Coachella Valley Weekly - November 21 to November 27, 2013 Vol. 2 No. 35

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com • November 21 to November 27, 2013 Vol. 2 No. 35

Interesting & Influential Women in the Coachella Valley

November 21 to November 27, 2013

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From the Publisher:

November 21 to November 27, 2013

cover photo by Chris Miller/ Imagine Imagery

Originally when I decided to do a Women’s Issue I was going to only feature 20 of the Top Business Women in the CV. I realized how difficult it is to only choose a handful when there are so many extraordinary women in this valley. So it grew from there and I decided that all of my columnists could also feature an interesting and inspiring female in their column. And then the issue took on a life of its own. It was no easy feat rallying this many women together for a photo shoot on the same day when all of these women have hectic schedules and thriving careers. I must thank Chris Miller for the amazing work he did photographing all of these women. As I read through all of these profiles, I was touched, tearful, surprised and proud of the 35 women in this issue.

Jaci Fitzsimonds

By heidi simmons

Y

oung and hip, Jaci Fitzsimonds, President of Cord Media, is hungry -- and not for a meal. She and her company have a plan and she is eager and excited to see it come to fruition. A resident of the Coachella Valley for ten years, she has been focused on building a successful advertising business.

“I bought out one of the partner’s shares and then ended up marrying the other partner,” said Fitzsimonds. “My husband and I went from doing business at our kitchen table, to 40 employees.” Fitzsimonds is married to Jonas Udcoff, CEO of Cord Media.

With a degree in Interior Architecture and Design from North Dakota State University, Fitzsimonds started here in the CV in the home building industry. With the home building business down turn, she was given an opportunity to head up media and sales for a luxury homebuilder television show on local CBS. From there she started a company that created TV commercials. The business gradually turned into a full-size advertising agency.

“We have taken our time,” said Fitzsimonds.

“We wanted to really have a slow and steady, healthy growth. It’s been very strategic in our planning.”

In January, Cord Media will launch its new

V

Kate Spates

ery pretty with an easy confidence, Kate Spates, President of Graphtek Interactive, is a self-made, selfactualized woman. She works hard to make a difference in the CV. Her story is impressive as well as inspiring.

Spates has been in the Coachella Valley since 1980. She is a graduate of Palm Springs High School, College of the Desert and California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus.

Staying local was a choice Spates made so she could continue to help support her mother.

“I came to Palm Springs just before the seventh grade,” said Spates. “My mother was making a change in her life and I wanted to be supportive in that decision. I fell in love with the desert.”

Spates began working at 15 to help her mother make ends meet. When she was 18, working for a high tech architectural firm, she was given the opportunity to use computers.

Spates discovered a world that not only intrigued her, but was something she understood and could do well! “I got feedback that I was smart,” said Spates. “They’d give me a challenge and I’d take it.”

As Spates worked her way through college, she had several jobs, sometimes three at once.

At 23, she was made Marketing Director at a local mortgage company.

Spates continued in marketing working in seven different departments in nine years at JW Marriott Desert

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brand in hopes to become the local, as well as a national leader in advertising. “We wanted to be sure we were in a solid position,” said Fitzsimonds. “You can’t put it out there that you are the biggest and the best, if you are not the biggest and the best.”

Cord Media will stay here in the valley making Palm Desert home base.

They are purchasing their current building and remodeling. “It’s going to have a real cool, hip vibe,” said Fitzsimonds. “All the graphic designers will be upstairs. We’re calling it the penthouse. It’s going to be fun.”

It’s important to Fitzsimonds that the people working for her love to come to work. Having more employees has made her take on more of an administrative role. When the business was just Udcoff and herself, Fitzsimonds admits it was intense but not as complicated.

The Cord Media Mantra: “Don’t say we didn’t warn you.” Fitzsimonds felt it was important for everyone coming to work at Cord to know the work is hard and the hours are long. “Representing casinos and resorts, our business is 24/7, 365,” said Fitzsimonds. “It’s a very stressful business but at the same time it’s extremely fun and very rewarding. You have to be ready for that.”

Fitzsimonds has built a quality team so she can have time with her family. With two children ages four and nine, she is able to go to the park with the kids, volunteer at the school and be at their events.

“It’s been really, really hard work. But I brought on people who are stronger and better

than I am,” she said. “I’ve focused on bringing the best of the best to Cord.” Together with her husband, they manage to make their family a priority.

“I’m grateful to have my business here in the CV,” said Fitzsimonds. “My commute to work is two minutes -- I can’t even hear a full song on the radio! I’m able to leave at lunch, take my daughter to a doctor’s appointment, go to a meeting and be back at the office in just minutes. You can have a successful business and have a successful family life here.”

Born and raised in North Dakota, Fitzsimonds was a farm girl. She brings the integrity and commitment that comes from being part of a generational farm. Her personal motto: “Work hard and be humble.” As a kid, she got up early in the morning to pick corn and sold it on the side of the road. There were only 29 kids in her high school graduating class.

In the same way her family business was passed to her father and will go to her brother, Fitzsimonds hopes to have Cord Media for her children.

“It’s so fun to sit down and talk with somebody about their business. When they get excited, we get excited. I love to make my clients dreams come true,” said Fitzsimonds.

By heidi simmons

Springs. With her new knowledge of marketing and her love of working with computers, Spates eventually decided to start her own business creating websites and managing web content. In 1996, she raised capital from family and formed a website company.

Her business ultimately became Image Marketing Concepts. With tremendous success came added work and responsibilities. When Mike Cheley of Graphtek approached her with an invitation to merge, she accepted in November 2011.

Spates agreed to combine their businesses because she wanted to spend more time with her husband, Brent, and their 10 year-old twins, Abby and Cassidy. The girls were born prematurely and have mild to moderate cerebral palsy. One doctor gave the twins very little hope

for any kind of a future. But when the twins were six months old, Spates saw a twinkle in her daughter Abby’s eye and she knew the girls could have a quality life.

The girls are now in the fifth grade. “Cassidy loves school and said she thinks her CP is gone,” said Spates. “And Abby is so smart. She loves to read and has an interest in words.”

People have reached out to the twins, and Spates has accepted all their love, prayers and encouragement. “It’s not just what we’ve done as parents,” said Spates. “Their lives have been impacted by so many people. It’s been truly amazing.” Spates has been married 21 years.

She and her husband met here in the valley.

He graduated from Indio High School and she considers him her business mentor and best friend.

Combining her business with Graphtek has not only given Spates more time with her family it has also increased her business acumen. “I’m finally in my sweet spot,” said Spates. “I can now focus on learning the ever-evolving environment to help my clients build their strategies for success online. My partner is very creative and he makes sure the operations run smoothly.”

Graphtek now offers a full spectrum digital marketing services.

They encompass web development, custom programing, social media and email marketing. “We build performance websites and drive traffic to them,” said Spates.

Spates enjoys being part of the creative process at Graphtek. “I love working with clients to use technology to automate their processes and convert visitors into customers,” she said.

Giving back to the community is a special pleasure for Spates. She is involved with desert organizations and charities serving on several boards. Spates was recently acknowledged by COD Foundation as a Woman of Distinction -- an honor given to her for her continued contribution to the valley.

“I am so fortunate that my job allows me to work in the community. It is very enriching and I’m inspired by working in collaboration with others who are giving their time and talents,” said Spates. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of something bigger than me.” There is a quiet contentment that radiates from Spates. This is her home. And she is happy to be here.

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

patti gribow

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By heidi simmons

ivacious and beautiful, Patti Gribow, CEO of Gribow Entertainment, is a force of nature. She is her own brand, unafraid to morph and change with the times, she stays relevant to make a difference. Reinventing herself again, Gribow has a new mission.

“More than ever, I recognized the need of asset protection in an estate plan and the quest to support seniors and those who love them,” said Gribow. “We are living longer, more productive lives. There is now the possibility you will out-live your money.”

Over the past 5 years, Gribow has produced a multitude of TV and web spots. She has interview financial managers, planners and consultants and became aware of the increasing challenges facing the population of aging Americans. In caring for and assisting her own dear mother, Gribow has learned to personally navigate the elder-care journey.

Gribow was motivated to change her course and fill the increasing need of retirement planning.

She obtained a Life and Health Insurance License and now represents the Gilbert Group of Beverly Hills here in the Coachella Valley.

The Gilbert Group is a nationally acclaimed insurance advisory firm that creates and implements sophisticated insurance-based, wealth transfer strategies for high net worth individuals and their families.

“I find that life takes you from one place to another. You have to keep your eyes open and it will take you where you are supposed to be,” said Gribow. “Who you are and what you do with your life is your brand. I’m hopeful that what I’m doing with my life now is helping people.”

Gandhi said: “My life is my message.” This too is Gribow’s mantra. And she has lived a life that is both interesting and colorful. A former actress and entertainer, Gribow had many guest starring televisions roles that include, “Charlie’s Angels,” “Happy Days” and “Quantum Leap.” She was a Dean Martin Gold Digger and captain of the troupe of beautiful singers and dancers. She has sung for Presidents Reagan and Ford.

“Life is a journey and we take many different paths. Some are better than others,” said Gribow.

“But I cannot do anything, sell or represent anything, unless I believe in it in my heart.”

Twenty years ago Gribow and her family, husband attorney Dale Gribow, and their only daughter Gina, decided to leave the hectic lifestyle in Los Angeles. With family already here, they made

caroldean ross

C

aroldean Ross, owner of Resale Therapy attributes her success in the retail trade to her mother and grandmother. When visiting her grandmother in London, Caroldean would be exposed to fashions that had not yet come stateside. When returning home, she would return with a suitcase of clothing and shoes unlike any worn by her classmates. This initiated her love for style and fashion that led to her lying about her age when she was fifteen in order to get a job at a shoe store where she would “play Barbie” by trying on shoes to her heart’s content.

During her senior year at college, her mother started a consignment store in Claremont named The Beehive.

As it should be no surprise to anyone that knows Caroldean, she is a graduate of the Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. After graduation, she worked on Rodeo Drive as a wholesale buyer and design consultant. While working in Beverly Hills, her

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Charissa Farley

By Denise Ortuno Neil

the CV their permanent home. Married nearly 30 years, Gribow believes having a great partner is a big advantage when pursuing your path.

“It hasn’t all been perfect or easy. We’ve had our triumphs and failures,” said Gribow. “But you keep at it. You have to survive. You keep going and make the best of what you have.”

Gribow is an advocate for women and girls.

While working as Director of Development for the Palm Valley School, Patricia Crone, the Head of School, inspired her. “Crone was ahead of her time,” said Gribow. “She had anti-bullying programs and a psychologist on campus to help kids build skills and self-esteem.” Gribow learned the importance of mentoring and helping woman find their passion.

“There is something about this valley. I find the CV to be a very feminine place. We have so many females in leadership here,” said Gribow. “I hope the valley can be a role model for the rest of the United States.”

She acknowledges that the valley is a pretty good place for men as well. But Gribow is excited to see more women in leadership roles believing it brings more balance and an improvement to government.

Gribow points to the remarkable number of charities and organizations who are doing wonderful things for people living in the Coachella Valley. Gribow is currently the President of the Palm Springs’ Women in Film and Television.

The PSWIFT organization is active in promoting the valley for film production. It also provides a network of men and women who live here involved in the film and television industry. Gribow is proud of their outreach program Book Pal, which organizes in-classroom readers for school kids.

“The beauty of the valley is there is always collaboration. You can work in your own space, but when there is something you need, it’s here,” said Gribow.

I

n a male dominated industry, Charissa Farley has paved her own way with her construction company, Farley Interlocking Paving Stones, making her the leader in Pavers in Southern California.

Farley was set in a successful career in construction management in L.A. when the “91” recession hit. All at once, the effects of the times resulted in her losing her corner office on the 19th floor, and into uncertainty. She moved east to the Coachella Valley, and purchased an affordable property and set her sights on the future.

With the assistance of her ex-husband who was a tile-contractor, she propelled her construction management experience to new heights learning all she could about pavers and brought something fresh to the table enabling her to push forward into an industry that is not predominantly led by women.

Where men accumulate their knowledge in the field, Farley gained hers by immersing herself in industry data as the paver industry is very heavy in documentation, “That’s what women need to succeed in construction, to have their own skill set, not to replicate the skill set of men,” Farley said. She also was strong in marketing, sales and finance and offered another way of handling relationships.

Although Farley doesn’t need to put on work boots to run her company, she is very grateful for her loyal team that does, pointing out that she works with the best installers around, most of which have been with her for over 10 years. And although she may not install pavers herself on a daily basis, she is well versed in the skill and can install with ease and precision. She is after all ICPI certified and able to teach advanced residential paver installation, which is quite an accomplishment for a woman in this

field. She is also WBE certified, distinguishing her with the Federal Government as a Women Owned Company.

Known as the “Queen of Pavers”, Farley took a chance by specializing only in pavers. When other companies offered a multitude of trades, she took a risk and decided to do one thing only, but do it the better than anyone else, “We will be the experts in pavers,” she stated…and that’s exactly what they are.

Farley recently went to Kentucky to purchase the “Biggest and baddest paving laying machine around,” she said enthusiastically. There are only a few in California and the model is the first of its kind in North America, putting Farley’s business at the top of Southern California installers.

She is dedicated to her clients offering them the best in installation technology and advancements.

Her gratitude to them is clear, as she attributes her success to the loyalty of her customers.

Her company does jobs throughout Southern California, taking on bigger projects head on, “If there’s a big job we go for it,” says Farley. They work with HOA’s, driveways and streets as well as commercial projects, which is a large part of their business, in addition to new home construction and front and backyard remodels.

It takes quite the balancing act to have a successful business such as hers. Farley’s family is very supportive, including her ex-husband who has helped her every step of the way. Her daughter Jennifer 27, helps her run the company, and her other daughter Tieshia 24, has her own cupcake company featured at La Quinta Coffee Company in Old Town La Quinta. Farley also has her son Patrick, 14. “I couldn’t do it without all their help. You definitely need a support system,” Farley admits.

When Farley gets the time to step back from her hectic schedule, she relaxes with Bikram Yoga. And when she has to travel for business, she insists on comfortable beds to insure a good night’s rest. She sits on the board of the Desert Cancer Foundation and throws an annual gala to benefit them, which is a great time for her.

Farley is confident in her long term goal to expand her business, providing a valuable healthy future for her children and herself, giving her some ability to play a little bit. As Farley puts it, “Expand, grow or die!”

For all of your paving needs contact Farley Interlocking Paving Stones at 760-773-3960 or 877-533-8797

By haddon libby employer asked her to go to their El Paseo store to find out why that store was underperforming.

After a short visit, she realized that the employer had no choice but to close that store. At the same time, she also decided that she did not want to leave the desert. Armed with a favorable lease from that landlord and some clothiers willing to sell to her on consignments, Caroldean was able to make her start and stay here in the Coachella Valley. During these early days, she served as one of the Bob Hope Classic girls and made a cameo appearance in the film, “Glitch!”

She also brought to the desert marketing campaigns that sizzled with sex appeal. She developed a brand that was like no other local business.

After eighteen years on El Paseo, a mix of high rents, low foot traffic and an expanding collection of clothing on consignment caused her to move to new locations in Palm Desert and Palm Springs.

Only recently, she consolidated these two stores

into one larger store anchoring the emerging Consignment District in Cathedral City on East Palm Canyon. Her current store is constantly bustling with shoppers looking through her racks of thousands of items made by top designers.

To others interested in starting their own business like Caroldean, she offers this advice, “Don’t take no for an answer - period. Don’t do the same thing as everyone else. Find your niche, get passionate about it, stand behind it and run!”

While the clothes that she sells make you feel beautiful when wearing them, she still believes that the clothes are a reflection of the beauty that comes from within.

While Caroldean has been a regular fixture on the social circuit here in the desert over the last twenty years, her priorities changed just a little bit four years ago with the birth of her son, Declan.

Now you can find her equally comfortable at home watching a movie with him, at a fashion runway event or black tie affair.

stephanie greene

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By heidi simmons

W

arm and personable, Stephanie Greene believes in the adage: “Say what you mean and do what you say.”

As owner and CEO of FG Creative, Inc., a full-service advertising agency, she has a strong work ethic and a fierce loyalty.

“It’s just how I was raised,” said Greene. “You work until the work is done. When the work is finished, then you can play.” To Greene, her clients are like family. It doesn’t matter if they are big or small, they are all equally important.

Greene admits she could be softer, but that her toughness has a purpose. She expects those working for her to have the same high standards. “I like to work in tandem with my staff to set the bar high,” said Greene. “I love to mentor and I’ve been excited to see some of my past employees go on to important jobs in an array of businesses.”

In the industry for 30 years, Greene continues to find her entrepreneurial spirit. Working hard throughout the recession, Greene reached out to other markets and added new services. “The challenge has been to stay relevant as our industry has changed over the last few years,” said Greene.

“It’s exciting to learn and blend the traditional with

the new.”

With a solid team, Greene recently discovered her happy place. “I found that working with a tighter, focused group of professionals works effectively,” she said. “We are in a really great place! And that makes me very happy.” Greene loves the challenge of creating a new brand and implementing creative solutions.

Married 25 years, Greene and her husband, Dennis, moved to the valley in 2001. The Greene’s bought a ranchita in Sky Valley. Their home is a refuge for them both. They have no children, but

lani garfield

By Denise Ortuno Neil

L

ani Garfield has always had an affinity for photography. She has taken her love for the art and turned it into a successful career spanning over a decade in the Coachella Valley.

Garfield was born in Hawaii and grew up in Northern California. The Coachella Valley had always been a place of beauty for her when visiting with her family in her youth. Years later, she along with her husband and son, decided to make the Coachella Valley their home.

It is here in the desert where Garfield’s talents flourished as a photographer and coupled with the development of digital technology; put the world of photography in clear focus for her.

In the past decade, Garfield has taken the lead in freelance photography in the desert, getting assignments from popular publications including Palm Springs Life, the Desert Sun and Desert Magazine among others. She covers an array of events around the valley, from fundraising galas to concerts.

She enjoys and is in constant awe of the generosity that she witnesses at the fundraising events that she covers and she photographs a wide range of them, from Desert Aids Project to the American Cancer Society. In photographing these events, she gets to see firsthand the benevolence of desert philanthropy.

Besides Garfield’s work with fundraisers, she also photographs for such monster concerts as Golden Voice’s Coachella Fest and Stage Coach, as well as musical events for the McCallum and other venues throughout the desert. She also photographs weddings, private parties and events, family portraits, headshots and corporate/ executive portraits. With all of the events that she photographs, she offers a convenient service to

November 21 to November 27, 2013

those photographed at the events. Event goers can go on her website, look up the event that they attended and order a print through her website.

When asked what her favorite subjects to photograph are, Garfield emphatically says people, “No question about it,” she said. She enjoys capturing people around the desert just having fun; in spontaneous candid shots bringing out their best qualities and making them feel good about themselves. The gravitational pull to photograph people celebrating led her to create the Orange Martini Project. The project focused on life in today’s Palm Springs with a mid-century modern era flare, depicting a fun and carefree Palm Springs lifestyle.

The unique aspect of the collection was that each photo taken actually had an Orange Martini in it. Garfield’s models for the project included friends and clothing was donated by local boutiques, making it a true community effort with over 100 people involved. The photos incorporated motion as they were done in lenticular prints. The Orange Martini Project debuted at the Palm Springs Hilton Lobby and uptown stores during Modernism Week in February of 2013 and benefitted the Palm Springs High School Art Institute. The collection is still offered at local Palm Springs stores in limited edition.

Garfield’s busy schedule still allows for some downtime where she enjoys hiking (and photographing) on the many trails in the Coachella Valley including the rigorous Tram in the summer months.

Garfield is always in motion and has many projects in the works, as well as her constant photography assignments. Her next project that she has developing is a fundraiser slated for spring 2014 with an Alice in Wonderland theme. The event will have Garfield’s and other participating artists showcasing there work all Wonderland inspired. Stay tuned for more details.

It is clear that Garfield loves what she does and has a clear zeal for her future. She looks forward to more collaborative community projects, as she says….. “photos showcasing the beauty of the desert and the people who live here.”

For more information on Lani Garfield photography visit www.PhotosByLani.com

enjoy their menagerie of animals: two horses, four dogs and three cats. “On the weekends, we relax!” said Greene. “I put my jeans on and hardly take them off. We love the desert lifestyle.” She may be a tomboy on the weekends, but Greene considers herself a girlie-girl and enjoys fashion and entertaining.

Dennis continues to maintain a niche precision machine shop in Orange County and has fabricated parts that are now on planet Mars!

Raised in Orange County, Greene began her career at InterCom. She spent 8 years marketing residential real estate, tourism and some of the county’s best shopping centers and malls. “It was a blast,” said Greene. “I worked for the mall and every store inside it. Crazy as it was, I made it so everyone felt a part of what we were doing.”

Mentored by InterCom’s Toni Alexander, Greene learned the important lesson of quickly owning mistakes and to be ready with two creative solutions. “We all respected her and the skills she instilled in us.” For Greene it is important to pass along the wisdom and to be a role model and mentor herself.

It was with InterCom that Greene had the

opportunity to handle the Palm Springs marketing account and her main client was Sonny Bono.

Coming out for weekly meetings, Greene fell in love with the Coachella Valley.

Throughout her career, Greene has met many interesting people. She had the opportunity to work with Donald Trump. “I loved working with Mr. Trump,” Greene said. “I worked directly with him for four months on the grand opening of his casino.

He was charming but tough and fabulous. It was extremely fun.”

Settled and content, Greene has been able to translate all her experience into a unique style with a high level of understanding for her clients.

Greene is most proud that the city of Palm Springs has become the second largest gay community in the country. “So many good things have come from the LGBT leaders, organizations and charities,” said Greene. “I’m glad I can be a part of the community and help make a difference.”

“I love what I do. I love working with clients and mentoring associates,” said Greene. Nothing makes me happier than to see an ad campaign working and generating buzz. It’s the best.”

kim waltrip

By heidi simmons When you are one-on-one with Kim Waltrip, you have her complete attention. She is friendly and focused. One would never know she is in the process of completing hundreds of details that require her immediate care. As Vice Chair of Kim and Jim Productions, she is always working.

In the last five years, Waltrip has produced 12 movies. “My passion has always been with film,” said Waltrip. “When the opportunity first came up to produce a feature movie, I jumped all over it.”

That was in 2009 with the film ADOPT A SAILOR. Friends with Sonny and Mary Bono, Waltrip came to Palm Springs often. When Sonny died, and it became apparent Mary would run for his Congressional Seat, Waltrip stayed and helped.

After Bono was elected to Congress, she asked Waltrip to be her District Director and Waltrip accepted.

“I had no clue what that was,” said Waltrip.

“But, I’m not afraid of a learning curve. I knew I could do the job.” In love with the CV lifestyle, Waltrip moved with her family to Palm Springs.

As if making movies isn’t enough, Waltrip’s Kim and Jim Productions is producing a monthly show at the Hard Rock Hotel in Palm Springs, called “The Edge” series. “Every show, each month is different,” said Waltrip. “’Top Rock’ is this month, ‘Rockin’ The Holidays’ is in December and in January, ‘Rock the Soundtrack.’” A perfect addition to downtown Palm Springs, the show features costumed singers and dancers. The event opened with a star-studded premiere.

Kim and Jim Productions is a company of only three employees. They like to keep it lean. Of course, when they are in production on a film, it may go up to 100. For every new picture, a new crew is hired. There is also the troupe of performers and a staff for “The Edge.”

There is little doubt that Waltrip is obsessed with work. But she manages to make time for her family. Waltrip is married with a 19-year-old son, who will soon be attending Montana State University. Her husband, Jon Reveal, runs a ski resort in Montana. With a home here in the CV and in Wyoming, Waltrip and her family love to spend time outdoors.

“We love to take the RV and go camping. We love to hike and ski,” said Waltrip. “Being outside

is where I get my main inspiration.” Often, Waltrip will choose to drive to a movie location rather than fly. “We were filming in North Carolina and I drove there,” said Waltrip. “Some people think it’s crazy, but I loved it! I love to see the country.”

