.” Tickets are $100 and all funds raised from this event will go toward the nomination process. Mizell Senior Center will present a ‘House of Tomorrow / Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway Cocktail Party’ on Thursday, October 19. This midcentury modern cocktail party fundraiser benefits Mizell Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels program. Guests will experience the William Krisel-designed Robert Alexander Estate, built in 1960 and christened “The House of Tomorrow” and enjoy a swanky cocktail reception at the location that became known as the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway when the King of Rock and Roll rented the home as a quiet getaway in 1966 and honeymooned there with Priscilla in 1967. Tickets for this unique event are $150. Architectural and preservation champion Sidney Williams will be honored with a star dedication on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. Her star will be unveiled during a ceremony

that is restore) located at 300 S. Palm Canyon Drive. Architectural enthusiast Gary Johns of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation will reprise his popular Lost, Saved & Endangered presentation at the Palm Springs Woman’s Club on Sunday, October 22 at 10 am. This engaging and informative discussion details the many architectural treasures in the Coachella Valley that have been preserved, destroyed or that face an uncertain future. Admission to this popular presentation is free but participants must RSVP in advance. “Mod with a Twist” returns to the Fall Preview this year with an encore “Best of” performance of their audience favorites. These witty and insightful presentations explore life and culture in Midcentury America, often with a humorous and wry alternative analysis of what was going on in the country in that period. Palm Springs Art Museum will offer a free lecture entitled “Albert Frey & Lina Bo Bardi: Environments for Life,” presented in coordination with the exhibition, Albert Frey and Lina Bo Bardi: A Search for Living Architecture, on view at the museum’s Architecture and Design Center. The free lecture is at 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 19 at the Annenberg Theater. Fall Preview attendees will also be able

to experience a wide range of compelling architectural tours, including the iconic Frey House II residence, a Palm Desert architectural walking tour, and the 4th Annual ONE–PS Neighborhood Home Tour, “The Essentials of Palm Springs,” showcasing significant homes in a variety of Palm Springs neighborhoods. Details for all these events are at www. modernismweek.com. Following the Fall Preview, Modernism Week’s signature 11-day festival will take place February 15-25, 2018. The schedule and tickets will be available November 1 at 12 p.m. PST. To receive updates, visit modernismweek. com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The Hilton Palm Springs Resort, Modernism Week’s official host hotel, is offering a special $169++ room rate for a limited time only. Contact the Hilton directly at 760-320-6868.

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Desert Town Hall Speakers Confirmed for 2018

esert Town Hall, presented by The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, today announced the confirmed speakers for the 2018 season. Now in its 26th season, Desert Town Hall is pleased to present Michael Hayden and John Scarlett on Friday, January 19; Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly on Friday, February 23; Caroline Kennedy on Thursday, March 8; and Chris Wallace on Wednesday, March 28. Each speech takes place at 6 p.m. at Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. Michael Hayden and John Scarlett debut the 2018 series on Friday, January 19. This elite geopolitical duo looks at cyber security and geopolitical hot spots of the world. Retired four-star General Michael Hayden is the former director of the CIA and the NSA, and the author of “Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror.” As head of the country’s premier intelligence agencies, he was on the front line of global change, the war on terrorism and the growing cyber challenge. Sir John Scarlett is the former chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6), serving from 2004 to 2009. He joined SIS in 1971 and over the next 20 years served in Nairobi, Paris, and twice in Moscow, as well as several assignments in London covering the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union. Together Scarlett and

Hayden will speak on the delicate balance between liberty and security in intelligence work, as well the potential benefits and dangers associated with the cyber domain. Following on Friday, February 23, is Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly. Last season in 2017 Kelly’s twin brother and NASA Captain Scott Kelly spoke to a sold-out audience about his ground breaking year in space. Mark Kelly is also now a retired astronaut and U.S. Navy Captain, while Giffords is a former state legislator and U.S. Congresswoman. The two represent the very essence of

August 3 to August 9, 2017

by chris clemens

American service and heroism. Ever since an assassination attempt severely wounded Gabby in 2011, the couple has inspired the world with their story of hope and courage in the wake of tragedy, serving as a symbol for the possibility of second chances. On Thursday, March 8, Caroline Kennedy will share her insight about her experience as U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017, while addressing why strong U.S. and Japan cooperation is so important for the security and prosperity of both countries going forward. She is an attorney and editor of nine New York Times best-selling books on constitutional law, American history, politics and poetry. She is a prominent member of the Kennedy family and the only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. One of the country’s most prominent political journalists and the host of “FOX News Sunday,” Chris Wallace takes the stage to conclude the 2018 season on Wednesday, March 28. In addition to anchoring his program where he commands interviews with top White House officials and political candidates, Wallace also contributes to the channel’s “America’s Election HQ” coverage. Before coming to FOX, he served as a journalist for ABC News, a senior correspondent for PrimeTime and 20/20, and a White House correspondent and anchor on NBC News’ premier Sunday talk show, “Meet the Press.” He has also notably received every major broadcast news award including three Emmy Awards. On March 28, he will share his expertise and insights into current national and political affairs drawn from his prolific career interviewing numerous world leaders, politicians, celebrities, and athletes. He offers a rare perspective on how an investigative reporter operates, while delivering eye-opening takeaways from the world of television news and politics. The nationally recognized Desert Town Hall speaker series has included world leaders and other notables including Tucker Carlson, Condoleezza Rice, Paul

Community

Begala, Bill O’Reilly, David Petraeus, Felipe Calderon, Nando Parrado, Mitt Romney, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Platon, Charles Krauthammer, Leon Panetta, Lisa Ling & Laura Ling, Karl Rove, Dr. Ben Carson, and many others. A complete list of the renowned speakers who have appeared on the Desert Town Hall stage can be found at www.DesertTownHall.org. Desert Forum, Inc., a nonproﬁt 501(c) (3) educational corporation, produces Desert Town Hall. A portion of the cost of the tickets is tax-‐deductible. The lecture series is sponsored by a number of local companies, organizations and philanthropic individuals. Serving as officers for 2017-2018, the 26th season of the celebrated series, are: President Keith Goff (Rabobank), Immediate Past President Andy Clark (111 Wealth Management), Vice President Judy Vossler, Vice President Brian Harnik (Roemer & Harnik), Treasurer Bill Powers, and Secretary Phillip K. Smith, Jr. (Sunrise Company). Members of the Board of Directors are: Jerry Fogelson (Fogelson Properties), Tom Tabler (Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa), and Mark Winkler (The Desert Sun). Staff for the series includes Becky Kurtz, executive director; Maria Cross, director of operations; and Gina Irwin, executive assistant. Nearly 40 dedicated volunteers, many of whom have been with the series since its inception in 1993, help to make the series a success every year. Sponsors of the series include the presenting sponsor, The H. N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, along with The City of Indian Wells, The Desert Sun, Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa, Roemer & Harnik LLP, Sunrise Company/Toscana Country Club, West Coast Turf/Foster-Gardner, Inc., and Valentine-Dougherty-Clark/111 Wealth Management Group. Season tickets are sold out. To be added to the Wait List, and for more information, visit www.deserttownhall.org or call (760) 610-2852. Follow Desert Town Hall on Facebook and Twitter.

August 3 to August 9, 2017

slimman

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artScene

Art & Love: Thomas & Amara Alban

A Breaking Wind

n entire plane was evacuated this week after a passenger passed gas. Apparently, the smell was so bad that it made people sick, and everybody had to vacate the aircraft. Well, this made me think, which is dangerous because of my malady, Attention Surplus Syndrome. I think about things for too long. You know the acronym. It ties in nicely with this blathering… I was thinking…did they really have to get everybody off the plane? Airplanes have oxygen masks; I’ve flown on a million flights and I’ve never seen them deployed. They should have used them after the gaseous incident on this flight instead of evacuating the plane. The masks could have just dropped out of the ceiling, and people could have strapped them on, and problem solved! Flatulence is a big stinking problem on planes. People just let ‘er rip and who’s gonna know? Why not use the oxygen masks in cases like this? The flight attendants could work it into their pre-flight routines. Usually they say, “If there is a reduction in cabin pressure, an oxygen mask will automatically appear in front of you.” They could change their little speech to say, “If there is a reduction in cabin pressure, or if somebody has passed some really nasty gas, an oxygen mask will appear in front of you. Place it firmly over your mouth and nose, and then start looking for someone nearby who avoids eye contact, and give them a dope slap.” There is a rare disease called gas incontinence, where folks can’t control their… well, let’s just say these people are involved in a gas-passing free-for-all. But it’s rare. Most folks know when the moment arrives. For instance, when a Dad tells a kid to pull his finger, he’s able to break wind on command. Flatulence comes from the Latin word flatus, which means (seriously) “a breaking wind.” According to Wikipedia, the average person passes gas about 16 times a day. I don’t know who’s conducting these studies, but I can imagine a job like that must really stink… following people around all day, counting

