Coachella Valley Weekly - September 24 to September 30, 2020 Vol. 9 No. 28

coachellavalleyweekly.com • September 24 to September 30, 2020 Vol.9 No.28

Author Nan Rae

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Agua Caliente Job Fair

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Desert Music - Esjay Jones/Courtney Chambers/Tyler Ontiveros

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Bonnie Whitmore

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

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Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

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

CONTENTS CasaGogo Camping in Joshua Tree ... 3 Theatre - CVRep................................... 4 Agua Caliente Casinos Job Fair........... 4 Cannabis Corner.................................. 5 Book Review - Nan Rae....................... 6 Travel Tips 4 U...................................... 6 Desert Music – Esjay Jones / Courtney Chambers / Tyler Ontiveros......... 8-9 Consider This - Bonnie Whitmore ..... 11 Pet Place ....................................... 12-13

September 24 to September 30, 2020

CAMP AT CASAGOGO ON THE JOSHUA TREE MUSIC FESTIVAL GROUNDS DURING THE PANDEMIC

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ince 2003, the Joshua Tree Music Festival has been a bi-annual event showcasing the mesmerizing High Desert views with an eclectic mix of sound.

Unfortunately and predictably, both music festival dates planned for May and October of 2020 have been cancelled. Though dancing shoulder to shoulder and hugging everyone on the dance floor is not a possibility, a virtual event in May was produced and there is another one in the works for October.

“Festivals are all about the joyous shared experiences. So festivals and live music experiences were the first to shut down, and they'll be the last to come back.

Artists, musicians, sound production, event professionals, artisan vendors and more are having to reinvent themselves to stay afloat,” explained Joshua Tree Music Festival Founder/ Producer Barnett English.

This reinvention comes in the form of a fleet of Cozy Camper Trailers, familiar to those who have attended the Festival in the past.

These trailers have been transformed into 'CasaGogo' at the Joshua Tree Music Festival site. Reservations are currently being accepted from October 1 onwards at casagogo.com, located in the Joshua Tree Lake Campground which is open year round for camping.

“The pandemic brought everything to a screeching halt with the effects being felt heavily across the live music/event industry.

It's been tough for our small crew for sure, but also an opportunity to come up with creative ways to connect with our community in the virtual space and to work on our side businesses, CasaGogo and Harmonize Printing,” revealed Director of Marketing & Communications Cassie Morrow.

CasaGogo is arranged in camping 'Pods' which are self-contained and designed to accommodate immediate household groups up to 10 people. Guests are asked to observe social distancing and wear masks when moving around outside of their provided area.

There are stringent cleaning procedures in

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL

place to make sure every surface is disinfected between guests and plenty of sanitizer and hand soap are used. It is also asked that guests monitor their health in the lead up to their trip and to contact the camping grounds about rescheduling or cancelling with no penalty if they are showing any symptoms at all.

“2020 has been filled with uncertainty but if there's one thing we are certain of it is that getting outdoors and spending time with your loved ones stargazing, outside in wide open spaces, soaking in the desert energy is medicine for the soul. Us lucky folks that live in the desert get to benefit from this on a daily basis but there are many who do not, so we hope to provide this opportunity for people to get some 'soul medicine' in a safe and responsible way,” said Morrow.

Some advice that Morrow would give to those struggling emotionally during this time with the cancellation of events would be to remember that ‘community is crucial—a phrase that she says a lot and that rings true more than ever during these difficult times.

She urges others to check on their neighbors, check in with loved ones, and check in with yourself, asking for support if they need it.

Morrow believes that there is no shame in struggling right now, as we are all riding the roller coaster that is 2020.

“It seems it may be a little while before we can throw an event of the size we're used to, but we're ready to start having in-person gatherings as soon as it is safe and responsible to do so. We hope to be able to do this sooner rather than later as we know everyone is missing that human connection just as much as we are,” stated Morrow.

Another new venture created in the midst of the pandemic is a t-shirt printing business called Harmonize Printing, where people can purchase Joshua Tree Music Festival merchandise as well as designs by musicians, local artists and local businesses who all need community support right now. Style options are available for viewing at harmonizeprinting. com.

For more updates on the status of the Joshua Tree Music Festival, visit joshuatreemusicfestival.com. For more about camping on the grounds, go to casagogo.com.

“It's been heartbreaking to have to cancel not one, but two festivals this year. Yes, it's our passion and livelihood, but more than that it's gathering with the beautiful community of people we've built over the years. Dancing, laughing, celebrating and joyously connecting with our people is what I'm really missing. I know that when we're able to get together again, though, it's going to be amazing!” said Morrow.

The Vino Voice .................................. 14 Screeners ........................................... 15 Haddon Libby ................................... 16 Dale Gribow ...................................... 16 Health - Keto ...................................... 17 Free Will Astrology ............................ 17

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

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COACHELLA VALLEY REPERTORY’S THEATRE THURSDAYS PRESENTS LUMINARY MATCH-UP FEATURING LINDA PURL & PATRICK DUFFY

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oachella Valley Repertory’s Theatre Thursdays presents Luminary Match-Up featuring Linda Purl and Patrick Duffy. Those who attend this onehour FREE virtual event will be immersed in a conversation between American actress and singer Linda Purl (Happy Days, Matlock, The Office) and her beau, Patrick Duffy, widely known for his leading role on the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas, where he played Bobby Ewing. This exclusive luminary will take place on Thursday September 24, 2020 at 6 pm PST. Those interested in reserving their spot in watching these two television stars, can register for a Zoom link at www.cvrep.org.

Linda Purl’s and Patrick Duffy’s bio and photo are attached. Information on upcoming presentations can be found on the website, and registration links are included.

To register for any of these events, please visit www.cvrep.org. To continue CVRep’s mission of providing educational, entertaining and thought-provoking presentations, CVRep is offering Theatre Thursdays, a weekly, virtual entertaining and learning opportunity.

All presentations are offered via Zoom to observe social distancing guidelines.

LINDA PURL: Currently filming the television series: The Oath with Sean Bean and Ryan Kwanten.

Recent running roles: Homeland, (Elizabeth Gaines); True Blood, (Barbara Pelt); The Office, (Helene Beasley) and a guest on Designated Survivor. She has starred in over 45 made-for-TV movies, and is especially known for Charlene Matlock, Matlock and

Ashley Pfister, Fonzie’s fiancée, Happy Days.

Broadway: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; Getting and Spending. OffBroadway: The Baby Dance. Regional: Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Hedda Gabler, The Real Thing, A Glass Menagerie, The Little Foxes, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Road to Mecca with Miss Julie Harris, A Doll’s House, Dinner with Friends (original production), The Year of Magical Thinking, Hippolytus, Camille, Same Time Next Year, The Miracle Worker, Little Murders, All the Way Home, Nora, Copenhagen, Beyond Therapy, Love, Loss and What I Wore, Oliver, Grease, On a Clear Day, Three Penny Opera, The King and I…at such theatres as Long Wharf, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Old Globe, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, Santa Fe Opera, Cleveland Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Laguna Playhouse, The Lensic Santa Fe, Berkeley Rep, Williamstown Theatre Festival (six seasons); Theatre Princesse Grace, Monaco; Imperial Theatre,

Tokyo, Japan. Partial film: Mighty Joe Young, The Walking Major; Leo and Loree; Sundays.

Upcoming: Ties That Bind.

PATRICK DUFFY: Patrick Duffy's tremendous world-wide audience appeal has been gained through three highly successful series. Starting with "Man From Atlantis," then his thirteen years starring as Bobby Ewing on "Dallas" (including the unprecedented dream season which he is brought back from the dead in the famous shower scene), and finally in seven seasons of the popular half-hour situation comedy "Step by Step", Patrick has consistently been an audience favorite. All three series were not only hugely successful in the U.S., but have become benchmark programs all over the world as well. "Man From Atlantis captured its place in history when it became the first American television series program to be aired in China. Born in 1949, Patrick was raised in a small town of 600 people in Montana and moved to Seattle in 1961. He began the

THEATRE

Professional Actors Training Program at the University of Washington under RAD and Old Vic Alumnus William Duncan Ross and Canadian theatre and movement teacher Arnie Zaslov. This was the first undergraduate professional school for actors in a major U.S. university. Over 1,200 people auditioned for this 'second year' of the program and Patrick was one of 12 selected. The four year program trained the actors in works from medieval morality play to the modern works, with the obvious emphasis on Shakespeare through Mr. Ross and theatre and movement with Mr. Zaslov. Upon graduation Patrick was hired as Artist-in-Residence for the state of Washington where he performed with symphonies, opera and ballet companies. It was at this time he met and fell in love with his wife, Carlyn, a ballet dancer with the First Chamber Dance Company of New York.

Patrick was narrating their performances on their U.S. tour. www.cvrep.org

LOCAL BUSINESS AGUA CALIENTE CASINOS TO HOST JOB FAIR OFFERING OVER 300 COVETED POSITIONS OCTOBER 5, MARY PICKFORD THEATER

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esidents from all around Coachella Valley are invited to join Agua Caliente Casinos’ Job Fair being held on Monday, October 5, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City, CA. The Casino company will look to fill over 300 positions between all three of their casino properties; Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, and Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs. Exciting positions include, but are not limited to, the following departments: Slots, Table Games, Food & Beverage, Environmental Services, Marketing, Security, Valet, Facilities, and much more!