“As busy as I am, I try to help when and where I can,” said Waltrip. “There are so many good organizations and charities in the valley.”

Currently, she is involved with several charities.

The Olive Crest Homes for Abused and Neglected Children’s Foundation is a passion of Waltrip’s.

Her biological father was physically and sexually abusive.

Waltrip grew up withdrawn and shy. However, at 19 years old she entered and won a modeling contest, which launched a career with the Wilhelmina Modeling Agency. Her education was traveling Europe. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has worked as an actress.

When she was 30, she thought she would be alone her whole life. With help, Waltrip discovered she was a survivor and could move on. Today, her mantra is to surround herself with good people with integrity. Mostly pleasant, she admits she can be tough, “but that it’s for a positive outcome and for a good purpose.”

“I’m so blessed every single day of my life,” said Waltrip. “The Coachella Valley is the most supportive community and environment.”

Whether Waltrip is putting on a film festival or continuing with her recovery, the CV is Waltrip’s home. “I absolutely love it here.”

“Keep moving, keep productive. It’s a survival kind of thing,” said Waltrip. “You feel good about yourself when you are productive.”

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

Events

Heather Coladonato

Dancing With The Desert Stars

Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce President and CEO

T

here is a spring in Heather Coladonato’s step as she moves about the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce.

When we sit down for this interview, Coladonato wants to know about her competitors in the Desert AIDS Project’s Dancing with the Desert Stars. I share very little, but Coladonato reads between the lines. I sense she may step up her game.

“I’m a very competitive person,” laughs Coladonato. She may be the only female contestant who has had dance training. As a performing arts student she learned tap, ballet, modern and jazz. She was in a dance company with actresses Alyssa Milano and Christina Applegate.

“I could say ‘been there done that,’ but it doesn’t count what you did as a teenager. And being older you’re not as limber, hips don’t move the same way, ” said Coladonato. But at the same time, she points out that ballroom dancing is very different and this will be her first time.

Choosing to do this event for Coladonato was more than just helping DAP. A busy working wife, and mother of three, she wanted to do it for herself as a birthday present. “I recently turned 40 and this project allows me to focus on myself,” said Coladonato. “My partner, Dennis Jimenez, says he’s helping to bring my sexy back.”

There is a lot more to Coladonato’s story than just getting her sexy back. She is getting her life back. After her children were born, she gained weight and had other complications that resulted in her topping the scales at 325lbs. Over several years, she worked hard to regain her health.

When she started at the DHS Chamber, she was 119lbs. Coladonato is not quite 5’2” and still has concerns about her weight.

Dancing has forced Coladonato to take another look at herself. “I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin,” said Coladonato. “And I’m working on my issues while dancing. It has made me consider my relationship with food again, my body, my physical fitness. And my issues with perfection.”

During rehearsals, Jimenez would stop practice because Coladonato was disconnected.

Psychologically she was being too hard on herself.

She said her issues were getting in the way of the dancing. She had to let go, trust her partner and just dance.

Coladonato is up for the challenge and her joy radiates. She is excited and energized knowing the women involved are going to be good competition, which will make the whole event even better.

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Jan Harnik

Palm Desert Mayor

A

s the Mayor of Palm Desert, Jan Harnik has her hands full and her feet busy.

Beside her Honorable duties, and her regular presences in board meetings, she will be “Dancing with the Desert Stars” for the Desert AIDS Project.

Harnik has been involved in Leadership for years here in the CV, but now she must learn to follow. “It’s hard as a leader to stop leading. My partner, Isa Lapas, is gracious and patient with me,” said Harnik. “He knows what he’s doing, so I’m happy to defer to him.”

Lean and tall (5’10”), Harnik exercises most days to keep fit and her energy up. She has never had dance lessons. “I didn’t know what to expect. It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun,” said Harnik Her dancing practice varies and can only fit in when there is a block of time. Both Harnik and Lapas have busy schedules, so it’s pretty amazing that she and her partner have managed to dance two or three days a week.

Harnik checked with the Palm Desert City Manager before accepting the challenge. “These events are an example of what makes the Coachella Valley so great. There is a wonderful spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy and I’m always happy to participate when I can,” said Harnik.

This is her first time dancing competitively and her first time to be a part of the Desert AIDS Project charity event. In fact, she has never attended the annual fundraising competition as a spectator. “When they asked me, I knew it was something outside my comfort zone,” said Harnik. “I want to keep stretching, I can’t be bored, and I want to keep growing.”

Having been a runway model, Harnik is aware of body image issues with young girls and women. She knows women are hardest on themselves. “We judge and compare ourselves all the time. It’s a difficult lesson to teach young women to love and respect their bodies, when we struggle with it ourselves.”

Dancing is something Harnik has always promoted when her kids were little. “I encouraged them to move to the music if they felt inspired,” she said. “But it’s not about intellectualizing, it’s about your body and what you can do with it.”

No doubt Harnik will look great in her costumes. She hints that it reveals “lots of leg.”

Admitting she’s nervous about dancing in front of a large group, Harnik says it’s all in good sport.

But being fully caught up in the event, her fear is she’ll miss the experience. “I want to be sure to enjoy the moment,” she said.

Katharine Johnson Firefighter

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orn and raised in Southern California, Katharine Johnson’s parents never dreamed she’d be a firefighter. A tomboy who played soccer, Johnson was on the swim team and loved surfing. It never occurred to her parents to put her in dance classes.

Now Johnson will be performing two ballroom dances in front of a live audience as a contestant in the Desert AIDS Project’s “Dancing with the Desert Stars.”

“I’ll be professional on the outside, but I’m nervous on the inside,” Johnson said. “It’s all for a good cause. So, even if I fall on my butt and everyone laughs it’s okay. It’ll be worth it.”

Johnson has been a firefighter for six years.

She started with the Palm Springs Fire Department in 2007. She is the only woman in the Department of 50 men. Her rank is Engineer Paramedic.

As President of the Palm Springs Fireman’s Association, Johnson was open to the experience of dancing. “Our Association does a lot of great things,” said Johnson. “We do ‘Fill the Boot’ for MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), Easter Egg Hunt at Ruth Hardy Park, the annual Fish Fry and the Light’s Parade. That’s just a few. We do events all year.”

Never a dancer, Johnson had to learn the terminology and a new way to exercise. Johnson discovered muscles she didn’t know she had. “It takes different muscles for dancing. You have to be flexible, hold a pose, and be on you toes. It’s a great workout,” said Johnson.

Firefighters work 24-hour shifts and Johnson could only schedule one day a week for practice.

“Now that I know the dance, we will practice more. But I’m not sure how much difference it will make. I’m doing dances that are opposite of who I am!”

The most challenging for Johnson is that she’ll be doing a sexy vamp style dance. “It is really bringing out the girlie-girl in me,” said Johnson.

“It’s 180 degrees from my personality.”

In the line of duty, Johnson meets strangers all the time and must be able to talk to them, solve problems and meet their needs. So when it came to choosing the dances and music, Johnson left it up to her partner, Anthony Jackson. “I trust him completely. He’s the boss,” she said. “We didn’t struggle. He’s the professional.”

Johnson is an impressive 5’10”. Being tall is an advantage in her business of moving hose, lifting ladders and it certainly will make an impression on the dance floor. “DAP does so much here in the valley. I know people with AIDS and have patients with AIDS. I’m happy to help and I’ll do my best.”

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By heidi simmons

Valerie Powers Smith Attorney

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ou notice Valerie Powers Smith when she walks into a room. She is 5’8” and she wears heels. She is blonde with a wide smile and a cheerfulness that makes her open and approachable. Powers radiates confidence.

But that confidence will be tested when she takes the dance floor at the Desert AIDS Project’s “Dancing With The Desert Stars.”

“I get up in front of hundreds of people for my job, but this is different. I like to ask myself, ‘What new thing can I do?’” For Powers, it’s dancing.

Valerie is an attorney, with over 16 years experience. She practices Estate and Trust Planning and Administration specializing in special needs, same-sex, and complex planning; as well as, guardianships and conservatorships; and healthcare insurance and Medicaid. She is Of Counsel at Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney LLP and licensed in California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. “It’s different here than back East. People want to know who you are as a person,” Powers said. “This is a good way to show people my whimsical side.”

Powers and her husband, Dr. Mark Smith, are into fitness and paleo nutrition. They have always loved and supported the arts and enjoy dancing. But ballroom dancing is something she has never done before. “I’m athletic and love competitive sports but this is completely different,” Powers said. “I like to think that if I wanted to be a dancer, it’s something I could have done.”

Now with the opportunity, Powers has been giving it her all. She’s been practicing two to three times a week. She has bruised and cracked her ribs. Her partner, Tyrone Baker, asked her to take it easy. Instead, Powers wrapped her ribs and was back on the dance floor.

“I’ve learned so much. I love it. But it’s so much more than just taking a dance class,” Powers said. “We’ve worked really hard. Our routines are so good! I don’t want to let anyone down.”

As an over-achiever, Powers has had to remind herself that this is for charity. She’s put her perfectionism aside. “I’m really proud of how well I’ve done, but I went into it as a conduit to raise money. I’m certainly not a professional performer, but it will be entertaining. No doubt it will be a hoot for my colleagues,” said Powers.

Powers and her partner have filled the two dances with exciting tricks and her costumes are fun and colorful. “I’m not going to lie. I want to win, but mainly I want to help DAP put on a good show.” For Powers, doing her best is a very good show indeed.

Coachella Valley Weekly

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com info@coachellavalleyweekly.com

760.501.6228

Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Brian Michaelz, Woody Reppert Classified Manager & Nightlife Editor Philip Lacombe Features Writer Marissa Willman, Judith Sulkin, Denise Ortuno Neil, Heidi Simmons Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Lola Rossi-Meza, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Rachel Montoya, Angela Janus, Janet McAfee, Heidi Simmons, Dale Gribow, Raymond Bill, Jack St. Clair, Rob Brezny, Amanda Dorta, Eleni P. Austin, Curtis Hendricks, Noe Gutierrez, Jill Coleman, Jennifer Tan, Sunny Simon, Richard Weiss, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dr. Maria Lombardo, Bruce Cathcart, Patte Purcell, Julie Buehler, Flint Wheeler, John Paul Valdez, Laura Hunt Little, Eric Robertson, Scott Pam, Brian Michaelz Photographers Laura Hunt Little, Lani Garfield, Chris Miller/ Imagine Imagery Distribution Jim Fox Distribution/ William Westley, Rudy Mendez

Contents

Jaci Fitzsimonds, Kate Spates..................3 Patti Gribow, Charissa Farley, Caroldean Ross .........................................4 Stephanie Greene, Lani Garfield, Kim Waltrip........................................................5 Heather Coladonato, Jan Harnik, Katharine Johnson, Valarie Powers..................6 Public Pers. - Karen Devine......................7 Sports Scene..............................................8 Sports.........................................................9 Desert DJs - DJ Angelique......................10 Tat Talk - Jay’e Jones...............................10 DeAnn Lubell, Janet Newcomb ............11 Mindy Reed, Joy Merediith....................12 Jackie Leon, Jeannette Krehviel............13 Consider This - Katey Segal....................14 Carrie Lennon-Wilson, Kymm Galvan...15 Linda Lemke, Scarlett Roads.................16 Katie Cathcart, Giselle Woo...................17 Laramie Eve, Nicky Vallee......................18 Pet Place - Lindi Biggi.............................20 The Vino Voice - Kristi Brown.................21 Club Crawler Nightlife............................22 Pampered Palate - Firecliff.....................24 Screeners.................................................26 Tracy Worthington..................................26 Book Review ...........................................29 The Women Of CV Weekly......................31 Stanley Kramer Film Fest Awards.........33 Community - Alan Gough......................34 Rhythm, Wine & Brews Fest...................34 Haddon Libby: It’s All Local...................35 JPV: It’s Your Nickel.................................35 Dale Gribow, Real Estate........................36 Safety Tips, Gamer Girl, ShareKitchen.. 37 Free Will Astrology, Ask The Doctor.....38 Dr Nicole Ortiz, Sheryle Taffolla............39 Dr Suzanne Quardt, Dr René Dell’Acqua.................................40

public personalities

November 21 to November 27, 2013

By judith salkin

Devine career inspiration came from a college advisor

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here are a couple of if/then statements (computer nerds understand this) that have shaped Karen Devine’s career.

If she hadn’t been a member of the San Jose Cinders team, then she wouldn’t have been offered a scholarship to run track and cross country at UC Irvine.

If the coach at UCI hadn’t told her that the scholarship was being withdrawn because of changes to the way he was running the program and to come back in a couple of semesters, then she wouldn’t have started looking at other schools to go to and found CalState Fullerton.

And finally, if she hadn’t injured her knee ending her running career, a college advisor might not have signed Devine up for the newly created broadcast journalism program at Fullerton and we wouldn’t have her bringing the Coachella Valley the news, with John White, week nights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. on KESQ TV3.

Devine, 49 – “I’ll be 50 next July,” she said with a bit of amazement in her voice, earlier this week – has been a fixture on Coachella Valley newscasts since 1992. Her life has grown and changed along with her career in front of the cameras as long-time residents have watched her mature from an eager reporter to a seasoned broadcaster with a wealth of knowledge of the valley she covers.

Devine was born and raised in Saratoga, Calif., a small town about an hour south of San Francisco, near Silicon Valley. She started running for the Cinders, so named for the crushed cinders used to line the running track, starting at the age of 10.

Her coach was a former Olympian who would go on to coach other Olympians. She started her college career at junior college near home, and was ready to take her talents to UCI when she was sidelined by the coach.

After a semester of living with her sister and friend in Newport Beach, free for the first time in 10 years, “I had no one watching what I ate and making me practice,” she said. “I gained some weight and when I went back to running injured my knee and that ended my running days.”

She looked at CalState Long Beach in her

search for a new school after being sidetracked

by UCI, before making the decision to go to Fullerton.

“I had no idea of what I wanted to do,” she said. “I’d never thought of broadcasting as a career until my advisor asked me about it. He was the one who signed me up, I just did what I was told.”

Devine’s natural inquisitiveness blossomed in the program. And an internship with CNN’s “Showbiz Today” cemented the idea that she’d found the right career path.

“I loved talking to people and it was easy for me,” she said. “And getting the praise and encouragement, being told that I was doing a great job made just encouraged me more.”

One thing the internship also did was to convince Devine while she loved the atmosphere of the newsroom, “I preferred news over entertainment,” she said. “I was more interested in what was going on in the world.”

During her time at CalState, Devine worked for a cable station where she covered local government. “I liked going to the city council meetings and reporting on what happened,” she said.

Realizing that if she was going to ever move into network news, Devine set a goal of sending out one demo tape each week to one of the affiliate stations looking for reporters or anchors.

“I didn’t care where it went,” she said. “I had that goal and every week I sent out a tape.”

One landed at KMIR and following an interview with station management, Devine went on the air in February 1992.

She worked at KMIR for 17 year before moving to KESQ nearly five years ago. “I loved working at KMIR,” she said. “It was my first affiliate job and I learned all the lessons of working at a small station.”

It’s where she became “seasoned” as a reporter and anchor. “When I was first sending out tapes, almost every job description said they were looking for a ‘seasoned’ reporter and at the time I had no idea what that meant.

But over the years I understood. You need experience to be really good.”

Devine has not only grown as a broadcaster

during her time in the valley, she has raised her own family here. She met her husband, Bob Boetto at Fullerton. “He and I had a couple of the same classes,” she recalled. “Whenever they were looking for reporters or camera people, he and I and another friend always volunteered to get as much experience as we could.”

When Devine moved to the Coachella Valley, she and Boetto tried a commuter romance, “but after a year he said he couldn’t take it and proposed,” she said. They were married in 1993 and are the parents of two sons, Zach, 18, who attends University of Nevada, Reno, who chose the school for its proximity to the mountains of winter snow at Lake Tahoe and Tony, 14, who is in a freshman at Palm Desert High School.

She sees history repeating itself in Zach who was recruited to play baseball for UNR, but was asked to sit out the next couple of years by the coach. Instead, “he’s given up on baseball,” Devine says. “Now he’s a DJ on campus and in the broadcasting department.”

As for Devine, the switch to KESQ has been good one. “I feel very lucky to be here,” she said. “I’ve been doing more, interviews with Katie Couric and Jimmy Kimmel in Hollywood and President Obama on the tarmac when he was here and how they all relate to the valley.”

On a personal level, Devine sees herself at a crossroads. For the woman who has lived spending 90 minutes a day taming her wild curly hair and covering her freckles for the television camera, she is looking at a time when she can be herself.

“My husband and I are trying to figure out what we want to do next with our lives,” she said. “I can feel the change coming, I just don’t know what it’s going to be. I understand now why people say life goes so fast. For so long I’ve been bogged down with life that I haven’t had time to think about living. I want to be more spontaneous, and see what happens.”

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

sports scene

by Julie Buehler

Women In Sports: How Far We’ve Come And How Far We Need To Go

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’ve been hosting my own sports talk radio show for years now, even carved out some California broadcasting history in the process. I’m still asked, “How do you know so much about sports?”

I’ve been the only woman in press row, running up and down stadium stairs to get the best quotes before deadline. Watching me work, a male colleague who hadn’t moved from press row said, “I can’t believe you ran stadium stairs in high-heels.”

If I present historical fact to support my claims in sports debates, it’s common to hear the men in the conversation say, “Wow, you know more about sports than most guys I know.”

So even in building a groundbreaking career, working hard to get a story or simply casually chatting sports, the bar for women, intellectually, in the world of sports is far too low.

Many men, and women as well, conclude the world of sports is dominated by men and knowledge is distributed based on the amount of testosterone surging through one’s veins. Some believe that only women who grow up around men are inclined to venture into the world of sports, and perhaps 50 years ago when athletics were rarely pursued by women that might have been true. But today’s world is far more open and knowledge is no longer passed down one person to the next.

The simple fact is that women have the same capacity to ascertain sports knowledge as any guy. The difference is not as many have a platform to disseminate it. If a woman is talking sports in a bar, but there’s no camera to capture it, does it change our culture?

Answer is: Absolutely. But slowly.

The women in front of the cameras in sports media are rarely analyzing sports, offering unique perspective or opinion, instead just asking their male counterparts to opine. That leads less-educated viewers to conclude these women are not as well versed in sports, merely props or eye candy.

Until women are given prominent analytical or opinion-generating roles, that perception will persist.

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Studies show a steady and impressive increase in female fans of the major male sports, yet the national sports media has not increased in female analyst for the NFL, NBA or MLB. There are sideline reporters, roundtable hosts and sidekicks. Very few women headline in the world of sports.

Some see this as an affront to women in sports media, but it’s not. It’s a product of time and the process of cultural change. I believe as more women spend the necessary decades in the industry to gain invaluable experience and credibility, we will see them in front of cameras offering key insight and analysis.

It’s only been a few decades that women have even been allowed in the locker rooms and the battles waged by those early pioneers, many of whom I’ve had the honor to speak with, have left enduring scars that younger women coming up can’t fathom.

While I field sophomoric questions about my high-heels and origin of understanding, those women fielded harassing calls at all hours of the night, were physically taken outside the locker room and subjected to countless indignities; all because they wanted to cover sports.

Times are changing and there are encouraging signs that the gap between the perception of women in sports and the reality of women in sports is closing. Women are asserting themselves more as experts with quality analysis and unique perspective.

I’ll know we’ve arrived when no one is surprised that I understand the difference between the A-gap and B-gap and relate the increasing importance of a pass rush.

Julie Buehler hosts the Coachella Valley’s most popular sports talk radio show, “Buehler’s Day Off” every day from 3-6 on 1010 KXPS, the valley’s all sports station.

She’s an avid gym rat, slightly sarcastic and more likely to recite Steve Young’s career passing stats than American Idol winners.

Tune in M-F 3-6 pst at www.team1010.com or watch the show on Ustream.

sports

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

November 21 to November 27, 2013

by Flint Wheeler

www.FlintWheeler.com Financial Advisor representing New York Life. Owner - Indian Wells Insurance & Wealth Management. Host of Tilted Sports Radio on Team 1010, KXPS. Former PGA Class A Professional. U.S.P.T.A. Tennis Professional. Titleist Performance Institute Certified Fitness Trainer

NFL giving us a glimpse into what is a sad locker room culture…

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merica is getting a rare unfiltered taste of NFL locker room culture in the wake of the Miami Dolphins harassment scandal. In a sport that takes often immature individuals, pays them like kings and sends them into violent battle each week, it can be a fine line that separates brotherhood from bullying.

“There are some realities inside that bubble that would appall people from the outside,” said former 49ers receiver Nate Jackson. “It’s hard to understand the context, the way people speak with each other when your job description is hand-tohand combat on a daily basis. You get 50 to 60 guys in a locker room for hours on end, and crude ways of communicating develop.

It’s hard to judge them from the outside when we see the text of a voice mail up on the screen.”

It was that racially charged voice mail sent by Richie Incognito to teammate Jonathan Martin that forced the Dolphins to suspend Incognito and the NFL to launch an investigation into what went so horribly wrong in Miami. Martin, in his second season out of Stanford, left the team because of these bullying incidents.

While Dolphins players backed their suspended teammate and maintained that Martin erred by not dealing with his problems in-house, others this week took the opportunity to shine a light on the harsh realities of the NFL workplace.

Jackson, who played seven years in the league, recently published the book “Slow Getting Up”, an unvarnished look at the league’s locker room culture. To him, what’s happening in Miami is of little surprise.

“If you show yourself to be vulnerable or weak or affected by teasing, the teasing gets louder until you develop an effective defense or you leave,” Jackson said. “It’s fascinating to people because it pulls back the curtain on the way things are. But it is the way things are.”

The controversy has provoked strong reaction from current stars, like Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall, who proposed league-wide discourse on the topic of mutual respect. Some former players say it’s a problem that’s been festering for decades. Ex-Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon explained the behavior he saw when he arrived in Oakland in the 1990s: veteran players shaking down rookies for lump sums of cash, rookies being taped to the ground, covered with Icy Hot and punched.

“You take a little boy and a little girl. A little boy falls down; the first thing we say as parents is, ‘Get up. Shake it off. You’ll be OK. Don’t cry,’” Marshall, a former Dolphin, told the Chicago media.

“So right there from that moment, we’re teaching our men to mask their feelings, don’t show their emotions. And it’s that times 100 with football players; can’t show that you’re hurt and can’t show any pain. So for a guy that comes in a locker room and shows a little vulnerability, that’s a problem.

That’s what I mean by the culture of the NFL. And that’s what we have to change.”

Noted sociologist Harry Edwards, a 49ers consultant for three decades, is well versed in NFL locker room culture, including its dark sides. He said he could see an incident like the one in Miami coming and warned Commissioner Roger Goodell in a one-on-one meeting, shortly after Goodell was appointed in 2006. He told him that with advancing technology such as Twitter and texting, locker room secrets would be exposed, and the only solution would be changing the culture.

For instance, Edwards proposed that the league put up signs in the locker room warning players about punishment for inappropriate behavior and language.

While some NFL players, including many in the Dolphins’ locker room, have placed more blame on Martin’s handling of the situation rather than Incognito’s behavior.

Edwards believes Martin has done the league a huge favor.

Miami’s dirty locker room laundry -threatening and racially charged voice mails left by Incognito, mandatory offensive line meetings held at strip clubs -- might be tough for outsiders to rationalize. But Jackson, the former 49er and Denver Bronco, said, “There are guys like that on every team who are alpha males in the locker room, who set the standard and are really tough, tease a lot of guys or have a real edgy sense of humor.”

“There’s kind of a pack-hunting mentality. If you see this person as the weak link, you poke at him.”

Just ask the New York Giants’ Prince Amukamara, who was dumped in a tub of ice water eight times against his will over the course of the 2011 season. One dunking, replete with veteran players shouting epithets at Amukamara and telling him to “stand up for yourself,” was captured on video and went viral. Which player ended up apologizing for the transgressions? The player who shot the video and put it on the Internet.

