Desert Star Weekly Nov. 16, 2022 issue!

desert STAR

W E E K L Y

‘One Night Only’

Michael Childers brought another magnificent production to the McCallum Theater on November 9th. Childers brought Broadway to the Valley with his ONE NIGHT ONLY, Concert. This year’s theme was

New York, New York, and many songs spoke of New York. The concert singers were Broadway Stars, and the audience saw many of them in one venue.

These Broadway stars shared their incredible voices with a very appreciative audience.

Some performers who have been in One Night Only before are always thrilled to be asked back. Over twenty singers, along with the MTU singers and the Nickerson Dancers. One company said this was “The Hottest Ticket

is a concert for everyone’s tastes and favorites.

The pace was lightning fast as one singer after another took to

with

Play at the Desert’s Newest Entertainment Venue

By Desert Star Staff INDIAN WELLS, Calif.

– Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa welcomes locals and travelers from around the world to bring their families and friends to its new Desert Glow entertainment spot –offering stimulating activities for all ages and ultimate gaming opportunities. It’s at a destination luxury desert resort located in the heart of beautiful Coachella Valley between Palm Desert and La Quinta, just 16 miles from Palm Springs Airport and an easy two-hour drive east of Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.

Desert Glow, located on the resort’s Lobby Level next to the gift shop, features a combination of state-of-

the-art gaming along with oldy but goody activities, including Gold Rush Escape Room, thrilling virtual reality experiences, duckpin bowling and a collection of everyone’s favorite arcade games.

Guests can fuel up before or after at The Place Restaurant and Bar, located in the resort atrium lobby, offering specialty beverages and a full menu of casual bites.

Desert Glow Entertainment’s gaming area is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and is available for private events.

Where: Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa: 44-400 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells, CA 92210-9971

Phone: 760-773-4444 http:// www.renesmeralda.com/

Gary Kief, Barbara Fromm, Barry Manilow, Teri Ketover, and John Thoresen. Photo by Pat Krause.

Story and Photos by Pat Krause

In Town .”Dancers Chad Allen Ortiz and Samantha Demarco wowed the audience with their dancing. This

the stage, some

a production of dancers. This was a type of New York Broadway replication to let everyone see a broadway show here in our Valley. First, pianist Billy Stritch sang and

Recognizing Holiday Hazards see page 7. Photo by Getty Images.

BY ROBERT KINSLER

Legends Shine on New Titles

Check out these incredible titles available now.

Artist: The Beatles

Title: Revolver Special Edition (Capitol Records)

You might like if you enjoy: The Beatles, The Zombies

Tell me more: The Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver is widely considered one of the British band’s most beloved albums.

The newly-released Revolver Special Edition showcases just how brilliant John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — along with producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick — were at creating one of the greatest recordings of the 20th century over the course of a few short months leading up to its release in August 1966. The range of material across the album astounds; listeners will be reminded how many light years ahead the Fab Four were compared to their contemporaries. The material ranges from Harrison’s

propulsive rocker “Taxman,” yearning “I Want To Tell You” and Indian music-immersed “Love You To” to McCartney’s beautiful Baroque gem “For No One” and rapturous R&B blast “Got To Get You Into My Life.” Lennon’s talents are showcased via the driving power pop nugget “And Your Bird Can Sing,” rollicking “Doctor Robert” and experimental masterpiece “Tomorrow Never Knows.”

The expanded deluxe edition of Revolver (the Super Deluxe 5CD Edition is the title reviewed in this column) includes a new stereo mix of the album by GRAMMY Award winning producer Giles Martin (son of the late George Martin) and Sam Okell, two “Sessions CDs” of outtakes, rehearsals, demos and studio chat, the original 1966 mono album, along with a bonus EP with stereo mixes and the original 1966 mono versions of “Paperback Writer” and “Rain” (those two epic singles preceded the release

of Revolver). The expanded Revolver Special Edition also includes a 100-page book with a foreword by McCartney, an essay by Questlove, detailed track notes, photographs and ephemera including handwritten lyrics, tape boxes and extracts from artist Klaus Voormann’s graphic novel on the making of the GRAMMYwinning original album cover. Information: TheBeatles.com.

