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L-R: Eric Bana as ‘Aaron,’ Keir O’Donnell as officer ‘Greg’ and Matt Nable as ‘Grant’ in Robert Connolly’s noir murder mystery, see page 6. Photo Courtesy of IFC Films.
US POSTAGE PAID Desert Hot Springs, CA PERMIT NO 00005
May 26, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 40
Diggin Dirt Electrifies Fans
Photo by Dr. Ashley Jordan
Joshua Tree Music Festival Tickets Worth Every Penny By Jackie Devereaux Joshua Tree, Calif. - We did not expect much from a single band playing on the coldest night in Spring at the Joshua Tree Music Festival (JTMF), but we were pleasantly surprised when Diggin Dirt took
the stage on Friday night. This seven-person, funky, rock, reggae band from Humboldt County blew us away with their electrifying guitar riffs, exceptional bass and drums, and their precision percussion saxophones – which made our
By Madeline Zuckerman Olive Crest, known for its dedication to preventing child abuse, to treating and educating at-risk children and to preserving the family . . . “One Life at a Time®,” hosted its popular Pick A Purse fundraising luncheon at the Victoria Club in Riverside, California. With all safety protocols in place, a sold-out crowd of 180 elegantly attired ladies and gentlemen attended this first in-person event since the pandemic. Guests had so much fun selecting their favorite designer purses, provided by Coach, Kate Spade, Kooba, Michael Kors, Dooney & Bourke, Betsy
Johnson, Steve Madden, Calvin Klein, and many more. The event exceeded Olive Crest’s fundraising expectations, raising muchneeded funds for all of its vital programs, including Foster Care while increasing monthly support through its Kids At Heart Program. Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, Event Emcee and Olive Crest Trustee, stepped to the podium to welcome guests, thank members of her Planning Committee, and introduce the Honorable Patricia Lock Dawson, Mayor of Riverside. “Olive Crest is a lifeline for many and has been that for the past five decades,”
mouths drop from amazement. But it was the singer who commanded the stage. Front man Zach Alder’s voice carried the band through each song like a Grammy Award-winning pro and kept the entire crowd on their feet for the duration of
the nearly two-hour concert. “He (Alder) reminds me of John Lennon meets Eddie Vedder with influences of James Brown – a unique sound I’ve never heard before,” said concert attendee Dr. Ashley Jordan of Palm Springs. “The band did a good job of creating sounds that all generations could
enjoy – and that’s not easy.” “He (Alder) is phenomenal, surprisingly good, and he never tired out. Amazing how he kept it going with the band, especially on a cold, windy night,” said Tom Devereaux of Desert Hot Springs. “They were Continues on Page 5
May is Foster Care Appreciation Month Olive Crest Riverside exceeds its fundraising goals at its Annual Pick A Purse Luncheon benefitting at-risk youth and their families
(left to right) Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, Event Emcee & Olive Crest Trustee, Patricia Lock Dawson, Mayor of Riverside, and Tracy Fitzsimmons, Executive Director of Olive Crest Inland and Desert Communities. Photo by Michael J. Elderman Photography