Some teams, like Miami, are still a long way from catching up -- not only in dealing with Martin’s issues but how his teammates reacted when the revelations went public.

The actions of the NFL players are appalling and show that as a country, we’re still young and have a lot of growing up to do.

Please Join Us For this Special Fundraiser

Thinking Happy Thoughts for Andie

Golf Tournament at The Classic Club Sunday, Nov. 24th, 2013 75200 Classic Club Dr., Palm Desert

For details, visit... www.thinkinghappythoughts.org 9

November 21 to November 27, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

desert dj’s

By craig michaels

DJ Angelique Moves to the Desert to Pursue Her Music

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

tat talk

by phil lacombe

Strata Tattoo Lab Owner, Jay’e Jones

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s a young child, DJ Angelique wanted to be a writer. She envisioned herself writing novels and screen plays but would eventually start writing rap songs. While still in her teens, she picked up the guitar and would begin to rap music before it was even being played on the radio. One of the highlights of her early career was performing on stage with rapper Ice- T. The transition from a guitar to a set of turn tables was an easy one for Angelique.

Being a young white female rapper/DJ, Angelique remembers being a minority, “I began my first DJ residency in 1986 and there were no other female DJ’s that I knew of besides DJ Irene.” In addition to her music, she would also take time out to feed her spiritual side, “My feet were firmly planted in the metaphysical world and the night life. I was vegan, meditated and my religion was music,” explains Angelique.

She considers herself first a musician and singer, then a DJ, “I had a band called The Indians in the 90’s, with songs in the Gen X film Reality Bites and the title track for Brad Pitt’s break out film “Kalifornia”. The Indian’s had a top 5 hit song, but the politics of the music business eventually saw our demise,” recalls Angelique.

At this point in her career, Angelique does not like to pigeon hole herself into one particular sound. She is comfortable in any setting whether she is rocking a night club in Ibiza, playing a fashion show, or pool side at somewhere like The Saguaro Hotel in PS. Her originality is reflected in the music she plays, “I especially love to play music that isn’t over played. I love when people come up to me and have to ask, who is it?”

When talking to Angelique you can tell she has her fingers in a lot of pies. Due to the fact that she plays in so many different types of settings, Angelique has a few different identities, “I try to use Angelique for specialized events or when I have to

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play more commercial music and when I DJ and produce various electronic music, I go under the “Angel Freq” moniker.”

A permanent resident of the Coachella Valley for 3 months now, Angelique was attracted to the burgeoning music scene here and the thought of not having to deal with LA traffic! She continues to work on her music and is producing everything from House and Dub Step to Rock and New Folk.

In her spare time Angelique teaches Yoga and has her sights set on producing a Yoga music CD under the AngleFreq label.

You can occasionally catch Angelique spinning at BAR located in Downtown Palm Springs. She will also be one of the featured DJs at the Coachella Valley DJ Association mixer taking place at the Hard Rock Hotel on Wednesday November 27, from 5:30pm8:30pm.

If you would like to know more about DJ Angelique you can visit her web site at: www.theangelfrequency.com or contact her by email at: angelfreq@yahoo.com.

Written By: Craig Michaels Musical Affair Entertainment www.musicalaffair.com

ame: Jay’e Jones Where you tat: Strata Tattoo Lab, owner & tattoo artist Why you started tattooing: Tattooing sort of discovered me by accident. At the ripe old age of 16, I had graduated high school and began attending college. I majored in English, and had every intention of becoming a teacher- (as the majority of my family had done before me). To help pay for school, I participated in art shows (selling paintings) and executing commission work such as murals and portraits. Two years later, I returned to Southern California for summer break, and befriended the owners of Thee Ink Cup in Joshua Tree (now retired). I shared my portfolio with the owner, Rick Reyes, who insisted I try tattooing. It took some convincing, but I eventually transferred schools, and began my apprenticeship. Low and behold, what I had initially conceived to be a mere “hobby,” ended up as a lifelong passion (and occupation)!

What style of tattooing do you enjoy the most: I generally enjoy tattooing anything full of color. I particularly enjoy subject matter that goes against the grain of traditional tattooing: tattoos that look more like a painting, or a pen and ink drawing versus an actual tattoo.

Who inspires you to tattoo: I’m inspired by so many! My mother, grandmother, and grandfather are/were phenomenal artists!!

My father, inspires/advises my business side, (I have owned Strata Tattoo Lab since 2008). Other inspiring artists include: Frida Kahlo, Manet, Leonardo da Vinci, Edgar Degas, Matisse, Salvador Dali, Paul Gauguin, Jacques-Louis David and Georgia O’Keeffe.

I am also inspired by many talented tattoo artists, some of which I am lucky enough to work with: Dave Hopkins, Akos Strenner and Esther Rojo!

If you could tattoo anywhere in the world where would you go: As I have already tattooed all over north and central America, I think a break from the convention circuit would be nice….maybe travel to Europe for a few months and work/ visit with my friends who tattoo there. Until that happens, I’ll continue to house our insanely talented guest artists from all over the world at my shop…if I can’t go there, then I’ll bring them here!

Tell me your favorite tattoo story about one of your clients: There is one client I will never forget. She was the sweetest little lady, (easily in her 80’s) and had come in for her first tattoo. She wanted a permanent rendition of a penny on her arm. As I was tattooing her, I asked her what had inspired such an idea. She then began to illustrate her time as a mother, and how she and her son had always enjoyed the simple pleasure of picking up pennies and saving them together. Sadly, she outlived her son, and some of his last words to her were “Don’t stop picking up those pennies, we’ll always have that together.”Somewhat paraphrased, but you get the idea. Tearing up yet? I was. That aside, she collected every penny she found, and eventually used the money to pay for her and her husband to go on a cruise!! Touches the heart, right?

I love my job!!

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Deann lubell

janet newcomb

By heidi simmons

irst thing you notice about DeAnn Lubell is her calm, relaxed demeanor.

A Public Relations Consultant and independent writer, Lubell has been a presence here in the Coachella Valley since 1991. She has written for popular publications, represents some of the valleys most important organizations, and she’s a novelist.

“The story found me. I didn’t go seeking it,” said Lubell about her novel, The Last Moon, which came out in 2010. It has since won four national awards. “The way the story unfolded over the years, I knew it had to be written and I was the only one who could do it,” she said. A historical novel, the story centers around the eruption of Mt. Pelée on the island of Martinique. On Amazon the book continues to receive excellent reviews.

When she was nine year old, Lubell knew she wanted to write and even tried her first novel. “I love adventure and I love stories,” said Lubell “I like discovering interesting stories, finding out what makes people tick, what makes myself tick. Using words, I like to make people laugh and cry.”

In her first month of college at the University of Denver she got a job as a stringer with the city newspaper, the Gunnison Globe, earning three cents a word. The editor loved her “gumption.”

Her favorite stories to write were personal profiles and human-interest.

Talking with Lubell, her integrity and enthusiasm is energizing. “I set goals for myself, where some people say they are unrealistic -- it only makes me more determined. I go out of my way to make whatever it is happen. When I set my mind to it, it gets done.” Her business motto is: Always give my best -- and then some.

Most of Lubell’s clients are nonprofits.

Taking organizations she believes in gives her a sense of satisfaction that her work really makes a difference. One of Lubell’s clients is the beloved valley charity Angel View. This year she will be putting on their 60th anniversary celebration.

Lubell is proud of what the charity has done over the years and how it has

November 21 to November 27, 2013

By heidi simmons

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matured to serve the changing needs of the CV. The party is certain to honor those who have helped make the organization a continued success.

Lubell really is a great storyteller. One of her best is how she met her husband, valley resident, Lee Ames. Both Lubell and Ames had lost their first loves. It is a romantic tale of a secret and distant love, patiently waiting and wanting until the stars aligned. It seems the two were destined to be together. Lubell is a newlywed. She and Ames were married in June. With mutual love, admiration and respect, it is easy to understand why Lubell is content and relaxed.

Today, Lubell works with just one assistant and is maintaining less than a dozen clients so she can focus on promoting her book. She has finally found the right mix of work and pleasure.

oft spoken and filled with wisdom, Janet Newcomb of Newcomb Media is a woman of simplicity and elegance. She has carved out a niche in her marketing and public relations business, spending the majority of her time writing about food and representing the agricultural industry and the best of the valley’s restaurants.

“A restaurant is a very expensive investment,” said Newcomb. “It’s important they have someone to represent them who understands food.” When Newcomb says “understand food,” she means at the nearly molecular level.

Over the years, Newcomb has produced and hosted shows about the production and preparation of food. She has also extensively written about entertaining and the joys of eating. With a lot of mixed messages coming from unqualified people, Newcomb was compelled to do something.

“Most people today are concerned about what they eat. I’m often asked about eating only organic food,“ said Newcomb.

“Living here in the valley and in California, we grow some of the very best food in the world. It’s okay not to eat organic.” On her PBS television show, “Chowhound,” which aired weekly on KCET, she discussed the valley’s farms and restaurants with local chefs and farmers.

As a consumer, Newcomb realized people didn’t have a true understanding of the food they were eating. So she wrote and hosted a valley radio show called “Walking on Eggs: Cracking the Food Myths,” which was about growing, cooking, eating and regulating food. “It was fun. I chatted with scientists, chefs and nutritionists,” said Newcomb. “It’s a fascinating subject and there is plenty to learn.”

Newcomb came to the Coachella Valley in 1989 because her terminally ill husband wanted to spend his final days playing golf.

After he died in 1990, Newcomb decided to stay and enjoy the CV lifestyle. Although Newcomb is a very independent person she had never been completely alone.

“I didn’t know anybody here so I opened a tabletop store in Indian Wells,” said Newcomb. “I never owned a retail store before and it was all new.” Called Siena, Newcomb quickly met people with similar interests.

With a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a Masters of Business Administration, Newcomb became skilled in behavioral psychology. (She did psychological warfare research for the US Army in Washington DC!) “I have always been intrigued with human behavior and all of its repercussions,” said Newcomb.

Her behavioral experience and her passion translated easily into helping people market and promote their business.

“The human experience is mostly about communication,” said Newcomb. “It is a process that takes thought. And when people don’t give it thought, it often results in a problem.”

Newcomb is intrigued with people who are creative and their creative processes.

In fact, it inspires her. She loves to write and clearly enjoys getting into her subject.

Beside her foodies, she has many other wonderful clients that she respects and appreciates.

Ask her about the future and she says she tries to never look too far ahead. “You have to be open. You can’t demand something to happen. If you do, it won’t,” said Newcomb.

“I’m fully absorbed in the present.”

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

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mindy reed: A woman of calculated risks

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wning and running one successful restaurant is more than enough for most people. For Mindy Reed, stopping at one wasn’t an option. She is the sole owner of two popular Palm Springs eateries, less than a block apart – Zin American Bistro and Alicante Spanish Mediterranean Cuisine.

For Reed, a woman who raised two sons as a single mother, opening Zin was an idea of taking a risk. “It’s my personality,” she said this past weekend sitting in the restaurant where she’s been working as the bartender for the evening. “I had to do it.”

When she and Chef Nicolas Klontz opened Zin in 2005, Reed took out a second mortgage on her house, focusing on the positive, but certainly not ignoring the negative. When Klontz had a heart attack just days before the Memorial Day Weekend opening, “I had to open,” she said. “I had no money, everything was going out. If I didn’t open, I don’t know what would have happened.”

As it turned out, her business plan to open in summer to give locals a chance to find Zin and support it before the tourists returned, worked out perfectly.

In turning Zin into a destination for locals, she built a strong customer base that has supported her through the years.

It’s not surprising that Reed ended up as a successful restaurant owner. She grew up being home schooled by her parents and working in

their vegan/vegetarian restaurant in the small town of Dowagiac, Mich.

“I should have known I’d be a business owner,” she says. “When I was a little kid my grandparents owned a bait shop and I LOVED to play in the bait bins and dig worms.”

As a teen, she ended up in Alabama where she “married a California boy and moved here,” she said. Actually, it was Joshua Tree, where her two sons, Benjamin and Solomon were born “at home with the aid of a midwife,” she says. That might have been a good indicator of Reed’s approach to life in knowing and evaluating risks and then allowing life to take her where it will.

“When I lived in Alabama I lived with a midwife for about six months and I thought I was young, it was natural, why not,” she says throwing up her hands.

After working as a cocktail waitress and running the front of house at other Palm Springs restaurants, Reed tried to open a small sandwich shop, “but the landlord wouldn’t let me lease the space because he said I didn’t have a track record,” she says.

It was Reed who convinced Klontz, her partner in life and business, to open Zin. She was the one who worked the deal with the owner of the previous restaurant and came up with the money to open the restaurant. It was Klontz who convinced her to be Zin’s baker, and create the restaurant’s signature dessert in her Chevre cheesecake.

joy brown meredith

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first met Joy Brown Meredith at Crystal Fantasy in Palm Springs, a place I frequent on a weekly basis. I enjoy the store as I’ve been into metaphysics for years and they have the nicest inspired gift selection I’ve ever run across plus some very talented spiritual teachers and psychic readers. We’ve become Facebook friends over the last year or so and I’ve gotten to learn a little about her. So when I was given the assignment to write the feature story on Joy, I was delighted to comply.

I learned that Joy, an admitted ‘wild child’ was the youngest in her family and was born to parents in their 40’s. She has 2 older brothers Joel and Alan. She was born in Chicago and went to high school in Maine. She moved to Palm Springs in 1978. In the early 80’s she got very sick with migraines and panic attacks and lost weight until she was only 78 pounds. No

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doctors could diagnose her problem and a friend, Ernest Sussman, suggested that she try meditation and crystals. She healed herself with these methods and as she put it, ‘took control of her physical self by treating her spiritual self’.

This spurred her interest in crystals and in 1987 opened their first store in downtown Palm Springs. Crystal Fantasy has been located at 3 locations within a few doors of each other including the present day location at 268 N Palm Canyon Drive. At the time of the opening not many people had really heard about crystals. Joy remembers Shirley Maclaine on the cover of Time Magazine holding a crystal cluster as a start to opening people up to the energy of crystals. Joy also credits her first landlord, Henry Frank, who ‘gave them a chance’. 26 years later Crystal Fantasy is alive and thriving filled with treasures. Joy says for her that the store is more than a store it’s a lifestyle and ‘her heart open for all to see.’ She likes to share ideas of peace, love, compassion and kindness with others. She also offers tools for spiritual growth including classes, readers and healers who also instruct on how to use crystals and other spiritual tools. There is a huge selection of gifts including crystals and minerals from around the world, jewelry, incense, candles, books, tarot and oracle decks, world culture items like Buddhas, local white sage for cleansing, fairies and dragons. Gifts range from $1 to $14,000 so

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By judith salkin

Just five years later, she and Klontz opened Zini Cafe Mediterrano, again on Memorial Day Weekend. In early July they learned he had cancer and he died less than a week later, leaving her to run two businesses.

“I honestly don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had the restaurants,” she says of the six months following his death. “I couldn’t focus on myself; I had to focus on the business. Zin was pretty much running itself and I had to make sure Zini would succeed.”

While some thought Reed was in over her head and would fail, “I proved them all wrong,” she says proudly.

Her success has influenced one of her sons, Solomon, who is a chef at Tinto in Palm Springs.

“Ben can’t stand the restaurant business,” she says with a laugh. “He’s rather do anything but work in the restaurant.”

Earlier this year, again on Memorial Day Weekend, Reed re-launched Zini as Alicante Spanish Mediterranean Cuisine and has taken it to the next level. Again, the community has supported her turning Alicante into a popular place for locals and visitors to the area.

Reed is a valued member of the community.

An avid bicyclist, she participates in long distance rides that support HIV/AIDS causes like the AIDS LifeCycle Ride, from San Francisco to LA to raise money for the LA Gay and Lesbian and San Francisco AIDS Foundation; hosting fund-raisers at the restaurants; Dining Out For Life; and Desert AIDS Project’s Dining Out For Life; along with events like Palm Springs Food and Wine Festival, Palm Springs Desert Resorts Restaurant Week, Kids with MIA, the Pendleton Foundation’s Chef Auction and the Palm Springs High School Arts Institute.

After nearly a decade, Reed is ready to take the next step. She would like to find someone to manage the restaurants. “I really want to take some time to learn more about the back of house and what goes on in the kitchen,” she says. “I wouldn’t call myself a pastry chef, but I would like to have the time to get back to baking. I love it and I don’t have the time for it because I’m so involved in the routine of the day to day stuff. I think that that’s why people burn out, even when they’re doing something they love. And I don’t want to burn out; I love this business and I want to stay in love with it.”

By patte purcell there is something for everyone. In the back there is an art gallery and a ‘Lemurian Crystal Healing Bed’ for an amazing out of this world experience.

Joy’s husband Scott also works at Crystal Fantasy. They met when she was working at the Desert Sun in the 70’s.

Scott and Joy have been together 35 years.

They have 3 adult children Patricia, Michael and Sara. They also have 2 granddaughters Erika and Auna, 3 grandsons Elijah, Darius and Darnell, and 2 great grandchildren Neveah and Elijah Jr. They also have a pug named Frank.

Daughter Sara works with them in the store, as the other children have throughout the years.

It’s definitely a family business.

Along with all the responsibilities of a business and a family Joy is also very active in the community. She loves Palm Springs and is President of the Main Street Palm Springs Merchant Association. Add to that she’s on the boards of the Palm Springs Hospitality Association, Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, the Police Advisory Board, and the VillageFest commission. She also is owner of the Palm Springs Body Mind and Spirit Network, a network of spiritual and intuitive businesses.

She’s one busy lady! She said her parents taught her to be involved in the community and were great role models. She said she enjoys being part of the decision making process.

When I asked her about her hobbies she

said she enjoys designing html websites and gardening. (Although she can’t remember the last time she did that). She said her passion is Palm Springs and she just loves promoting it.

One local merchant I talked to called Joy «The Queen of Palm Springs» which says allot about Joy’s efforts.

When I asked her what her major accomplishments were she said she really enjoys being a mother and the bond between her and her family. Her parents, Norman and Bernice Brown, who were also very involved in Palm Springs, both passed away within 22 days of each other last year and she said she is grateful for the time she had with them. She gave her parents quite a time while growing up according to her so one of her favorite memories is that the day before her father passed away he said to her, “Thanks Doll, thanks for being here, you did turn out ok.”

I think he was proud to have a daughter like Joy.

jacqueline leon-babington

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Jeannette Krehbiel By scott pam

By raymond Bill

his is the story of a woman, mother, entrepreneur and friend- a woman with a remarkable presence in our valley who is known and loved by many.

Jacqueline Leon-Babington is best known as proprietor of Neil’s Lounge in Indio but there is much more to her story. I am proud to introduce you to my friend, Jackie.

After growing up in Chicago, IL, Jackie moved to the desert in 1977 where she decided to pursue a career in cosmetology.

By 1978, she had graduated beauty school and also became divorced, left to raise her three children as well as her step son alone.

Being the strong woman that she is, Jackie continued to find her way in life, studying accounting while working at a beauty shop. Across town, at the same time, Neil’s Lounge would open for business.

Jackie purchased her first business in 1985, the beauty shop in which she worked.

She would also begin her own tax business, providing tax services and helping others to set up corporations. Jackie sold her beauty shop in 1993 and continued with her tax business. Then one day, Neil (of Neil’s Lounge) came into her office for some tax assistance for his business. After some courting, the two began dating.

The relationship was strained by the fact that Neil struggled with alcoholism.

After a few years of dating, Jackie made an ultimatum: either he seeks help for his disease or she would leave. Neil was a kind man and wanted nothing more than to make her happy. Perhaps knowing that an alcoholic should not be running a bar, Neil offered to sell the business to Jackie, assuring her saying, “This bar will take care of you.”

His persistence paid off and she took over Neil’s in 2004, slightly changing the bar’s name to Neil’s Lounge by Jackie. But she knew nothing about this industry. She was afraid to even set foot behind the bar at first. Business was slow and the reputation was poor. With only one bartender and one server, Neil’s needed help. Jackie relied on

November 21 to November 27, 2013

her tax business to help increase patronage at her bar by telling all of her clients to visit Neil’s. It worked. Neil’s gradually became the hot spot in town where everyone wanted to be.

Although Jackie and Neil no longer dated, they remained close until his passing in 2007. Neil was instrumental in getting Jackie and her husband, Jim together.

Known as, “Cowboy,” Jim is an outgoing guy that truly compliments her shy nature.

Many people think she is the boisterous life of the party but this is a misconception.

She has learned to “put on a character” that is extroverted for the sake of the business but those closest to her know she is rather reserved.

In addition to Neil’s Lounge, Jackie now owns Willie Boys Saloon & Dance Hall in Morongo Valley, just a short drive up Hwy 62. Her children, ages 27 to 44 help in the family business and with their help, she hopes to spend more time with her 6 grandchildren, the oldest of which is recently married. Jackie enjoys line dancing and hopes to travel more. Her family is the most important part of her life and she was emotional sharing with me the story of her daughter’s battle with Hodgkin’s Disease at the young age of 21, referring to the experience as “the darkest time” in her life.

Jackie is a strong woman who has overcome many obstacles to become the successful business woman she is today.

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any people have goals and plans. Some take action to make them reality. After celebrating the two year anniversary as the owner of Plan B, Jeannette Krehbiel is realizing her dream of having a class act venue for the music scene.

Plan B, located in Thousand Palms, sits in a non- descript building that hides the true size of the bar and venue for bands. Once inside, Plan B sports pool tables for play and tournaments, a stage with a dance floor and a large bar. Though there are challenges as that venue is on the north side of the freeway, Krehbiel works hard to bring in bands that are just starting out as well as those that have a following.

Krehbiel wanted to have a great local bar that could host various bands. About two years ago, that dream started to come together. “I was offered a rocking deal on a liquor license and had 120 days to close the deal,” she said.

Born in Southern California, Krehbiel and her family moved to Oregon and has been on her own since the 10th grade. She moved back to Southern California in 1985. After many years of being in the restaurant and bar business and then moving to advertising

sales for just over 8 years, she realized that she wanted to have a place that she could grow into a successful venue for music and drinks.

Every week Plan B hosts musical bands from different genres. “We have classic rock, Hip Hop & Rap, Metal, Original Rock and Country,” said Krehbiel. “It’s a great local bar for music and people.” Krehbiel, says that her future plans are, “to continue to grow the audience and put the bar on the map. I don’t turn away a band.”

On Friday nights Plan B hosts karaoke, where anyone can get up and sing and play rock star. In December, karaoke will also be on Wednesdays. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Plan B hosts three different Pool Leagues.

During the month of December, her 23 year old son will be joining her and making it a family business. Single but taken, Jeannette has raised two sons. Her younger son also works when he is available. Facing a few challenges from Down’s Syndrome, he works with Jeannette handling some of the bar back responsibilities. “The people just love him,” she shared.

Like most business owners, Jeannette rarely has time for hobbies but realizes she needs time away from the business. “I like bowling and working in my garden, but mostly I have my friends over for dinner and afterwards we sit around the fire pit and chat.”

Some facts that Krehbiel has never told anyone: she was the first female Student Body President at Grove Gate Elementary school in Covina, CA. and admits she is a terrible cook and at one time, she wanted to be an elementary school teacher.

Plan B serves a small menu for snacking that is perfect for the late night band fans and for the locals who like to come in after they finish their shifts at the area hotels.

Plan B is open until 11:00 P.M. weeknights and keeps the music going until 2:00 A.M. when the bands play on weekends.

Plan B - (760) 343-2115. 32025 Monterey Ave, Thousand Palms CA http://www.myplanbbar.com

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

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by Eleni P. Austin

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KATEY SAGAL

f you only know Katey Sagal as slatternly matriarch Peg Bundy on “Married With Children” or as Machiavellian matriarch Gemma Teller Morrow on “Sons Of Anarchy”, you don’t know the whole story. Katey Sagal is also a world class singer.