Artist: Glen Phillips Title: There Is So Much Here (Compass Records) You might like if you enjoy: Toad the Wet Sprocket, Neil Finn, Aimee Mann Tell me more: Beloved as the frontman for Toad the Wet Sprocket, singer-songwriter Glen Phillips is back with his latest solo album, There Is So Much Here. A master at chronicling the emotion-filled events in own life with originals that are literate, infectious and timeless, Glen Phillips mined his experiences going through the

COVID lockdown on his way to the creation of the marvelous 11-track disc. This was also a singular period where Phillips used the rare experience of being home for an extended stretch to reflect on his life in ways new to him. The range of material across the album will please fans of Phillips’ past parade of triumphs. The soaring “Other Birds of Prey” is a euphoric rocker that recalls the high marks set on Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Dulcinea. Elsewhere the bouncy “I Was a Riot” (a particularly confessional examination of the end of a relationship), lovely piano-anchored “The Bluest Eye,” spacious “Brand New Blue,” melodic rocker “Center Of The Circle” and jazz-infused “The Sound of Drinking” — the latter an introspective look at everyday joys that draws favorable sonic comparisons with the work of Bruce Cockburn — allure the listener. The acoustic “Skeleton For School,” infectious “Stone Throat,” and luxurious “Call the Moondust” are other standouts on the masterwork. Information: GlenPhillips.com.

Artist: Jeff Berlin

Title: Jack Songs (Jeff Berlin Music Group)

You might like if you enjoy: Jack Bruce, Cream, Eric Johnson, Alex Lifeson Tell me more: Although

Jack Bruce passed away in October 2014, he was already widely regarded as one of the greatest rock and roll bassists of all time. Now Bruce — best known for fronting the ‘60s rock trio Cream (the supergroup also featured guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker) — is being celebrated by modernday bassist-composer Jeff Berlin on the aptly-titled Jack Songs. Berlin stands as one of the greatest bass players of his generation, having garnered recording and performance credits with a slew of jazz and rock greats including Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Jon McLaughlin, Patrick Moraz, Frank Zappa, and more. Now he joins forces with a who’s who of greats on a Jack Songs to complete a truly ambitious project inspired by Giles Martin’s approach on The Beatles’ 2006 Love audio CD release. “His (Martin) production work on this CD is fantastic. I tried to follow his example of his fitting various Beatle song quotes from different tunes into each tune by doing a similar thing by combining different Jack songs,” Berlin said of his approach. Among the greats who lend their talents across Jack Songs is Sammy Hagar (Van Halen), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band), Eric Johnson, Nathan East (Fourplay), Geddy Lee (Rush), Tony Levin and many more. Information: JeffBerlinMusicGroup.com.

L.A.’s Lessons on Climate Change Balance Data with Hope

By Caleigh Wells for KCRW. Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service Collaboration

Students in Brittany Jefferson’s class can rattle off facts and opinions about deforestation, corporate greed, rising tides, warming temperatures, and the unequal plight of poorer countries as soon as the topic of climate change is introduced.

And most of them are just 10 years old.

“Because of global warming, and the amount of gas that we use, and the animals that we kill, and all the trash that we’re putting in the ocean, we’re just taking everything,” says a fifth-grader named Jack at Citizens of the World Silver Lake charter school.

That doesn’t mean these students are sanguine about ecological collapse.

“It makes me feel overwhelmed,” says Hayoon, one of Jack’s classmates. “If I was in the next generation, I would just cry and eat ice cream all day.”

With greater knowledge comes greater anxiety. And while it’s important to LA Unified School District administrators to educate kids about the warming world - this year the LAUSD board passed a resolution committing to incorporating climate literacy into existing curriculum - that leaves teachers grappling with how to inform children without traumatizing them.

“They don’t have faith in the people powerful enough to make systemic changes,” says fifth-grade teacher Jefferson. “And so they’re just like, ‘Yeah, the world is burning. And so we’re gonna burn eventually.’ And so that’s something that I am working to combat.”