By angela valente romeo

every time someone has a cheek squeak. In France, in the 19th century, there was an entertainer named Le Petomane, who “held shows and did flatulence impressions.” I don’t know who the hell would pay to see somebody pass gas, but apparently the French did. And still do. There is a guy in France named Mr. Methane who carries on the tradition to this day. Seriously! I read it on Wikipedia so it must be true. Flatulence in a space suit can’t be fun. I’ve always wondered how astronauts deal with the problem. But apparently Buck Weimer of Pueblo, Colorado, came up with a solution. He received a patent (seriously) in 1998 for…are you ready for this, Slim People…an undergarment that contains charcoal. Apparently, the charcoal nullifies the smell, and although I’ve never seen a pair of charcoal drawers, they do exist. If we could get people on airplanes to wear these odor-eating undergarments, it might help with the flatulence problem. And recycling these undergarments would be easy. You could throw the charcoal drawers on the grill, light them on fire, and use them when you barbecue. You probably wouldn’t need any lighter fluid because all that trapped gas is flammable. But you would probably need a lighter with a really long handle in case there was a gaseous explosion. Or you could just make flatulence illegal. In 2011, in the African country of Malawi, the Minister of Justice, George Chaponda, proposed legislation called (seriously) The Air Fouling Act, which would have made passing gas in public against the law. The bill didn’t…pass. But a lot of gas did! Who loves ya? - Uncle Slimmy

rtists seem to find each other. Thomas and Amara Alban grew up in Savannah Georgia. They began their artistic collaboration in 1998. In 2000 that collaboration brought them to the High Desert and the medium of clay. California has a rich history in the ceramics and pottery milieu. For example, California artists had a great impact on the arts and crafts movement; over time the larger operations that grew out of that movement have closed or been absorbed by larger corporations. But studio pottery and studio ceramics continue the tradition of California Clay. MazAmar Art Pottery walks in those artistic footsteps. These footsteps, however, bring a different aesthetic to the ceramic genre. “While we take pride in the true functionality of our work, we do tend to stray from the ordinary. Being largely selftaught in the medium of clay, old-school concepts don’t necessarily influence our ideas on form and function,” noted Amara. Looking at their work one sees the impact of the desert on their work. Thomas and Amara have taken the desert forms and colors into their work. . “The colors, flavors, personalities, all around -animal, vegetable, mineral, are so rich and rife with their own unique contributions to inspire, we would have to live in a bubble for our work to not be positively influenced,” Amara continued. The work has an organic fluidity to it. The Albans’ work feels like it belongs to the earth from which it came. The colors are crisp yet muted. In the hands of another the work could be seen as dated. But no, here the sense of “seen it before” is nonexistent. MazAmar Studios will be part of the upcoming Highway 62 Artist Open Studio Tour. The tour covers two weekends in October, October 14 -15 and October 21 – 22. 2017. “We jumped on board the Studio Tours with the inaugural tour in 2002. We love being a part. We’ve come a long way since that first Tour at our home in Rimrock. We have visitors from around the world and these visitors have become part of our everyday scene. Having a storefront on Mane Street in Pioneertown is never dull! But the Open Studio Tour brings a special brand of visitor,” said Amara. Noted Thomas, “These visitors aren’t

surprised that they stumbled across us in this sleepy western movie set ‘town.’ They come specifically to meet us, to see what fun ideas we’ve been playing with and to ask relevant questions about our process. It’s just a deeper exchange. Many are returning visitors who come year after year to see and collect our work. It’s really fun giving the studio a good cleaning and opening it all the way up for folks to stroll through. Too often we are too busy to show our visitors around and they’re restricted to the showroom. This is the opportunity to see where and how we create.” “The Hwy 62 Studio Tours continues to improve every year. We are always amazed at how well the whole production is run, usually by a new staff of volunteers each year. It’s something we always feel fortunate to be a part of,” said the Albans. MazAmar Studio creates work that exemplifies tradition and contemporary. The Albans’ unique and fresh approach to the art form of clay proves that California pottery and ceramics have a long creative life ahead. For more information about Thomas and Amara Alban visit MazAmar.com. For more information on the upcoming Highway 62 Artists Open Studio Tour visit www.hwy62arttours.org.

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GRAMMY AWARD WINNING SUPERSTAR OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN WILL BE PERFORMING HER HITS AT FANTASY SPRINGS IN OCTOBER

livia Newton-John’s appeal is timeless. With a career spanning more than five decades she is still a vibrant, creative individual adored by fans around the globe and she’s going to be bringing her incredible talents to the Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on Friday, October 6, 2017. Olivia’s U.S. album debut, Let Me Be There, produced her first top ten single of the same name, with Olivia being honored by the Academy Of Country Music as Most Promising Female Vocalist and a Grammy Award as Best Country Vocalist. This proved to be only the beginning of a very exciting career. With more than 100 million albums sold, Olivia’s successes include four Grammy Awards, numerous Country Music, American Music and People’s Choice Awards, ten #1 hits including “Physical,” which topped the charts for ten consecutive weeks, and over 15 top 10 singles. In September 2008, Billboard Magazine listed “Physical” at #6 on their list of Top 100 Songs Of All Time and in 2010 named it “The Sexiest Song of All Time”. She recently scored another #1 hit, this time on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart with her daughter Chloe Lattanzi – becoming the first mother/daughter duo to top this chart. In 1978, her co-starring role with John

Travolta in Grease catapulted Olivia into superstardom. This film’s best-selling soundtrack featured the duets “You’re The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights,” with Travolta, as well as her mega-hit, “Hopelessly Devoted To You.” To date Grease remains the most successful movie musical in history. Her other feature film credits include Xanadu, Two Of A Kind, It’s My Party, and Sordid Lives. Throughout her career, the muchloved star has held many humanitarian and environmental causes close to her heart. Olivia served as Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme, was the cofounder of Children’s Health Environmental Coalition (now Healthy Child, Healthy World) and, in 1992 she created National Tree Day in Australia, which is responsible for planting more than 10 million trees since its beginning. Most recently she co-founded One Tree Per Child, an international school initiative with the goal of having every child under the age of ten plant at least one tree. In 1992, Olivia was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her personal triumph against cancer led her to announce her partnership with Austin Health and the creation of the Olivia NewtonJohn Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. The Centre opened its doors in 2012 and provides a comprehensive range of services and facilities for cancer treatment, education, training and research as well as a dedicated wellness center. Her latest recording, LIV ON, is a collaborative, inspiring new CD with friends Beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky. The critically acclaimed CD is intended for those who wish to transcend loss while walking a journey toward newfound meaning and hope. With Olivia’s current and ongoing projects and philanthropic endeavors, her worldwide popularity is as strong as ever and she’s looking forward to returning to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in October. Tickets for the Friday, October 6th Olivia Newton-John performance at 8pm go on sale Friday, July 28th for $69, $49, $39 at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, via phone (800) 827-2946 or online at www.FantasySpringsResort.com.

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August 3 to August 9, 2017

SPOTLIGHT 29 CASINO PROUDLY PRESENTS TOWER OF POWER

potlight 29 Casino is proud to present Tower of Power on Saturday, September 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 28 at 10 a.m. at www.Spotlight29.com. Spotlight 29 Casino’s Spotlight Showroom offers the premier entertainment experience in the Coachella Valley. Tower of Power has been on the music scene for 49 years. Known for their large horn section and unique blend of soul, funk, and jazz, the group has had almost 60 musicians tour or record with them. Of the 10 current members, Emilio Castillo, Rocco Prestia, Stephen Kupka and David Garibaldi are four of the band’s founding members. Over the years, the Tower of Power horns have recorded with hundreds of artists from Elton John to Aerosmith. They have over 30 albums including seven live albums and several compilations. Tower of Power has had nine songs land on the Billboard Hot 100 with such hits as

“You’re Still A Young Man,” Soul With A Capital S,” “So Very Hard To Go” and “What Is Hip?” A night with Tower of Power and their incredible funky sound is not to be missed! Tickets are $20, $30 and $40 and are available at www.Spotlight29.com, Star Tickets (800) 585-3737, or the Spotlight 29 Box Office and Gift Shop. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m. ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SHOWS August 5 - One Gunn, One Love, A Celebration of Bob Marley August 11 - Banda El Recodo August 12 - Masters of Puppets, A Celebration of Metallica August 19 - Los Tucanes de Tijuana August 25 - HUNKS The Show September 16 - Ramón Ayala y Sus Bravo Del Norte y Ramón Ayala, Jr. September 23 - Paul Rodriguez and The Latin Kings of Comedy September 30 - Tower of Power

August 3 to August 9, 2017

Consider This

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by Eleni P. Austin

Glen Campbell “Adios” (UMe/UMG Recordings)

here’s such a finality to the word “goodbye.” Farewell, so long, even adieu and cheerio feel less permanent. Adios feels slightly less irrevocable, as though there’s a chance the person saying this word might return. Adios is what Glen Campbell is saying on his latest, ne’ last record. After nearly 60 years in the music business, a movie career, a television series, 58 studio albums, six live albums, 21 Grammy nominations, 10 Grammy wins and a documentary, the Rhinestone Cowboy is setting down his guitar for good. Glen Travis Campbell is the seventh son of 12 children, born in 1936 to John Wesley and Carrie Dell Campbell in Billstown, a small community outside of Delight, Arkansas. As a toddler, his Uncle Boo taught him guitar. He continued to hone his skills through childhood. Country music was his first love, but he quickly gravitated to Jazz players like Barney Kessel and Django Reinhardt. By the time He was 18, he moved to Albuquerque and joined his Uncle’s band, Dick Bills And The Sandia Mountain Boys. Four years later he was fronting his own group, the Western Wranglers. As the ‘60s dawned, he relocated to Los Angeles, intent on pursuing a career in music. He recorded his first album, Big Bluegrass Special, in 1962. Predictably, it went nowhere. But he quickly began earning a reputation as a studio guitarist, playing sessions for, hit makers like Bobby Darin and Rick Nelson. His diligence paid off and soon he fell in with the Wrecking Crew. The Wrecking Crew was a loose knit circle of session musicians who seemed to play on everyone’s records. Drummer Hal Blaine, bassist Carol Kaye, multi-instrumentalists like Leon Russell and Larry Knechtel, along with guitarists Tommy Tedesco, Al Caiola and Billy Strange were on “first call” at myriad studios around L.A. They played with everyone from Sinatras, (Frank and Nancy), to Byrds and Monkees. Producer Phil Spector used them exclusively, as did Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. Brian and the Boys thought so highly of Glen that when Brian began to have mental health issues, preferring to remain in the studio while the group was out on tour, Glen was chosen