Katey Sagal grew up in a Hollywood household, the eldest of five siblings born to Jean and Boris Sagal. Her Mother was a writer-producer. Her father directed episodic TV shows (“Twilight Zone”, “Peter Gunn”, “Columbo”) mini-series (“Rich Man, Poor Man”) and feature films (“Omega Man”, “Girl Happy” with Elvis Presley). Even her younger twin sisters started in show business as “Doublemint Twins”.

Sagal never harbored theatrical ambitions; she wanted to be a singer. She got her start singing as a back-up vocalist for Bob Dylan, Etta James and Tanya Tucker. Her vocals appear on albums by disparate artists like Molly Hatchet, Olivia Newton John and Kiss.

By 1976, she was fronting a band called The Group With No Name. They released an album, Moon Over Brooklyn on the Casablanca label. Two years later Sagal was on the road with Bette Midler as one of the Harlettes.

Initially, acting was just a way to pay the bills. When Sagal gained steady employment on “Married With Children” in the late ‘80s, she put her singing career on the backburner.

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

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“Covered” (eOne Music)

Her solo debut, Well…. arrived in 1994.

“Married With Children” ended in 1997, but Sagal was still a presence on television.

She was the voice of “Leela” on Matt Groening’s animated series “Futurama” and she also played John Ritter’s wife on his final TV series, “Eight Simple Rules For Dating My Daughter”. Her sophomore solo effort, Room was released in 2004.

When Sagal’s husband, Kurt Sutter, created “Sons Of Anarchy”, the part of ruthless bikerMama, Gemma, was written with Sagal’s specific talents in mind. Sagal owns the role; Gemma is by turns vicious and virtuous. Each season Sagal’s singing abilities have been featured in the thoughtful musical montages the show is famous for.

As she juggles her “Futurama” and “S.O.A.” duties, Sagal is also a wife and vmother to Sarah, Jackson and Esme’. Somehow in the midst of all that activity, Sagal carvedv

Consider This

out enough time to record her third album, Covered.

With her first two solo efforts, Sagal was the primary songwriter, relying on a couple of interesting cover songs. For Covered she has flipped the script, recording a collection of ten songs by songwriters who have inspired her.

The album opens with Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’”. The insistent rhythm of Petty’s original, is supplanted by a hiccup-y pulse. Sagal’s breathless vocals are matched by intertwined acoustic and electric guitars.

Sagal’s choice of songs and songwriters is impeccable. Deep catalog selections from Jackson Browne, Ryan Adams and Steve Earle, give Sagal the opportunity to brand each song as her own.

Tackling Browne’s “For A Dancer”, Sagal imbues the lyrics with a sense of hard-won wisdom… “Just do the steps that you’ve been shown, by everyone you’ve ever known/ Until the dance becomes your very own.”

Cushioning this life-is-a-dance metaphor are graceful pedal steel notes coupled aching acoustic riffs and Hammond B3.

Originally, Ryan Adams’ “I Love You But I Don’t Know What To Say”, was a mournful declaration of love. Sagal’s rendition is equal parts torch and twang. Blending coruscated guitar chords, pedal steel shadings and Sagal’s

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carrie lennon-wilson

riginally from Westchester, California, right near the Los Angeles Airport, Carrie LennonWilson grew up in a somewhat musical family, being cousin to the famous Lennon Sisters. “I took Dance Production and was more of a dancer than a singer in High School. In my senior year, a friend told me that I had a really nice voice. So, we put together an all girl group, but nothing really became of it, no lucky break, but we had fun.” She worked in a Disco band for a

soulful vocals the track locks into a Stax-Volt groove.

On Steve Earle’s “Goodbye”, Sagal and producer Bob Thiele swap out Earle’s spare acoustic arrangement for an Eastern European feel. The song features Wurlitzer, violin and Laud Banduria (kind of a Spanish mandolin). Sagal trades verses with Jackson Browne and the bittersweet duet is etched with regret and romantic recrimination.

The best tracks on Covered are “Gonna Take A Miracle”, “Orphan Girl” and “For Free.” Most people know Deneice Williams version of “….Miracle,” (jam-packed with vocal gymnastics and oily 80s synthesizers, it’s the musical equivalent of onanism). Sagal takes her cues from Laura Nyro’s more restrained rendition. Yearning and tender, the tune is awash with Girl Group urgency, while the sophisticated arrangement recalls Burt Bacharach’s timeless Pop classicism.

The lively Blugrass arrangement of Gillian Welch’s “Orphan Girl” employs a sprightly mix of mandolin, 12 string guitar and harmonium. Sagal’s joyful vocals belie lonely lyrics like “I have no mother, no father, no sister, no brother/ I am an orphan girl.”

There aren’t many singers confidant enough to re-interpret Joni Mitchell, but Sagal manages “For Free” with aplomb. Of course she can’t match Mitchell’s crystalline soprano, but by slowing the tempo, and accenting the clarinet fills, Sagal’s sultry vocals underscore the melancholy mood of the song.

Other highlights on Covered include Sagal’s heartfelt takes on Ron Sexsmith’s “Secret Heart,” and Tonio K’s “Follow The River.” The album closes with a bluesy interpretation of Ray Lamontagne’s “Roses & Cigarettes.”

Katey Sagal didn’t make this record alone.

Handling production chores is “Sons Of Anarchy” music supervisor, Bob Thiele Jr. In turn, Thiele enlisted a crack team of musicians, including multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz, (k.d.lang, Matthew Sweet), drummer Matt Chamberlain (Tori Amos, Wallflowers), and bassist Sebastian Steinberg (Soul Coughing).

David Faragher (Elvis Costello) and Gia Ciobotti (Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams) supplied backing vocals.

Katey Sagal is the best kind of singer, someone who inhabits the song completely.

Hopefully we won’t have to wait nine years for her next record.

by Lola Rossi-Meza

short time and would sing in many karaoke contests whenever possible.

In 1992, she was chosen as Miss Congeniality in the Miss Culver City Pageant.

After that, her professions were all in the hospitality field. She worked as a waitress, in women’s clothing stores and in several doctor’s offices, however, music has always been her passion. She moved to the desert in 1998.

“I met Patrick Mahon at one of the Casinos while he was performing with

Michael James. Michael’s guitar amp blewout and he came up to me and asked me to come on the stage and sing while he fixed the problem. I sang quite a few songs with the band and later Pat told me about his band The Arrangements and said he would love for me to be the singer. I was very excited about it.”

Prior to this encounter, she always thought about starting a band, but felt she was too shy and never pursued it. “I didn’t really play an instrument or know the keys I sang in.” However, she knew she would love it and being a lead singer in a band

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kymm galvan

orn and raised in Pueblo, Colorado with one brother, Kymm Galvin remembers listening to a wide variety of music ever since she was a child.

“My Mother always encouraged me to sing and play instruments. She listened to Engelbert Humperdinck and Tom Jones; my Father listened to Rockabilly; my Grand Parents loved Blue Grass and the Grand Old Opry; and I played classical music on the violin, flute and viola in elementary school.

I started singing at the age of four and my Mother would enter me in talent shows.”

In elementary school she sang in choir and played in the orchestra. “Then, I went to high school and discovered boys,” Galvin said laughing. “I still sang in the choir and my Mother bought me a bass guitar.” She moved to California in 1982. “I wanted to be the next Pat Benatar because everyone told me I looked like her in high school.” Instead, she married and gave birth to her first child and put her music aspirations on hold for many years.

She moved to the Desert in 1992 and had a day care for six years. “I changed more diapers than I can count and probably helped raise over 450 kids during that time.

It is trippy seeing all the kids grown up now.” By 1998, she was the mother of four children, Jerryn, Krystian, who is autistic, Eddie and Erica.

November 21 to November 27, 2013

was always a dream of hers. Band members include: Mahon on guitar, Mike Gustin on drums and Phil Franklin on bass. Their FaceBook page, The Arrangements, has a lot of information on the band.

Lennon-Wilson currently works as a hair stylist at Sherry Mesa The Salon for the past three years. She loves riding horses, a hobby she enjoyed ever since childhood. She and Mahon perform every other weekend at Roc’s Firehouse in Palm Desert. As a band, they will be performing at the Tack Room on Saturday, November 23.

“I have been told to audition for The Voice or X-Factor, but who knows what the future holds. I just know that I will be happy with whatever comes my way. I am very blessed to have met my husband.” She recently married golf pro Joshua Wilson and they are due to have their first child together in April of 2014. She has two children from a previous marriage, her son Jake is 17 and graduating high school this year. Her daughter Kylee is 11. “She sings and dances all over the house, I think she will eventually be in the entertainment field.”

She has a very good attitude about life and where she is in her life. “I am a very blessed woman. I have an amazing husband, I have healthy kids, I am doing both of the things I like the most; singing in a band and doing hair. I am very happy.”

by Lola Rossi-Meza illness and later that year in October, she had a stroke.” Being a very caring daughter, she brought her Mother to the Desert to live with her.

In 2008, she performed, co-wrote the script and co-produced the musical soundtrack for the Arabian Nights Pageant for the Indio Date Festival. “The night before dress rehearsal, my daughter called and told me my Mother passed away. I feel like it was a blessing in disguise, because if I had to sit at home, during that time, it would have devastated me. My heart was broken, but I had to do the show.”

She started a Rockabilly band, Red Queen and The Knaves and is currently working on an Original CD project in addition to performing with her cover band, Alyce Bowie. She just finished being part of the Brad Mercer Indi film, “Sushi Anyone?”

“The coolest thing ever is performing and collaborating with my son Jerryn, an amazing bassist and guitar player. Hearing the words, ‘Mom, what do you think of this bass line?’ or ‘Help me with the chorus!’ is very rewarding. I thank God for my kids.

They are my life and keep me centered.”

She decided to attend COD. “I took a photography class, a theatrical makeup class and became involved in musical theater and later production design.” She has been involved with over 40 productions and is proud to have seven Desert Theater League Nominations for Best Make-Up Design, Best Costume Design and Best Supporting Actress.

Challenges before her were more than some could handle. Her only brother, Keven, was stricken with multiple sclerosis and later leukemia and passed away in April of 2007. “The most difficult part was knowing that my Mother was so devastated by his

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

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linda lemke

Autism Sings

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hen her second child was about a year old, Linda Lemke started noticing signs that something was “off” for her son.

At first he appeared to be advanced in vocabulary and highly coordinated in motor skills. However, just a short while later his inability to handle sensory input prevented them from even leaving the house. By the age of 4 Christopher had become almost entirely non-verbal and was diagnosed with moderate to severe Autism. An instrumental musician and vocalist since she could talk, Linda did the thing that was most natural for her, she sang to her son.

Linda did not know it at the time, but this was the beginning of the most meaningful journey of her life.

Linda Lemke was raised on a farm outside of Austin, Texas and went to college in Houston, studying instrumental and vocal music for seven years. She has been teaching music for more than 20 years. She is a member of the band Blasting Echo. She is the mother of four children - three of whom are in three different schools - and the fourth is four months old.

Christopher’s challenges have defined and shaped Linda’s life, both as a mother, and a music teacher. Lemke discovered that by singing to her son, she was able to

calm him down. When the family would have a change of plans that would normally cause Christopher to have a meltdown, she sang the new plans to him to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell” and he was able to understand and handle the change in routine. “The thing that calmed him down was music,” shared Lemke.

During a special education meeting about six years ago, Lemke met teacher Diane Montgomery who was teaching at Lyndon B. Johnson elementary school in Indio.

Local Music Spotlight

W

hile at a local club recently, I had the pleasure of discovering R&B rockers Scarlet Roads, a group of six very talented, twentysomething’s, who performed well beyond their years. Their set was a pleasant mix of vibrant soulful songs written by the band and a varied selection of cover tunes they had re-worked putting their own special spin on the classics.

Scarlet Roads has a strong identity rooted in the signature sounds of their varied influences ranging from Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones to Gabe Dixon and Janis Joplin. The crux of that was emanating from the Fender-Rhodes electric piano sound of keyboardist/vocalist, James Jannetty.

Lead singer Kaylee Bergin can belt it like a soul shouter. Her engaging stage presence is highlighted with an occasional growl in her vocal affect, which can suddenly alternate to almost operatic soprano timbre in her vocal acrobatics.

Much of the band’s ambience lies in the virtuoso soloing by saxophonist, Stephen “Saxy” Herring and guitarist, Claudio Tristano, who is equally commanding in his delivery of tasteful licks. Rounding out the lineup is the slick, solid, tight rhythm section of bassist, Frank Caito and drummer Peter RJ Bergin.

All perform backup vocals in a well

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Katie cathcart

by laura hunt little

They struck up a conversation about music and how it was having a positive effect with Christopher. Montgomery invited Lemke to visit her special needs classroom. “I brought my flute, keyboard and some rhythm instruments,” shared Lemke about her first session in Montgomery’s class, where the student’s disabilities were so severe that some could only be fed by tubes and nurses were also attendants in the class. “I was so overwhelmed, I had to turn around to assemble my flute.”

scarlet roads

arranged ensemble presentation that gives the audience at a Scarlet Roads show an experience that is a few notches above the occasional two-part harmony one normally hears from most of their local competition.

I also derived enjoyment from the fact that they weren’t using any backtracks, nor samples, and no electronic beats during their live show. Each of the six musicians played with a relaxed confidence while all managing to deliver ensemble backup vocals behind the lead vocal performances of Kaylee & keyboardist James. Evidenced by their nonchalant stage presence, I could easily recognize the amount of effort and time put in to their live show. Having toured Europe, & across the USA, their time together performing on the road is paying great dividends to their appreciative audiences right here in Southern California.

They have recently performed at many of the major clubs in the Greater Los Angeles area like The House Of Blues, The Malibu Inn and The Viper Room.

They have developed a strong faithful following right here in The Coachella Valley as well. Upcoming shows to check out include Schmidy’s Tavern in Palm Desert on Saturday November 23; The Red Barn in Palm Desert on Friday November 29; and The Tamale Festival in Indio on Saturday, December 7 in the afternoon and later that

After that day, Lemke gave music lessons to the Montgomery’s class once a week. The first request to teach private music lessons for a special needs child came from parents of one of students in this class. She began teaching a blind boy with cerebral palsy. “He loved the vibrations and he had a great ear,” recalls Lemke.

Lemke continued to accept special needs students for private lessons. She works most frequently with students on the Autism spectrum. “Lessons are outside of the box,” shares Lemke. “I am very careful to use positive language, to follow the desires of what the students want to learn, and to take lots of breaks. And they learn. Parents are amazed at what they can do.”

“I’ve learned that music can do so much for a child on the Autism spectrum. It can improve motor skills, especially fine motor.

It can help the non-verbal regain language.

It can help improve attention span. It can teach a hyper-active child focus and how to sit still. It gives them a creative and an emotional outlet to express themselves. I’ve learned so much from my students and my son,” said Lemke.

How does Lemke feel about the level of activity in her life? “For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to, even if it seems chaotic,” beams Lemke.

“It’s perfect. I’m happy.”

by ellwood reppert (woody retro)

night at The Blackwatch Pub in Upland, CA. The band returns to the Coachella Valley on December 14 at The Red Barn. For tour information and showtimes, visit www. scarletroads.com.

In addition to their busy live performance schedule, Scarlet Roads is in the studio recording with Grammy Award winning producer, Bob Cutarella. The tracks being recorded at famed Westlake Studios, on the cusp of L.A./Ventura counties, is slated for

By Scott Pam

K

atie Cathcart started on plastic drums when she was 4; Santa brought her a more realistic set when she was 6. “I knew that all I wanted to do was drum even when I was a kid,” said Cathcart in her band’s custom built rehearsal space in Bermuda Dunes.

Watching her hit the skins for one of the demo songs for her new band, one is reminded of the drumming greats that helped make their bands famous.

While some are no longer with us, like Keith Moon, many still remain to lead the way for drummers like Cathcart. She has the speed and accuracy of Neil Pert and the heavy hitting of John Bonham.

Bridger, Katie’s latest musical project, clearly traces its roots back to punk, heavy metal and more melodic rock while staking out its unique sound in the massive genre of “rock”. The riffs from the bass are followed

by Cathcart in a very unique and distinct method. They are both super fast players, never missing a note while they match each other’s riffs through the songs.

“I hope that people are waiting for this sound,” said Cathcart when asked to describe the musical combinations that can be heard in the sound of this new band. The sound reflects the roots that her parents gave her.

“Mom gave me the background in Black Sabbath and Dad gave me the background in Led Zeppelin.” While those roots are the basis for many bands, Bridger also gets a

major chunk of its influences from punk. You can’t miss it.

Her brother, Jim Cathcart, plays guitar and is lead vocalist and writes lyrics for some of the songs they are recording. “Real Deal”, one of the songs demoed in her studio, has these lines, No time to make it right, Headed toward the light, Life slipping through my fingeerrrrrrss, as he describes not having regrets and wondering if the afterlife is real through the rest of the song.

Katie and Jim started their first band, Jekkel, when she was just 15 and the band has been going for 13 years. The band’s only official music video was shot here in the valley. Jekkel’s sound hearkens back to the days of CBGB’s, Max’s Kansas City, Heat and the other clubs in NYC when bands like The Plasmatics, Wayne County and the Electric Charis and other bands took the stage power, speed, raw emotion and energy, and PUNK with capital letters.

Bridger is taking that energy and sound to a new level and adding some melodic rock to the mix. Bridger stakes out a new genre that is unique and fresh to the rock scene.

In 2010, Katie graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Music Business from USC and is working on her Master of Arts in Education. She says that working with kids is her second passion. “I hope to be teaching soon and will go where they need me. I must say however, I am impartial to elementary school. The students make you feel like a rock star and it is incredibly rewarding when they accomplish a learning goal and feel that way themselves.”

Currently Cathcart has one drum student, Cat S., a 7th grader who according to Katie, is a drummer to watch for ‘as she will be going places’.

Bridger is: Jim Cathcart- Vocals and Guitar Dan Wheat- Vovcals and Bass Guitar, Jacob Miller- Backup Vox and Lead Guitar Katie Cathcart- Backup Vox and Drums Look for the premier of Bridger in December with a location to be determined shortly.

Giselle woo

G

November 21 to November 27, 2013

by noe gutierrez

iselle Woo is a bona fide performer in the desert region.

Born in Palm Springs and raised in Cathedral City she does not shy away from her femininity by any means. She also does not allow that to define her. “It’s not always easy to be a lead woman in this industry but hey, at the end of the day, we’re just as good as anyone else. People I admire the most in music are women.” It’s that gratifying self-reliance that has made Woo the wholehearted vocalist, instrumentalist and composer that she is today. She’s also been a massage therapist for the past eight years.

Masseuse Woo and I have had conversations in the past regarding her sentimental performances. She has consistently told me that there remains restlessness prior to each show, “I do get nervous, but it’s probably more of an anxious feeling; anxious to become my stage persona and to give my singing and guitar skills my all. When its go time, all I want is to deliver the best and sexiest (in a classy kind of way) show possible to my audience. I want to take them through this journey with me, because that’s what it is for me singing these songs I’ve written through the years, which hold a special place in my heart. It’s a journey of love, heartache and happiness.”

Those feelings will be displayed in her EP to be released within the next year.

A musician in her own right, Giselle’s mother Lupe began playing the guitar at age 14, the mandolin at 16 and the bass at 30 years old. Her and husband Raul had a ‘rondalla’, an ensemble of stringed instruments, in the early 90’s. “Giselle was just 9 when we had that group and come to find out now she was paying attention,” shared Lupe who can be found on stage right at many of her shows.

“When I know my mother is in the audience I feel so proud, I feel proud of the fact the she’s my mother and that everyone will know who she is because every time her or my daddy are in the crowd I make it a point to single them out. I am forever grateful for their love and support. I also am thankful for their enseñanzas, which means teachings of music and character.”

Giselle’s mother swims in satisfaction with

her performances. “When I see Giselle perform I wish she could share her music with the world. All the songs she sings and plays are hers and I see all that talent. She gives herself to her listeners through her songs. There’s a couple of hers that give me chills they’re so beautiful and when she sings them she touches my soul. When I see her perform pride exits my body through all my cells.”

Giselle recalls her most defining moment, “I was at J Dee’s which is now BAR in downtown Palm Springs, a few years ago with David Macias, Andy Gorrill and Gene Evaro Jr. on drums. It was my first performance ever, I will never forget it!”

Giselle performs with her established ensemble Giselle Woo & The Night Owls.

She compares her solo and band experience, “When I perform as a solo act I use it as an opportunity to practice and work on my stage performance. I feel sexiest though when the boys are backing me, whether it’s with David Macias, Andy Gorrill or Erik Mouness or all of them. We transform into Giselle Woo & The Night Owls, I can play with one of them or all of them and still feel like we were awesome!”

Giselle shows her divergent approach to performing whether in a band or solo. You can tell she feeds off the Owls and you are able to feel the sensitivity of her lyrics when she performs solo. “My approach is simple; keep it mellow and sweet when it’s just me and bring hotness and sexiness when it’s the complete band. And rock the fuck out!”

release in 2014. Their repertoire of original music brings hope that this generation isn’t entirely wrapped up in the song and dance antics or alt rock excesses just for the sake of it. Though the lyrics seem to solely focus on the tried and true standard themes of personal relationships, there is a depth that might eventually emerge in their musical poetry. Scarlet Roads is on a path that is clearly marked with the tracks of success.

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

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Laramie eve

By eric the red

M

any people claim to have played music for most of their lives.

Laramie Eve, bassist for Blasting Echo, is one of the few people who can back this up with factual information. The La Quinta native is the personification of dedication and perseverance. She started playing piano at a very young age, quickly moved on to guitar and then bass shortly after. I sat down with her and got the lowdown on how she got into music, her career and accumulated achievements, and her activity in building public awareness about endometriosis.

I started my interview by learning about Laramie’s past, and what made her decide to pursue a career in music. “When I was growing up as a kid, my parents collected antiques, and we had this antique piano in my house. There was a bench seat that had all these old school piano books. I used to sit there and read these books that I could hardly even read and sit there and play on the piano, and I was just like, ‘Oh, this is awesome.’ Just being able to make your own sounds and stuff. I’ve just always had music,” she stated. Laramie went on to explain how her musical talents evolved from there, moving on to the guitar at the age of 10, and progressing from there to the bass at 12. After that, her music career truly began, playing her first gig on her 13th birthday.

Over the years, Laramie has amassed an impressive collection of achievements.

I asked her to elaborate on what she felt was her biggest. “With Jekkel, we put out quite a few albums. I think we put out 3 albums before we were even out of high school. With Blasting Echo, just recently we recorded our 16 track CD, and we did it all ourselves,” Ms. Eve stated. She went on to describe the experience, saying, “We didn’t have any help and that’s really cool when it’s just that group of people, you don’t have anybody else’s inputs or anybody else saying anything. We did all the recording at the IPAC, so we got to set up on one of the little movie theater stages, because Linda Lemke, the keyboardist, teaches music there. So we got to use that for a month or so. We recorded all the drums and most of the bass, but then we went back to my

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house and did all the other guitars and all the vocals. I’ve actually had to have a couple surgeries, and I had one in the middle of it, but it was a good thing because I came back and I wasn’t able to do anything. So I would just sit there in the studio room and I did all the drum editing for Blasting Echo. I did all the grunt work, on the computer where you’re fixing everything.”

We continued the dialog by talking about how she was active in our community, working to bring awareness to the women’s health issue, endometriosis.

Laramie explained, “I have Endometriosis, and that’s something that needs a lot more focus out here in the desert. People hardly even know about it and it’s something that a lot of women have that goes undiagnosed for years. They didn’t know I had it for years, and they had to do an exploratory surgery to even find out that I had it.”

Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, the endometrium, grows outside the uterus. Laramie went on to say, “It affects so many people, and so many people don’t know. I’m trying to get something going with that. There’s a rally in March for Endometriosis. It’s on March 14th, and they’re doing it all over the world, and in every capital in the U.S. It’s to help raise awareness and get people to get the word out there. You’re in so much pain, it affects you all the time, and it gets misdiagnosed. I was told I had so many other things before I found out what it was and I was given all these other drugs and it all made me worse.