Generational trauma: Kids like Jack and Hayoon are part of a cohort “that is experiencing much higher levels of anxiety than earlier generations,” says David Bond, a licensed clinical social worker and trauma specialist. It was different for their parents, Bond says, who might think, “’Well, somebody else is going to figure that out.’”

“For young people,” he continues, “they are the ones who have to figure this out. And also there’s a sense [that] older generations aren’t doing enough to mitigate the harm that we have done to the environment. So there’s a sense of anger and frustration at older generations as well.”

Citizens of the World Silver Lake fifth-grader Sawyer is ready to prove the point.

“I feel like we take it a bit more seriously than some adults because we actually care about having this earth, not having it turned into just like a wasteland,” he says.

But that doesn’t make Sawyer hopeful. “Eventually, this is just going to end up in a way that kills us all.”

Lucy Garcia with Climate Reality Project, which helped spearhead LAUSD’s climate literacy effort, knows this is a problem. She believes one way to combat anxiety is talking about it in the classroom. When it’s ignored, she says, “That’s where the trauma is worsened. So the most important thing is to be able to have them see that we

are working on it, that we need their help ... [rather] than to ignore it. Because they see it anywaythis is the age of the internet.”

Bond agrees that climate anxiety and the internet can create a problem for kids, because social media can become a place for teenagers to air their stress and anxiety publicly, which encourages doomscrolling.

Teacher Blossom Shores at Van Nuys Middle School says her best antidote to climate anxiety is teaching kids about solutions that are working.

“They’re more perceptive than we realize,” she says. “Yes, we want them to understand the gravity of it, but we don’t want them to have dystopian reality fears. ... It’s so important for them to feel empowered.”

When Shores recently gave a climate talk to a class of Van Nuys Middle School sixth-graders, it started with some bleak statistics. But when she got to the back half of the presentation and started talking about the exponential growth of wind and solar energy, some students were more than ready to jump on the optimism bandwagon.

“Now there’s a chance that global warming doesn’t get worse,” says one student named Luciana.

Her classmate Tyler was glad to see some of the good news, but says it still doesn’t outweigh the bad news.

“It hasn’t done so just yet, but I hope it will in the future.”

Caleigh Wells wrote this article for KCRW.

By Desert Star Staff

Conventional wisdom said in a close election like this week’s midterms, turnout is critical, and a new poll from a Latino rights group found both parties might have blown it in terms of outreach to their community.

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Education Fund polled Latinos across the U.S. weekly for the past nine weeks and found just over half said they were not contacted by either party before the election.

Dorian Caal, director of civic engagement research for the Fund, said of those who were contacted, 63%

heard from the Democratic Party, and 36% heard from Republicans.

“This was another opportunity for either party to engage the Latino community,” Caal pointed out. “And it looks like it was a missed opportunity for both parties to really engage the Latino community on the issues that mattered.”

In the poll, 48% of Latinos rated the rising cost of living and inflation as top issues, and 26% of Latinos cited abortion rights as their most important issue.

The poll also found 76% of respondents support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Still, Caal warned it is a mistake to think it is the only issue Latinos care about.

“What is top of mind is really around the rising cost of living, for example, reproductive rights, lowering the cost of health care,”

Caal outlined. “Addressing mass shootings, climate change, and so forth. So certainly, that would be top of mind as Latinos went

to

So,

Palm Springs, California –Palm Springs International Airport celebrated the 20th Anniversary of its volunteer Airport Navigator Program this week with a luncheon at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

PSP’s Airport Navigator program started in November 2002. Over the years, 239 local community members have gifted over 93,000 hours of service helping travelers navigate the airport by answering questions about the community, providing directions, and even suggestions of local restaurants and sites to visit in the Coachella Valley.

“Volunteers are vital to our community,” said Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton. “The contribution of the Airport Navigators is truly a gift to any and all that visit Palm Springs International Airport. I thank them on behalf of the City of Palm Springs and our community for their

commitment to service.”