WESTFIELD MALL 72840 Hwy 111 #171 Palm Desert, CA 92260 760-341-2017 www.recordalley.com

as his replacement on the road. Later, he was offered a permanent position in the band, but there was not enough profit participation, so he graciously declined. He still had high hopes for his solo career, continuing to quietly release music through the Capitol label. In 1965, he had some moderate success covering Buffy St. Marie’s “Universal Soldier,” (even though he disavowed the song’s pacifist message). But it was 1967 that proved to be a watershed year for Glen Campbell. Teaming up with a new producer, he had a hit with John Hartford’s “Gentle On My Mind,” But he really struck pay dirt when they discovered the songs of Jimmy Webb. The Oklahoma native had moved to Hollywood hoping to make it as a singer-songwriter. He had minor successes when the Supremes and Johnny Rivers recorded his songs. But when Glen put his folksy imprimatur on two tracks, “Wichita Lineman” and “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” his profile was raised exponentially. Grammy nominated for both “Gentle...” and “Wichita...” Glen made history, winning four categories, Best Male Country Vocal Performance, Best Country & Western Performance, Best Vocal Performance, Male and Best Contemporary Performance Male. He is recognized as one of the first artists to successfully blend elements of Country and Pop. When the Smothers Brothers’ Variety television series proved too subversive and controversial, the CBS network replaced it with “Glen Campbell’s Goodtime Hour,” which lasted three years. The series highlighted Glen’s affable charms and featured performances from the Monkees, Linda Rondstadt, Neil Diamond, Bread, and Roger Miller. It also launched the careers of Anne Murray and Jerry Reed. Glen added acting to his list of myriad talents, working alongside John Wayne in “True Grit,” and Joe Namath in “Norwood.” Throughout the ‘70s, Glen maintained a presence on the charts and had massive hits in 1975 and 1977 with “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Southern Nights.” But the excesses of the ‘Me Decade’ caught up with him as the ‘70s rolled into the ‘80s.” Married and divorced three times, and the father of five children, Glen began a tumultuous relationship with Country singer Tanya Tucker, that became tabloid fodder. The couple recorded a series of songs together and cycled through a plethora of substances. By the mid ‘80s his personal life stabilized when Kim Woollen entered his life. The pair met on a blind date in 1981 and married the following year. Glen cut back on touring and recording, concentrating on raising the couple’s two sons, Cal and Shannon, and their daughter, Ashley. He also found time to improve his golf game. Throughout the remainder of the 20th century Glen recorded sporadically and performed primarily at his Branson Missouri theatre. He still managed to give Country superstar Alan Jackson his first big break and served as inspiration to younger performers like Keith Urban. In 2005, he was inducted into the

Country Music Hall Of Fame. Three years later, much like Johnny Cash and Tom Jones, Glen recorded a stripped-down record that signaled a late career renaissance. Much as Rick Rubin assisted the Man In Black, steering him toward more contemporary material, Producer Julian Raymond persuaded Glen to record songs from Tom Petty, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Travis, U2, Lou Reed and John Lennon. The result, whimsically entitled Meet Glen Campbell, received rave reviews. In 2011, Glen and Julian doubled down on the winning formula of Meet… releasing Ghost On The Canvas, which featured interpretations of songs from Paul Westerberg, Teddy Thompson and Jakob Dylan, as well as several tracks he co-wrote with Julian. At this point, the need to create felt more urgent, as Glen had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Following a final tour, that included his sons Cal and Shannon, as well as daughter, Ashley as part of his touring band, and a heartfelt and heartbreaking documentary, “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me,” he seemed to retreat into the shadows of his illness. But expressing the need to distill “what magic was left,” he entered the studio for one last time concentrating on songs he had long loved but never recorded. The result is Adios. The album opens with a propulsive version of “Everybody’s Talkin’.” The Fred Neil classic, popularized by Harry Nilsson, had been a staple of his live shows for decades. Rippling guitar licks lattice over Ashley Campbell’s prickly banjo runs, as high lonesome pedal steel swoops and Soars. Glen’s supple tenor remains boyish and elastic, hitting all the high notes. He puts his stamp on several familiar songs, giving the original versions a run for their money. On Bob Dylan’s cranky kiss-off, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” his mien is playful and somewhat mischievous Opening with a swirly guitar break nicked from Jerry Reed, the tune is anchored by slapdash percussion and rollicking piano fills. His ability to suck the venom out of the lyrics breathes new life into the song. Glen accelerates the tempo on George Jones’ classic Country weeper, “She Thinks I Still Care,” layering in Grand Ol’ Opry fiddle, a tick-tock rhythm, Honky Tonk piano and searing pedal steel. The arrangement accentuates the lyrics’ false bravado and downplays the original’s lachrymose tone. He trades verses with Willie Nelson on

the latter’s “Funny How Time Slips Away.” The melody is tethered to a clip-clop gait and surprisingly Jazzy piano underpinnings. Willie’s patented Trigger riffs crest over surging fiddles and sparkly electric guitar. Glen’s honeyed timbre is sweetly juxtaposed with Willie’s rough-hewn drawl. The intro to Roger Miller’s “Am I All Alone” comes from a bare-bones home demo, recorded by the songwriter himself. It segues effortlessly into Glen’s plaintive version, which features fluid harmony vocals from Vince Gill. Plangent piano, cascading acoustic riffs, and sultry pedal steel coalesce around a mournful melody. Of course, no Glen Campbell record would be complete without a few Jimmy Webb cuts. “Just Like Always” features lush instrumentation and Glen’s burnished vocals. “It Won’t Bring Her Back” is a bittersweet barroom ballad that is accented by expansive pedal steel. The lyrics are equal parts erudite and empathetic, and Glen follows each labyrinthine twist and turn; “You know it’s no disgrace, to try and save some face, I did that very thing when I was in your place/I’m speaking e from experience, I knew the lady first, it’s hard work forgettin’ baby, you can work up quite a thirst, but drinkin’ is the worst.” “Postcard From Paris” paints a vivid picture of loneliness and regret. A painterly travelogue, it offers Technicolor imagery that circles around the old homily, “Home Is Where The Heart Is.” Adding to this timeless chiaroscuro are the effortless hereditary harmonies of Cal, Shannon and Ashley Campbell. The album’s most rustic track is probably its best. “Arkansas Farmboy” was written by Carl Jackson, the multi-instrumentalist who joined Glen’s touring band as a teenager in 1972 and ended up producing this record. The melody drafts off the old Country chestnut, “In The Pines,” (which his granddad taught Glen at age five). A Bluegrass lament it sketches out his biography as “a seventh son born to an Arkansas farmer and a hardworkin’ mother of twelve.” The album closes with a final Jimmy Webb composition, the title track. Glen’s vocal performance is his most unfettered and thrilling, hitting soulful notes like a teenager and investing his whole self in each turn of phrase. Ostensibly, the song wistfully recalls a failed romantic relationship. Lyrics like “Don’t think I’m ungrateful and don’t look so morose, adios/ We never really made it baby, but we came pretty close/Our dreams of endless summers were just too grandiose, adios adios,” take on an added subtext in light of Glen’s declining health. If you don’t find yourself tearing up with each listen, well, you’re made of stone. This album is clearly a label of love, with the help of Carl Jackson and all the musicians and friends who participated, Glen and his family were allowed to control the narrative. With “Adios’” he says so long on his terms. As he retreats from the spotlight, he leaves us with this poignant parting gift. Thanks Glen.

artScene

Artwalk A

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August 3 to August 9, 2017

By rebecca pikus

n Artwalk is a great opportunity for Art Lovers and Art Collectors to visit many galleries open at the same time -- all in one area! You can park your car and stroll from gallery to gallery, viewing and experiencing a vast array of paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, arts and antiques. One such Artwalk is in the new Perez Rd. Art District in Cathedral City, CA. The next scheduled Artwalk is Saturday August 12, from 5-8PM. All of the galleries are located on Perez Rd. between Date Palm Drive and Cathedral Canyon Drive. This event takes place on the 2nd Saturday of every month, from 5-8PM, all year round. Among the participating galleries are: The