Please arrive at the Job Fair ready to share with the Agua Caliente team which position and property you are applying for so they can best accommodate your needs.

Residents of the Valley are encouraged to join the Job Fair ready to articulate how they can contribute to the extraordinary Agua Caliente Casinos team. Attendees should bring an updated resume, samples of work, and any other documents they believe might

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assist them in securing a highly sought-after position at any of the three Agua Caliente Casinos.

Agua Caliente Casinos held an exceptionally well-attended Job Fair on July 27, and achieved such great success they are doing it again. “We are pleased to announce that our job fair held earlier this summer created hundreds of job opportunities for the residents of Coachella Valley, and to build on that success, another job fair will be hosted to assist with the backfilling of MANY positions that current Agua Caliente team members were offered via transfers and promotions,” said Robin Stone, Vice President of Human Resources for Agua Caliente Casinos. Stone added, “Agua Caliente Casinos takes great pride in providing our community the types of positions that are not just jobs, but careers.

Many of our team members have been with us for decades, and we look forward to growing our family with even more amazing talent with this exciting job fair on October 5,” she concluded.

Applicants must wear acceptable facecoverings and be prepared to have their

temperature taken before entering the theater. Six-foot social distancing policies will be maintained throughout the Job Fair as directed by the CDC. The Mary Pickford Theater offers many separate spaces to help ensure applicants can keep a safe distance during the entire process of the Job Fair.

Applicants are encouraged to do some of the following to ensure a successful job fair experience: • Create a customized resume tailored for the position you are interested in.

• Have printed copies of your resume to bring with you. The resume that you create to take to a job fair should be limited to one page.

Remember, roles that date back ten years or more can be condensed into a section called “Prior Professional Experience,” or something similar, where you include just the employers, your titles, and your employment dates.

• Create an elevator pitch (a short speech—30 seconds or fewer or about the length of an elevator ride) in which you tell someone who you are and what you do. You can also include details such as notable accomplishments, standout skills,

your interests, community involvement, or professional goals. Obviously, you can’t include all of that—so think of several highlights, and choose which to share based on who you’re talking to.

• Research the company and ensure you know which departments you feel like you may want to speak with when arriving. Please visit our website at: aguacalientecasinos. com/careers.

Job Fair Details: Date: Monday, October 5, 2020 Time: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Place: Mary Pickford Theater 36850 Pickfair St. Cathedral City, CA 92234

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

CANNABIS CORNER UPDATE ON THE VAPE RELATED PULMONARY DISEASE CRISIS

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n October 23, 2019, my article on these pages shared this: “So far, the CDC has found no single compound that is responsible for vape associated pulmonary injury (VAPI). A report in the New England Journal of Medicine from the Mayo Clinic detailing lung tissue samples from 17 patients with lung injury demonstrated a pattern of injury similar to a chemical fume exposure or a chemical burn that is found in mustard gas exposure during World War I. Many vape pens heat to various temperatures. High temperatures can combust illicit compounds into deadly toxins”. The nation was obsessed with this crisis pre COVID. Now the Chinese virus has caused many national and state processes to end. The obsession with COVID took the ball off the devastating lethal diseases that were exacerbated by the lock-down i.e. increased suicides, child abuse, dementia deaths, heart disease and other screenings for cancer and immunizations. The lethal process that causes death during the coronavirus and EVALI (the CDC’s acronym for e-cigarette or vaping-related lung injuries) is the immune syndrome called “cytokine storm.”

The CDC stopped tracking vaping-related incidents impacting the research on this lethal disease. Treatments for cytokine storm in COVID-19 related complications may be similar to treatments for EVALI. The latest update on this subject is by

BY RUTH HILL R.N.

Project CBD which reported: “By February 2020, sixty-eight people in the United States, including teenagers and seniors, had died because of this mysterious respiratory illness and nearly 3000 were hospitalized with problems ranging from shortness of breath to severe nausea and coughing up blood. The CDC identified vitamin E acetate, a thickening agent added to poor quality cannabis oil extracts, as the likely culprit in cases of respiratory failure linked to vaping.” (https://www.projectcbd.org/science/ vaping-crisis-one-year-later) Vitamin E acetate was found in [vape] product samples and in patients’ lung fluid samples. EVALI patients are diagnosed with lipid pneumonia, a rare inflammatory condition that occurs when fat or oil enters the alveolar sacs of the lungs.

These symptoms similar to other kinds of pneumonia can be triggered by a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection.

Investigative reporting by Leafly showed vitamin E acetate is “among a gang of toxins” identified in illicit vape cartridges, including squalene, a skin cream ingredient, that should not be inhaled. A group of doctors advised in a letter to the Journal of American Medicine that the presence of lipid-laden immune cells in the lungs “should be interpreted with caution because it may merely be a marker of exposure rather than a marker of toxicity.” (https://www. amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(20)300036/fulltext) Most interesting is a review by Adrian Devitt-Lee, Project CBD’s chief science writer, which found several examples of case reports that involved exposure to “synthetic cannabinoids,” a class of difficult-to-detect and potentially lethal research-turnedstreet compounds, which wreak havoc by disrupting the endocannabinoid system. All of these case reports showed a consistent

set of symptoms (ground glass opacities, ruptured blood vessels, oxygen deprivation as lungs fill with fluid, etc.) that align with the CDC’s diagnostic criteria for vaping-related pulmonary disease.

A study by University of Mississippi scientists in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, found thirteen of the 25 available hemp-derived vape oil products contained less than 50 percent of the amount of cannabidiol (CBD) that was indicated on the label; only 3 products contained within 20 percent (plus or minus) of the CBD content claimed on the label; and 3 “CBD” products had no measurable cannabidiol whatsoever.

According to a recent Yale University School of Public Health study, consumers in the five states with the highest per capita incidence of EVALI do not have access to regulated, lab-certified vape oil products made by state-licensed manufacturers. The bottom line: the existence of a legal, regulated cannabis market, warts, and all, reduces the use of dangerous vape oil cartridges, another rational for reclassification out of the Schedule I category which includes heroin and PCP. Send comments to info@ruthahillrn.com twitter log @RuthAHillRN

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

BOOK REVIEW

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rtist Nan Rae, trained in the Western tradition until a visit to Monet’s garden in Giverny led her to the study of Asian Brush painting. Since 1984 she has led workshops across the country, started teaching at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in ’94 and in her studio, teaching over 4,000 adults the wonders of this art form. Nan’s book, ‘The Ch’i of The Brush’, originally published by Random House/Watson-Guptill along with publishers in France and Spain, continues to be used by students worldwide.

At Art Expo, art connoisseurs on seeing Nan Rae’s work commented that they felt as if they entered the paintings and became subjectively involved in them. Exhibited at the Grand Palais in Paris, Japan and China, this best-selling artist’s paintings hang not only in the most prestigious homes in Southern California but also in private and corporate

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AND ARTIST NAN RAE AUTHOR BURBANK CA

collections across the country, in Canada and Europe.

Along with her original artwork and limited edition fine art prints, Nan Rae’s greeting cards are sold in museums and fine

U-PICK RASPBERRIES TRAVEL TIPS4U SNOW-LINE ORCHARDS NOW REOPENED OAK GLEN, CA FRESH RASPBERRIES AND FAMILY FUN!

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lthough they do not offer apple picking, Snow Line Orchard is home to the juiciest and ripest raspberries!

Come and pick your own raspberries, fresh from the vine! Enjoy a unique experience that is fun for everyone and make some great memories while delighting in our open picnic area and beautiful views.

Their raspberries come around once a year during late summer, and only last around 4-6 weeks (Mother Nature and weather conditions may lessen/extend picking season).

Basket Size - 1 pint Cost: 1 Basket $8 / 3 Baskets $18 Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10AM-4PM Monday-Tuesday Closed You are welcome to follow their Facebook page for updates on not only raspberry picking season, but other shop updates,

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BY LYNNE TUCKER

events and weather conditions.

Covid-19 Updates: Availble for Delivery, Takeout and Curbside pickup. Masks required. Hand sanitizer provided. Social distancing enforced.

They look forward to helping you create new family traditions!

Snow-Line Orchard - 39400 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA Think DayCation and Enjoy Picking Raspberries!

stores throughout Europe and the United States as well as being a featured artist with Trader Joe’s Greeting Cards nationwide.

Nan Rae has illustrated several books for various authors and the book ‘Suma the Elephant’ won the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award in New York City for the artwork. The New York Philharmonic chose Nan Rae’s art for their important trip to North Korea and China. Nan has also provided the artwork for the San Francisco Symphony’s yearly celebration of the Chinese New Year as well as designing artwork for the Golden Globe invitations.

At the invitation of her publisher, Laughing Elephant Books, Nan Rae created her first inspirational book, ‘What If…We Have the Power to Change Our Lives’ just in time to be a comfort for many during the pandemic.

Following its success and encouraged by the

BY LYNNE TUCKER response on her postings to over 250,000 combined followers on social media, Nan will be launching her next book ‘That’s Just What I Needed Today’ in November. You may preorder her latest book this October 2020.

Nan Rae now teaches her classes live online and this new avenue has brought students from as far away as Australia, Kuwait, Germany, the UK, Chile, Switzerland and so many more, as she continues to live by her motto “LIVE JOYFULLY!” For more information visit nanrae.com.