The Navigator program was started to help passengers navigate new airport security requirements from TSA after 9-11, but it has evolved to become much more. Over the last 20 years, the Navigator program has provided information services to travelers, general assistance, way-finding, help to locate

airport facilities, paging friends or family they can’t find, and accessing ground transportation services.

Navigators also help by offering maps of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, local tourist guide magazines, and lists of key phone numbers and directions. In addition, they communicate with airline representatives and staff to make the travelers’

airport experience a positive one. On occasion, they are called upon to help usher travelers into the proper lines and to keep open pathways throughout the halls of the terminal during the busiest times of the year at PSP.

Currently, 39 people volunteer weekly, and several have volunteered for 5, 10, 15, and even 20 years with the program. The estimated value of their 93,000 hours of service since 2002 is over $2.8 million. Over 32 million travelers have passed through PSP during this time, with much receiving assistance from this wonderful group of volunteers. Navigators man the information desk 13 hours a day, 7 days per week, from 8 AM to 9 PM.

If anyone in the community is interested in becoming an Airport Navigator, they can visit the Volunteer Opportunities page on the City of Palm Springs website at PalmSpringsCA.gov.

the polls,” Caal said.

what would Latinos like the new Congress to focus on? The poll found big majorities favor allowing

Medicare to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs, banning assault rifles nationwide, and legalizing recreational marijuana.

By Desert Star Staff

Things unusual and otherworldly are occurring to Aries - avoiding large groups in order to maintain a comfort level allows you to continue with work unimpeded. If in too large a crowd confusion can result. Safety of heart and mind becomes important. The most comfort now is in a study of religion and spirituality and in groups where like-minded others understand you. Finding your true peers and your true voice is to be your focus. Along with a deep dive into the sacred.

TAURUS

Someone in particular is very prominent in your life and you communicate from your heart that you care deeply. And so you cultivate love in all ways you can imagine. You are serious and low key. However your intentions are understood, received and reciprocated. This calms you and brings you to a state of balance, which has been needed by you for some months. Now you can continue with your world work. As you also remember to tend to your health.

It’s time to reach out to those close by and far away, communicating with them your recent thoughts, hopes, wishes, plans, goals and dreams. You are to be like a great autumnal wind that in one day blows all the brown leaves off the trees and on that day, everyone knows winter has begun. You are to communicate in such a

way that people’s lives change in an instant. You have Venus as your companion. Mercury, too.

You begin to consider travel, perhaps for the upcoming holidays, taking time away from home, which, in the past months, has become restrictive and quite a responsibility. Is there a complex problem occurring at home that needs clear thought and action? It would be a good to read Dante’s “Inferno.”

It explains life’s wounds and mysteries, visions and transformations with profound insight. This too is your intuitive insight, in words and images. You are the intelligent one.

Something you read, study, come across, some words, insights, philosophy, teachings, perhaps a teacher, not like a shadow but a sunbeam, falls across your path and suddenly your entire life changes and your mind is illuminated. Someone is in your life and their acts of service are suddenly recognized, appreciated and acknowledged by you. You realize love’s been there all along. You have been distrustful. Now you’re not. You are Pallas Athena now. Study her mythology so you can better know yourself.

Something’s hidden, a wound perhaps. There’s something that must be understood at the heart of the matter, meaning within

FORECAST BY RISA D’ANGELES

your heart. Are you working too hard or not at all? Are you thinking too much, beset by habits and holding ancient self- criticism and judgments? Allow yourself to recognize your goodness. Then whom in your world you respect, honor and look up to. Make a list. Then realize we love those we are most like. This revelation allows you a true reflection of self. You are that which you love.

You’ve had many experiences in life, multiple relationships, hardships, changes and transformations. In the moment, these can feel somewhat life threatening. However, as you reflect back, you see how each experience has changed, strengthened and prepared you for where you are now. There’s a state of responsibility, of service, of goodness, an understanding of values, a recognition by others of your abilities. Like Venus (your ruler) rising at dawn on the new year, you too are, for many, the Morning Star.

us in this endeavor. Some signs (zodiac) understand this more easily (you and Pisces). Actually, your creativity has become rather Piscean lately.