Art Room, At-Hom Vintage and Modern, Bill Anson Gallery, Colin Fisher Gallery, Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery, Karizma Decor, Mel’s Estate Sales, Nicole Barosi Gallery, Rebecca Fine Art Gallery, Riofine Neon Gallery, Ryan Campbell Studio, Scrap Gallery, Sherrill and Associates, Simeon Den Gallery, Spaces, Spakes Art, Studio 111, and Trenz Gallery. Sat. August 12, 2017, 5-8PM: Artwalk, Perez Rd. Art District, Perez Rd. between Date Palm Drive and Cathedral Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, Ca 92254 - Free Event -- Open Bar, Music, Great Art! - For more information call (760) 534-5888 or (310) 801-6538

RFA Gallery

The Art Room

Simeon Den Gallery

Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery

Colin Fisher Gallery

Spakes Art

Trenz Gallery

August 3 to August 9, 2017

PET PLACE

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by Janet McAfee

FRANKIE SAYS “AB 485 HELPS PUPPY MILL DOGS!”

is feet were sore and swollen from standing on the wire mesh of his cage in the sweltering garage. The dog could barely stand up in the small enclosure, and his legs cramped in pain. The stench was overwhelming. Sometimes waste products from the cage on top would drop into his enclosure. The dogs in the garage never saw the sun, the moon, the clouds, smelled flowers, felt the rain, or the soft feel of grass under their feet. They never had toys, never played with other dogs, and never knew the loving touch of a human. Some days they weren’t provided any food. In the summer, the heat was overwhelming, and he smelled death in some of the kennels. His coat was never groomed, and his fur matted into dreadlocks that formed a helmet enclosure encasing his body. The days turned into years, and he was frozen from the endless suffering. Then one day the garage door opened, and a group of humans in uniforms took the dogs away in large trucks. In the summer of 2016, 70 Shih Tzu dogs were discovered during this raid against an unlicensed and illegal puppy mill in the high desert. The animals were in horrible condition, some emaciated others sick with disease. Kept for breeding, the greed for higher profits means little or no care for the animals. The black and white dog that became known as Frankie and another dog was taken by a good Samaritan to Loving All

Devon & Dixie Double your fun and adopt Devon & Dixie together! These little bonded pups are 4-yrold mama and 2-yr-old daughter. Rescued by Loving All Animals, www.lovingallanimals.org (760) 834-7000.

meet Craig Sporting a mischievous mustache, 1-yr-old Craig is quite the character. This fellow is full of love and affection for both humans and other felines. Rescued by Loving All Animals, www.lovingallanimals.org (760) 834-7000.

Animals, an animal welfare organization in Palm Desert. Frankie entered a foster home with Joyce Smith and her dog Curley. His luck continued when he was adopted by Linda Williams and Kim Bledsoe. Linda and Kim previously adopted a “special needs” pup named Willow with one eye from Loving All Animals, and were up to the challenge of helping this puppy mill survivor. Linda wrote the following beautiful tribute about Frankie: Introducing Franklin Leonard Murphy Williams aka Frankie. I contacted Loving All Animals looking to become a foster mom for a Shih Tzu. About a week later, Frankie came into my life. He is a puppy mill survivor. He lived his entire life (3 years) in a small cage inside a garage with 70 other dogs. Frankie was one of the last two dogs to be rescued. I was told the last 2 or 3 dogs from a puppy mill are the hardest to find a home because of their lack of socialization and their fear of people from living in such horrible conditions. I prayed I was up to the challenge. And so our journey began. It took me 5 days to get Frankie to walk. He was like a sitting statue. He slept sitting with his head drooping. We spent many hours together in the backyard trying to learn to be a dog. Every day I pushed him in a pet stroller around the neighborhood to introduce

him to the world. Every sound, every sight was a new experience; lawn mowers, leaf blowers, cars, stairs, people talking, etc., were all frightening. In the third week, we began training classes at the rescue center. I told the trainer, Sandy Miller, about Frankie’s past. Sandy looked at me and said “Linda, do you know what you are in for? This could take time.” Her words scared me, but then I thought I can’t be more scared than Frankie. I had to try. Frankie deserved a chance at a good life. Sandy advised me to take baby steps. Any harsh tones or reprimands would cause him to shut down. The first 2 classes were hard for him and me. But right before the third class, a miracle happened. Late one night, Frankie was having a bad dream. I woke him up. He immediately ran to me and placed his front legs around my neck giving me a hug I will never forget. At that moment, I knew I was no longer a foster Mom. I was his Mom. He trusted me. Weeks later, we graduated from our class.

Frankie learned to sit, lay down, to stay, walk on a leash and to come to me. The latter was his best command. I signed the adoption papers. Frankie has found his place in our home. He is always by my side. He now sleeps in his bed. He also loves our king size bed. He prances as we walk the neighborhood. His eyes say “I love my hood.” We are learning to mingle at the local dog park. He still has a cowering fear of strangers, but I know he will overcome. Frankie indeed had a hard start in life. He has my promise it will have a happy ending. Today, the state of California stands ready to pass a bill that will help reduce the suffering of dogs like Frankie, and help save the thousands of dogs euthanized in California shelters. Assembly Bill 485 by Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell passed several hurdles in the legislature, and is coming up for a vote in the full Senate. Since the majority of puppies sold in commercial pet stores come from large scale breeding facilities providing little care for the animals, the bill will ban the retail sale of dogs and cats, and only permit pet store to feature animals from shelters and rescues. If he could talk, Frankie would say, “Stop the suffering of my canine buddies in puppy mills. Call your State Senator and tell them to vote YES on AB 485!” Jmcafee7@verizon.net

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THE VINO VOICE

by Rick Riozza

Chilled Gin Gems!

ast time we whooped it up by clearing off our venerable wine bar and setting up generous ideas for you gin lovers with some newer brands in town. Especially interesting was all this “Navy Strength” going around. You’ll remember that when all was said and done, Navy Strength meant your splash or dose of gin was harboring 114 alcohol content. Recently I purchased a bottle of the recommended 3 Howls Gin—Navy Strength. In fact, we were on our way to one of the CV Weekly events held at the Big Rock Pub in Indio. So I decided to impress my wife and daughter with my Martini making skills and whipped up—technically a Gibson, prepared with cocktail onions & zero vermouth, and chilled up as cold as possible. It was a hit! They said it tasted like an “old school Martini”. I kept back the fact of the heightened proof—but they figured out what was going on. It’s almost impossible to imagine a world without gin drinks. As mentioned last time, it’s such a complex spirit with all the juniper and botanicals going on. An indispensable staple in bars since the 18th century, it’s an essential ingredient in classics like the Negroni and the Gimlet and other such masterpieces as the Gin Rickey, Ramos Gin Fizz, Tom Collins, French 75, Singapore Sling, Alexander, White Lady, and I’m sure we could think of ten more if pressed to do so—at least while sipping on that refreshing Gin & Tonic. Most folks enjoy mixing gin up in a cocktail, for it simply brings things to life with all the added complexities. So, if you will, allow me to ruminate and roughly ramble over some gin news that comes to mind. Although, you know, I’m pretty slow to come around infusing and mixing stuff in my wine and your wine—with the exception of Sangria and a few other beverages, I’m all into infusing fresh

fruit into the libation. The top fusion this summer has to go to the fresh, reviving and stimulating pineapple infused gin. The simple procedure is to cut up a ripe pineapple in chunks and place it in a large jar with equal parts gin. Let it sit for a few days with a few shakes here and there, then take a sip: does it need more pineapple or more gin? It’s your concoction—be creative. When it meets your criteria, strain it and keep it in the fridge. Later, add a little soda and get to sipping! It’s also the perfect base for your favorite tropical cocktails such as a Daiquiri or Punch. By the way, the pineapple featured on the Tanqueray crest and cap is the traditional symbol of hospitality, quality & discernment. There you go—time to show off this summer! Don’t look now but Spain has taken over the Gin & Tonic! It’s become the Spainard’s unofficial national drink. One can hardly step over a crack on the sidewalks in Barcelona without spilling yours or theirs lovely uplifting libation. In Spain, they leave out the ampersand and appropriated proprietorship by naming

August 3 to August 9, 2017

it Spanish Gin Tonic. Apparently this takeover happened when between 1999 and 2009, a Spanish journalist brought together elite chefs to exchange ideas (think elBulli). Every night the columnist and chefs went to their favorite watering hole where the GTs were sensational.

Word got out that GTs were the top chef’s beverage of choice—so what do you think happened! The craze hit big time—in Barcelona it’s become an art form. The Spanish Gin Tonic is elaborately garnished with herbs, spices, and flowers to amplify the botanicals in the gin—a long way from the simple squeeze of lime! But the drink is kept simple. Spanish mixologists tell us, “Too many ingredients in a GT will break the bubbles. Don’t even add a full wedge of lemon/ lime—rather, twist the citrus peel inside the glass to release its oils. Rub the peel on the rim to bring the aroma and place the peel in the glass. For an extra refreshing drink, keep the gin in the freezer and the tonic in the fridge. Whatever the garnish, pour the gin onto it followed by the tonic at a ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 tonic to gin. Strong perhaps but tasty! I noticed the standard premium gin in the bars of Spain is Tanqueray—which indeed has a great fruity flavor that goes with a variety of garnish. Of course the Spanish add flair: all those beautiful flavors are served up in a large, bulbous goblet known as the “copa glass”. And Spanish bars fill their copa glasses with so many cubes: the more ice cubes, the slower it will melt. Slower melting means less water in your drink. Go ahead and google Barcelona’s Spanish Gin Tonic scene for some very creative ideas. You can also go on to summitsips.com for some fun and tasty drinks and check out an “ongoing collection of musings about recipes, techniques, tools & and other cocktail related topics. ¡Salud! And for those who wish to be in the know, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, reputedly the most important spirits competition out there, recently held its 17th annual judging. Best Gin: Tarquin’s The Sea Dog Navy Strength Gin from England at $45. Chill it up! Cheers!