Think Books and Enjoy the Read!

Lynne - A Passion 4 Photography 818.298.7007

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

LOCAL MUSIC

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DESERT MUSIC HAPPENINGS

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

ESJAY JONES – COURTNEY CHAMBERS – TYLER ONTIVEROS

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he Coachella Valley and High Desert are home to many musicians who are vested in their careers and established in the music world. The three individuals below represent the surface of musical mortals who inhabit our delightful desert. It is our intent at Coachella Valley Weekly to continue to uplift our artists and request that the community help support the art they make by purchasing their music or financially contributing to their efforts. Please enjoy our interviews with the most modest of them all Esjay Jones, Courtney Chambers and Tyler Ontiveros.

ESJAY JONES

Producer/singer-songwriter Esjay Jones is known for her number #1 singles in her native South Africa as vocalist for the band Stealing Love Jones. The band achieved mainstream success and shared the stage with major international acts like Fall Out Boy, Violent Femmes, Seether and Jimmy Eat World. Now she has developed an illustrious career because of her work as a songwriter and producer with artists like Grey Daze, Alien Ant Farm, Justin Tranter (Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Linkin Park, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande), Jamaican-American rapper Sean Kingston and Mystery Skulls with Nile Rodgers and Brandy just to name a few. Over the last two years in between writing and producing for artists,

she has been building a repertoire of Hip-Hop and Metal influenced productions under the moniker (WE ARE) PIGS. She produced five songs on the enhanced recordings of Chester Bennington’s first band Grey Daze featuring artists like Head and Munky from Korn and Jasen Rauch of Breaking Benjamin. Needless to say, Jones determination is unyielding.

CVW: It sure seems that you have not allowed the pandemic to stop you from getting shit done and remaining a music industry leader. Who instilled that work ethic in you and how have you been able to take it to another level?

Jones: “Hi Noe! Thank you for your positive and kindness affirmations. It’s been a scary time for all: losing jobs, incomes, battling with mental health...honestly, I’m a person that works really well under pressure, so the uncertainty in all of this chaos, seems to have fueled my ambition and alter what I placed importance on. I think South Africans, in general, have a very strong work ethic instilled in us...no one owes you ANYTHING, you have to make yourself...so it’s just up to you to keep pushing against adversarial forces!”

CVW: You’ve written, co-written, produced so many bad-ass songs in your career. What do you continue to derive from participating in such powerful collaborations?

Jones: “Thank you! The music industry is ALL about relationship... it’s relationship building and word of mouth...all of these writes/co-writes/productions that I pour all of my soul into, open up doors to more opportunities and more connections. The music business is like quicksand: If you keep still, you will sink...so you’ve got to keep moving and hustling!”

CVW: (WE ARE) PIGS is your new music project and you released a reimagined cover of Slipknot’s ‘Duality’ featuring guitarist Terry Corso from Alien Ant Farm. The video is an optically captivating, seizure-inducing spectacle! The song has that cool industrial quality while protecting the reverence of the original. What is next for PIGS? Jones: “Hahah! That’s a great description!

This project is just a snowball...it keeps rolling

and it’s got me on my toes and the edge of my seat at the same time! I just finished a cowrite with Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins as well as having Head from Korn jump on a track - his voice is so haunting and inviting... you guys are going to love it! I think the next PIGS single is going to be a call to action song called ‘Protector’ featuring P.O.D. This project is a nod to all the beautiful artists that made me.”

CVW: You and Shasta have established your home in the High Desert. A recording studio, a chicken coop, what's next? Please tell us more about the plans for your property.

Jones: “It’s all a work in progress...a very slow, financially taxing and physically demanding process, but it’s great to see your hard work and vision come to fruition. We don’t have any grand plans other than getting the house renovations completed...we have been doing everything ourselves, so it’s taking a long time but will be worth it in the end.”

CVW: You recently began a livestream series entitled ‘Live from the Coop!’ every Friday night from your property in the High Desert. You provide an education on your lovely feathered creatures as well as give us some excellent live performances. How did the idea come about?

Jones: “That’s a good question...most of my ideas and actions are spur of the moment and not very well thought out! Haha! I’m a dive in and work it out as I go kinda gal. I got a little itch to start playing again and venues were closed due to COVID-19, so I thought I would bring the Word Wide Web to my chicken coop for something light and joyful in the darkness of the current state of the world.

It’s silly, but I am madly in love with my hens, they are so empathetic and sweet and truly love music. Cannot wait for my first happy, healthy, adored egg!”

CVW: Amends is a project that re-imagined several original songs by Grey Daze, the band Chester Bennington graced before joining Linkin Park. You had a hand in producing the powerful songs ‘The Syndrome’, ‘Just Like Heroin’, ‘Soul Song’, ‘Morei Sky’ and

‘She Shines’. Now that it’s been out for a few months, what are your feelings about your participation and the welcome it has received by fans?

Jones: “Being a part of this album and the Grey Daze family has been such a blessing. I never imagined in a million years that I would have credits with my name next to one of my idols. Even through the tragic loss of Chester, he continues to bring so much joy and connective-ness. The response to this album has been overwhelmingly positive and beautiful, the many fans that I have had contact with, really love this record. Sometimes when you are so close to something, it makes it really hard to be objective, but after a few months of not listening to the album, I came back to it and was just like, WOW, this really IS stellar! You can hear the intentions behind these reinvented versions and that purity makes the songs so much sweeter!”

(WE ARE) PIGS - ‘Duality’ Slipknot cover: https://youtu.be/zUpHKe3UWoo “Behind The Board” video feature for the Recording Academy’s GRAMMY.com: https:// youtu.be/EkEubGKg5J8 www.esjayjones.com ---------------------------------------------------COURTNEY CHAMBERS

Esjay with Head from Korn

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The name Courtney Chambers is synonymous with impassioned music, meaningful live performances and righteousness in the Orange County and Coachella Valley music communities. Much like Esjay, Courtney has not sat on her laurels or allowed this external force known as COVID-19 to derail her plans. She adjusted and continues to thrust forward with the production of her new album Evolver. You can get a ‘sneak peek’ of the first single, ‘Run, Girl’ by participating in her Patreon platform (patreon.com/courtneychambersmusic).

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com choose to accept that our industry is over. Our industry will be what we want it to be. In the end, music will never EVER be stopped. It is an ever-powerful source of energy that humans will always need to be a part of.” courtneychambers.net patreon.com/courtneychambersmusic ---------------------------------------------------TYLER ONTIVEROS

CVW: Your YouTube series ‘Chronicles’ is a huge undertaking. Why did you decide to perform every song from your first five albums?

Chambers: “Every time I release a new record, I listen to all of my previous records in order, it’s a sort of ritual. I reminisce, I cry and it brings about so many different emotions. My records are each a story about a season in my life and relationships I’ve had.

With ‘Chronicles’ I wanted to explore that in real time by going back through my records, journals and lyric books and playing them again with the experience I have now and sharing those stories with everyone. I love the stories behind songs, so I wanted to share mine.”

CVW: This retrospect appears to be setting the tone for your upcoming new album Evolve’. How are they connected?

Chambers: “It is all connected. I wanted to tell the story from the beginning so that there is context. It is also helping me to finish writing Evolver. Going through my past, revisiting and evaluating it is very eye opening.”

CVW: You are looked to as a leader in the desert music community. How have you been able to keep your peers’ spirits up while addressing your own apprehension about the future?

Chambers: “Haha, Really? I didn't know that I was looked to as a leader, but that is an absolute complement. I have been hunkering down and looking inward. Looking at the ways I need to change to be a better human being and part of society. I'm not sure that I have been able to keep my peers’ spirits up, but I do my best to come to the table with hope and the understanding that the road to a better future requires a lot of work, primarily within ourselves and that we are capable of extraordinary things if we just open ourselves up to it.”

CVW: You have a Patreon page to help your new album move forward. What are the benefits of supporting your new album?

Chambers: “Yes! www.patreon.com/ courtneychambersmusic. I upload content that doesn't get on any other social media platform and I will be adding new incentives to help me fund this record.”

CVW: You’ve stayed busy working on the new record and also recently returned to performing live. How are you feeling overall about the state of the music industry?

Chambers: “I have great hope for the music industry. I think musicians are very resourceful, we always have been, we just have to lose the negative messages we

Tyler Ontiveros is the drummer’s drummer. A percussionist, timekeeper and musician who embellishes the musical timbre of all artists he performs with, Ontiveros has toured the world performing and brought back a profound sense of purpose in progressing forward in his career. The former drummer for Desert Metal acts Drop the World and One Shot Thrill, Ontiveros has beefed up his resume with some of the Coachella Valley’s most considerable music catalysts.

CVW: You are currently drumming for Mega Sun, Waxy, Courtney Chambers, Order of the Wolf and Jetta King…whew! (deep breath) Please give us an update on each: Mega Sun: “Mega Sun has been in the studio working on new material over at Brad Garrow’s Dead End Studios and we will be recording and releasing it at the end of October/early November 2020. We’re working with some big names on this. The mixing and mastering will be done by Chris Collier producer and engineer of KORN and of course our producer and good friend Mikey Doling (Channel Zero, Woyote, JaxxRock Entertainment).”