So that is something that I, especially this year, will really be trying to get something going.”

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

nicky vallee

B

by Lola Rossi-Meza

orn and raised in Woodbury, New Jersey, with one younger brother, Nicky Vallee, loved music ever since she was a child. “Music has always been near and dear to my heart. I played piano and started playing guitar when I was thirteen,” said Vallee. “My brother is also a musician.” She attended Villanova University and majored in Communication Arts. After college, she worked as a newscaster and Anchor for ten years. Her last job in TV was working for CBS-2 from 2005 until 2007.

While living in the Desert, she answered an ad on MySpace. They were looking for a girl singer who could be part of a Fleetwood Mac Trio. “This was a great opportunity for me. I stared performing there in Idyllwild and met a lot of great people who encouraged me to make a career out of it.

So, I started working at a few venues here in the Valley and it has snowballed from there.” Singing and playing guitar has always been her passion.

“This past summer, I went back East and performed at the Jersey Shore with my brother, Joe, who plays drums. It was a very nice experience. Him on drums and me on guitar, a sister and brother act. We played at The Crab Trap, Yesterday Bar and Grill and Harry’s Oyster Bar at Bally’s. We do everything from The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty and Billy Joel, you know, all the good stuff. It was really great to be there for four months to perform for my family and friends.”

Vallee performs most of this repertoire with guitarist Will Bonnar. They have returned to the bluEmber every Wednesday from 6 until 10 p.m. and also perform at venues in Idyllwild.

This very talented and creative woman has her own wine label called Gypsy Red, which has sold out for this year. “The Merlot Zin blend vintage was well received. I am waiting to taste the new blend for a release in early 2014 for the second vintage. I am already getting calls requesting it.” The wine was on the menu at Fleming’s Steakhouse, Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse, both at The River in Rancho Mirage; Dish Creative Cuisine in Cathedral City; and the Cork and Fork Restaurant in La Quinta. “It was nice to perform in a venue that carried my wine.

I can’t explain it, but it is a good feeling to

have people enjoy my wine while enjoying my performance.” A very creative marketing concept that has not been done, until now.

She currently works at O’Bayley Communications. “It gives me an opportunity to work closely with many nonprofit organizations here in the Coachella Valley. I enjoy promoting the things they are doing. It is a great balance for me. I take one day at a time and don’t let my busy schedule overwhelm me. I have a great sense of humor and don’t take myself too seriously. I have been very blessed and I am very grateful.”

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

L

PET PLACE lindi biggi

indi Biggi is a tireless, eloquent advocate for homeless animals in the Coachella Valley. The organization she founded in 2009, Loving All Animals, has become a major player in the world of animal welfare. The organization’s goal is to bring together local and national animal welfare groups to work together for the benefit of domestic animals, and turn the Coachella Valley into a “No Kill” community.

BG Gardens, the home Lindi shares with her husband Gino is a desert gem, created as a haven for animals and the humans who love them. The renovated property was inspired by the tropical rainforests of Peru and the savannahs of Africa. Thatched huts house over 50 exotic feathered creatures, many of them rescued birds that were abandoned or disabled. A focal point in the spacious back yard is the flamingo lagoon with two new baby birds. Lindi describes her love of these feathered creatures, “I love all animals, but especially the birds because they are funny, loyal, smart and easy to live with. I qualify as a bird-aholic with no hope for a cure!”

Lindi supports many charities in the Coachella Valley including some of her favorites, The Stroke Center, Angel View and the Josyln Center. She previously served on the board of directors of many organizations including Petsmart Charities and Animal Samaritans, and has been honored by many of these groups for her philanthropy and tireless dedication.

Lindi’s personality is bigger than life, effervescent and full of fun. With a quick wit and a sense of repartee, she is determined to bring this same positive spirit to the world of animal rescue. She is pictured here dressed as a scarecrow, getting ready for the Wizard of Oz themed Super Pet Adoption Festival that is now a signature event in the desert.

Lindi is holding Cassidy, a lovely Spaniel mix with three legs she rescued from the old Indio shelter just before the dog was to be euthanized.

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Stylish and social, Lindi emphasizes that homeless animals need to be shown as the beautiful creatures they really are. No venue is off limits when it comes to showcasing adoptable rescue animals. Lindi recently modeled at the Angel View fashion show, took two rescue dogs down the runway, and both were adopted by people in the audience.

Lindi recognized that shelter dogs do not show well when they are packed into dark kennels, dirty and matted. Loving All Animals’ dogs, rescued from kill shelters, are groomed and shown in a beautiful bonding booth where prospective adopters can get to know how fabulous they are. Loving All Animals received a donated limousine, and now this doggie decorated vehicle is a moving billboard advancing the cause of rescue and taking people on shelter tours to adopt animals.

When others say something can’t be done, Lindi has a vision and makes it happen. I first met Lindi when we both served on the East Valley Task Force, created to address the abundance of stray dogs in our East valley.

When the topic of a free spay and neuter clinic came up, other members of the task force proclaimed, “You will never get a vet around here to donate their time for free.”

Lindi proved them wrong, and in 2009 organized a free spay and neuter clinic inside the church at the Duroville migrant trailer park with seven local veterinarians donating their time. When others see a problem,

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by Janet McAfee

Lindi sees an opportunity and comes up with creative solutions.

What motivates her love for animals?

Lindi explains, “I am genetically programmed to dedicate my life to animals. It’s all my mother’s fault. I was raised on various farms, spending several years on a 2,300 acre farm property in Oregon... Not far from where we lived was a slaughterhouse, and not far from that was a livestock auction house where live auctions were held. Often the animals were too old, too sick, or too injured to be able to respond to the prodding methods used to force them into the ring, and were sent to the slaughterhouse. Well, my mom had a better idea, she agreed to take them, regardless of their condition or whether it was a chicken, a duck, a goat, a calf, a horse, and once we even got a bison who became the pack leader.

Week after week, the trucks were loaded up with sick animals and brought down our

dirt road. That was the start of what was called Flemings Funny Farm as Fleming was my mother’s maiden name. My passion for animals is in my genes, and today I am living my passion surrounded by like-minded people.”

Lindi is quick to give credit back to the many volunteers and the board members that support her organization. But this week we honor the woman whose genius, creativity, contagious enthusiasm, and caring has created one of the most innovative animal welfare groups in the country.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR THE SUPER PET ADOPTION FESTIVAL ON NOVEMBER 23 & 24. Loving All Animals is hosting their 5th annual Super Pet Adoption Festival at Whitewater Park in Rancho Mirage, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Over 500 animals will be the stars of the day, hoping for a home.

This Wizard of Oz themed event is aptly called “There’s No Place Like a Home”. A highlight will be the blessing of the animals ceremony at 12:45 pm on Sunday.

To learn more about Loving All Animals, go to www.lovingallanimals.org or call them at (760) 834-7000.

November 21 to November 27, 2013

by Rick Riozza

Wine, Women, & Song

T

here’s no way one can resist this title for a column on the vino gals who head up and run Tulip Hill Winery and their Tasting Room that is located at “The River” Mall on Bob Hope Dr. and Hwy 111 in Rancho Mirage—right across from the Yardhouse Restaurant.

And what a pleasure it was to come by the Tasting Room to meet and chat with owner and President Kristi Brown and her colleague, Sara Hammond, who wittily titles herself as “Information Contortionist”. As was readily discernible, both take charge with their well hewn duties: Sara with marketing, design, technical and particularly manning the Wine Club, and Kristi doing what every CEO of a family-owned company does: WORK the business.

As the theme of this issue is women, it just so happened that when walking into the winery store, well—that’s exactly what I observed. A share of lovely women behind the register, speaking with patrons, giftshopping about the shelves filled with wine accoutrement and food delicacies, and of course, those behind the wine bar pouring tastes from a delicious array of white, rosé, red and dessert vino to happy customers.

Be informed that this venue is the place to be when you wish to treat yourself & friends to a really enjoyable outing.

Quite often in business we hear of the toils and tribulations of women having to over-achieve just to break in. But in the wine producing business, as with all types of farming and agriculture, there’s always been women around—indeed, especially in the wine trade, women have always had a presence.

In Europe, so many widows as a result of the devastating World Wars, had to take charge of the vineyards and wineries— for example, Vueve Clicquot, the famous

Champagne producer, “Vueve” means “widow” in French. Even today there are “vueves” in the French wine brand trade.

In California, we know of many women who have followed their famous dads into the wine biz—such as Violet Grgich, Gina Gallo, Kathleen Heitz and Sophia Coppola.

Fortunately in this column, we get to know the energetic Kristi Brown who has not really encountered “sexism bias” in the business, but rather has enjoyed the dream and romance of California winemaking, and the real work of farming and selling product—but also, as happens in life, the saddening experience of losing loved ones way too soon.

And so it was for Kristi when her vivacious and entrepreneurial dad, who had encouraged her to get involved with his successful wine business, was killed in a plane crash. Add to that the fact that Kristi lost her mom to cancer only a few years earlier. The combination made her whole world shift and weighted upon her to take charge.

Running with that expanding wine business paradigm, which went national in scope and sales, Kristi herself soon met with a serious health issue that gave her pause to re-evaluate her own mortality, and prompted the decision to taper down the business and to re-boot the wine company into producing premium crafted wines from theirs and other vineyards in Northern California which were to be sold here in the only “winery tasting room” in our valley.

Being a resident of the Coachella Valley influenced her decision to establish her business here, along with the fact that with a savvy Palm Springs culinary scene about, there was an apparent need for a notable wine shop. Launching a “winery” business here was a rather adventurous move, and we all applaud her for it.

And there you go—it’s like a true mirage in the desert. This local tasting room was established in late 2002 but even today when mentioning that there is a winery tasting room here in Rancho Mirage where one can taste and enjoy an entire line of delicious first-class wines—well, that info has still eluded many.

I’ve covered Tulip Hill Winery for CV Weekly over the past couple of years and I plan to write about it more often. Supporting a local business that delivers excellent wine is always at the top of our list. And writing about this winery is fun because they produce exciting wines—as is evident by their blends.

“We let the fruit do all the talking,” says Kristi. “Since we control everything from vine to bottle we are able to create handcrafted products at an amazing price point. Our wines are made in a boutique style in small lot production. We taste all of our lots and blend them to create our different vintages with a focus on balanced, approachable wines true to their varietal character.”

At the Tulip Hill Tasting Room, you will find all your favorite varietals from Chardonnay to Zinfandel, and, the up-and-coming blends of Cabernet and Syrah with Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and Nero d’Avola. Tasty stuff

!! Also be alerted that the alcohol levels in these wines are checked to provide lively medium-bodied wines that are perfect with meals.

My personal recommendation for this Thanksgiving is the flavorsome Tulip Hill 2008 “Sangiovignon” which is a blend of California Cabernet Sauvignon and Cal Sangiovese.

“Lovely floral notes of violets and smoky cherry with currant and dried cranberries. A supple texture offers wild berries, plum, and tamarind flavors with a hint of pencil shavings and cigar shop.” It’s lively, juicy, mediumbodied, and a fun quaff for the table. Cheers to that!

Next month we’ll discuss more of the wines available at the Tasting Room, their on-line store, and joining and obtaining wine from their Wine Club. And, as to the “song” reference in this article’s title—well, I left Tulip Hill humming the tune “Good Friend and a Glass of Wine” by LeAnn Rimes.

TULIP HILL WINERY Tasting Room 71800 HWY 111, A-125 RANCHO MIRAGE, CA 92270 760-568-5678 www.tuliphillwinery.com.

Rick is your sommelier-about-town entertaining at wine events and tastings.

Contact winespectrum@aol.com.

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

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COME JOIN US FOR THE FUN!!

• 14 flat screen televisions • NTN Trivia and poker with QB1

While you are here you can try one of our ten tap beer selections from a frosty cold glass or choose one of our 30 tequilas or vodkas to make your favorite cocktail.

PLAYOFFS I THE PLAC S E TO BE

12105 PALM DRIVE DESERT HOT SPRINGS

(760) 251-2644

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

Club Clu luubb Crawler CCr Craw raaw wle wl w ler Nightlife Nig NNi iigggh ght httltlilliiifffee ht COUNTRY WESTERN(CW) VARIETY / DANCE(VD) ROCK N ROLL(RR) PIANO BAR(PB) JAZZ(JZ) POP ROCK(PR) BLUES(BL) CLASSIC ROCK(CR) CABARET(CB) LATIN ROCK(LR) REGGAE(RG) ACOUSTIC (AC) METAL(M)

THUR NOVEMBER 21

29 PALMS INN; 29 PALMS; 760-367-3505 Bev and Bill 6pm (JZ) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day in the Amigo Room 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Lilli Rose 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Paula Prince 7pm (PB) BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Brixton Launch Party w/ Drowning Men 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 Open Mic 8pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DESERT FOX; PS; 760-325-9555 Thirsty Thursdays 8pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991 Karaoke ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Lola Rossi, Rob Carter and Denise Motto 5-9pm (JZ) EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 The Hive Minds 8pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Roddy Radiation & The Skabilly Rebels 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6-9:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen in the lounge and Tom on the patio 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Country Night w/ Highway Starr 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 8-1am (LR) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS;

760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) MIRAMONTE RESORT; IW; 760-341-7200 “Sassy & Sultry” featuring Gina Carey 5-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) O’LEARY’S; PS; 760-325-4913 Karaoke 9pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Tristen & Ezra Furman 8pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Machin’ 7pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross 6pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Spaghetti Western Night 5pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-3285955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Bill Saitta Jazz 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Singles Night 9pm

FRI NOVEMBER 22

19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Dana Larson 6pm (AC) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Beach Party w/ DJ Pearl Charles 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Karaoke w/ AJ The KJ 8-12am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Mona Caywood 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 DJ Shon Tomlin 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ PWee 8pm (VD)

BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 Lassie Jo’s Best Damn Karaoke 7pm DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991 EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 Dude Jones 9pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 T.B.A. 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 The O.G.R. Band 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6-9:30pm IPAC; IND; 760-775-5200 Blackstrap Molasses 7pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm (VD) KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 7:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 New Breed 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Basix 9pm (VD) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) O’LEARY’S; PS; 760-325-4913 T.B.A. 9pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 T.B.A. PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 The Roadrunners 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 007 & The Souls 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 The Gand Band 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 8pm, Esjay Jones Sidebar Patio 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Barflys 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm

SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Country Night w/ Walt Young 5:30pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. (JZ)(RR) TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 The Refills 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted @ Night 10pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm (VD) VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 T.B.A. 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760564-2201 Rob & jb 7-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallet 6:30pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT NOVEMBER 23

19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Beverly & Bill 6-9pm (JZ) ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ D.Lee poolside noon, DJ Patrick Melcher 10pm amigo room AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green w/ Les Michaels & Joel Baker 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Derrik Lewis Trio 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Social w/ Pawn & AimLo 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-7755566 DJ PWee (VD) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madeo 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 All Night Shoes 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 The Expendables w/ Micah Brown and One11 8pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 Long Duk Dong 8pm DILLON ROADHOUSE; DHS; 760-251-1991 EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 The Vibe 3-7pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm

FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 T.B.A. 8-11pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 T.B.A. 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 JVR ( Jesika Von Rabbit ) & Solwave 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6-9:30pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 T.B.A. 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 6pm, Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 New Breed 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Basix 9pm (VD) MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am Oktoberfest all day THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) NYPD; PS; 760-778-6973 Live DJ 9pm O’LEARY’S; PS; 760-325-4913 T.B.A. 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 The Hive Minds 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Ghostlight Trio 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-3655956 The Shadow Mountain Band 5pm, Moonsville Collective & Sam Outlaw 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Right On Right On 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 The Gand Band 9pm RENAISSANCE PALM; PS; 760-322-6100 Art of Sax featuring Sax Man Will Donato & Eddie Reddick 7-10pm (JZ) RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 212 Band 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 8pm, Arnie Vilches & Friends, Sidebar Lounge 10pm, DJ Shasta, Starlite Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Scarlet Roads 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985

The Arrangements 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted@ Night 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm (VD) VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JB 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760564-2201 Abie Perkins 7-10pm (LR)(PR) WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler 6:30pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm (VD)

SUN NOVEMBER 24

29 PALMS INN; 29P; 760-367-3505 Bob & Allison Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Intoxica Radio Live w/ Howie Pyro 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

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The Pampered Palate

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

November 21 to November 27, 2013

By Raymond Bill

firecliff: contemporary california cuisine

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fter living in the desert for nearly 25 years, I have seen restaurants come and go. I’ve learned that there is truth in the age old axiom of, “location, location, location” meaning that when a business or property has the benefit of a great location, little else matters. There is one area of our valley where I prefer to dine time and time again, and that is in Palm Desert on El Paseo. Of the many restaurants, new and old, one of my favorite, classy restaurants is Firecliff Restaurant.

This elegant dining venue has prime location facing the busy street with every table offering a great view. A very talented pianist fills the air with his music while the

staff moves together in concert to provide a consistently superb experience. On a recent visit, my date and I were fortunate to enjoy a table on their patio. We were greeted with smiles from our valet attendant, hostess and our server, putting us at ease. We began with a bottle of wine and an order of their fresh crab cakes over mixed greens. They were rather large and delicate, full of fresh crab meat. It was clearly a house specialty.

It was immediately clear to us that Firecliff was going to provide another impressive culinary experience!

Our server, Alfonso, was as attentive to us as he was with the surrounding tables, making everyone feel as if they were the only diners in the restaurant when it was clearly full. We continued with salads, a fresh Caesar salad for me and the Pear Gorgonzola salad for my date. Both were perfectly plated and dressed, presented with fresh cracked black pepper. The little touches did not go unnoticed.

In our typical dining fashion, we shared our entrees so that we would enjoy a variety. The filet mignon was superb, paired with sautéed spinach and creamy potatoes. The flavors were intense and the

meat was top quality. We would also share the Red Snapper stuffed with crab meat. It was perfectly prepared with a citrus beurre blanc. It was no surprise to me when our server complimented the deserving chef while noting she had trained at La Varrene in Paris, France. What a talent indeed!

We were quite satisfied but there was just enough room for dessert.

Upon our server’s recommendation, we shared a warm apple crisp dessert with rich ice cream. It was just enough for us to satisfy our sweet tooth while we raved about the meal we had just

savored! The menu is not too small but not overwhelming. It is apparent that Chef Patricia Hook focuses on the freshest of ingredients, USDA Prime and Angus beef, and an impressive selection of seafood; a winning combination if you ask me.

Firecliff will open for lunch mid-January and dinner is served from 5pm to 9:30pm 7 days per week. Entertainment is offered nightly from 6pm to 10pm. Located at 73-725 El Paseo in Palm Desert, reservations can be made online by visiting www.firecliffdining.com or by calling 760-773-6565

“THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD THE WEST HAS TO OFFER!” Our wonderful staff is committed to giving you the best dining experience. We have a nicely stocked bar and great desserts as well. Our authentic mexican food main courses are truly mouth watering.

We have an award winning sweet corn tamale that you just have to try for yourself.

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3PM TO 6PM

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36901 COOK ST. STE.#3 PALM DESERT, CA 92211 (760)836-1133

81931 HIGHWAY 111 INDIO, CA 92201 (760)342-5900

WWW.PUEBLOVIEJOGRILL.COM

25

November 21 to November 27, 2013

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Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

HOT PICKS, COOL FLIX

NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER: INFORMANT

NEBRASKA

Screeners No. 87

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r t a in me n te t

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on a road trip from Missouri to Nebraska to claim his million-dollar sweepstake prize from a Publishers Clearing House-like mail promotion.

Will Forte is wonderful as Woody’s son who reluctantly agrees to drive his dad to Nebraska to “claim” his winnings. I’d be hard pressed to say whether this is a comedy or drama. There are some very funny moments as we recognize the truth of our human hopes and weaknesses, but Payne’s affection as well as his sardonic humor is never too far removed. Dern’s performance is a career best and makes him a likely contender for a Best Actor© nod.

Stacy Keach and Bob Odenkirk costar.

Saturday, November 23, at Cinemas Palme d’Or, there will be a sneak preview of NEBRASKA and a Q&A with co-star Bob Odenkirk following the 6:30 screening.

Don’t miss this terrific film.

Palm Springs

se r vice s

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Who exactly is Brandon Darby? That’s the real question in Jamie Meltzer’s compelling documentary that takes a disturbing look at the bizarre case of Darby, the man who in 2005 fought to bring aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina and then in 2008 was implicated in the arrest of two protesters who plotted to attack police with Molotov cocktails at the Republican National Convention. The thing that held my attention was how, especially over the last decade, grass roots political, social and religious movements can “feed the delusions of unstable people.” This riveting film is one of the year’s best documentaries.

Music Box. DVD AS I LAY DYING

The ubiquitous Oscar©-nominated James Franco co-wrote, directed and stars in this acceptable adaptation of William Faulkner’s now classic 1930 American novel.

The story follows the Bundren family as

Dimitri Logothetis’s revealing film details the life of Sam “Momo” Giancana, a tough, impoverished kid who rose through the ranks of Chicago’s underworld to become the godfather of the ruthless gangster organization: The Outfit. On this 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s murder, I was fascinated by this startling, truelife story that provides new evidence into Giancana’s connections with the Kennedy family. “Momo” helped deliver three states to ensure JFK’s election. And then, less than three years later, helped “arrange” for the President’s assassination! The jaw-dropping film features never-before-seen footage shot by Giancana himself and exposes his affair with Marilyn Monroe (and perhaps his “assist” in her death). “Momo” Giancana was also a player in the covert CIA plan to take down Castro. He was an all-purpose gangster. A man of many talents – all bad.

MOMO: THE SAM GIANCANA STORY is available on DVD, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Amazon, and Hoopla.

FRANCES HA After last Saturday’s special screening at a packed Cinemas Palme d’Or, the audience was fascinated with Greta Gerwig’s account of the creative process that nurtured her co-written and starring role of a gawky, socially awkward young woman in her

November 21 to November 27, 2013

tracy worthington

By Denise Ortuno Neil

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they crisscross the Mississippi countryside to bring the body of Addie, their deceased mother, for burial in her hometown.

External and internal forces of all kinds impact the family members in unexpected ways. Millenium. DVD. MOMO: THE SAM GIANCANA STORY

Director Alexander Payne (SIDEWAYS, THE DESCENDENTS) has done it again – given us an understated, elegant, sometimes poetic look at the human condition in a specific time and place. Beautiful black and white cinematography follows tetchy and woefully naive Woody (Bruce Dern)

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late 20s trying very hard to “come of age.”

Gerwig’s memorable character driven comedy-drama is more poignant than funny and may suggest a mental illness or sexual identity issue that sublimely remains unexplored other than by implication. Noah Baumbach directs his co-written screenplay (no improvisation here) in beautiful black and white. Criterion. Blu-ray.

WE’RE THE MILLERS

racy Worthington is well rounded in the world of beauty, and with her two successful shops, Wink Lash & Beauty Bar and Just Blow Drys, she is helping to make the Coachella Valley an even more beautiful place.

Worthington is originally from the Coachella Valley, a Palm Springs High girl, she moved away for some time experiencing other places such as San Diego, Houston and eventually Los Angeles for 15 years. She has recently re-discovered our beautiful desert and moved back over a year ago.

Worthington has been cutting her teeth in beauty from the start, becoming well versed in cosmetology and in make artistry. She has worked in many aspects of the business including make-up freelance for photo shoots and in salons.

During her career she would frequently come back to the desert to visit and last year made the final move to live back in the desert full time, and that is when she decided to open her salons.

She wanted to open Wink Lash Beauty Bar with the clear intent to help women with their skincare.

The salon focuses on helping women with skincare to influence the way they look and feel about themselves. She is motivated especially by young girls who are setback by their complexion, a reason that she started her own skincare line which is plant based, free from fillers and un-natural substances.

“Skin Care is very important to me and I am very passionate about it,” says Worthington. “I want to help people achieve beautiful skin,” she professes.