August 3 to August 9, 2017

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THUR AUGUST 3

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-3673505 Bobby Furgo & Co 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Discoteca w/ DJ Victor Rodriguez 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Trio w/ Francesca Amari, Bill Marx and Doug MacDonald 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Dancing 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760776-6533 Barry Baughn and Bob Gross 6:30pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760-365-6633 Open Mic Night 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Open Mic 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Punk Rock Night 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760345-2450 Country Night w/ Whiskey Maiden 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-999-1995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Two Lane Blacktop 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Desert Noise and Friends 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 The Smooth Brothers 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-3479985 T-Bone Karaoke 8pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Wayne Boyer 6:30pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Derek Jordan Gregg 6pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-5655512 DJ SafeT 7pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Elaine Woodard 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 8pm

FRI AUGUST 4

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia Band 6:30pm

ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Desert Daze Presents: L.A. Witch 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 The Carmens Duo 6:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Friday Night Sour Hour w/ Pink Lemonade Drag Show 9pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 TBA 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The Gand Band 8:30pm BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-5010620 TBA 6pm THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-832-7767 Karaoke 9pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760775-5566 DJ Double A 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760228-1199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 Gina Carey 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 The Myx 8:30pm THE HARD ROCK HOTEL PS; PS; 760325-9676 Esjay Jones Presents: Acoustic Sessions w/ Hannah Mills and The Brosquitos 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 The Hood Rewind Hits from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s w/ DJs Rawkwell and Luthergates 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Dana Larson 7pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LA QUINTA BREWERY;PD; 760-200-2597 TBA 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company in the afternoon, Hot Rox in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm

LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Common Ground 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-999-1995 DJ Jerry 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 TBA 5-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 TBA 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Paul Chesne Band 8pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 7-10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOLANO’S BISTRO; LQ; 760-771-6655 Michael Madden 6-9pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 TBA 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Pat Rizzo & Dennis Michaels 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm WANG’S IN THE DESERT; PS; 760-3259264 Karaoke 8:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 TBA 8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-5655512 Rob Martinez and Todd Ashley ft. Lisa LaFaro Weselis 6:30-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188

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Rose Mallett 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm

SAT AUGUST 5

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev & Bill 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Highlife w/ DJ Day 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green Open Mic 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise Carter 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 TBA 9pm BEATNIK LOUNGE; JT; TBA 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Live Music 8:30pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760775-5566 DJ 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CHILL BAR; PS; 760-327-1079 TBA 9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-3296787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760228-1199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 TBA 6pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760-365-6633 Dana Larson & Friends 6-9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 TBA 8:30pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm THE HARD ROCK HOTEL PS; PS; 760325-9676 Esjay Jones Presents: Global Sessions w/ David Macias and Emanuela Bellezza 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Waxy, The Hellions and a Special Guest 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm

JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 TBA 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-2282589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Common Ground 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-999-1995 Bumptown 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Whiskey Blues 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-345-0222 TBA 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Gene Evaro Jr. 9pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 TBA 7-10pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; Black Hat Patsy and Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi Tribute) 7:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 TBA 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-3479985 TBA 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-

August 3 to August 9, 2017

1773 Dennis Michael 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951755-5391 DJ 10pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Ladies Night w/ Dirty Desert Entertainment 9pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 TBA 8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-5655512 DJ SafeT 7pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-3285955 Michael Keeth noon-4pm poolside, 7-11pm Fireside Lounge WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Stanley Butler Band 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm

SUN AUGUST 6 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 TBA 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-7998800 Bartland w/ DJ LF, Richie Rich 7pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Sunday Brunch w/ Live Music 10-2pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 TBA 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888-999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm continue to page 20

August 3 to August 9, 2017

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The Pampered Palate Murph’s Gaslight Now Serving Weekend Breakfast

By Denise Ortuno Neil

urph’s Gaslight in Bermuda Dunes, famous for off the chart delicious Pan Fried Chicken, is now serving breakfast on Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 9am to 1pm. Nowadays, if you stop by Murph’s Gaslight on a Saturday morning, the bar is full, lined with a community of patrons enjoying comradery, easy styled breakfast items and a drink or two. The restaurant started back in 1976, inspired by Ralph Murphy, and has actually been the go to place for “The” best Pan Fried Chicken in the desert. And speaking from someone who really never liked Fried Chicken, I can honestly say that their Pan Fried Chicken has turned my taste buds

around and now I crave the stuff….well at least their stuff. Succulent and golden fried to perfection in old Southern tradition, their recipe has been high on the menu of Pan Fried Chicken connoisseurs for over 40 years. Murph’s Gaslight sits next to Bermuda Dunes airport, and has a mixed cliental of mature desert dwellers, tourists and families. It used to be a place where pilots would hang out back in the day between flights, complete with a swimming pool and tennis courts. The area is slightly quirky, but that’s what makes the unincorporated city so inviting; Bermuda Dunes basically beats to its own drum. Owner Josh Rush, continues to keep up the tradition of this Coachella Valley treasure, and has recently added some new additions to the menu, including serving breakfast on the weekends. The decision to add breakfast came when the Indio location of Cactus Jacks, another desert restaurant

institution, closed down. The closing of the location meant that their hungry breakfast crowd would need a new place to get their day going, so Rush extended his menu to accommodate the cliental, which the two restaurants share. Murph’s breakfast items include morning favorites such as Eggs with choice of breakfast meats, Eggs Benedict, Omelets, Pancakes, Biscuits and Gravy and even Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs. Their highlighted morning special is the Bloody Mary Breakfast, which consists of 3 eggs, sausage, bacon or ham, toast and homestyle potatoes with of course, an eyeopening Bloody Mary, all for only $11.99. They do have the Bloody Mary on its own as a morning special for only $4.25 and Mimosa’s for $5.00. In addition to offering weekend breakfast, Murph’s Gaslight has also created some other specials that can be enjoyed in the bar area. On Monday’s and Thursdays,

it’s the Pub Burger and Fries special for only $7, on Tuesday’s it’s Taco time, three for $6 (chicken, beef or fish) and on Wednesday night’s get their awesome Chicken Wings for 75 cents each….and if you’ve had their wings before, you can appreciate what a deal it is. With an inviting neighborhood hangout feel, Murph’s Gaslight in Bermuda Dunes is a great place to have phenomenal Pan Fried Chicken, and now even a relaxing weekend breakfast. Murph’s Gaslight is located at 79860 Avenue 42, Bermuda Dunes, 92203. For more info visit www.murphsgaslight.com.

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August 3 to August 9, 2017

SCREENERS

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by Robin E. Simmons

No. 276

WHEN SURVIVAL WAS VICTORY NOW PLAYING: DUNKIRK “Soldiers of the West Front! Dunkirk has fallen … with it has ended the greatest battle in world history. Soldiers! My confidence in you knows no bounds. You have not disappointed me.” ~ Adolf Hitler “We must be very careful not to assign to this the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations.” ~ Winston Churchill It’s May 1940 and Germany has advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops slowly and methodically evacuated the beach using just about every functional naval and civilian vessel available. At the end of this heroic mission, more than 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated!

When most people think of Dunkirk – if they still think about it at all – they think of the many of patriotic citizens who leapt into their small crafts to aid their army in its great hour of need. This occurred, but

the greater truth is that most of the small craft were under the command of a wide assortment of Naval personnel. Rarely is enough credit given to the Royal Navy and the larger vessels that were responsible for rescuing the troops. Even today, Dunkirk’s importance in shaping the course of World War II is not fully appreciated. By all account, Dunkirk was the beginning of the end for the Third Reich. Christopher Nolan’s majestic and visceral film puts the audience in the middle of this great rescue effort. Unfortunately, the off-putting non-linear structure does injustice to the personal stories it tries to tell. Hans Zimmer’s sweeping score makes up for some of the distracting jumps in time and place. The extraordinary aerial sequences soar with an intensity that nicely balances the constricting claustrophobia of the under water scenes of sinking ships and downed planes. It’s the masterful film craftsmanship that makes this one worth seeing. NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER: THE CRIMSON KIMONO (1959) When two cops, Detective Jo Kojaku (James Shigata) and Detective Sgt. Charlie Bancroft (Glenn Corbett) both Koran War vets, try to solve the murder of a local stripper in Little Tokyo, a love triangle quickly develops between key witness Christine Downs (Victoria Shaw) and the two cops who are not only fox-hole buddies but also roommates in 1950s LA. In what must be one of the more progressive movies of the50s, maverick

writer-director Sam Fuller avoids what could have been a preachy commentary on race relations while not sidestepping unexpected scenes of emotional honesty. Sam Fuller’s compelling Film Noir about Asian American sexuality during the era of the Cold War has some wonderful setpieces -- like the disciplined Kendo fight that degenerates into sadistic anarchy -and precise camera work serve to illustrate Fuller’s acknowledges gift for weaving a poetic nihilism out of a raw journalistic vision of brutal urban crime. This hi-def edition is limited to 3,000 units. For more info go to screenarchives.com. Twilight Time Movies. Blu-ray. Comments? robinesimmons@aol.com