You are wearing the aura of Pisces these days, that of service and giving. So, you are to go out and about into the community, observing quietly and silently for ways to serve others. It will bring you great happiness, enjoyment and benefits and a possibility of meeting someone of great magnetic charisma, charm and power. If you gather up your ideals and apply them to what your community needs, you’ll find there’s a great need that only you can fulfill. Have the intention to encourage others and don’t talk about yourself for one week (or longer!).

New people, ideas, places and unusual events invite you to learn new skills, new ways of thinking and being. Perhaps a new (old) career emerges, a new self-identity, a creative endeavor, a spiritual practice - all part of your next developmental stage. Is there a wound about things in form disappearing, dissolving into the great abyss of change? Having less prepares you for more opportunities, more options. More happiness. When you can, call home each day. There’s love there.

PISCES

It seems in these days of Scorpio Sun and Mercury you are assessing your thoughts and communications, your interactions with others and where to travel next. Your focus is on your self-identity, a most important stage. This is important because in all Mystery Schools one must begin their studies with the axiom to “Know Thyself.” The stars and planets reach down to us daily, helping

The holiday season is about to begin. After showing up for charity events and craft fairs displaying your extensive creativity (Taurus ruled, thus extreme beauty), you and loved ones either create or are invited to multiple events. You may not want to attend, feeling a bit overwhelmed with so many responsibilities since summer. You may need veils of privacy and protection. This is good, revitalizing, and the appropriate choice. And then, any moment you change your mind. Ask, what is best for yourself and the family?

Are Board Meetings Properly Open?

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL Dear

Kelly: Our HOA continues to have meetings without posting a proper notice, no agenda. The directors receive an agenda, but the members do not. Is this considered an illegal meeting? And if so, do all the discussions and votes taken at this meeting need to be redone at a properly noticed meeting? B.B., San Clemente

Dear B.B.: Boards may not discuss or act upon any nonemergency items unless that item was on a published agenda at least four calendar days before the meeting, per Civil Code Section 4930(a). There are two exceptions - emergencies (Section 4930(d)(1)), or if something arose after agenda posting, requires immediate action, and a two-thirds vote of the directors to add it to the agenda (Section 4930(d)(2)).

The agenda must be sufficiently specific to allow members a reasonable opportunity to determine if they wish to attend the deliberations or even to address the board during the open forum. In about 2016, a landowner partnership sued the Rancho Santa Fe Association regarding the denial of its proposal to develop some land within the association. One of the partnership’s arguments was that the board did not adequately disclose the topic on the published agenda; therefore, the HOA’s decision was invalid. At the appellate level, the court in 2018 issued its decision in Golden Eagle Land Investment LP v. Rancho Santa Fe Association, ruling in part that the HOA’s agenda was sufficient to inform the members of the topic to be discussed.

Agendas should be fair and reasonably informative to the members served by the board.

Sincerely, Kelly

Dear Kelly: Our question:

We saw your writing which clearly explained HOA boards must follow Civil Code 4090(b). However we have been told the Governor’s July, 2022 proclamation states California is in “emergency” status and it replaces 4090(b). My reading is that the proclamation speaks to be prepared if Monkeypox becomes epidemic. Our board is advised that it is in “emergency” and does not have to follow Section 4090 and can maintain virtual only meetings. What is correct? Thank you L.B., Martinez.

Dear L.B.: There continues to be many erroneous statements on this issue, creating further confusion for California HOAs. In short, the Davis-Stirling Act requires that, if the board is meeting using telephone or virtual platform, there must be a physical location where someone can observe the meeting without using the telephone or virtual platform. Last year,

an emergency bill was passed in September, creating a new section 5450, which allows purely virtual meetings to occur during times of declared local or state emergency. However, there isn’t ANY emergency allowing the application of the statute, because the declared emergency does not make the in-person meeting unsafe or impossible. I am not aware of any California jurisdiction that in 2021 or 2022 has barred in-person HOA meetings from occurring – so the statute does not presently apply.