Her salon offers lash extensions, full make-up and facials.

Her inspiration for her Just Blow Drys salon was completely selfish as she puts it. Coming from L.A.

she noticed that the Coachella Valley didn’t have a place to go to just get a blow dry without getting your hair completely done. Worthington found the solution by opening her own, no doubt allowing her the benefits of a larger metropolitan area and for us as well. Her salon doesn’t offer cut or color, just wash and blow dry with an added bonus of a relaxing head and neck massage ( only $35 depending on hair length).Worthington’s shops are setup for convenience only two doors apart.

Worthington is a self-admitted workaholic, but she is trying her best to separate herself from her work once in a while enjoying down time with her boyfriend and four dogs. She also enjoys cooking, entertaining and knitting when she has the opportunity to do so.

She is celebrating a year in business for both shops on November 17th. Her future is locked into expanding her business by growing her make-area which has become more popular than originally anticipated. She also has her sights on growing her business in other cities, ultimately touching them with the same beatifying magic that she has done in the Coachella Valley.

For more information visit www. winklashandbeautybar.com and www. justblowdrys.com

Jason Sudeikis plays a low-level pot dealer who gets trapped into creating a fake family to smuggle weed back into the USA in order to pay off a debt to Ed Helms, a crooked, would-be drug king pin. Stripper Jennifer Aniston pretends to be his wife and two neighbor misfits play their kids. I laughed more than I expected at the shameless raunch and the big load of extras. Jason Thurber directs with an eye for the obvious. New Line. Blu-ray.

Got something to say? RobinESimmons@ aol.com

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44850 San Pablo, Palm Desert

27

November 21 to November 27, 2013

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Book Review

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

November 21 to November 27, 2013

By Heidi Simmons

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words MAry Coin

By marisa silver

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fiction

he iconic image of Dorothea Lange’s Depression Era photo “Migrant Mother” is the inspiration for Marisa Silver’s new novel, Mary Coin (Blue Rider Press, 324 pages.) The public domain photo, a concerned and desperate mother and her children, is colorized for the cover. Beautiful and intriguing, the picture reflects the nature of the prose inside.

“I didn’t know anything about the photo,” said Silver at the season opening of the UCR Palm Desert Arts and Letters Series.

“I knew the image and I was compelled to write what was around the edges.”

Dorothea Lange worked for the U.S. Government’s Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression.

As a photographer, her job was to travel the country and document the lives of Americans and send back an accurate “picture” of their conditions. Florence Thompson, the mother of seven children, is featured in the famous photograph. Silver

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fictionalizes these two women.

“I imagined their lives from both sides of the camera,” said Silver. “Using the framework of the real women -- not just about their lives, but how history is seen and remembered.”

Dividing the narrative into three distinct stories, Silver writes about Mary Coin, the woman in the photo; Vera Dare, the

photographer; and Walker Dodge, a present day professor of history.

The journey begins with Mary Coin, a young and hopeful girl in Oklahoma. Silver follows the fictional Coin across the country as she matures and struggles to care for her children and find work. Coin eventually arrives in California where she inadvertently becomes the subject of the photo.

Dare, the photographer, simultaneously travels across the country. Although she is paid to take photos, Dare has personal struggles she too must overcome. Dare and Coin intersect in California’s Central Valley.

The present day character, Dodge, is searching to understand his family history and discovers he is linked to Mary Coin, the woman in the photo. Crisscrossing the three characters, the reader waits to see how their lives impact one another.

Richly textured and beautifully rendered, the women characters in Mary Coin are powerful and intense. Each is the antithesis of the other, but they are both survivors, desperate to make it through the Depression.

The world Coin and Dare share is certainly the most fascinating and interesting aspect

of the book. Dodge’s story is not nearly as compelling. Silver gives the reader a glimpse into the 1930s and the challenges of being a woman. Some of the challenges for women never change.

“I’m curious to know what is a documented image?” said Silver. “Can you capture reality and preserve history?”

This is what Silver attempts to do with her story. She has written these women into a historical novel and given them life.

Silver comes from a family of filmmakers.

She has directed four Hollywood films herself. She is best known for the movie He Said, She Said. “The more films I made, the further I got away from the story,” said Silver. “I’d ask myself, ‘What am I making this film about?’ I liked telling stories. I was just telling them in the wrong medium.”

Silver left the film business to pursue creative writing full-time.

“Sometimes I think I am a collagist,” said Silver. “I’m putting little stories together to form a bigger resonance.” In Mary Coin, Silver manages to beautifully portray the female characters but the ultimate picture is slightly out-of-focus.

29

November 21 to November 27, 2013 continued from page 17

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Ballroom Dance Classes

The Women of CV Weekly

By publisher tracy dietlin

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

November 21 to November 27, 2013

photo by Chris miller

Along with featuring the amazing 35 Women in this issue I also thought it was time for our readers to get to know the Women who write for CV Weekly. home”.

BRONWYN ISON (Mind, Body & Spirit columnist) LOLA ROSSI (Valley Rhythms columnist) Originally from Lake Tahoe, NV, Bronwyn Ison Columnist and vocalist, Lola Rossi comes from moved to the CV in 1985. She graduated from Palm South Philadelphia, the same town as Buddy Greco, Desert High School and attended COD for 2 years.

Frankie Avalon, Eddie Fisher, Al Martino, James Darrin She then moved to Arizona where she received her and Fabian. Her Great Uncle, Danny Cedrone, was BA in Broadcast Journalism from The Walter Cronkite the guitarist on the original song “Rock Around The School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She Clock” with Bill Haley. worked as a News Anchor and Reporter while living After high school, she attended the American there but then packed it all in to become a wife and Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City; however, mother and took five years off to raise her daughters after a short time, realized that singing was her Brielle, 9, and Bryna, 6. passion. She formed her first seven-piece band After her divorce she moved back to the CV to be “Sheer Pleasure” in Delaware County and performed near her family. Being a single mother wasn’t easy at private parties and local night clubs. She attributes and she went through some difficult times. She had her success to the support of her parents, who to decide what to do with her life and how to support owned and operated Rossi Kitchens Design Center in her girls. She had been practicing yoga for about 13 South Philadelphia, where she helped run the office years and started teaching a class at The Vintage Club. and designed kitchens and bathrooms.

The class grew and she received the opportunity to Rossi visited the Desert in 1990 and moved to Palm teach a class at the Polo Grounds in the Rose Garden Springs the following year. She worked as a waitress and things took off from there. “People started telling for a short time and in 1992, worked as the Sewing me I should start my own studio,” expressed Ison Machine Department Manager at House of Fabrics. In during her interview. “And as much as I love yoga I 1994, she started singing at the Palm Springs Riviera always thought I was going to be that girl on CNN or Resort and recorded her first CD in 1995. She is the Fox News,” she shared with a laugh. owner of Prestige Entertainment Services, BMI and However, destiny had another idea and opening Palm Springs Records; and currently has five songs her own yoga studio, Evolve Yoga, came to fruition. airing in daily rotation on KHCS 91.7 FM Radio.

“It’s a big difference between covering a story about One of the songs she co-wrote, “Flying With a boy being hit by a car and dragged 30 feet versus Angles” was used on the video for the 50th someone leaving my class saying ‘I feel great’,” Ison Anniversary of the Angel View Crippled Children’s shared. But she’s glad she took this path.

Foundation, narrated by Howard Keel. Well In With a lot of support from her family and friends The Desert, Desert Samaritans for the Elderly and and much well-thought out strategic planning Evolve the Stoke Recovery Center are a few of the nonYoga has become successful and is flourishing as are profit organizations she has been involved with.

Ison and her daughters.

She produced the entertainment line-up for the While she admits she works many hours to make upcoming Loving All Animals Super Pet Adoption Fair her business thrive she also makes sure to take time being held this weekend. to spend with her daughters. In her down time she Rossi designed and produces the star replicas enjoys hiking the Bump and Grind Trail or hanging presented to the recipients; for the Palm Springs Walk with her girlfriends enjoying a glass of wine. of Stars and the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.

“It’s scary to be a single parent and strike out on She is currently performing every Saturday and your own with a new business but I feel blessed every Sunday with Steve Madaio and Bobby O’Connor in day. I get to help people find peace and stability in the bluEmber Restaurant and also performs at private their lives and it’s a great thing.” parties and country clubs.

JANET McAFEE (Pet Place columnist) ELENI P. AUSTIN (Consider This Music columnist) Janet was born in Brockton, Massachusetts...but Eleni is from Los Angeles, Ca. specifically Laurel grew up in Rialto, CA. She has lived in San Francisco, Canyon and Los Feliz, where she spent her childhood.

Alameda, Lafayette & now Palm Desert. Her college She moved to the desert when she started junior high degrees are a MSW in Social Work and JD Law and graduated from Indio High. degree. She also interned at the San Francisco District Austin is an only child with 25 first cousins and 25 Attorney’s office. Her previous careers include: Legal second cousins (maybe 7 third cousins),which are all Analyst with the Department of Justice & Supervisor on her Mother’s side. She grew up in a large extended (previously vocational counselor) at the Department Greek family with her mother being the youngest of of Vocational Rehabilitation.

13 children. “My wife Jan and I have been together 9 She has also completed coursework in Animal years, legally married since 08,” shared Austin.

Law which comes in handy in her new career as the She currently works at The Record Alley in the hardest working animal advocate I know. She has Westfield Mall. Before that back in the early 2000’s been recuing animals for the last seven years and she worked at the Wherehouse in Palm Springs for the past three years has been the Director of the where she set up in store shows giving locals bands Mobile Mutts program at Loving All Animals. the opportunity to have a place to perform. She is “My goal is to make the CV a “No Kill” community quite the music aficionado making CVW lucky to have for animals in our public shelters,” stated McAfee in her writing music reviews as she is definitely a unique a quick interview before dashing off to save the next wordsmith in her writing style. furry friend.

When asked her favorite musicians she replied, McAfee works seven days a week rescuing dogs “Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell, Rival Sons & Ani and cats, fostering them, finding them homes and Difranco.” helping to get them spayed and neutered. I actually One of the things we all enjoy most about Austin saw her at an event all dressed up looking gorgeous is her quick wit and dry sense of humor. When asked the other night which isn’t always the case. “Most what her hobbies are she quipped, “Hobbies? I of the time when I’m at events I’m working to get read, bodysurf, hike, bike and practice my withering animals adopted. It was nice to have a night off,” she sarcasm.” laughed. Even so, I knew that if someone called and Her Mother was Executive Director of Variety told her they had a dog that needed rescuing all the Children’s Charities (1987-96), before she passed, and way in Riverside she would be on her way to save Austin volunteered with her. Austin was also in a TV another life. commercial when she was four. Personally, I think she As the Pet Place writer for CVW McAfee has should be doing stand-up comedy. Her future goal is shared many tear jerking stories about the animals to “enjoy life”. she and her other advocates have saved and how JEN TAN (Gamer Girl columnist) rewarding it is to see that animal find a “furrever

Jen Tan was born in Riverside, CA and grew up in Big Bear and Lake Havasu, AZ mostly. “Although, through my younger years, I can count at least two dozen zip codes I’ve lived in,” shared Tan. She graduated from independent school in 2004 here in the desert, after trying to adjust to both PDHS, and CCHS, with no luck. Aside from being CVW’s “Gamer Girl” columnist, Tan is currently a freelance events coordinator in the gaming industry, gaming and livestream entertainer, and PR/Marketing Director for The Delta Six and Avenger. “I get to play games for a living. How cool is that,” shared Tan. When asked about her family Tan was passionate.

“My family consists of my husband Ming Bob, father Timothy, and younger sister Karissa. They live in Big Bear. Karissa is now 15, and I can’t believe it. I still treat her like my baby sister, assuming she needs me for everything. Even though we didn’t grow up together, she is my clone. Anime, gaming, pop culture, and nerdy hobbies are her life. Our dad has no idea how she turned out like that, but I couldn’t be more proud! My father is a master wood craftsman, and makes the most gorgeous cabinets, doors, and wood detailing in some of the most extravagant homes in Big Bear. He and I are far too common.

Odd sense of humor, always hands on, and very impulsively adventurous. We would rather make something, than buy it, which is what we spend most of our time together doing. What can I say about my amazing husband that everyone doesn’t already know? Charming, supportive, and irritatingly wise, when he speaks you listen. Not because he is loud or stern, but because he is right, and you know it. He has pushed me to accomplish everything I have, and I keep pushing myself, because I know he isn’t going to stop anytime soon. He is my best friend, the best coop partner I could ask for, and my worst enemy with a rocket launcher.”

When asked what her hobbies are she replied, “You name it, I do it. Baking, cooking, sewing, gaming, graphic design, crafts, painting, crochet, scrabble, quilting, I even consider alphabetizing my MtG cards a hobby.”

Tan is the ninja of charity and community events.

“I will never say no to helping out, donating time, and doing anything I can to help out. I run online gaming charity events for various fundraisers, and I’ve held retail fundraisers For Autism Speaks. At least once a month, Ming Bob and I will disappear to a convention or gaming event, and volunteer as much as we can. Last year at San Diego Comic Con, we walked over 200 miles running errands and helping where needed, and worked over 50 hours together. It’s an amazing experience, and ones that we look forward to all year.”

Tan says her future goals are to, “join the Frag Doll Cadets, an intern program just for female gamers who want to pursue a career in the gaming industry, and to join an AAA gaming company in their events dept. Brand Ambassador, events coordinator, or PR and Marketing, any of those would be a dream come true.”

HEIDI SIMMONS (feature writer) Born and raised in Southern California, Simmons grew up on the beaches of Orange County. She attended Cal State LA where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Anthropology. She also earned a MFA from UCR and a Professor’s degree in

Public Relations from UCLA. Simmons has written 6 screenplays and says she loves the screenwriting process but hates deadlines.

“My dream job would be to adopt great books into movies,” shared Simmons. “I like finding the movie in the books I read.” An avid reader Simmons also says that, “the hard part of writing the Book Review column every week is that I don’t always get to enjoy the book the way I would like because I’m constantly reviewing it in my mind.”

Simmons has been married to her husband, Robin Simmons, CVW Screeners columnist, for 28 years and together they have two grown sons 19 and 26, who are her pride and joy. Her youngest just went off to college and she is experiencing a bit of the empty nest syndrome.

She says that her and Robin love to watch movies together. “We like all kind of movies, indie, art, documentary, even the ones that aren’t so good. We will watch them,” she laughs.

The music she enjoys runs the gamut from the Misfits to Bach, she also plays the cello, and includes bands like Iron and Wine, Fleet Foxes and Animal Collective as her favorites. She is an extremely private person and does not have a FB account and it was like pulling teeth to get her to talk about herself as she is also quite humble about her many achievements.

When asked what her crowning glory is she replied, “My biggest accomplishment is that I raised two sons that turned out great.”

SUNNY SIMON (Life & Career Coach columnist) Simon originally hails from Michigan. “I married a Canadian, the love of my life,” shared Simon. “We both hated cold weather and fled to sunny Florida.

Fourteen years later the company I worked for relocated us to northern California. John and I moved here in 2002.” They share their home with their precious dog Zolton.

Simon has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Central Michigan University.

Prior to launching her private coaching practice she held leadership positions with several start-ups and Fortune 500 companies during her 20 years in corporate human resources.

“One day I heard a song by Sugarland with the lyric “tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high” and I thought that’s it! Raise the Bar High is the name of my life coaching business. We all need to set lofty goals and think BIG! I love helping individuals reach for the stars,” shared an enthusiastic Simon.

When she’s not coaching or writing you’ll find her in the kitchen. Cooking is her passion. She is active in the community and serves on the board of the Palm Springs Writers Guild and the American Business Women’s Association.

Her goal for the future is completing “Life on the Sunny Side” an inspirational book filled with heart and soul vignettes that serve to motivate action and encourage personal growth. Sounds Sunny to me.

DENISE ORTUNO NEIL (feature writer) Denise was born with an ocean view at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach California. She was raised in Costa Mesa, Laguna, and Mission Viejo before being up-rooted to the Coachella at the tender age of 10.

“My parents came to the desert to open a restaurant to insure their retirement. It was devastating to move to the desert from the OC,” continue to page 32

31

November 21 to November 27, 2013

continued from page 31 shared Neil. “But eventually I fell in love with the desert and ironically stayed after my family moved away a decade later.”

She is well versed in the restaurant business as she has worked every aspect of it in her parents restaurant. She received her GED after attending Indio High. “I have taken a multitude of production classes related to video and television in L.A. and here in the Coachella Valley, states Neil. “I have had two local TV shows of my own, “Totally Single” in 1999-2000/2002/2003 and “Coachella Valley This Week” 2010-2011. I have written for a variety of local publications including www.palmspringsguides.com, The Sun Runner, Desert Star and now CV Weekly.”

She is a first generation American in her family.

“My parents came from north Algeria (escaping the French/Algerian war), then to Canada before moving to the US. I am the youngest of five children with almost twenty years age difference between me and my oldest brother.”

She loves to spend time with boyfriend Aaron and her two precious cats Keebler and Pickles.

“I revel in all things creative,” states Neil. “I love to laugh and appreciate twisted humor. I am drawn to those with compassionate hearts and love to be part of civic/charitable endeavors. My love for Palm Springs has led me to be a volunteer and docent for the Palm Springs Historical Society. I also have been involved with the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and have held two comedy events with them as the benefitting charity.”

“My music tastes vary...but as I love to dance, I enjoy salsa music and the Gypsy Kings. My movie selection is vast. I really enjoy old classis films, and have TCM as a constant on my TV (Hitchcock rules!!).

I also am a horror movie buff, owning more scary movie DVD’s then I should.”

Her goals are to move forward in her writing career and to become an independent publisher, producing not only her own books, but those of others as well. She wants to continue to work in television/video production, creating for herself and others. “I always want to be moving forward in my creative efforts, having fun along the way, because if I’m not having fun doing it, it’s not worth doing....life’s too short for anything less.”

ANGELA JANUS (Business columnist) Executive Director and Founder of ShareKitchen. org, Angela Janus is an experienced culinary professional with an education in Culinary Arts from COD and a broad range of hospitality experience including four star restaurant service, banquets and catering and an apprenticeship at an Organic Bakery Cooperative. She is a graduate of FIDM-Los Angeles and College of the Desert where she earned degrees in Interior Design and Hospitality Management.

Janus is also an Allied Member of ASID and holds the designation of Sommelier from the Associazione Italiana Sommelier which she obtained while living and working in Rome, Italy. She currently resides in the Coachella Valley where she volunteers and supports local organizations.

Her specialties are: Culinary Arts, Design, Real Estate Research and Remodels.

When asked what made her decide to start ShareKitchen, she replied, “I saw a need in the community and wanted to make a difference.”

She has supported numerous local charities over the years and has been volunteering her time with ShareKitchen for the last several years.

At home she has 6 furry four legged children who keep her busy. She also enjoys hiking, road trips and going to museums.

When asked her goal for the future? “To continue to make a difference in the lives of the people in our community.”

PATTE PURCELL (Writer) Purcell comes from Omaha, Nebraska and has an Honorary Associates Degree from the University of Metaphysics.

Aside from writing for CVW she has an online business www.o2planet.com and www. oxygenexperience.com where she sells aroma oxygen

32

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com bars, and other cutting edge oxygen base equipment to spas, hotels, fitness centers, etc.

Purcell recently started a new business called Muze Muzic. “I produce and promote concerts with National Smooth Jazz Stars primarily at upscale RV Resort ballrooms. However, I am branching out and I just booked a weekly show and live feed with my favorite smooth Jazz star,vocalist, composer, entertainer and musician Slim Man, Shared Purcell with a twinkle of excitement. “It will be every Friday night at the Starlight Room at the Riviera Palm Springs and will feature Slim Man (15 cds) and his band with guest artists. There will be some interviews and some fun surprises. It’s called Slim Man, “King of the Springs” and will be the hottest new show in the Desert. People can participate in the show by coming out to the Riviera on Friday nights.”

This isn’t Purcell’s first venture in entertainment or TV. She has produced and hosted numerous television shows since 1988 that have aired primarily in Southern California and Las Vegas.

“I started my career in advertising and marketing in 1979 when my late husband and I started a monthly magazine called City Slicker. Over a period of 8 years we syndicated it to 12 cities around the country including San Diego. That is how we ended up here. I did weekly promotions, parties, fashion shows and beauty contests as a part of the promotion I did for our magazine. My husband and I also sold all the advertising and he did the artwork and we both distributed them. That was such an amazing fun time.

We took Omaha by storm. People that lived there during that time still remember it.”

“In 1988 I produced a show called ‘The Fashion Show’ and that’s what got me into television. Then my husband and I moved to Las Vegas and we did a show called ‘Quest for the Best’. My husband encouraged me do a metaphysical radio show since I was (and still am) into those things. He went to one of the radio stations in Las Vegas and got me an hour a week for a month. I was scared because radio is live and if you screw up there’s no editing (kind of like life) but I loved it. I got ‘bitten by the mike’ as they say. Six weeks after I started Len, found me a syndicator and I negotiated a weekly 3 hour show on Saturday nights called ‘The Next Dimension, Out of the World Radio’ on Talk America Radio network (over 100 stations).

We bought a 40 ft. motor home in 2003 and by 2004 we were full time RV’rs. He passed away in 2009, but he’s still my angel and I feel him around me all the time.”

Purcell enjoys her cats, music, and promotions.

She enjoys entertaining people and making them happy and is looking for the right man again. “I miss having a close loving relationship,” she shared. “I want to find a handsome, funny, man that has as much of a sense of adventure as me. He has to be romantic too.”

LAURA HUNT LITTLE (Music Writer/ Photographer) Laura Little attended Tyler School of Art @ Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, where she is originally from. She moved to Los Angeles in 1994, then home to Philly in 98, when her youngest son was born, then back to CA (Los Angeles) in 2000. While in LA she was the Project Manager at the Grammy Awards, managed national music education programs – Grammy in the School & the All American High School Jazz Band & Choir.

She relocated to the desert in 2001 and currently works as the Marketing Manager at Miramonte Resort. Aside from her day job she also finds time to write and take photographs for CVW. She would like to move into more photography work as it is one of her passions.

Little has an easy demeanor and infectious personality. “I’m pretty easy. I am motivated by positive input and doing praiseworthy things. I’m a pleaser. I like to make things that are beautiful/fun/ interesting/though-provoking...that I can share with the ones I love,” says little with a smile.

She loves to see live shows, music mostly, but also theater. Her favorite band is a toss-up between Dave Matthews Band and Zack Brown Band. “My biggest

regret of my recent years is that I didn’t see the show where Zack opened for DMB a couple years back,” Little says with a sigh.

Little lives with her husband Greg and their blended family of her two boys Adam, 15, and Kurt, 18 and Greg’s two sons, Connor, 16, and Patrick, 13.

Dr. MARIA LOMBARDO (Beauty columnist) Dr. Lombardo’s first love was the world of art. She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and was creative from the very beginning enjoying piano, theatre and art. Her father was a doctor, but despite her family’s medical background, she decided to pursue an education in art, feeding her creative appetite. She was successful in her studies at DePaul University in Chicago IL and later at the Art Institute earning her a degree in art, specializing in painting and serigraphs.

With her Art education in hand, she decided to attend medical school after all, following in her family’s footsteps. And it was after she finished medical school and during one of her surgical rotations that she found her true calling. The patient was a car accident victim that had fallen asleep behind the wheel and crashed his car, resulting in severe facial disfigurement.

Dr. Lombardo proceeded to assist the other surgeons on putting the young man’s features back together, resulting in what she calls her “Light Bulb” moment. She found elation in being able to help people with their physical appearance and how she could integrate her art background with her medical future. It was then that the practice of Cosmetic Surgery became clear.

In 2008, Dr. Lombardo came to the desert to work with another Cosmetic Surgeon before starting her own practice in Rancho Mirage in 2009. She writes a bi-weekly column for CVW. You can check out more about her in last week’s CVW online in our archives.