Book Review

Poetic Resonance

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“The Teeth Of The Comb” By osama alomar stories

----------------------------------------------------asualties of the Syrian Civil War are estimated at 450,000. As if there is anything “casual” about death, loss and destruction of people, especially when they are cut from the same cloth. The Syrian clash began in 2011 and there appears to be no resolution in sight. How do Americans get insight into the lives of Syrians beyond the evening news? In Osama Alomar’s The Teeth of the Comb & Other Stories (New Directions, 104 pages) a collection of narratives reveal a beautiful culture torn and battered by conflict. Author Alomar is imaginative, bold and the descriptive language is powerful. His fables are filled with allegory and metaphor. Sometimes only a sentence or just a few pages, each serves as a kind of meditation. The story “Ants” is a favorite: “When I crushed a large number of ants by accident with my feet, I realized that weakness is punishment without wrongdoing.” That is the entire story. Another short, short story is “A

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August 3 to August 9, 2017

By Heidi Simmons Handkerchief of Freedom.” “The dictator sneezed. He pulled Freedom from his pants pocket and blew his nose. Then he threw her away in the wastebasket.” “The Price of Perfume” tells the tale of an 8-year-old boy who is deceived by an elder whom he was raised to respect. After he inhales a fabulous fragrance, the wise man becomes a wolf that devours his innocence. “He fell under the burden of words smeared with muddy threats.” Told in first-person, “Whoever Is Happy” is about an activist who calls out for people to join him who are happy. “They looked at me with suspicion and turned their backs to me.” But when the narrator asks for those to follow him who are sad, they turn to him with enthusiasm. The story “Never Been Touched” is about a book sitting on a shelf with battered cover and marked-up pages, who says to the book next to him, that he envies his freshness. Whereas the other book responds, sadly, that it has never been touched. In “Fingers of Dynamite” world leaders grin big and shake hands on the evening news, but the viewer notices that their fingers are chubby explosives ready to go off. From “Wolves and Sheep, ” comes a story where even the wolves can be tricked and devoured. “They search for prey to quiet the monsters of hunger that never

grow weary of roaring night and day.” An unborn boy asks a man to find a wife and be his father in “The Shining Idea,” but the father denies his request because the world is so bleak. “My son, life is filled with frustration and pain and tears. You should be happy that you haven’t known it.” However, the child sees life as exciting and full of pleasure. The boy moves on to hopefully convince someone else to give him an opportunity to live. In the story, “The God of Virtues” Satan makes a Facebook page and website to draw people to him. Promoting goodness, tolerance and the brotherhood of humankind, he soon has millions of “friends” and his campaign becomes a success. Reading the 150 plus stories in The Teeth of the Comb, I felt as if I were reading great

Arabian writers from the past who shared their secrets, wisdom and the beauty of their culture through poetry and prose. Alomar’s poetic voice seems to be crying out from the wilderness. His stories are meaningful, timeless and urgent. Reading the book as a whole evokes compassion, outrage, sorrow and perhaps some hope for the region. How can such hate continue to exist and function without destroying itself? This is a book you can also pull off the shelf and read a section aloud – even to your self. Flipping through the collection and selecting a story at random is a delightful experience. The author was born in Damascus, Syria in 1968 and now lives in exile here in the U.S. It’s hard to know what his intent is or what specifically is behind these allegorical stories without asking him. I do wish at times that I knew exactly what the story is really about, or what it refers to, but I’m not sure if that’s important when it’s compelling literature. Maybe the question to ask is: If there were no civil war in Syria or such complicated conflicts in the Middle East, would The Teeth of the Comb still be provocative? The answer is a resounding, Yes.

safetytips

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

NDR Tile - Service Before Self!

ervice Before Self is something we learn early in the fire service. It›s one of many virtues I love about the fire service. Unselfish acts performed by professionals every day. You see this regularly by the Men and Women of the Riverside County Fire Dept. Thank you for your service! Unfortunately not everyone does this. We all have experienced the lack of customer service these days. It seems many are more incline and put more effort into avoiding helping customers than just doing their jobs. Though I’d love to name the local places and see how many of you experienced the same, I’ll be a gentleman and assume you know where they are… I recently had the unique experience of having work performed where “service before self” was very evident. These two were real gentlemen and never did they give any pushback or grief. Just a desire to ensure a customer was satisfied. Nathan Rogers of NDR Tile (here in the CV Valley 760.774.9409) came and did some tile work for me. Nathan and his Brother Shane worked so hard and went the extra mile(s) every day from beginning to end to ensure service before self was done.

It was a couple of weeks ago when temperatures were over 115 degrees. They worked relentlessly, never complained and always checked in to see that the job was done to my expectations and satisfaction. The days I was around and told them to take off in the afternoon, they ignored my requests, put up their easy up and worked under partial shade until the job was completed. They worked so hard and followed the “service before self” of customer service that I would be remiss if I did not mention them. Thank you NDR Tile for your customer service and service before self! Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 3 to August 9, 2017

CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 15

DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Radio 60 3-6pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Dana Larson &Friends 5-8pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company, in the afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7:30pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Sunday Night Jam Session w/ Jos Burrell 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Sunday Jam Session w/ Morgan Alise James 8pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 The Myx 6pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Darci Daniels and Reggie Vision 7pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 TBA

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8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760565-5512 Rob Martinez and Scott Carter 6:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 John Carey & Friends 6pm

MON AUGUST 7

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-3673505 The Luminators 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-2021111 Bill Marx 6:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 TBA 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-345-6466 Larry Capeloto 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-3471522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Open Mic 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Industry Night w/ DJ Tone 2pm-close SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 T.B.A. 6pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-5655512 Dude Jones 6:30-9:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Motown Mondays 6pm

TUE AUGUST 8 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-3673505 Bob Garcia Band 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing 9pm THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-8327767 Karaoke en Espanol 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 Chuck Alvarez 6:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Drag Queen Bingo 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke hosted by Phillip Moore 9pm INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760-833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 6:15pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760325-2794 Palm Springs Sound Company LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am

THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Acoustic Open Mic 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Ladies Night w/ Mark Gregg 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 Demetrious and Co. THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-5655512 Acoustic Sessions w/ Lance & David 7pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 John Boliver and Yve Evans 6pm

WED AUGUST 9 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-3673505 Daniel Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 TBA 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-2021111 Jazz Jam w/ Doug MacDonald & Friends 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Totally Radical 90’s w/ DJ Richie Rich 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The Smooth Brothers 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-8624581 TBA 6-10pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 TBA 6pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760228-1199 Karaoke 7:30pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 TBA 6pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic Nite hosted by Josh Heinz 8pm

HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-345-6466 Open Mic w/ Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Live Music KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Open Mic hosted by Amy Angel 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 “Sing Jam” w/ Mikael Healey 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Roger & Friends 7pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2881199 Karaoke w/ KJ Ginger 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 The Myx 6:30pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-3271773 Katheryn White 6:30pm TJ’S; PD; 760-345-6744 Derek Jordan Gregg 9pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-5655512 80’s DJ Night 6:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve Evans 6:30pm

Haddon Libby

FOOD: THE DANGER ZONE

ugust is hot. It is a time of year when many of us enjoy outdoor picnics or barbecues with family and friends. It is also the time of year when many of us get sick with food poisoning. The Center for Disease Control states that one in six people can expect to get sick from the food that they eat with 128,000 of us ending up in the hospital and 3,000 dying. The US Department of Agriculture estimates that food poisoning (aka norovirus) costs the United States $15.7 billion annually. Undercooked meats are the foods most likely to make us sick. Fish is responsible for 17% of all food poisoning incidences followed by chicken/fowl (11%), beef (8%), shellfish (8%), pork (7%), raw vegetables (6%) and fruit (6%). The bacteria that cause food poisoning breed the fastest between the temperatures of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenreit (aka the Danger Zone). As such, it is important to keep your food above or below that temperate at all times. When cooking food, make sure that your food reaches a core temperate of at least 160 degrees (165 degrees for chicken). If microwaving, the minimum temperate increases to 165 degrees. Food thermometers are the best way to confirm this. If you cannot keep the temperature of

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your cooked food outside of the Danger Zone during a picnic, remember that you have up to two hours to eat the cooked food before bacteria levels increase to potentially unsafe levels. When it comes to fruit and vegetables, many people fail to realize that their produce can become contaminated with bacteria somewhere along the food chain. The contamination could be from fertilizer in the fields, human handling or crosscontamination. Cross-contamination is common in the home and many restaurants as food preparers often cut produce on the