Waxy: “Waxy will be recording an experimental/acoustic album messing around with a variety of instruments. Steve Feldman (QOTSA, Unida, Fu Manchu, John Garcia) will be the engineer on the album. Knowing Robbie, it'll be heartfelt, wacky and brilliant all at the same time. Waxy has also been working with new musicians to find a good fit for the next bass player.”

Courtney Chambers: “Courtney will always be an artist I look forward to working with and when the time comes for live performances again, I'm sure you can catch her with the full band backing her and doing our best to

September 24 to September 30, 2020 TYLER ONTIVEROS PHOTOS BY BRELINDA WADLEY

properly portray her heartfelt music.”

Order of the Wolf: “OOTW has been writing new material as well and plan to release another single shortly with either a music video shot by Circulation Media (Zak Kupcha) or a lyric video. We are also doing test prints of T-shirts and other merch to prepare for our first full order and be stocked up for shows when the state opens up. We had our first show lined up at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood and then COVID-19 hit.”

The Jetta King Band: “We are getting back into a regular rehearsal schedule and preparing to record at the end of November out in Redlands at Room 9 Recording Studio with Jerry Whiting. It'll be nice to finally have something recorded for this project, it’s been a long time coming.”

CVW: You’re not just a drummer but a student of music. You previously taught drum line/percussion at Palm Springs High School and take your craft very seriously. What can you share with young people wanting to start playing drums?

Ontiveros: “Even though the education and theory side of it is important, that will come in time, let your passion take you for the ride. As long as the passion is there, everything else will follow.”

CVW: The Mega Sun video for the song ‘Svengali’ was selected by the 2020 Marina Del Rey Film Festival and the video for ‘Under Attack’ is kick-ass cool! Why do you feel it’s necessary or beneficial to have a visual for the music you produce?

Ontiveros: “It's not really necessary but obviously if hearing it for the first time, it's just an addition to the experience of the music and is beneficial to keep viewers engaged.

Attention spans have greatly shortened with tech at our fingertips and the need for instant gratification.”

CVW: How are you handling the pandemic and how much are you chomping at the bit to perform live with any of your bands?

Ontiveros: “I have been able to focus on developing my business, building clientele and also focus on creating some content for my YouTube channel. Just like every other musician right now, I am dying to perform live again. Being able to create that energy and connection with the crowd and leave the stage on that incredible high from playing my

heart out. I'm an introvert and socially anxious anyway so the quarantine was nice lol.”

CVW: On your website you have this quote, “Work hard in silence let success be your noise.” Can you elaborate on that theory?

Ontiveros: “Haha, well like I had mentioned, I am naturally socially awkward and introverted so it was a quote for me to hide behind for a while but I'm getting more comfortable in front of the camera since creating content. I do find I can relate to this quote in the sense that not just artists but everyone should try their best to be humble as to not boast about what you're doing but just do it and put it out there and let your actions speak for you. Just want to say a huge THANK YOU to CV WEEKLY, Tracy Dietlin and Phil Lacombe for the love and support through my journey as a desert musician. Miss everyone in the music scene and definitely cannot wait to get back to playing shows.”

Mega Sun - ‘Under Attack’ Drum Playthrough: youtube.com/watch?v=ml1rka0eRhA tylerontiveros.com

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

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CONSIDER THIS

B

onnie Whitmore’s music tends to blur lines, and that’s a good thing. The Denton, Texas native grew up in a musical family and she began making her own music as a toddler.

She first picked up the fiddle, and “promptly put it down,” before settling on bass. By the time she was eight years old she’d s witched to guitar and then cello.

Pretty quickly, she, along with her older sister, Eleanor joined her parents in the family band, Daddy & The Divas. Her dad, Alex, was an experienced pilot and would fly the band to some of their gigs. Not only was her mom, Marti, a trained opera singer, but she also taught her daughters to be outspoken and unapologetic. She insisted they both have the courage of their convictions.

While she counts her parents as her primary musical influence, that list of inspirations grew longer and more eclectic as the years progressed, beginning with Bonnie Raitt and Tracy Chapman, to Phoebe Snow, Traveling Wilburys, Erykah Badu, Lisa Loeb, Centro-matic, Fiona Apple and Emitt Rhodes. By age 15, she officially began her solo career. At the outset, she earned her keep by playing bass or adding backing vocals for local Texas musicians. At the dawn the 21st century, she moved to Austin, she relocated to Nashville for a few years, but returned to the Lone Star state and made Austin her home.

She first made a name for herself by singing back-up for heavy-hitters like Hayes Carll, Eliza Gilkyson, Jimmy Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock.

At age 21, she secured her first residence at Momo’s, pretty soon she relocated to the legendary Continental Club. Within a few years, she became James McMurtry’s go-to opener on tour.

Bonnie recorded her solo debut, Embers To Ashes in 2011, it garnered great reviews, and created significant buzz. Two years later she followed up with There I Go Again. Her third effort, Fuck With Sad Girls arrived in 2016 and caused quite a stir. Not that Bonnie ever courted controversy, but she’s never shied away from speaking her mind. Early on, she decided she was going to sing about the stuff she wanted to talk about. Now she has returned with Last Will And Testament, which is a sequel of sorts to Fuck…

The ambitious title track kicks the album into gear. If Tammy Wynette, the Shirelles and Vic Flick were ever asked to create a new James Bond Theme, it might sound a bit like this. Angelic harmonies are supplanted by static-y rhythm guitar, tensile bass, swoony strings, reverb-drenched electric guitar, anchored to a stompy beat. Cryptic lyrics touch on a local musician’s suicide; “So I’ll work on my reverie, the only one that hurts is me, and I don’t need to take your time/Cause it’s just one more off my list, and we can seal it with a kiss, and I’ll go back to writing my last will and testament.”

On three tracks, Bonnie wears her influences on on her sleeve. With “Right/Wrong,” co-written

by Scott Davis, slip stitch guitars thread through a tapestry of knotty bass lines and slurred Hammond B3 notes, over a relax-fit cha-cha-cha rhythm. The melody shares some musical DNA with the Bee Gees “How Deep Is Your Love” and the guitar jinglejangle echoes the Wilburys’ frisky “HandleMe With Care.” The lyrics ask the tough questions; “Where do you want to go? Surrounded by endless chatter, it’s hard to hate up close, and words can get lost in the face of what really matters,” Before concluding; “What’s the point of liberty, and the land of the free without you and me?” Propulsive horns drive the irresistible chorus and twinkly piano notes close out the song.

“Fine,” which was co-written by Jaimee Harris, could sandwich nicely between Tom Petty and Emmylou Harris. Hard-charging guitars, rumbling bass lines and a wash of Hammond B3 are tethered

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

“LAST WILL & TESTAMENT” RECORDS) BONNIE WHITMORE (AVIATRIX

to a galloping gait. The lyrics chart the highs and lows of a combustible romance. She offers some false reassurance; “Are you okay honey, are you looking for the exit sign/Are you coming with me, know whatever you decide, I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine.”

Sure, she says she’ll be fine, but what she means is she’s not fine, but she will be. The final chorus is pared down to just Bonnie and an acoustic guitar, and her heartbreak is palpable. But so is her resolve.

Meanwhile, she tackles “Flashes & Cables,” a signature song from her hometown heroes, Centro-Matic. While the original was equal parts sad-sack and shambolic, Bonnie’s arrangement slowly builds from torchy vocals and tender piano on the first verse, to stacked harmonies, shreddy guitars, vroomy keys, spidery bass and a rattle-trap beat. Although this song was written and recorded in the mid ‘90s, lyrics like “Nobody told us the bastards were here, all the rogues and the scoundrels are shedding their tears/No, nobody told us the cameras were here, all the flashes and cables, won’t someone please save us,” seem to mirror these fractious times.

For Bonnie, the political is personal and vice versa. There have been times in her career when she was urged to just shut up and sing, but that has been nearly impossible, since she was raised to speak her mind. That ethos is evident on two tracks, “None Of My Business” and “Time To Shoot.”

The former, co-written with Astrid Swan, is lush and languid. Bonnie wraps her sultry and soulful vocals around Beatlesque keys, gauzy strings, lonesome pedal steel, rippling bottleneck guitar and a tick-tock beat. The song was written in reaction to the 2015 terrorist attacks at the Bataclan club in Paris. That horrific event isn’t explicitly mentioned, but throughout the song, she searches for a solution to the unthinkable madness. The final verse feels like a start; “Instead of melody, let’s find the harmony, love forwardly, don’t let our fears defend us.”

The latter obliquely references the massshooting that occurred at the Pulse Nightclub in 2016. A 29-year-old security guard killed 49 people and wounded 53. Most of the patrons were Hispanic and LGBTQ. The song unfurls slowly, Bonnie’s vocals cresting over concentric keys, piquant guitars and a thumping beat. But the arrangement shapeshifts on the chorus, urgently building toward a crescendo, as strings sway, the beat slips into a martial cadence. She seems to be addressing the assailant when she notes “For the truth, for the war, to know what you’re fighting for/ Cause it’s not about faith, if all you hold is to hate.”