JULIE BUEHLER (Sports columnist) She prefers to be called Jules and she’s been working in sports media for more than a decade, since a journalism instructor told her to take the angst she witnesses at a college basketball game and channel it for the sports page. So she traded in her chemistry scholarship (true story) for a journalism scholarship and has been yelling at refs since.

“Writing is a sincere, visceral passion of mine,” states Buehler. “I’ve written for and/or am currently writing for AP, The San Diego Union Tribune, Sports Life Magazine, Cross Fit Journal, Daily Pilot, Indianapolis Colts’ “Scout” Magazine, Tree.com, Planetpigskin.com, SportsRantz.com, HoopsAddict. com, ArmChairQB.com and now CV Weekly.”

She caught her first break in radio when a program director standing behind her in line at Starbucks overheard her impassioned rant about the previous night’s last-minute collapse to a rival. “I got an Americano, a tap on the shoulder and a start in professional broadcasting,” she laughs.

She made California broadcasting history in 2010 when she lit up the airwaves from 4-7 pm M-F on 1010 KXPS in Palm Springs. Buehler became the first woman to fly solo in prime-time sports talk radio and did so for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. “Not easy, but Lordy, we had fun!” said Buehler. I got whip cream pies thrown at me, waxed my producer’s legs in studio, threw the football with fans, covered the Super Bowl, NFL Hall of Fame inductions, Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, NBA Finals.... and I’m proud to say we TRIPLED the ratings in less than a year. Thanks to great community support and a hell of a lineup of guests that ranged from Johnny Bench to Oscar De La Hoya to NBA owners and our favorite local high school star athletes.”

Her show is now called “Buehler’s Day Off” and she’s on M-F from 3-6pm on the same 1010 KXPS airwaves.

JUDITH SALKIN (feature writer) Judith was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa., until she was 12 when her mother moved her to North Hollywood. She spent the next seven years bouncing around LA County, from Sherman Oaks to Hollywood and back, before she moved out on her own.

“I went to LA Community College (the original

campus of UCLA, where I was supposed to matriculate) and was supposed to go to UCLA but there was a mix up in a time machine and I couldn’t do it. Actually, I didn’t want to take on a couple of smaller loans/grants in my grant loan package and they weren’t going to allow me to work in the program I was accepted into. Biggest deterrent, I would have had to give my cat away to move into and out of the dorms for two years. That was the deal breaker!!” shared Salkin with a laugh.

As for her career, Salkin has drifted in and out of the entertainment industry, working in the travel and PR offices at A&M Records, an industrial film maker/ distribution company in Santa Monica, various studio lots doing various jobs including working in a film library (stock footage) and the world of international antiques sales and shipping all before moving to the desert.

“Out here, I worked in the wind industry in the early 1980s before wandering into The Desert Sun and getting hired as a company temp.,” said Salkin.

“As a temp I worked my way through almost every department until I got to the newsroom where a four week assignment turned into 24 years that encompassed being a news assistant writing obits and wedding announcements, to writing small features stories to the community newspapers and being one of the founding writers for Desert Post Weekly. In 2006, DPW was folded back into TDS features department where I worked until October 2012.”

She wrote features pieces including entertainment pieces (including film reviews and celeb interviews), food, home decor and architecture. She also did red carpet interviews for five years at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala, was part of the teams covering high profile funerals and in general filled in wherever needed.

Salkin is the youngest of three surviving children of her parents. “I am divorced but have two great kids, Megwyn and Kyle, who are old enough to start taking care of me, but why would they,” she chuckles.

“Kyle recently fathered a baby boy, Jason, who is the spitting image of my late brother and Megwyn is looking at going to culinary school.”

Salkin says she likes to read, especially in bed at night. “A couple of years ago the kids got me a Kindle and I’m hooked! It’s so much easier on the thumbs when you’re reading in bed.” Salkin insists she couldn’t make it without her kids and close friends that they are what keep her going. She also admits to being, “a crazy cat lady, although I only have one cat, Ozzie, a seven-month old rescue that I got from Sav-a-Pet. Megwyn (yes, she still lives at home) has a big black kitty named Sebastian and a small dog, Lola.

Salkin says that her dream would be to travel through Europe. “I want to buy a EuRail pass and take my time seeing the Continent, spend at least a month in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales since it was a tossup between American Expansionism of the 1800s and English History in College. And to make Aliyah to Israel, after all it is the homeland and I hear it calling me. A chance to pray at the Wailing Wall would be a mitzvah for my soul.”

AMANDA DORTA- (SELMA columnist) At 28, the founder of Coachella Valley’s Support and Education for Local Music and Arts organization has a 6 year old son, James Orion Dorta, and enjoys her youth as a student at College of the Desert where she has started the second chapter of the S.E.L.M.A. organization, SelmaGrows COD. The Club has over 170 members and continues to grow. The main purpose of the S.E.L.M.A. organization is to create careers that support and preserve cultural integrity by providing a localized showcase system of the education of local music and arts.

As the organization continues to connect with resources that agree with the mission there will be more opportunity for growth and education. “The ideal situation would be to have a facility to continue our work and that time will come. The Coachella Valley residents deserve support and education for local music and arts. Selma is here to advocate for that truth,” shares Dorta.

film

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

November 21 to November 27, 2013

THE STANLEY KRAMER FILM FESTIVAL AND AWARDS

By rachel montoya

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pening Night on Friday, celebrated the Centennial of the Stanley Kramer “films that changed the world”, paying tribute to Sidney Poiter, Spencer Tracey, and Katharine Hepburn in the classic shown in every country “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”. It was the film that changed marriage laws in 16 states and raised more awareness to prejudice and racism. The RED CARPET wear was evening attire and the Kramer’s along with sponsors were delivered to the Red Carpet in vintage cars by Great Autos of Yesteryear.

Cake was served to everyone by Karen and Katharine Kramer furnished by Manhattan of the Desert. This work of art with the picture of Stanley Kramer and The Palm Springs Cultural Center logo was enjoyed by all. Dinner was provided by Azul’s and the Shalhoub family’s McDonald restaurants in a take out bag - coupons for everyone.

The screenings on Saturday began with “The Wild One” which was the only biker film in Kramer’s career, and this film along with Marlon Brando’s good looks inspired the first organized biker club The Boozefighters, and

later The Ugly’s with well-known actor Peter Fonda. The Kramer girls were escorted to the Red Carpet on bikes provided by Big Boy Choppers/Lenny Meyer, and followed by The Marines, The Ugly’s, The Boozefighters, and a special exhibition of The Crocker that is reminiscent of the era and the classic Indian Bike. The day was topped off by the screening of “Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of those whacky 52 comedians delivering the funniest message about greed that you could imagine - big crowd pleaser.

The Awards Ceremony conducted

by Michael C. Green, on behalf of The

Palm Springs Cultural Center and The Camelot Theatres celebrated The Life Time Achievements of Randal Kleiser and The Emerging Artist Award to Del Shores.

Randal’s film with John Travolta “Grease” kept us dancing through decades, and Del Shores with “Sordid Lives” was the longest running film that has every been screened at The Camelot. Del Shores has a STAR on the walk in Palm Springs and his star will soon by joined by a STAR for Stanley Kramer. The surprise of the evening was the announcement of the upcoming Stanley Kramer STAR that is being sponsored by George and Paris from Azul’s.

Stanley Kramer, with 85 nominations for best Producer/Director to deliver social messages and entertainment through the performances of the Icons and Legends of the Silver Screen will be joining the walk in front of Azul’s in early 2014.

The Closing night on Sunday remains one of the most socially significant films in the Kramer/Spencer film relationship - “The Judgement at Nuremberg” is a masterpiece of Spencer Tracey under the direction of Stanley Kramer.

Thank you Palm Springs for the support of the Camelot Theatre and Ric & Rosene Supple.

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

Community

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Alan Gough’s Award Winning Photography

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upport and Education for Local Music and Arts, Coachella Valley Chapter 1, would like to thank Coachella Valley local, Alan Gough, of Alan’s Award Winning Instant On Screen Photography and Video. Alan is intent on supporting local charities and creating employment for local photographers. He will be showcasing the experience that is his Award Winning Photography at the Palm Desert Learning Tree Center event on February 7th 2014, to support the education of local music and arts in Coachella Valley schools.

Alan combines 22 years of professional photography experience, incredible

“We are the only company in Palm Springs to offer Instant On screen Photography - a real WOW factor for parties, events, weddings, bar mitzvahs, golf events and more,” -Alan Gough.

equipment and extreme passion to create an instant product. All this helps him deliver some of the best images for you to use in your corporate or personal promotional campaigns. Businesses and Public Benefit Corporations love to incorporate the “WOW Factor” of Alan’s craft and the instant gratification provided to their event guests. Alan’s Award Winning Photography is a great application for Red Carpets and Grand Openings. You can even create customization with a business logo or graphic infused into every shot.

Alan starts by attending your event with a top of the line “LIVE” Canon digital camera. He uses Canon’s sharpest professional L series lenses, so you get the best images at the best rates. This camera sends images instantly to a large screen that is set up at a focal point at the event.

By combining this with the ability to print or download retouched digital files in a variety of digital resolutions you get the best of both worlds. These images can either be printed out immediately or they can be found online and applied to a variety of event memorabilia.

Alan’s Award winning Photography has fees comparable to traditional photography but with Alan’s, you get all the bells

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

and whistles that create memories and establish the experience of your event.

With a traveling team of photographers there is no opportunity too extreme for Alan’s Award Winning Photography.

Contact Alan with your custom requirements for corporate, convention, trade show or wedding photography. Daytime phone 800-853-8145 Evening phone 760-8985110 email : alangough88@gmail.com www.palmspringsphotographers.net or www.facebook.com/pages/Alans-AwardWinning-Photography-and-Video

Events

3rd Annual Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience at Empire Polo Club Save The Date: Saturday, March 1st, 2014

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hanksgiving as we know it became an annual national celebration in 1863 thanks to Sarah Josepha Buell Hale.

Following the death of her husband in 1822, she went on to become an author having written one of the first books critical of slavery. Based on the success of this book, she moved from New Hampshire to Boston to become the editress (the term she preferred) of Ladies’ Magazine. During this

by local breweries will be featured in the tasting garden. Attendees will enjoy an impressive variety of tasting options.

For a list of participating wineries and breweries please visit the website at www.

RWBFest.com.

Tickets Tickets to the Rhythm, Wine and Brews Experience can be purchased online starting on January 1st, 2014. The website address where tickets can be purchased is www.

RWBfest.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate the day of the Festival. Children 12 and under are free. Ticket holders must show ID at the Festival and be 21 years of age or older to taste beer and wine.

Additional tasting tickets can be purchased once inside of the Festival. There will be food and beverage service onsite throughout the event.

A portion of the proceeds from the

Empire Polo Club 81-800 Ave. 51, Indio, CA 92201 info@RWBfest.com. www.facebook.com/ RhythmWineAndBrewsFest

time, she wrote a collection of poems that included Mary Had a Little Lamb. Hale and the magazine that she edited (renamed Godey’s Lady’s Book) had influence unlike any modern publication in that it influenced the fashions, architectures and morals of the era.

As a successful influencer on American life, Hale made it her personal mission to turn the New England celebration of Thanksgiving into a national celebration. After seventeen years lobbying, President Abraham Lincoln recognized Hale’s efforts by declaring the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving.

It was his hope that the celebration would serve to help bring the country together as the United States was in the midst of the Civil War. Looking for the origins of the celebration goes back to the times before organized religion. The original farmers believed that the crops had living spirits that had to be destroyed through ceremonies prior to crop cultivation or the farmers themselves would confront revenge from those spirits on their lives.

Ancient Romans celebrated a harvest festival known as Cerelia on October 4th where they honored Ceres, the goddess of agriculture while Ancient Greeks celebrated Thesmophoria in honor of their goddess of corn, Demeter.

As religions came into being, people would have days of thanksgiving and days of fasting. Thanksgivings were for special blessings while fastings commemorated days of remembrance.

Historian Jeremy Bangs believes that the first celebration of Thanksgiving in the United States was in Texas on September 8, 1598 by Spanish explorers in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. At that time, the Spanish explorers celebrated their survival from the perilous journey across the Atlantic to the New World.

Pilgrims are believed to have originally observed the celebration of Thanksgiving while in Leiden, The Netherlands in 1574. That celebration related to that Leiden›s deliverance from the rule of the Spanish. When the Pilgrims came to the United States, they began a similar celebration in Boston in 1631. The holiday did not become a regular celebration in the New England area until some thirty years later.

President George Washington proclaimed the first national day of Thanksgiving in 1789 as a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer” for the creation of our new country.

It was not until Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that the New England observation of Thanksgiving became an annual event, thanks to Sarah Josepha Buell Hale. For the next 78 years, Presidents would make a proclamation recognizing the day. It was not

until 1941 that President Roosevelt made this celebration a national holiday.

Two years earlier, President Roosevelt had moved Thanksgiving up a week to help retailers to extend their Christmas selling season. This “proclamation” upset many including Atlantic City’s mayor who called the new Thanksgiving date “Franksgiving”. FDR and Congress fixed things two years later, returning the holiday to the fourth Thursday in November.

Thanksgiving as celebrated today is essentially no different from those farmers of 3,000 years ago. It is still celebration of our year’s harvest, continued health for us, our family and those around us and prayers for a successful and healthful tomorrow. Like Hale, it is also a day of thanks for our families and loved ones and remembrance of those whom are no longer with us.

On behalf of everyone at CV Weekly, I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

schools. All of a sudden, with no jobs available, everyone is going back to school.

Please watch, however, for the “ for-profit school” that is essentially selling you bad loans on a degree or certificate that has little chance of bringing you employment.

NEVER, look at THEIR list of employers.

Check your local market for this specific job opening right now, and see how many people typically apply and how many are hired here and now and at what salary. The numbers these schools publish are filled with your dreams of getting a better job, but little in the way of unbiased facts. Once again, this is money going out before money comes into your pocket, so make sure it’s a sure bet before making an investment over a useless purchase. Know the difference.

Third, I have already seen three fake

“job” offer postings on CareerBuilder type job sites. These are generally the pyramid schemes of yesteryear born under a new name. You sell to someone who sells, and you gain (ostensibly) a portion on down the pyramid. The problem is that you are soaked in expenses and inventory or other purchases for the base of the pyramid and never make anything further before you’re broke. Again, money goes out before money comes in. That’s a golden rule to AVOID. The other version of this is that you will be hired once you complete a course that the hiring company offers….. for a “fee.” Finally, any number of sales jobs will “hire” you for nothing, and have you work for free forever, on the hopes that you will make them money, and then they will pay you. If the product isn’t a household name already, this is not likely to benefit you as advertised. Watch for the loose use of the term “hire.” That should indicate money to you before you spend money to have the job in the first place.

In short, anything that sounds too good to be true is. It’s your nickel.

Don’t get slammed by the scam have had at least ten calls about local scams in as many days.

First, there is the whole gamut of lending scams. I had a client who really needed a short term business loan and had been denied a more traditional loan.

Looking on the internet he found a “lender” who, for a small sum, would “guarantee” a loan to him. Further, the loan would have its first few payments suspended for another “fee”. Finally the loan would be insured for a

Rhythm, Wine and Brews Festival will benefit the Casey Lee Ball Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports pediatric kidney research.

Haddon Libby:It’s all local

john paul valdez:it’s your nickel

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mpire Music Ventures is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Rhythm, Wine and Brews Experience on Saturday, March 1st, 2014 at the Empire Polo Club. Live music will set the tone as guests enjoy an extraordinary afternoon of wine and beer tasting at one of the most beautiful venues in the Coachella Valley.

This year the Rhythm, Wine and Brews Experience has grown and boasts a longer line-up of bands along with an expanded list of handcrafted beer and wine to taste.

A themed art exhibit is one of several additions this year that will enhance the unique ambiance associated with this annual event.

The upscale theme of the Rhythm, Wine and Brews Experience will continue to draw in attendees looking for that “unique” experience. The food will be a much bigger part of the event this year. Participating restaurants will offer a selection of options that will compliment the beer and wine being poured.

The selection of wines available to taste has been expanded to include a variety of brands from various regions of California.

Samples of handcrafted beer produced

THANKSGIVING’S ORIGINS

November 21 to November 27, 2013

final “fee”. This person sent this fraudulent company over $1,000.00 in fees before his $15,000.00 loan was funded. The lesson here is simple. When you are on the internet and you send or mail money carelessly, please kiss that money goodbye before you send it. Work with well-known entities and local firms over anything outside of that. In a loan, you should RECEIVE money before you send money out.

Second, let’s talk about for-profit

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Dale Gribow On The Law working with MADD to SHUTDOWN DRUNK DRIVING

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n November 18, 2013 I was asked to speak to the Coachella Valley Association of Government (CVAG) on how to SHUTDOWN DRUNK DRIVING. A few days earlier I joined members of law enforcement at the Coachella City Hall to speak about the young girl who was jogging and killed by an alleged drunk driver whose family I representing on her Wrongful Death matter. CVAG is made up of representative of each city and every law enforcement department in the valley. I explained to CVAG that as a lawyer who has sued Drunk Drivers for injuries and wrongful deaths for 40 years while at the same time defending the rights of those charged with Drunk Driving I have a unique perspective on the subject.

MY IDEAS ON HOW TO SHUT DOWN DRUNK DRIVING START AND END WITH EDUCATION AS A COMPLIMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT and the formation of a Blue Ribbon Committee.

1. Initially we need to teach the public the correct criminal charge is not Drunk Driving but rather Driving Under the Influence. You do not have to be drunk. You merely have to be under the influence and in California that occurs whenever the blood alcohol is .08 or higher… although law enforcement will arrest with a .07 here in the desert. Being under the influence occurs after about three drinks but

depends on one’s weight, how much you ate, the time lapse between drinking and driving and how much of it is protein are also factors.

Most people mistakenly think they have to be loaded to be drunk… that is not correct.

2. The crucial thing to understand is that it is not the number of drinks but the amount of alcohol in each drink. A drink is 12 oz. of beer, 1 oz. of hard alcohol or 4 oz. of wine.

Many restaurants pour a 6-8 oz. pour of wine.

Thus when you have two 6 oz. drinks with dinner you have really had 3 drinks. Often restaurants and bars pour a 3 oz. pour of hard alcohol. That equals 3 drinks… not one.

I recently had a kid in my office with his mom who swore he only had 1 drink. I told him his high reading was impossible from one drink. Then I asked if he used a red Costco 16 oz. cup and filled it 2/3 of the way with alcohol and topped it off with OJ… he said yes. My

client and the public must understand that using a 16 oz. cup means he was consuming about 12 oz. of alcohol and that is the same as 12 drinks. In addition people always forget when the bartender tops off their wine when they are half way through it.

3. Alcohol and prescriptive drugs do not mix. When your RX says on the label that you should not operate heavy machinery/ equipment they mean cars. We should probably have a revision of the law that mandates that a pharmacy explains on the prescriptive vial that you should not operate a car/vehicle after drinking and/or taking a pill with that warning. Many people think that heavy machinery/equipment is a just a tractor. We must teach the public there is something called Potentiation. This occurs when the RX pill, such as anti-depressants with this warning, are combined with an alcoholic drink. The result is someone more under the influence than they would be without the pill. Thus the driver becomes a

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LOT more under the influence because of this combination of alcohol and a drug. One drink with a RX drug could causes the driver to be as much under the influence as having consumed several drinks. The same is even truer with illegal drugs like MJ or Cocaine. MJ today is often 13 times stronger than it was in the 60’s and 70’s but the public does not realize this.

4. With repeat DUI offenders, as a condition of the standard 5 years of probation, I would require the driver to attend refresher DUI classes every year until the probation is over. This is on top of the regular DUI classes currently mandated by the courts and DMV. A Blue Ribbon Committee will be working in collaboration with CVAG, and MADD, TO SHUT DOWN DRUNK DRIVING and make a difference! I am proud to be part of that committee.

Don’t drink and drive!

If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow Attorney at Law at our NEW number 760- 837- 7500 and or our new email of dale@dalegribowlaw.com

question, but what if you don’t currently have a pet but may want to get one in the future?

The time to ask about the landlord’s pet policy is BEFORE you rent the house, not after a stray dog shows up at your door and bonds with your children. What is the landlord’s policy on home improvements? If you see things that you would like to do to improve the home and have the skill set required to make quality improvements, in most cases your labor can be traded for rent. But make sure you find out the landlord’s position on this before you remodel the bathroom.

Most rents are due on the first of the month, but when are they considered late?

Does the rent have to be post marked by the 5th or in the landlord’s hands by the 5th?

How much is the late fee? No one really

plans on being late with their rent so they are surprised when they are assessed a late fee of $50.00 or more for being “just one day late”.

Renting a home is a huge commitment so do not be afraid to ask these and any other questions you can think of before signing your rental agreement. You will be glad you did!

This week’s real estate tip: If you are looking to rent a home in a gated community with a Home Owner’s Association make sure you get a copy of the HOA’s CC&R’s (Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions) and their rules and regulations to review before you sign your agreement. Finding out you can’t park the company truck in your own driveway AFTER you rent a home is never welcome news!

Bruce Cathcart is the Broker/Co-Owner of La Quinta Palms Realty, “Your Friendly Professionals” and can be reached by email at laquintapalms@dc.rr.com or visit his website at www.laquintapalmsrealty.com.

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materials and equipment. Don’t become a cooking fire casualty! First, be careful wearing loose clothing around open flames on the stove. Use a timer and use “post it’s” to remind yourself of cooking times in the oven. Be careful using candles at the dinner table (especially if toddlers are present).

Use oven and mitts when handling hot pots and pans. Do not cool hot pans with water if grease is in them. Have a fire extinguisher near-by and know how to use it. Stay alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.

If you have a cooking fire, just get out!

When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the home. Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For Additional Safety Information Visit: http://www.complianceandsafety.com/ safety-tips/thanksgiving-safety-tips.php Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

ShareKitchen

tips for entrepreneurs & small busnesses

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re you an entrepreneur who is stuck in startup mode? Thanks to entrepreneur.com, here are five ways to get out of the rut and take action for real business growth.

Delegate. Start investing in people to do tasks you can no longer do. It’s not true that people cost money. In reality, lack of production and not having the time to be growing your business costs far more.

Pick your battles. Worry more about gaining customers and making money than obsessing over the small road blocks.

These blocks to moving forward will more than likely will be ironed out as time goes on and the business grows.

Get attention. The most important undertaking is to get attention for you and your company. If people don’t know of you, they can’t buy from you or use your services. Sure you will get some critics, but have no fear -- you also will get admiration.

Change your pitch. Don’t sell yourself short, as just a “small” company. Know how to pitch yourself and your business.

Be ready to quickly explain what your company does that is better, faster and of value to the marketplace. Then, make big claims to the world.

Create urgency. Urgency is the key to getting things done. Set specific timelines for action and achievements. Start with small, obtainable goals which will boost confidence and that sets the stage to tackle larger goals, knowing they can be met.

Now is the time to accelerate, generate business, and get out of start-up mode.

ShareKitchen assists entrepreneurs in food related businesses or those interested in breaking into the food industry. The non-profit organization is built on the philosophy of sharing and can help get new businesses get out of start-up mode and to start selling. For more information visit www.ShareKitchen.org or call 760-4594259.

Gamer Girl

It Wasn’t For Knack Of Trying

Let’s Talk Turkey! Thanksgiving Safety Tips

hanksgiving signifies the beginning of the Holiday Season and many of us will be spending more time in the kitchen preparing for the Holidays over the next week according to Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. “Let’s start thinking safety as Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for home cooking fires, with three times as many occurring on Thanksgiving as any other day of the year. Thanksgiving is a fun, festive holiday, but it’s also very hectic says Chief DiGiovanna. All the entertaining and distractions make it easy to forget about what’s cooking on the stovetop.”