Dale Gribow On The Law

DO NOT HIRE AN ACCIDENT LAWYER UNTIL YOU READ THIS:

he odds are that you or a loved one will be in an auto accident.... sometime. Now what do you do and what does the insurance company do when that happens? You must initially KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT and understand that the other party’s insurance company will immediately assign a nice sweet adjuster to contact you and pump you for information. The adjuster will try to get pictures of the vehicle and statements from you as to how the accident happened (and whether you were injured and have seen a doctor yet). Then they will switch adjusters and assign one that is not so nice. Please understand that adjusters have their own bag of tricks. When they take a picture of the car they will ask you to get in the picture and right before clicking the pix they will ask you to bend and point to the spot of the Property Damage on your vehicle. At the last minute they yell SMILE! Now they have you bending and smiling. Later when they get the doctor’s report that says the patient could not bend and that you were in great pain, they can argue with your attorney and the Judge “...look at this picture!” They will claim the plaintiff does not appear to have any problem bending and is even smiling. When juries see this kind of evidence they question whether you were

really injured or making this up; thinking you hit the lottery. The insurance company checks your social media so IMMEDIATLEY TAKE DOWN YOUR FACEBOOK ETC. The last thing you want is for the insurance company to see pictures of you playing a sport and or doing something physical that you should not be able to do if your injuries are consistent with the medical report. After you are in an auto accident use your cell phone and take pictures of the scene, damage to both cars, the other driver’s license, plate and insurance. Then use the recording feature to take a statement from the other party and any witnesses. Get the defendant’s name, address, phone number, and share your info. Always call the police. You want as much documentation as possible about the accident for your lawyer. Stay at the scene until the police arrive. Remember you do not have to give your opinion as to liability even when you look to be partly at fault. Go to the ER right away to be checked out. Have someone drive you if you cannot get an ambulance to take you. Many injuries do not surface right away and soft tissue injuries may take days to come out. Insurance companies punish you when you do not seek medical treatment right away. As a rule

August 3 to August 9, 2017

same surfaces used to prepare raw meat without adequately sterilizing surfaces thus exposing the raw product to pathogens that need to be killed at high temperatures. This points out a need of paramount importance in food preparation - cleanliness. The sad truth is that many people are not very clean. Remember to always wash your hands with hot, soapy water for at least twenty seconds before touching food. Also remember to wash all produce with clean cool water. Cut away all spoiled or damaged parts as well. If you buy packaged produce that says ‘pre-washed’ on it, you do not need to wash those items. When it comes to kitchen surfaces, use different cutting boards for meat, chicken, fish and produce. After cleaning a surface with hot soapy water, spray a diluted mix of white vinegar and water on that surface and let it dry through evaporation in order to kill the most bacteria possible. When defrosting meat, do not leave it out. Meat should always defrost in the

refrigerator. Be careful not to let any of the juices of your meats touch anything else in the refrigerator. If you need to defrost the meat faster, submerge it in cold, running water with no exposure to air. When it comes to eggs, remember that pasteurized eggs have been heated to a temperature that allows them to be used in raw food products. Any other eggs need to be heated to 140 degrees for three minutes in order to be safe. While you and I may be very careful with food handling, most people are not. This can present a dilemma when you are at a gathering and you have no control over food preparation. As such, stay away from high risk foods like hamburgers with pink centers, products with eggs and seafood unless you are certain that the food has not been out long and/or has been held at temperatures above or below the Danger Zone. For more tips, go to www.FoodSafety.gov. Haddon Libby is Portfolio Manager and Fiduciary at Winslow Drake Investment Management where he serves as Managing Partner. Haddon can be reached at 760.449.6349 or HLibby@WinslowDrake. com. For more information, go to www. WinslowDrake.com.

you should see any doctor other than your regular treating doctor. This is because we all have skeletons in our personal med records. This could be abortions, alcohol/ drug usage, sexually transmitted diseases and prior injuries which can be very damaging. Lawyers do not want to accept a case where the victim did not get immediate med treatment and some lawyers demand treatment that day. In addition if you do not see the lawyer for several days they are also reluctant to accept the case because they worry you will have had a conversation with the adjuster and your lawyer will never know what you said or “what the insurance adjuster thought he heard you say.” That could be used to impeach you at trial. Your attorney should focus on auto

accident cases. Once you have retained a lawyer the defendants insurance company can no longer legally contact you. If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact attorney Dale Gribow at 760-8377500 dale@dalegribowlaw.com. DALE GRIBOW “TOP LAWYER” - Palm Springs Life(Accidents) 2011-17 “TOP LAWYER”- Inland Empire Magazine Nov 2016 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating

August 3 to August 9, 2017

sports Scene

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by Flint Wheeler

USC – A Betting Perspective

outhern Cal’s Trojans hope to ride the momentum of last season’s great finish into this season, which they’ll begin as the betting favorite to win their conference, something they haven’t done in almost a decade. And with a Pac-12 title might come a return to the Big Time, in the form of an invitation to the College Football Playoff. 2016 Record: 10-3 SU, 8-5 ATS 2017 Regular-Season Wins Over/Under: 9.5 2017 Odds to Win Conference: 1/1 2017 Odds to Win National Championship: 7/1 Last Year in Review The Trojans opened last season with a big thud, losing to Alabama 52-6. Subsequent losses to Stanford and Utah dropped USC to 1-3. But a change at quarterback sparked Southern Cal, which then won its last nine games, knocking off South Division champion Colorado, Pac-12 champion Washington, UCLA, Notre Dame and Big Ten champion Penn State in the Rose Bowl along the way, to finish 10-3. In doing so, while going against one of the top-five schedules in the country last year, the Trojans played “over” a wins total of 7.5. Including that bowl victory back in 2013

USC is now 16-7 SU, 12-11 ATS under Coach Helton. This Year in Preview The Trojans return a dozen starters for this season, tied for second-fewest in the Pac-12. Only five are back on offense, but one is quarterback Sam Darnold and another is running back Ronald Jones. It was Darnold who, as a freshman, directed USC to those nine straight wins to end last season, completing 67 percent of his throws, compiling a 31/9 TD/INT ratio. And junior Jones has 2,000 yards rushing through his first two seasons. But they do have to replace three of the big boys up front. Defensively seven starters return, including five of the front seven, on what might be the best stop unit in the conference. The Schedule USC opens with a home date against last year’s small-school Cinderella, Western Michigan, which lost its head coach over the off-season. In early betting the Trojans are favored by 26 points over the Broncos. From there USC gets Stanford, Texas, Utah and UCLA at home, with the toughest road games coming at Washington State (on a Friday night) and at Notre Dame. And they miss two of the top three contenders from the North Division, Washington and Oregon.

However, USC also will play 12 weeks in a row, without a bye week. Betting the Trojans This Season Southern Cal begins this season as a popular pick to click, riding a nine-game winning streak, with a Heisman-candidate quarterback. But as such they might be overrated on a week-to-week basis. The Trojans will be favored for at least 11 of their 12 games, and often by a lot. Last year the biggest spread USC faced was 17 points,

but they’ll probably be favored by more than that four or five times this season. The Trojans went 5-1 ATS at home last year, but they won’t match that this year. Instead, look to back USC on the road, where the spreads are friendlier.

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free will astrology

Week of August 3

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In my astrological opinion, your life in the coming days should draw inspiration from the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, a six-day bout of revelry that encouraged everyone to indulge in pleasure, speak freely, and give gifts. Your imminent future could (and I believe should) also have resemblances to the yearly Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena, which features a farcical cavalcade of lunatics, like the Shopping Cart Drill Team, The Radioactive Chicken Heads, the Army of Toy Soldiers, and the Men of Leisure Synchronized Nap Team. In other words, Aries, it’s an excellent time to set aside your dignity and put an emphasis on having uninhibited fun; to amuse yourself to the max as you experiment on the frontiers of selfexpression; to be the person you would be if you had nothing to lose. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s time to Reinvent the Wheel and Rediscover Fire, Taurus. In my astrological opinion, you’ll be wasting your time unless you return to the root of all your Big Questions. Every important task will mandate you to consult your heart’s primal intelligence. So don’t mess around with trivial pleasures or transitory frustrations that won’t mean anything to you a year from now. Be a mature wild child in service to the core of your creative powers. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Writing in The Futurist magazine, Christopher Wolf says that the tradition of eating three hearty meals per day is fading and will eventually disappear. “Grazing” will be the operative term for how we get our fill, similar to the method used by cavemen and cavewomen. The first snack after we awaken, Wolf suggests, might be called “daystart.” The ensuing four could be dubbed “pulsebreak,” “humpmunch,” “holdmeal” and “evesnack.” In light of your current astrological omens, Gemini, I endorse a comparable approach to everything you do: not a few big doses, but rather frequent smaller doses; not intense cramming but casual browsing; not sprawling heroic epics but a series of amusing short stories. CANCER (June 21-July 22): The RIKEN Institute in Japan experiments with using ion beams to enhance plant growth. In one notable case, they created a new breed of cherry tree that blossoms four times a year and produces triple the amount of flowers. The blooms last longer, too, and the trees thrive under a wider span of temperatures. In the next eleven months, Cancerian, you won’t need to be flooded with ion beams to experience a similar phenomenon. I expect that your power to bloom and flourish will be far stronger than usual. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo actor Robert DeNiro once observed that most people devote more energy to concealing their emotions and longings than to revealing them. Is that true about you? If so, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to hide less of yourself and express more. There’ll be relatively little hell to pay as a result, and you’ll get a boost of vitality. Don’t go overboard, though. I’m not suggesting that you unveil every last one of your feelings and yearnings to everyone -- just to those you trust. Most importantly, I hope you will unveil all your feelings and yearnings to yourself. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It has almost become a tradition: Each year at about this time, you seem to enjoy scaring the hell out of yourself, and often the heaven, too. These self-inflicted shocks have often had a beneficial side effect. They have served as rousing prompts for you to re-imagine the future. They have motivated and mobilized you. So yes, there has been an apparent method in your madness -- an upside to the uproar. What should we expect this time, my dear? A field trip to a crack house or a meth lab? Some fun and games in a pit of snakes? An excursion to the land of bad memories? I suggest something less melodramatic. How about, for example, a frolic with unruly allies in a future paradise that’s still a bit unorganized? LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Before grapes become wine, they have to be cleaned. Then crushed.