The best tracks here spotlight Bonnie’s ability to straddle different musical genres. “Asked For It” is a spiky New Wave anthem that could have been written in 1982. Jagged guitar riffs ride roughshod over pounding piano, rubbery bass lines and a walloping backbeat. The lyrics drill down on a misogynistic rape culture still comfortable with blaming the victim. Here, she can barely keep her indignance in check as she spits out the facts; “There are few who try for retribution, statistics show it’s more like one of six (five)/Don’t worry, they probably knew them, cause after all, sex is sex.” The scorching guitar on the break underscores the rage and frustration.

While “Asked For It” is sharp and biting, “Love Worth Remembering” is a slow-cooked Soul jam.

Barbed wire guitars connect with plush Hammond B3, tensile bass and a thwoking beat. Recalling the bucolic beauty of Gram Parsons’ “Hickory Wind,” the song feels like an instant classic. Bonnie invests her whole self as she pays homage to a newfound love that’s built to last; “Cause I make you laugh, and you make me sing, finally at last, I

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

know what I’m doing/And I’ve got your back, don’t mention a thing, just glad we have a love worth remembering.”

Finally, “Imaginary” is a complete surprise, taking a few pages from the Tom Waits playbook.

Springy toy piano is matched by off-kilter percussion, akimbo bass lines and coiled guitars.

Bonnie’s vocals are spectral and mechanized until the full-throated chorus. Lyrics challenge us to persevere; “Sleep will come, as soon as our work, united we become equal as to everyone.”

The record closes with “George’s Lullaby.” Sleek and Supper Club smooth, the song is a sharp blend of Jazz and Country in ¾ time. Sparkly, Honky-Tonk piano is bookended by sultry strings, liquid guitars, authoritative upright bass and brushed percussion.

There’s a catch in her voice as she offers a tender encomium to her late friend and mentor, bassist George Reiff. “They say that the hearing’s the last thing to go, so my friend, my heart heart-beats once more/Be with you forever, with me always, I’ll

see you again, somewhere and some-when, I’ll see you again, someday.”

The album was recorded over a five-day period, a sixth day was factored in to add strings and horns. But everything was recorded live in the studio. Bonnie split production chores with Scott Davis, who played all manner of guitar and added vocals and horn arrangements.

Also on hand were drummer Craig Bagby and Trevor Nealon on Hammond, Wurlitzer, piano, synths and toy piano. The horn section featured David Bechdolt on saxophone and baritone saxophone, as well as Steve Butts on trumpet.

Bonnie’s sister, Eleanor (currently one-half of altcountry outfit the Mastersons, with her husband, Chris Masterson), played violin and handled string arrangements. Backing vocals were provided by Akina Adderley and Betty Soo (3/4ths of Charlie Faye & The Fayettes, as well as talented solo artists in their own right), plus Centro-Matic’s Will Johnson. Britton Biesenherz supplied drum loops and percussion and Bonnie played bass, 8 string bass, acoustic guitar and cello.

Following a path paved by antecedents like Dusty Springfield and Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie’s music colors outside the lines and blurs perceptions. Clearly, she is courageous enough to follow her muse and speak her truth. As she announces in the song “Imaginary,” she seems unafraid to “hold out and be contrary.” Last Will & Testament feels like Bonnie Whitmore’s watershed moment. If you’re smart, you’ll soak it all in.

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

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PET PLACE

hinking about adopting a new cat? You and Fluffy might feel a bit isolated these days, and could benefit from having another feline for a boost of companionship. Sadly, homeless cats abound and there are lots to choose from in shelters and rescues. You save the life of a beautiful cat, and in turn it brings new life and joy to your home. However, you might be uncertain about Fluffy’s reaction as she hasn’t been with other cats during her time in your home.

Careful planning avoids the horrible hissing and fighting that might occur when some cats meet for the first time. A great introduction method, explained in detail in the book The New Natural Cat by Anitra Frazier, allows you to adopt a second cat without worry. What could be more fun than 2 cats engaged in joyful play, happily pouncing and chasing, twirling like circus acrobats?

Many owners think their "Fluffy" would be jealous or miserable if they adopted another cat. To the contrary, cats that live with another cat friend live longer, healthier and happier lives. If you have an elderly cat, a mature and calm companion works better than an active kitten. If you have an energetic cat, one that is equally playful or a kitten would be a good match. The steps below may take several hours to complete but are well worth the investment.

1. Have someone outside the household arrive with the newcomer cat in a carrying case. Have torn strips of newspaper in the bottom of the case.

2. Everyone must act completely oblivious to the new cat. The visitor sits in the living room with the cat inside the carrying case on his lap for about 20 minutes.

3. Next the visitor moves the carrying case to the floor next to his feet. If your cat comes over and sniffs the case and walks away, ignore him, continue chatting and proceed to step 5. If your cat stays away from the case, include step 4.

4. The visitor takes a few of the newspaper strips from the carrier, makes a trip to another room dropping a trail of the strips

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TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE! PROPERLY INTRODUCING A NEW CAT!

behind them. This gives your cat a chance to become familiar with the new cat's scent.

5. The visitor continues to sit and talk.

When your cat sits calmly in the room without staring continually at the carrying case, proceed to the next step.

6. Take your cat into the kitchen for a snack, closing the door. The visitor in the living room now opens the carrying case and lets the new cat out. Your cat won't feel like its family put the newcomer in its territory, and this gives the new one some time to explore.

7. When your cat finishes his snack and returns to the living room, the family stays behind in the kitchen.

8. When the cat returns to the living room, the visitor joins the family in the kitchen. Everyone acts oblivious to the cats who are now roaming free.

9. Do not offer encouragement or interest in the cats. If you must check, have one person enter the living room but without paying obvious attention to the cats. At this stage, hissing is normal. If loud growling occurs, you may need to separate them, and this may mean one of the earlier steps was not carried out properly.

10. When the cats cease pacing around

and sit in the same room together, the humans leave the house for about a 30 minute walk.

11. When you return home, greet your own cat while continuing to ignore the newcomer. If there is nothing worse than hissing going on, the visitor can leave.

MEET PEE WEE

MEET KAHLUA

Just a little guy, Pee Wee is 12 lbs of doggie love. A great mix of breeds, this adorable ChiWeenie boy is 5 yrs old. He waits for a home at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, www.psanimalshelter. org. Contact them at (760) 416-5718 for an appointment to meet and adopt Pee Wee, dog IDA45404903.

Precious kitten found abandoned by a good Samaritan and rescued

by Loving All Animals. Now 9 weeks old, this pretty Calico girl is doing well in a loving foster home. Call Jeanette at Loving All Animals in Coachella (760) 834-7000 for an appointment to meet/adopt Kahlua, www.lovingallanimals.org.

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BY JANET McAFEE

12. The final stage of the introduction occurs at the cats' own pace over the next few days. Continue to ignore the new cat until your first cat accepts him. Encourage activities for the 2 cats to do together, such as putting a couple of cardboard boxes together in a room for them to play on.

The reward for all this work comes from the strong bond of communication and affection that develops between the two cats. Eventually that bond extends to their human companions. Watch the drama unfold, be proud of your success, and enjoy having two little furballs greet you when you arrive home!

Kittyland in Desert Hot Springs is a great place to begin your search. Pretty Good Cat has lots of cats waiting in foster homes for “furever homes”. The Palm Springs Animal Shelter and our county shelter, The Coachella Valley Animal Campus, are also good sources. A list of local animal shelters and rescue organizations is attached to help you in your search for a new cat or dog!

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com --------------------------------------------Below is a partial list of shelters and rescues in the Inland Empire with animals for adoption. They are currently closed for walkins, and you must call for an appointment.

You can view most of their animals online before calling. Thank you for rescuing!

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

Email them the animal’s ID number at shelterinfo@rivco.org, or schedule a virtual adoption appointment at www.rcdas.org, 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, (760) 343-3644. (Public) PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. They schedule appointments Wednesday through Monday. View their animals online at www. psanimalsshelter.org, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5718. (Public) ANIMAL SAMARITANS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at www. animalsamaritans.org. Email acorrow@ animalsamaritans.org to foster. Located at 72307 Ramon Rd, Thousand Palms, (760) 601-3918. (Private) CALIFORNIA PAWS RESCUE - The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at www. californiapawsrescue.com, (760) 656-8833.

(Private) HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt a dog or cat.

This shelter has lots of big dogs in addition to small dogs and cats. View some of their animals at www.orphanpet.com. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 329-0203. (Private) KITTYLAND – The shelter is closed so call for an appointment to adopt a cat. Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs, www.kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700.

(Private) FOREVER MEOW – Foster based rescue for cats located in Rancho Mirage. Contact them at www.ForeverMeow.org, (760) 3356767. (Private) PRETTY GOOD CAT – Foster based rescue for cats located in La Quinta. Contact them at www.prettygoodcat.com, (760) 660-3414 (Private) LOVING ALL ANIMALS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 83496 Avenue 51, Coachella, www.lovingallanimals.org, (760)

September 24 to September 30, 2020

834-7000. (Private) MORONGO BASIN HUMANE SOCIETY – Located at 4646 Sun View Rd, Joshua Tree, www.mbhumanesociety.com, call between 11am-4pm for updates (760) 366-3786 (Private) CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ANIMAL SHELTER – Shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Hours

SAFETY TIPS

for adoption 10am – 4pm Tuesday thru Sat. Google “City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter” for website to view animals and get the ID number of the animal you want to meet. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 3847272. (Public) SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AT DEVORE – Shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Call (909) 386-9280 daily. View animals at www. sbcounty.gov/acc and get the ID number of animal you want to meet. Located at 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (Public).