These fires are preventable by simply being more attentive to the use of cooking

November 21 to November 27, 2013

by Jennifer Tan aka mrs. fett

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Real estate

Renting a House: Questions You Should Ask! ou have located what looks like a great house in a great neighborhood for rent. Hopefully you are working with your trusted real estate agent, but even if you are going it alone there are some important questions that you need to ask before you sign on the dotted line! Here are some suggestions from a conversation that I recently had with my in-house property manager based upon her many years of experience in renting and managing homes here in our desert community.

Nobody likes surprises that end up costing them more money than they expected to pay!

So after you are told how much the rent is the main question to ask is “What is included in the rent?” Start with the utilities. Who pays the electric, the water, the gas? Usually the tenant pays for all of the utilities but since most of the major water companies/districts here in the Coachella Valley will not allow the water bill to be in the tenant’s name, some landlords are starting to include the water bill in the rent. Sometimes landlords charge a flat fee for water and sometimes they will pay up to a certain amount with the tenant paying for the overage. If the tenant is to be responsible for the water bill some companies will send them a courtesy copy of

safety tips

by Dale Gribow Attorney at Law

By Bruce cathcart

the monthly bill, but not all do. In this case the landlord will present you with the water bill usually at the time you pay the rent. This can be confusing so make sure you have a clear understanding about how your water bill will be handled.

Here in the Coachella Valley many of the houses have their trash pick-up bill included in their property taxes and most landlords include this in the rent. In those areas where this is not the case it is usually the responsibility of the tenant to pay for the trash pick-up. This runs about $20.00 to $30.00 a month, so make sure and find out if the trash service is included in your rent or not.

If there is a pool/spa on the property is the pool service included in the rent? How about the yard maintenance, who is going to pay for the gardener?

Here are a few questions tenants seldom ask, but should. If the property has gas is it natural gas or propane gas? Propane gas can be more expensive. Is the property on public sewer or a septic system? Both systems are fine and usually included in the rent, but there are certain restrictions of what you can and cannot put into septic tank and you should treat the tank monthly with “chew doo” to keep it operating properly. Are pets allowed? Pet owners always ask this

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K

nack, the story of a small creature made of relics, with the ability to grow to limitless sizes, put me to the test in both patience, compassion, and my ability to button mash. The game set in a world entirely fictitious, pairs you [Knack] with the Professor who created you, and his assistant, a teen boy on his own.

The story primarily revolves around the war between humans, and the goblins who were forced from their native lands so humans could build their own metropolis.

(Sounds a little like the history of the U.S. don’t it?!) In the middle of the war, ancient relics that are harvested for their power are stolen by the goblins, who then sell them to humans for weapons, who then use the weapons on humans.

Knack, has two moves: Hit, and dodge. It really is the most basic control layout to date for a game. Your abilities revolve around the material you collect to make yourself bigger, which you can then project at enemies in the form of balls, or a tornado. Now here is the confusing part. WHEN you use your ability, you then reform into your original size by collecting the projected pieces. Yet when you get HIT, you cannot collect the pieces that are lost, and therefore shrink.

You also do about ⅛ to ½ damage per hit to an enemy, but enemies do about ½ to ¾ damage to you right off the bat, no matter the difficulty level.

Checkpoints are also nonexistent in the

game. Die ½ way though a chapter, and be prepared to start all over again. Same goes for exiting the game. You are not prompted to save where you are, and when you return to continue, you will find yourself sent back to the last checkpoint the game offered.

Even though the game offers hidden treasure you can use to unlock special equipment, unlockable modes including super hard, and coliseum (aka Horde Mode).

The replay value is nearly nonexistent. I am finding it hard enough to finish the game the first time, I have absolutely no interest in playing it again, even if I am made of rubies the second time around.

I score Knack 6/10. What saved it? The graphics are amazing, the story is cohesive even if its comprehension level is that of a 5th grader, and the game is long. Like, really long. For those on trophy missions, you will get a good few hundred hours of gameplay searching for everything the game has to hide.

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of November 21

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The poet Charles Baudelaire prayed for help, but not to God -- rather he prayed to the writer Edgar Allan Poe. Novelist Malcolm Lowry sometimes pleaded with God to give him insight, but he also prayed to the writer Franz Kafka. I really like this approach to seeking guidance, and recommend it to you in the coming days. Which hero, dead or alive, could you call on to uplift you? What amazing character might bring you the inspiration you need? Be brazen and imaginative. The spirits could be of more help than you can imagine. Magic is afoot.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): U.S. Confederate General Richard S. Ewell (1817-1872) sometimes experienced episodes in which he truly thought he was a bird. Princess Alexandria of Bavaria (18261875) believed that when she was young, she had eaten a glass piano. Then there was the Prussian military officer Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher (1742-1819), who imagined he was pregnant with an elephant. Sad and funny and crazy, right? And yet it’s my understanding that all of us have fixed delusions. They are less bizarre than those I cited, but they can still be debilitating. What are yours, Taurus? Do you secretly believe that a certain turning point in your past scarred you forever?

Are you incorrectly wracked with anger or guilt because of some event that may not have actually happened the way you remember it? Here’s the good news: Now is an excellent time to shed your fixed delusions.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Philosopher Eckhart Tolle suggests that “there may be one person who reflects your love back to you more clearly and more intensely than others.” For some of us, this numinous reflection comes from a special animal.

Whatever is the case for you, Gemini, I urge you to devote extra time to your relationship with this creature in the next 14 days. Meditate on how you could provide more nurturing and inspiration.

Brainstorm about the possibility of deepening your connection. What practical actions could you take to boost your loved one’s fortunes?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The Cancerian soprano Kirsten Flagstad was regarded as one of the great operatic singers of the 20th century. Critic Desmond Shawe-Taylor said that “No one within living memory surpassed her in sheer beauty and consistency of line and tone.” She specialized in the operas of German composer Richard Wagner, whose master work, The Ring of the Nibelung, takes 15 hours to perform. Flagstad was asked to name the single most important thing she needed in order to perform Wagner’s music with the excellence it demanded. Her answer: comfortable shoes. Regard that as good advice for your own life and work, Cancerian -- both literally and metaphorically. It’s time to get really well-grounded.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Have you ever been in a social situation where you really didn’t care what anyone thought of you and therefore felt absolutely free to act on your inner promptings? When was the last time you lost all your inhibitions and selfconsciousness while making love? Can you truly say that sometime recently you have been totally responsive to your festive impulses? If you have experienced any blockages in expressing this type of energy, now is a perfect moment to fix that. You have a date with robust, innocent self-expression.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Norwegian public television is experimenting with a phenomenon called Slow TV. In one reality show, the main character built a fire with logs and kept it burning for 12 hours. In another program, patient viewers watched for five days as a cruise ship made its way along the Norwegian coast. A third show featured a woman knitting a sweater from start to finish. I wish you would get hooked on slow-motion activities like those, Virgo. Maybe it would help you lower your thoughts-per-minute rate and influence you to take longer, deeper breaths and remember that relaxation is an art you can cultivate. And then you would be in righteous alignment with the cosmic rhythms.

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© Copyright 2012 Rob Brezsny

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’re smarter than you think you are, and soon you will be even smarter.

Previously inaccessible wisdom is seeping up from the depths of your subconscious mind, making its way to your conscious awareness. Your eyes are noticing more than they usually do. Your memory is working at peak levels. And your enhanced ability to entertain paradoxical ideas is giving you special insight into the nature of reality. What will you do with this influx of higher intelligence? I suggest you focus its full force on one of your knottiest problems.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Paris Review interviewed Mexican poet Octavio Paz. “Just how much revising do you do?” the interviewer asked.

“I revise incessantly,” Paz replied. “Some critics say too much, and they may be right. But if there’s a danger in revising, there is much more danger in not revising. I believe in inspiration, but I also believe that we’ve got to help inspiration, restrain it, and even contradict it.” I bring this up, Scorpio, because I believe you are ripe for a phase of intense revision.

Inspiration has visited you a lot lately, but now it will subside for a while so you can wrangle all your raw material into graceful, resilient, enduring shapes.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Costa Rica will be closing its zoos in 2014. What will happen to the 400 or so animals that are housed there? They will have to be rehabilitated at animal rescue centers and then released into the wild. I suspect there will be a metaphorically similar process going on for you in the coming months, Sagittarius. Parts of your instinctual nature will, in a sense, be freed from captivity. You will need to find ways to retrain your animal intelligence how to function outside of the tame conditions it got used to.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Will fate kick your sweet ass sometime soon? Quite possibly. You may be compelled to face up to the consequences of your unloving actions or unconscious decisions.

I’m pleased to tell you, however, that you might be able to dramatically minimize or even neutralize the butt-thumping. How? Go over the events of the last 11 months, and identify times when you weren’t your very best self or didn’t live up to your highest ideals. Then perform rituals of atonement. Express your desire to correct wrong turns. Give gifts that will heal damaged dynamics.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Bill Withers became a big star in the 1970s with hits like “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean on Me.” But he hasn’t recorded a new album since 1985, nor has he toured. What happened? In Still Bill, the documentary film about his life, Withers says, “I watch other people show off and I say, man, I used to want to show off. If I could just get, you know, moved to. I need a little injection in my showin’ off gland.” I wish you could get an injection like that, too, Aquarius. I’d like to see you show off more. Not in a contrived, over-the-top, Lady Gagaesque way. Rather, the purpose would be to get more aggressive in showing people who you are and what you can do. I want your talents and assets to be better known.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I have a feeling that your value will be rising in the coming weeks.

An attractive person you thought was out of your league may express curiosity about you. You could get an offer to do an interesting job or task that you had previously considered unavailable. I bet your reputation will be growing, mostly for the better.

Who knows? If you put a half-eaten piece of your toast for sale on eBay, it might sell for as much as if it were Justin Timberlake’s toast. Here’s the upshot: You should have confidence in your power to attract bigger rewards and more appreciation.

Homework: Forget all you know about gratitude. Act as if it’s a new emotion you’re tuning into for the first time. Then let it rip.

Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

Ask The Doctor

by dr peter kadile

Dr. Peter M. Kadile is Board Certified in Family Medicine. He has an integrative, osteopathic medical practice and is also known as the local, house call doctor; Desert House Call Physician. He is on staff at Eisenhower Medical Center and medical director for Serenity Hospice. His office is located in beautiful Old Town La Quinta, 78-100 Main Street, Suite 207, La Quinta, CA 92253. (760) 777-7439.

DesertHouseCalls@aol.com. www.deserthousecalldoc.com.

Dr. Kadile will be writing a regular column for CV Weekly. Please send any medical questions you have to editor@coachellavalleyweekly.com for him to answer.

Mind, body & Spirit

dr. nicole ortiz

by Bronwyn Ison

Dr. K, I was recently diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. I am 58 and have never had one before, but my girlfriend has them all the time. I was prescribed antibiotics and told to drink cranberry juice. Why don’t men get urinary tract infections and does cranberry juice really work? -Betty, Desert Hot Springs

B

etty, urinary tract infections are very common conditions that are treated by primary care physicians, emergency rooms and urgent cares. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by germs, usually bacteria that enter the urethra (the tube that connects the outside of your body to your bladder) and then the bladder. This can lead to infection, most commonly in the bladder itself, which can spread to the kidneys.

Most of the time, your body can get rid of these bacteria. However, certain conditions increase the risk of having UTIs. Women tend to get them more often because their urethra is shorter and closer to the anus than in men. Because of this, women are more likely to get an infection after sexual activity. Menopause also increases the risk of a UTI. The following also increase your chances of developing a UTI: • Diabetes • Advanced age • Douching • Problems emptying your bladder • Use of a urinary catheter • Poor hydration • Kidney stones • Pregnancy • Surgery or other procedure involving the urinary tract The symptoms of a bladder infection include: • Cloudy or bloody urine, which may have a foul or strong odor • Low fever (not everyone will have a fever) • Pain or burning with urination

• Pressure or cramping in the lower abdomen (usually middle) or back • Strong need to urinate often, even right after the bladder has been emptied If the infection spreads to your kidneys, symptoms may include: • Chills and shaking or night sweats • Fatigue and a general ill feeling • Fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit • Side, back, or groin pain • Flushed, warm, or reddened skin • Mental changes or confusion (in the elderly, these symptoms often are the only signs of a UTI) • Nausea and vomiting Antibiotics are generally required to treat UTIs and cranberry juice is beneficial. Scientists report that within eight hours of drinking cranberry juice, the juice could help prevent bacteria from developing into an infection in the urinary tract.

Previous studies have suggested that the active compounds in cranberry juice are not destroyed by the digestive system after people drink them, but instead work to fight against bacteria. The cranberry juice prevented the bacteria in the urinary tract from sticking to each other, thus preventing the bacteria to grow and multiply.

To help prevent urinary tract infections, drink plenty of water, urinate immediately after sexual activity and drink cranberry juice. Don’t delay in seeing your physician if symptoms persist because serious kidney infections can develop. If left untreated, hospitalization may be needed.

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iving Well and healthy is the precise amenity Dr. Nicole Ortiz, ND is providing in our Coachella Valley. Recognized as one of the top 25 Most Influential Woman in the Valley, Ortiz strives for the greatest in every aspect of her life. Her entrepreneurial spirit, since childhood, afforded her the drive and ambition to embark on a journey becoming a cofounder to the Live Well Clinic in La Quinta.

Born in Janesville, Wisconsin, Dr. Ortiz had aspirations of attending college as a young girl.

The aspiring young entrepreneur began making jewelry and painting murals hence, saving the funds for college. At 15-years-old, Ortiz took an interest in the medical and health field. Her first hands-on experience was caring for two girls with cerebral palsy, plus sharing swimming lessons with handicapped children providing them personal training. This was an enormous amount of responsibility as a child. Yet, Ortiz had drive and determination.

After taking time with Dr. Ortiz the following is what we gleaned…

What made you choose medicine/ alternative remedies? My chosen path came from a culmination of several experiences throughout my life. As young as 8-years-old I recall playing doctor at my Busia’s (grandmother in Polish) house. I would take out all her herbs and vitamins and dispense them to my dolls as my patients. I remember loving the smell of vitamins and herbs. My parents instilled healthy living principles of which I still embrace today and impart on my patients. I jogged with my dad regularly since the fourth grade. Movement has always been a part of my health practice. I encourage the same for my patients. I was taught fast food was garbage and I recall eating it on a very rare occasion as a child. I am so thankful that my parents didn’t let me nourish my body

with junk disguised as food when my body was growing. I grew up with what I now know is a serious food allergy that caused me to be ill most of my childhood with stomach aches, asthma, anxiety and debilitating fatigue. I was always frustrated. We met with doctors and specialist and they only looked at a particular condition and never put the pieces together. I always aspired to grow up to be an integrative doctor who actually looked at the person as a whole and not parts or diagnoses. One the most significant experiences I conducted while researching in Ecuador was studying the diverse healing practices within the country. I learned that medicine is so much more than the latest technological advance or fancy pill. Healing truly comes when one addresses the body mind and spiritual components of illness. I always gravitated toward a natural less toxic form of medicine because it just seemed to make common sense.

What is your most defining moment in career/life? The most significant realizations are that opportunity and success does not come without taking a leap of faith. The more I stretch my limits, connect with my community and remain open to possibility, the more I manifest my dreams. What I know about my career is that I will never stop learning more, diversifying my practice, and growing as a physician and a person.

What are your greatest achievements?

Personally, my greatest achievement is learning that I don’t have to be perfect to let someone love me. As for professional achievement I was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by Palm Springs life and distinguished woman of the year for the 42nd assembly district this year. This was pretty cool! I have also been featured in Suzanne Sommer’s book, “Knockout,” and on The American Health Journal PBS specials.

What is your active role in community/ charities? Vice-president of Women Leaders Forum and founder of the Young Women Leaders One-to-One professional Mentoring Program, where senior girls valley-wide are matched with a WLF member in their career field of interest.

Over 100 K was raised for the YWL program scholarship awardees. I also serve Auxillary Shelter from the Storm board, and American Heart Association Visionary Council.

How do you balance family? Always a constant challenge! For me, always remembering that life is not a promise forever and so I live my life loving as much as possible, not waiting until tomorrow to be with those who are most important to me.

What are your hobbies and or fun fact about you that nobody knows? I love to paint, lived in Ecuador, oldest of 6 children, danced samba.

Dr. Ortiz’s future plans are to serve in a greater capacity and reach more people other than the Coachella Valley. I want to utilize my passion for natural solutions to cardiovascular health and pain management to influence the health of America through publications, public speaking and most excitingly virtual medicine.

We appreciate your dedication to our community. It is such a pleasure to write about a colleague in the field of healthy living.

Congratulations Dr. Ortiz!

Bronwyn Ison, Owner of Evolve Yoga. For more information: www.e-volveyoga.com (760) 564-YOGA (9642)

November 21 to November 27, 2013

sheryle taffolla

by denise ortuno neil

L

ong gone are the days when women had limitations on how to make themselves beautiful, and with Sheryle Taffolla’s New Age Glamour, new age beauty is here.

Born in New Orleans, Taffolla came to the desert as a young lady back in 1968 with her mother. She started her beauty career by doing electrolysis and was successful doing it for 13 years.

Taffolla admits to being a make-upholic, and has always been “Into Skin” as she puts it. She got into permanent make-up by seeking it out for herself and was skeptical at first when she saw it done. She noticed that she could do a better job at it, and she did. She found someone to train her in the art of permanent make-up and then did her own permanent make-up on herself, then her mother and all of her friends and proceeded to open her salon and has been doing it for over 25 years.

Getting into permanent make-up actually came as an answer to her prayer. She had gone to St. Francis church in La Quinta asking for guidance in her life. She wanted to find a way to be able to put her kids through college and not have to struggle from pay check to pay check. Soon after, her prayers were answered when she got the connection to do permanent make-up.

Her New Age Glamour salon in Palm Desert offers a variety of permanent make-up services including, permanent eyebrows, eyeliner, lip liner and beauty marks. They also offer micro-needling, which was invented in her office years ago and has since become one of the hottest trends around.

Micro-needling is a process done by needling the skin to shore up collagen reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Taffolla has a strong family life. She has been

married for 37 years and has three children, her 37 year old daughter and two sons, 31 and 29. She is also a proud grandmother with three grandchildren. She was able to balance raising her children while doing her business in part because of the freedom that owning your own business provides, and she didn’t go full time until her children were grown.

Family time is important to her, and she uses her time away from her business to go on short family out of town jaunts to places like San Diego, and try’s to visit her home town of New Orleans as often as she can.

Taffolla looks forward to the future in her business, and will continue to offer cutting edge technology to her clients. She also intends to teach her skills to others at some point, raising the bar of standards in her industry to provide better services to the public and opening other salons under her supervision. She states that the problem with her industry of permanent makeup is that there aren’t any governing standards at the moment, no licensing as her business falls under the tattooing category. Her goal is to help implement curriculum, regulations and licensing to make her industry better as a whole. She encourages those interested in having services provided to them with permanent make-up to do their homework, as there can be businesses out there that may not be up to the standards that her salon is. “Buyer beware!” she says.

New Age Glamour was truly an answer to her prayers, as it has provided well for her family, allowing her and her husband to put all of their children through college just like she asked and leaving her days of pay check to pay check well behind her. “Anything you do, try to be the best at it and be honest,” says Taffolla, which is a very refreshing and progressive sentiment matching this wonderful New Age of Glamour.

For more information visit www. newageglamour.com .

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November 21 to November 27, 2013

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dr. suzanne marie quardt

orn in New York City and raised in Parsippany, New Jersey, Dr. Suzanne M. Quardt (also known as Dr. Q), was encouraged by her parents to study hard. While her father, an educator, simply wanted Suzanne to be happy with whatever she did in life, her mother pushed her to do more with her life. As an example, instead of becoming a nurse, she pushed Suzanne to become a doctor.

Starting her education at Rutgers University in Biology, Dr. Q trained as a doctor at the New Jersey Medical School before interning at Columbia University where she sub-interned for Dr. Oz. It was Dr. Oz’ letter of recommendation that

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by haddon libby

W

hen René Dell’Acqua moved to the desert seventeen years ago and opened her dental practice, she immediately stood out from the rest.

Where most dental offices were sterile, clinical places inflicting unpleasant oral experiences on the typical patient, René was creating a markedly different experience that was nearly unheard of in the profession.

Now termed Spa Dentistry, René was a pioneer in the field by making her office a more inviting and superior patient experience. In addition to a staff that is friendly and treats you like family, the looks and smells in her office are atypical.

As you enter her office, you are greeted by the smells of chocolate chip cookies, vanilla and lavender. When you enter an examination and treatment room, you are greeted by a massage therapist, soothing music and a sense that you are somewhere else.

This doesn’t feel like a dental office - it is more like a day spa!

Beyond the visceral experience, René is good - damned good - at what she does. There is a reason why Fortune 500 executives and celebrities seek her out.

Growing up with an orthodontist father, she is a second generation practitioner

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she is extensively-trained in all aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery her particular emphasis is on breast surgery, liposuction and liposculpture techniques.

Dr. Q says that the greatest compliment that she has received while building her practice is that of serving as the doctor to nurses and doctor to the families of doctors. That peer recognition is the type of validation that energizes Dr. Q as she works

at providing every patient with a superior experience.

With Dr. Q’s hard earned successes, she is currently reinvesting in her practice by building her own Operating Room at her offices and adding a MedSpa. Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of numerous national medical societies, in addition to breast surgery and reconstruction and liposuction, she specializes in facial rejuvenation, body contouring, spinal cord injuries and complex wound management.

Compared with many in the plastic surgery field, her experience is deep and varied.

When asked what advice she would give to someone looking to follow in her footsteps, Dr. Q offers, “follow your passion” and reminds aspiring doctors that success does not come overnight and that “preparation goes into being successful.”

After a life focused toward studies and work, Dr. Q finally began enjoying life a little more when she married her husband Rick in 2007. Looking back, one of the sacrifices Dr. Q notes is that she did not take the time to have biological children. Now that she is more settled into her career, she and Rick are planning on adopting children just as her parents adopted her. Along those lines, the happy couple recently adopted TJ and Simon, their canine children, from Loving All Animals.

November 21 to November 27, 2013

NEW AGE GLAMOUR

by haddon libby

helped her land her residency at USC. After ten years of surgical training and two years in the research lab, she determined that she wanted to find more balance in her life as she was seemingly working 24/7 for years.

At this point, she went back to school to become a plastic surgeon.

With seventeen years of education, Dr. Q came to the desert in 2006 and slowly but surely built a thriving practice. One of her mentors, the nationally renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Brodie offered her this advice, “Just do good work; the rest will come.”

Dr. Q blends her personal interest in the arts with her chosen profession to enhance her patients’ experience. While

dr. rené dell’acqua

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steeped in the profession. When it comes to veneers and the cosmetics of a smile, René is a cosmetic artist. She is constantly learning and studying to stay abreast of the latest innovations in the field.

In October, René was featured in New Beauty Magazine where she talked about

how she became the widely renowned dentist that she is, “As an artist since childhood, I am a grateful to my father for the inherited keen eye for detail. Each day I create beautiful smile make overs for celebrities throughout Hollywood...Each time they ask I consider myself fortunate to have the steady hand and ability to create an undetectable work of art that will be passed on everywhere they go.”

While René is a graduate of the prestigious School of Dentistry at University of the Pacific, in her first year at University, she was a broadcasting major. While she enjoyed these classes, she realized that she would be happier following in her father’s footsteps. Little did she know that her dental prowess would lead her back to the broadcasting profession. In addition to her thriving practice in Palm Desert on El Paseo, she is the professional expert for Syneron Beauty’s teeth whitening product, Pearl, on Toronto’s Shopping Channel and QVC here in the United States. These two assignments mean that she travels to Toronto and Pennsylvania regularly for these live television appearances.

When not working, René can typically be found relaxing with her husband, Joe, and children Courtland, Aubrey and Joey.

When she has free time, something that seems hard to fathom given her busy

schedule, René paints oils.

For those looking to emulate René’s success in life profession, she offers this advice, “Stay true to what your beliefs are.

Don’t copy others. Bring your passions to everything that you do.”

Clearly, René Dell’Acqua is good at following her own advice.

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