Then macerated and pressed. The next phase is fermentation, followed by filtering. The aging process, which brings the grapes’ transformation to completion, requires more time then the other steps. At the end, there’s one more stage: putting the wine in bottles. I’d like to compare the grapes’ evolution to the story of your life since your last birthday. You are nearing the end of the aging phase. When that’s finished, I hope you put great care into the bottling. It’s as important as the other steps. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Are you gearing up to promote yourself and your services? In my astrological opinion, you should be. If so, you could put the following testimonial from me in your résumé or advertisement: “[place your name here] is a poised overseer of nerve-wracking transitions and a canny scout who is skilled at tracking down scarce resources. He/she can help you acquire the information and enhancements you don’t quite have the power to get by yourself. When conditions are murky or perplexing, this plucky soul is enterprising and inventive.” SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your eyes are more powerful than you realize. If you were standing on a mountaintop under a cloudless night sky with no moon, you could see a fire burning 50 miles away. Your imagination is also capable of feats that might surprise you. It can, for example, provide you with an expansive and objective view of your entire life history. I advise you to seek that boost now. Ask your imagination to give you a prolonged look at the big picture of where you have been and where you are going. I think it’s essential to your discovery of the key to the next chapter of your life story. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Love is your gritty but sacred duty. It’s your prickly prod and your expansive riddle, your curious joy and your demanding teacher. I’m talking about the whole gamut, Capricorn -- from messy personal romantic love to lucid unconditional spiritual love; from asking smartly for what you desire to gratefully giving more than you thought you had. Can you handle this much sweet, dark mystery? Can you grow your intimacy skills fast enough to keep up with the interesting challenges? I think you can. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): There’s an eclipse of the moon coming up in the sign of Aquarius. Will it bring bad luck or good luck? Ha! That’s a trick question. I threw it in to see if you have been learning anything from my efforts to redeem astrology’s reputation. Although some misinformed people regard my chosen field as a superstitious pseudoscience, I say it’s an imaginative art form that helps us identify and transform our subconscious patterns. So the wise answer to my earlier question is that the imminent lunar eclipse is neither bad luck nor good luck. Rather, it tells you that have more power than usual to: 1. tame and manage the disruptive and destructive aspects of your instinctual nature; 2. make progress in dissolving your old conditioning; 3. become more skilled at mothering yourself. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): August is Good Hard Labor Month for you Pisceans. It’s one of those rare times when a smart version of workaholic behavior might actually make sense. Why? First of all, it could ultimately lead to a pay raise or new perks. Secondly, it may bring to light certain truths about your job that you’ve been unconscious of. Third, it could awaken you to the fact that you haven’t been trying as hard as you could to fulfill one of your long-term dreams; it might expand your capacity to devote yourself passionately to the epic tasks that matter most. For your homework, please meditate on this thought: Summoning your peak effort in the little things will mobilize your peak effort for the Big Thing. Homework: What do you know or do that very few people know or do? Tell me at FreeWillAstrology. com. Click on “Email Rob.” ---------------------------------------------------------Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

August 3 to August 9, 2017

Mind,body & Spirit

by Bronwyn Ison

PEACEFUL DECISIONS

ave you ever thought about how many decisions you have to make each day? If you take a moment to ponder how many, it could take a bit of your time. We make numerous decisions daily. Some are small and others may be life altering and require more thought. It’s possible you are making choices for other people. So not only do you keep track of what you are doing, you are also responsible for someone else. For instance, I have two daughters and they are not of age to make certain choices. When I move forward, there have been times I’ve questioned whether or not it was the right direction. Because not only am I making a choice for them, I am teaching them a lesson along the way. It may be that you care for a parent, a spouse, or a friend who needs you and appreciates your help. Depending on your circumstance, it may be that you have to call the shots despite their stubbornness. As of late, I’m faced with many choices, of which will be life altering. For the most part, all of what I am facing is exceptionally positive, but a choice needs to be made. Of course, we are hopeful we will make the “right” move. We’ve all been there when we’ve chosen to go left when we should have gone right (figuratively speaking). Plus, there is always a reaction to your

action. I’ve been on the side of the fence of poor choices and it isn’t glamorous. We all know, one poor choice can be problematic and can create lifelong issues. This leads me to share with you, what a dear friend of mine shared with me many years ago. I’ve adopted this way of living and it truly works. It’s not a perfect recipe to making the right choice but it’s quite close. My friend said to me, “Don’t ever make a decision unless you have a peace about it.” My heart, mind and soul, resonates with this way of living. Ever since I began to wait and have a peace, I have made very few poor choices. With this being said, I have less troubles or drama in my life. I don’t care to listen to what other people or family members “think” I should do. However, everyone’s opinion does matter but I don’t allow it to convolute my mind. I take time to mediate on the “BIG” decisions I have facing me. But, I do not make a wholehearted choice until I have an absolute peace overall. I am less stressed, I feel more at peace, and I know I have the abilities to make wise choices without depending on others. You can do this too if you take the time to mediate first. Do nothing until you have peace. Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga. e-volveyoga.com 760.564.YOGA

August 3 to August 9, 2017

BEAUTY

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by dr maria lombardo

Dr. Maria Lombardo, Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery is located in Rancho Mirage. She specializes in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures including (but not limited to) facial, body and breast surgery, Botox, Latisse, and hCG diet program. For a consultation or more information, visit lombardocosmeticsurgery.com or call 760-610-8990. Dr. Lombardo will be writing a bi-weekly column for CV Weekly.

rake in the rewards

e often hear patients complain that the cost of doing the cosmetic procedures they want is more expensive than they feel they can afford. Botox, for example, needs to be injected more than twice per year to maintain the desired effect. Very often a patient will try (and love!) a product like Botox but won’t come back to re-treat because the cost is high. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that the makers of several cosmetic medicine products offer rewards programs and discounts. Allergan, the parent company of Botox, Juvederm, Voluma, Latisse and SkinMedica offers a program called Brilliant Distinctions that allows you to earn points on all their products and redeem them as a cash discount on future purchases. So if a patient has Botox and joins the Brilliant Distinctions program at their first visit… they will earn points for future visits and can use those points like a cash discount for any of the products in the program. It’s a great rewards program that allows patients to try any of the other products and services too. And right now, Allergan is offering a few coupons for $75 off Juvederm for patients who have never

tried it before and who are members of the Brilliant Distinction program. (Only a few of these coupons are left and they expire at the end of May so call if you are interested.) Mentor, the maker of the only made-inAmerica Breast Implants, also has a “refer a friend” program that patients like to take advantage of… You can earn a $250 gift certificate if you refer a friend for breast augmentation surgery and that patient schedules the procedure. So don’t miss out on all the available savings programs for cosmetic procedures and remember that at Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery Dr. Lombardo is offering 10% off for the month of May! It’s our own, special rewards program! Call for your appointment today!

Life & career Coach by Sunny Simon

Before You Leave for Vacation, Unplug

topping for a moment to put down my summer beach read and rest my eyes, I scanned the activity around the resort’s Olympic sized pool. Some inhabitants stretched out on the luxurious beach chairs were contently soaking up the sun, others, like me, engaged in light reading. I sighed observing about a third of the vacationers intently working their notebooks and cell phones. As I strolled to the Tiki Bar for an icy Mojito, it did not surprise me to catch snippets of business related conversations. Full disclosure, in the past I have been guilty of checking my work voice mails and emails, but at some point wised-up. I began to wonder if my action was ego-driven. Did I think the team back home couldn’t exist without me? Or, was I insecure? Perhaps I thought I was being left out of important decisions. After calling in and retrieving news from the office it took me at least an hour to stop thinking about the work piling up on my desk. To make matters worse, my husband keyed in on my distraction and sooner or later delivered his “why are we on vacation if you are going to engage the office from afar speech.” Yep…busted! Taking 15 minutes a day to touch base with the office doesn’t sound horribly harmful,

but beware, it’s a trap. The time you spend thinking about work after your innocent check-in does you in. Without a solid turn-off switch, thoughts of sales contracts, employee issues and the marketing proposal you need to write upon your return start bouncing around in your brain. A real vacation occurs when you leave an “out of the office” message on your voice mail greeting and email. No, it’s not impossible. Crazy as it sounds you can convince yourself that you are not required to check in. Your only job on vacation is simply to take a break from work pressures and have fun. The whole idea of taking time off is to return to work refreshed and recharged. If you want the ultimate benefit of a vacation from work, go off the grid. Leave your cell phone at home. Want to capture the beauty of that exotic place you dreamt of while sitting in your cubicle pinning for an escape, then bring a camera. If you are addicted to informing all your Facebook friends of your vacation you can post when you return. Give it a try. Keep your time away from the office sacred. You’ll be glad you did! Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching and the author of the blog www.lifeonthesunnyside.net.

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August 3 to August 9, 2017

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August 3 to August 9, 2017