DREAM TEAM ANGELS RESCUE - Foster based rescue located in Grand Terrace/San Bernardino area. Contact them through website www.DreamTeamangelsrescue. com, (360) 688-8884. (Private)

FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

THE TWO FIRE SEASONS IN CALIFORNIA – BAD AND REALLY BAD!

T

his is the first week of fall, and with it comes Santa Ana wind season.

Though fire season is year-round, Fall typically brings triple-digit temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds bringing high fire danger and red flag warnings. This time of year makes the bad year-round fire season – really bad!

What is a Santa Ana? According to the California-Nevada Climate Applications Program (CNAP), the Santa Ana is a “dry, sometimes hot and dusty wind in southwestern California that blows westward through the canyons toward the coastal areas.” Santa Ana winds can occur during fall, winter, and spring, but they tend to peak during October through December.

I am an amateur at this, so let me play meteorologist for one minute. The Great Basin includes most of Nevada, half of Utah, and sections of Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, and California. Sometimes, cold air from the north becomes trapped in the Great Basin, caught between the Rockies and the Sierras/Southern California coastal range. As CNAP notes, this cold air mass is characterized by unusually high pressure near the land surface. When that pressure gets high enough to exceed the pressure along the California coast, the Santa Ana winds develop. As those winds move from higher to lower elevations, they become dramatically warmer and dryer. And as they

move through narrow mountain passes, they pick up lots of speed.

As firefighters, we dread the Santa Ana’s, and no – not just because they can irritate our allergies or bring on dry skin. The winds do not cause wildfires; people, accidents, vehicles, and disasters both natural and man-made do.

Many times, intentional!

The Santa Ana’s have a particularly devastating history of fanning the flames, creating some of the largest and most destructive fire events in Southern California.

In fact, they are sometimes known as the “devil winds.”

But it is not just a Southern California problem. Diablo’s and Sundowners occur in Central and Northern California. When large wildfires strike, many resources and personnel are called on throughout California, and even out of state. California has one of the most efficient mutual aid systems in the country.

When multiple fires occur, it stretches our resources.

Regardless of where you live, wildfires impact everyone. Resources are dispatched from every city/county in the state. Resources get stretched thin. Air quality is affected, highways get closed, school classes get cancelled, utilities are interrupted, and it cost taxpayers millions of dollars to fight these fires.

Are you prepared? Visit readyforwildfire. org/Prepare-For-Wildfire.

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THE VINO VOICE

ow that we’re into the autumn aspect of our on-going wine game—and in view of the safety measures we’re all under, I thought I’d give you readers a quick list of wines to consider and perhaps pick up at the market in seconds flat!

And the deal of this week’s column is that I’m suggesting “value” wines, which work well on the casual dinner table and are easy on the wallet. This is the time when those loyal readers of mine—who actually go to the store and try one of my recommended bottles—express a little attitude in that I’m kinda giving away some really good buys. In other words, the shelves at the store may go empty. It’s the old “boohoo”—what are you gonna do?

And now—for your consideration, some tasty wine at very reasonable prices. (Please note: the prices listed below reflect those at Ralph’s Markets here in California with their 6-bottle mix or match price program. Vons/Albertsons and Stater Bros have similar price programs as well.)

Let’s start off with a sparkling bubby (I know—both terms mean the same, it’s repetitive but “a sparkling bubbly” sounds fun.) One of the tastiest brut rosés on the market is the Gran Sello Brut Rosé Cava from Spain ($7.99) It’s just so nice to have such a quality wine for the price! Deep salmon in color, this Cava sparkler has notes of strawberry, tart apple and lemon. The palate is bright with apple flavors and lime following with fresh bread and mineral notes. Great crisp acidity! The wine is imported by Guarachi Wine Partners Inc. of Woodland Hills, CA, should you wish to order it.

Some other oh-so-tasty sparklers for you French die-hards is the Lucien Albrecht Crémant

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RICK’S QUICK WINE PICKS

d’Alsace Brut and Brut Rosé, both sell for around $17. Granted, they are at next level prices, but these are the bubblies you’ll wish to serve at social-distancing gatherings to both impress and save money at the same time.

The Brut is produced from 100% Pinot Blanc and shows refreshing touches of lime and lemon zest on the nose. The palate adds a mellow ripeapple note, helped along by a creamy texture.

The long finish is clean and dry.

The Brut Rosé is pure Pinot Noir with a panoply of aromas and flavors of dried fruit, apricot, citrus, orange peel, and herb notes. It’s got good acidity and of course is bolder and more lush than its brut sibling.

I recommend this sparkler all the time and almost everyone has come back to pick up some more bottles. It can match the higher priced French stuff with ease.

When it comes to a value Sauvignon Blanc,

there is no better approval than the Gallo Family Vineyards California Sauvignon Blanc at $2.99 a bottle. I’ve written on this wine before and recommend it all the time. Most often, the customer roll their eyes and ask for another suggestion. I almost have to plead with them to give the Gallo Sauv Blanc a try. At that price, most buyers give in; and they return to buy more. So don’t be scared!

It offers a bright balance of fruit flavors— honeydew melon, citrus & ripe apple. It’s light with a crisp finish when served chilled. It tastes way above its pay grade. Perfect cooking wine as well, meaning using it both in your recipe and drinking whilst cooking!

You guys know I’m serious about my Moules Marinières—mussels steamed with white wine and slowly sweating a trio of leeks, shallots, and garlic. Here the briny liquid forms a uniquely savory sauce finished with olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, and butter which is ideal for dipping toasted sour-dough bread. We just prepared it last week with linguine—and of course, we used almost a full bottle of Gallo Sauv blanc in the mix.

Delish!

For a very good Chardonnay at a great price look to Seaglass. This is a Santa Barbara Chard, and as you Chard fans know, thearea can produce some heavy hitting wines. Of course, this is the well-known heavily oaked stuff. The Seaglass Chardonnay ($7.99) is unoaked, fermented in stainless steel tanks, not undergoing malolactic fermentation, allowing the pure flavor of the fruit to shine through. The result is an alluring combination of tropical aromas, rich flavors, refreshing acidity and a vibrant mouthfeel.

For those who’ve traveled to Santa Barbara

BY RICK RIOZZA wine country—which is such a fun jaunt, you’ll recognize the Los Alamos Vineyard area from which this wine is produced. This Chard owns a zesty palate of stone fruit and green apple framed by citrus notes and a lively finish. A pure expression of coastal Unoaked Chardonnay!

As to a Red Blend recommendation—I’ve got one of the best!! And it will be true that the shelves will go empty once this wine gets out to the public sensibility. And that will affect me as well! Our store gets around six bottles at a time, and I buy what I can; it’s my table wine all the time. At $2.99 a bottle, it is one of the best red wine buys.

Aconga Red Blend is produced in the famed Mendoza region in Argentina. The wine has flavors of plum and black fruit with a hint of anise and cassis. This is a nice lightly complex wine that is not on the fruity sweet side. Any other $2.99 wine on the market will be on the fruity sweet side—you know that. This one isn’t, and it shows some structured tannins—how refreshing for that price point!

Aconga is an 80% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon blend and is produced in the Uco Valley. Sometimes called “The Napa of the South,” Mendoza is Argentina’s premier winemaking region, although the country has several. And within Mendoza itself, the Uco Valley is the Mecca for lovers of wine. Enjoy the news—and you’re welcome.

Stay safe! Cheers!

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SCREENERS

here’s no doubt that traditional movie production and distribution has just about come to a grinding halt. What I miss most is the communal experience of sharing big screen films at an indoor venue with a bunch of strangers surrendering to the same shared emotion.

Theater chain managers and studio spokespersons insist that cinemas will again open n the not too distant future. But will it safe to go? Most medical experts are cautious about embracing a return to crowded indoor gatherings of any kind in the months to come.

With that said, the Palm Springs International Film Festival Society has announced new dates for the 32nd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. The festival will move to Thursday, February 25, 2021 through Monday, March 8, 2021.

On Thursday, February 25, the annual Film Awards Gala will kick off the festival at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Full days of film screenings will begin February 26 including the Opening Night presentation that evening and will conclude with Best of Fest on March 8.

The date change is to ensure the health and safety of our patrons, staff, filmmaker guests and partners and to make sure we can have a memorable and enjoyable festival experience.

Film submissions will be accepted through FilmFreeway. Film Award Gala seats and tables and Festival passes will go on sale in October.

For additional info visit psfilmfest.org or call 760-778-8979 or 800-989-7276.

One good thing is that we still have access to fun TV series collections (see below) and a plethora of watchable streaming titles.

DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW: The Complete Fifth Season.

The world’s most epic race against time continues…

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No. 440

September 24 to September 30, 2020

IS THE END OF MOVIES HERE?

Suit up for all 15 captivating one-hour episodes from the fifth season, plus enjoy the epic extra content including a post-production featurette, deleted scenes and a gag reel. A limited-edition bonus disc featuring all five DC Crossover vent Crisis on Infinite Earths episodes will be exclusively for available exclusively for fans who purchase the Blu-ray.

The popular hit series follows a group of misfit heroes as they fight, talk, and sing (yes, sing!) their way through protecting the timeline from aberrations, anomalies, and anything else that threatens to mess with history.

After saving the world via the power of song and themed entertainment in last season’s finale, the Legends are major celebrities. Some struggle with the transition from lovable losers to A-list stars, while others start letting fame go to their heads. When a documentary crew decides to film the Legends in action, distracting them from their original mission, Astra Logue frees history’s most notorious villains from Hell in a desperate bid for

power. It’s up to the legends to forgo fame and stop these reanimated souls (who they quickly dub “Encores”) from wreaking havoc on the timelines, whether it’s Rasputin popping out of his coffin and trying to become an immortal tsar or Marie Antoinette (and her head) turning the French Revolution into a deadly non-stop party!

After five strong seasons, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow continues to score in ratings as one of the top series for The CW. Embrace the weird, and get ready to binge on wild plot twists and engaging storytelling from the unique “Legends,” as well as unbelievable bonus content that will hold your attention for hours! Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

RICK AND MORTY: Season 4 America’s favorite crazy scientist and his grandson return for more misadventure with the latest season of Adult Swim’s hit series.

From creators Justin Roiland (“Adventure Time”) and Dan Harmon go on an intergalactic journey across the multi-verse with the award-winning comedy featuring all 10 episodes from Season 4,

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS and outrageous bonus content including A Day at Rick and Morty; Inside Season 4, Inside the Episode for every episode, Creating Snake Jazz, and more.

Buckle in for disappointment because there’s no way these episodes will be good enough for how long you waited. But maybe they will b? It’s season four! It’s sexy and smooth. Buckle in! But I already said that.

Rick and Morty remains a ratings leader for Adult Swim and retains an and unbelievably loyal fan base season after season.

Mary Ellen Thomas Warner Bros. Home Ent. Senior Vice President, Originals, Animation & Family marketing said the award-winning series has spawned comic books, video games, tabletop games, merchandise, music video and more brings fans a hilarious fresh slate of exciting adventures from the fourth season in hi-def!

Warner Bros. Home Ent. robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

HADDON LIBBY

VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN

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arly voting and mail-in ballots are only a few weeks away. While most of the attention is focused on the Presidential race, the Coachella Valley has many important elections for locals to cast their ballots for.

At the top of the local ticket is the race for Congress. Four-term Congressman, Dr. Raul Ruiz (D) is running against Erin Cruz (R).

Ms. Cruz’ website states that she is running as a ‘Tea Party’ Republican.

The battle for the 42nd State Assembly district is between Andrew Kotyuk (R) and Mayor of San Jacinto and two-term incumbent Chad Mayes. Mayes left the Republican Party in December, 2019. In leaving the GOP, Mayes told Jill Cohen of the New York Times, “Politics shouldn’t be about the cult of personality. It should be about debating ideas. But it’s the obsession that people have on both sides. The blind loyalty among Republicans to the president, or for that matter, the blind hatred that Democrats have for the president is the problem. And that’s why I think it’s best to be able to step outside of the two extremes.”

For the 56th district, incumbent Eduardo Garcia (D) is facing newcomer America Figueroa (R).

Looking around the valley, there are a number of city council races.

Cathedral City District 1 has incumbent Rita Lamb facing Alan Carvalho. Ms. Lamb joined the council last year in a special election to replace long-time councilman, Greg Pettis, who died in early 2019. In that election, Ms. Lamb, a retired school principal, faced

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former councilman and Mr. Carvalho’s spouse, Shelley Kaplan. During that contest, Mr. Carvalho had a number of complaints filed against him for harassment, including one by Ms. Lamb. It will be interesting to see if a progressive activist with a Trumpian style can win over a retired school principal.

District 2 has JR Corrales against new full-time resident Nancy Ross in filling the seat of outgoing Mayor John Aguilar. Ross, a recent snowbird turned local from Portland, Oregon, is considered the front-runner.

Coachella Three-term Mayor, Steven Hernandez facing Lesly Figueroa, a community organizer.

City Council Incumbents, Felipe Bautista and Emmanuel Martinez face Neftali Galarza and Denis Delgado with the top two vote getters being elected. City Clerk and

DALEGRIBOW ON THELAW

Treasurer positions are running unopposed.

Desert Hot Springs Incumbent Mayor Scott Matas faces Adam Sanchez. Meanwhile, two city council seats are up with incumbent Russell Betts and council appointee Robert Griffith facing Jonathan Laura, RJ Giboney, Jessica Gilbert, Roger Nunez and Jason Moore for the two seats.

Indian Wells Three of its five council seats decided in November with incumbents Ty Peabody and Ted Mertens unable to run for reelection due to term limits. Incumbent Kimberly Muzik faces former councilman Doug Hansen, attorney Greg Sanders and writer Kathy Strong with three of the four to be elected.

Indio Mayor Glenn Miller is running against

Erin Teran for the 1st district. In the 5th district, incumbent Lupe Ramos Amith faces Erick Nadurille and Frank Ruiz.

La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans is facing perpetual candidate Robert Sylk. Richard Gray is hoping to unseat either incumbent Steve Sanchez or Kathleen Fitzpatick.

Palm Desert Karina Quintanilla is looking to unseat Susan Weber in the 1st district. District 2 has incumbents Gina Nestande and Kathleen Kelly up against Evan Trubee and Steven Moyer for two council seats.

Palm Springs Councilmember Christy Holstege faces former councilman Mike McCulloch and Dian Torres in the 4th district while Lisa Middleton is running unopposed in the fifth.

At the top of the ballot is a vote for President of the United States. As of this writing, Biden led Trump in the state by a 23 point margin. State polls show as many as one in seven voters in the state may vote for one of the other four Presidential candidates on the ballot: Gloria La Riva of the Peace and Freedom Party, Rocky de la Fuente Guerra of the American Independent Party or Howie Hawkins of the Green Party.

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

WinslowDrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

DO I NEED A LAWYER FOR A WILL IN 2020?

Y

ou are right IF you said I don't need a lawyer to prepare a will! In 2020 you can prepare what is called a Holographic Will by writing it out in your own handwriting with nothing else on the paper. You can't use a business or hotel letterhead and you can't use a stamp for the date... let alone typing anything! Any of the preceding items would make the proposed WILL INVALID. A Holographic Will, has to be dated and signed and show that it was meant to be a will, in other words that it had TESTAMENTARY INTENT. Your holographic should state "This is My Last Will and Testament, dated October 16, 2019 in Palm Desert California."

The question is not whether you can prepare a will on your own, but rather, whether you should hire a lawyer to do so. Don't do it yourself. A Will is not that expensive, and the consequences of failing to prepare it right are very serious. For instance if you want to leave $1,000,000 to each of your two children and you give one a $1,000,000 bequest and the other a diamond

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or home worth a million... what happens if the diamond or home is sold before you die.

The answer is that the son to whom you left the diamond or home gets nothing because it is no longer in existence. The other sons still get his $1,000,000. Is that what you wanted?

In addition you may need estate planning that goes beyond the need for a will. You may want to put a home in a trust or buy life insurance to pay the estate taxes. Legal advice can be invaluable in those circumstances.

A few years ago I had a radio program and I opened each show with the saying "People Don't Plan to Fail, They Fail to Plan". Many well educated and famous, people whose name you know did not plan ahead.

Many famous people have died without Estate Planning and their estate was a mess.

Walt Disney, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller are a few who did not plan ahead. They failed to plan.

When lecturing, I asked the question "Have you completed an estate plan?" I get answers as follows: Widow: "I don't really have an estate; I

only have some money in a checking account, some personal jewelry and my dog Bella."

Domestic Partner: "I don't really have an estate. Kevin and I have a house in joint tenancy so, when I die, it will bypass Probate and pass directly to Bill... isn't that right?"

Grandparent: "I made a Will about 10 years ago before having grandkids. I'm sure it covers everything."

Whoever you are, YOU DO HAVE AN ESTATE!!! The bad news is that, UNLESS YOU TAKE THE TIME to ensure that both you and what you have is safely monitored; your community estate could be a mess and go to the STATE. What if you should become INCAPACITATED? Do you have an Advanced Health Care Directive? Is it on file at Eisenhower, Desert Regional or JFK? When I took my mother in law to Eisenhower, I was surprised when they asked her if she had her Health Care Directive on File with the hospital. I had a copy in my office but not in the hospital. We then realized that it would help if you filed it at the hospital and did not

have to go home to get it. Eisenhower now has a health care directive on file for our entire family.

Every reader should put this Coachella Valley Weekly down and do the same.... today. A health care directive is VERY INEXPENSIVE. Take care of it asap!

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW 760-837-7500/ dale@dalegribowlaw.com.

DALE GRIBOW REPRESENTING THE INJURED AND CRIMINALLY ACCUSED "TOP LAWYER" - California's Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20 "TOP LAWYER" - Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating "DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT. CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER. THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME". SO DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER.

HEALTH

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BY MICHELLE BORTHWICK

SIMPLE CHANGES TO START LOSING WEIGHT QUICKLY

I

t all starts with mindset no matter what you decide to do to stop your weight gain. By getting in the right frame of mind, and with a few simple changes, you can get your life, your food and your weight manageable again.

Mindset For those of you reading this… it can stop NOW. We all have a limit where we know we are done! Once you decide you are done, and it stops here, you’re ready to go to the next step.

Figure Out What Works Best for You Once you decide on your personal health commitments…you disrupt your old mindset and start fresh now. For me, for my health, my hormones, my weight, my mood, my food preferences… it’s Keto all the way. What is it for you? Is it resistance training, yoga, keto or paleo or something else that will light your fire? Make your commitment now that will affirm your decision to lose weight.

Steps to Lose Weight Quickly Once you’ve made a commitment to yourself and your mindset is solid, take a look at these simple tips you can implement immediately to get the scale moving in the right direction.

Remove artificial sweeteners and sugar: Remove aspartame, maltodextrin, dextrose or sucralose. These are common in low-carb or diet foods. They react in our body the same as sugar and contribute to our weight gain.

Start using sweeteners that don’t raise your glycemic index such as monk fruit, stevia and erythritol.

Read Labels: Start reading all your labels to look for hidden sugars and carb count.

Focus on your diet first: When it comes to dropping pounds, what you put in your body is more important than how you move it. If you haven’t been exercising, make it secondary to your diet. If you have been exercising continue what your normal routine is. It can be overwhelming to make too many changes at once.

Cut your carbs: Cutting carbs is the fastest way to stop weight gain in its tracks. There is nothing comparable to cutting carbs back immediately. I recommend shooting for 3050 grams the first week and then cut it back in increments of 10 every week until you get to 20. You will lose the puffiness, weight will

drop, and you’ll feel better quickly. According to some dietitians, it’s not uncommon to lose up to 10 pounds in the first week of lowering carbs.

Stop the mindless eating: I challenge you to identify your mindless and stress eating that is contributing to your weight gain. Here are a few common ones – eating while on the phone, snacking (grazing) all day long, eating in the car or on the go. Make eating an event.

Plan your meals, and indulge yourself, and sit down and make it a sit-down affair that you look forward to.

Have patience with yourself. Your longterm goal is to make a permanent lifestyle change as well as lose the excess fat. We didn’t get where we are overnight, and it takes time to make changes. Enjoy the process (both the setbacks and the successes) and celebrate each and every step in the direction of your commitment.

Track your foods: When you track your foods, you will gain a lot of insight into what you are putting into your body every day. It’s a strategy that’s been proven to significantly help with weight loss and make you accountable.

Weight yourself every day: Studies have shown that if you weigh yourself every day you are much more likely to lose weight and keep it off.

Ready to get started? Start now while you are motivated to take the steps that will help you succeed. Find an accountability partner to support you. Just keep going one step at a time and it will get easier every day as your commitment increases. After trying these simple steps, and if you think you are ready to Keto, set up a free 30-minute private session with me.

Interested in more diet hacks and expert tips or learning more about the Keto diet?

Email me at ketoiseasy@gmail.com.

About Michelle Borthwick: Michelle is a Keto Lifestyle coach, a Seasoned expert on Keto Coaching for Women. Keto weight loss results can be improved with Coaching, Customization, accountability, and a trusted partner to guide you every step of the way.

Michelle offers private sessions, proven Keto diet hacks, meal plans, proprietary customization, goal setting and more. Book a complimentary private coaching session online at KetoIsEasyCoach.com.

September 24 to September 30, 2020

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “It takes a lot of courage to be the same person on the outside that you are on the inside.” Author Barbara De Angelis made that observation. I offer it up to you as a fun challenge. During the coming weeks, you may be strongly tempted to be different on the outside than you are on the inside. On the other hand, you’ll have the necessary insight and valor to remain unified. In fact, you may ultimately create more congruence between your inside and outside than you have in a long time.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “People who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by dragons. From within.” Fantasy author Ursula K. Le Guin made that observation, and now I’m conveying it to you just in time for the season when you’ll need it most. Please note that I am not predicting you’ll be devoured by dragons from within. In offering you this oracle, my hope is that you will: 1. acknowledge the existence of metaphorical dragons; 2. locate where they hang out in your inner realms; 3. study them and get to know them better; 4. devise a strategy for dealing with them safely.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Don’t let them tame you,” advised flamboyant Gemini dancer Isadora Duncan. Who did she mean by “them”?

The mainstream critics, who might have wished she cultivated a less maverick style? Her managers and handlers, who may have wanted her to tone herself down so she could earn maximum amounts of money? Her friends, who cringed when she did things like dancing on a table wearing an evening dress at a party? In accordance with astrological omens, Gemini, I invite you to take a survey of what influences might wish you were more docile, mild, or manageable. And then meditate on how you could consistently express the healthiest kind of wildness.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the Yoruba religion of Ifà, the English word “heart” has two different meanings and words. So says Yoruba priest Awó Falokun Fatunmbi. The first heart is the organ that pumps blood through our bodies. It’s called okàn.

Within the okàn is the second heart: a power center that regulates the flow of emotions. It’s called ègbè.

I believe your ègbè will be exceptionally strong and clear and generous in the coming weeks, Cancerian.

Your capacity to feel deeply and truly will be a gift to all those with whom you share it. It will also have the potential to enhance your appreciation for your own mysterious life. Wield your ègbè with glee and panache!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Ancient Greek philosopher Plato observed, “Do not train children to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” The same principle applies to all of us adults who are committed to the goal of life-long learning. And according to my astrological analysis, it will be especially useful for you Leos to keep in mind during the coming weeks. It’s time to energize your education! And here’s the best way to gather the new teachings that are important for you to know: Follow what amuses your mind.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Christian author Frederick Buechner writes, “We are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves, and I believe that to love ourselves means to extend to those various selves that we have been along the way the same degree of compassion and concern that we would extend to anyone else.” Let’s make his thought your keynote for the next two weeks. Now is an excellent time to take a journey through your past to visit all the other people you have been. As you do attend to this poignant work, be generous with each of your old selves. Forgive them for their errors and praise their beauty. Tell them how much you love them. Thank them for how they have made possible the life you’re living now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Seventy-nine-year-old Libran poet Robert Pinsky has had a triumphant life. He has published 19 books, including his own poems and essays, as well as translations of Italian

© Copyright 2020 Rob Brezsny

and Polish poetry. For four years he served as the United States Poet Laureate. To what factors does he attribute his success? Here’s one: “Whatever makes a child want to glue macaroni on a paper has always been strong in me,” he testifies. He’s referring to the primitive arts-and-crafts projects he enjoyed while growing up. In accordance with astrological omens, I encourage you, too, to get in touch and commune with the primal roots of the things you love to do. Reconnect with the original expressions of your passion for life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “A single ego is an absurdly narrow vantage point from which to view the world,” wrote occultist Aleister Crowley. Author Gore Vidal agreed, saying, “Since no one can ever know for certain whether or not his own view of life is the correct one, it is absolutely impossible for him to know if someone else’s is the wrong one.” All of us can perpetually benefit from this counsel. And it will be especially healthy for you to heed during the next four weeks. Humility will be a superpower.

Blessings will flow your way if you don’t need to be right all the time. As you refrain from regarding your own opinions as God’s holy decrees, you will generate good fortune for yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “It’s a rare gift, to know where you need to be, before you’ve been to all the places you don’t need to be.”

Author Ursula K. Le Guin wrote that. I’m passing it on to you because I suspect you now possess the power to claim this rare gift. In the coming days, you don’t have to engage in endless evaluations of the numerous possibilities. You don’t have to risk falling victim to overthinking. Your clear, strong gut hunches will tell you exactly where you need to be and how to get there.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Novelist Henry Miller was in many ways a quintessential Capricorn.

He described himself as being “in love with love, always in search of the absolute, always seeking the unattainable.” Feelings like those are why your astrological symbol is the mountain goat that’s always climbing higher, questing toward the next pinnacle. At your best, you’re determined to keep striving for the brightest, the strongest, the truest.

Sometimes you overdo this admirable imperative, but mostly it’s a beautiful quality. You are hereby authorized to express it with maximum wisdom and eagerness in the coming weeks.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Go catch a falling star,” wrote poet John Donne (1572–1631) in his poem “Song.” “Tell me who cleft the Devil’s foot,” he went on to say. “Teach me to hear the mermaids singing.” He wasn’t being literal, but rather was indulging in poetic fancy to stretch his readers’ imaginations. I’m offering you the spirit of Donne’s poem, Aquarius, because you’re ripe to transcend your limited notions about what’s plausible and implausible. If you allow yourself to get extravagant and unruly in your fantasies, you may crack through shrunken expectations and break into a spacious realm of novel possibilities.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I don’t suggest you indulge daringly in sensual pleasures, cathartic exchanges of energy, and intoxicating pursuits of relief and release. The pandemic mandates us to be cautious about engaging in unmitigated bliss— even though the astrological omens suggest that if now were a normal time, such activities would be well worth focusing on. How can you resolve this dilemma? Possibilities: 1. Experiment zestfully with your live-in steady or spouse. 2. Get a COVID-19 test with a potential playmate, and if you both test negative, celebrate boisterously. 2. Round up a dazzler with whom you can generate rapture via Zoom. 3. Fantasize about delightfully gracious debauchery. 4. Go solo.

Homework: In your fantasy, create an alternate version of yourself with a different name and a different life. FreeWillAstrology.com ---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

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September 24 to September 30, 2020

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