Consequently, HOAs cannot have purely virtual open board meetings, but must comply with Civil Code Section 4090

Quietly opportunities arise, to manifest in the coming months. For now you are in preparation and you sense it deeply. Eliminate, clear out, give away what’s not needed. This can be difficult. Often, we’re forced to do this elimination process. New people, part of the new opportunities occurring next year will enter your life. Keep in contact, with assuredness and confidence. Travel is possible, short trips - here, there, everywhere. You meet a loved one in the middle. The work you will do illuminates all of life. It’s seen and recognized. There is gratitude.

Risa D’Angeles is the founder and director of the Esoteric & Astrological Studies Research Institute: Risa’s Esoteric Astrology. She can be reached at risagoodwill@gmail.com.

and have a physical location at which a member can attend. It is unfortunate that there is so much noncompliance with the statute – HOAs must catch up and return to inperson or hybrid meetings – to comply with the law and also provide the greatest transparency to their members.

Thanks, Kelly

Kelly G. Richardson

CCAL is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Senior Partner of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for community association advice. Submit column questions to kelly@ roattorneys.com. Past columns at www.HOAHomefront. com. All rights reserved®.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN

ARIES GEMINI

ASTROLOGICAL

Commemoration of Kristallnacht’s 84th Anniversary.

burned to the ground. Shop windows of an estimated 7,500 Jewish-owned commercial establishments were shattered and looted their wares.

Approximately 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and deported to concentration camps.

Many historians date this rampage as the beginning of the Holocaust.

Why did the Nazis choose November 9?

On November 9, 1918, in the aftermath of WWI, the German Kaiser was dethroned, and the Weimar Republic was born. Germans, feeling humiliated at the hands of the allied victors, blamed the Jews.

“We are going to destroy the Jews. They are not going to get away with what they did on November 9, 1918. The day of reckoning has come.” – Adolf Hitler (January 21, 1939)

event. It was very well attended.

Michael Berenbaum, an American scholar and professor specializing in the study of the Holocaust, introduced the subject. His presentation concentrated on the legal aspect behind Kristallnacht. Following the looting and burning of businesses and synagogues, insurance companies realized they were liable for the damages incurred. To offset their losses, Hermann Göring, leader of the Nazi Party, imposed a collective fine of $400 million (in 1939 rates) on the Jewish communities.

By

On Thursday, November 10, 2022, the Jewish Federation and MENSCH International Foundation held an 84thanniversary commemoration

Ruth Lindemann, a child Holocaust Survivor from Vienna, Austria, shared her memories of that traumatic occurrence. Her father was arrested and deported to Dachau Concentration Camp. Years later, they were reunited. However, Ruth could not recognize him: his body was emaciated, and his teeth were missing, all due to the brutal beatings he endured as a prisoner.

CA Had the 7th Highest Credit Card Delinquency Rate in 2021

By Desert Star Staff

Access to credit is essential for managing personal finances, whether to pay for major purchases, as a bridge to cover regular expenses or smooth out spending when something unexpected happens. But reliance on debt like credit cards can also mean racking up large balances that are hard to pay off. Moreover, in the tumultuous economy of the last few years, consumers have experienced both highs and lows regarding credit.

Despite a spike in unemployment at the outset of COVID-19, many households fared well financially during the early phases of the pandemic. Government relief programs like stimulus checks expanded unemployment benefits, mortgage and student loan forbearance boosted household

finances, while consumers spent less due to lockdowns and concerns about the virus. This allowed debt holders to make progress toward becoming current on payments. As a result, credit card balances in the U.S. declined by more than $120 billion in 2020 and another $28 billion from December 2020 to April 2021.

Inflation has reared its head over the last 18 months, putting new pressure on families. Prices for essentials like food, energy, and shelter have risen rapidly and remained at elevated levels. Moreover, savings rates, which had increased to historic heights earlier in the pandemic, are now on the decline, leaving households less in reserve to help weather the effects of inflation. As a result, consumers are turning to credit cards to help manage costs: aggregate

limits on credit cards increased by $100 billion from Q1 to Q2 of 2022, while credit card balances increased by $46 billion over the same period.

Credit card debt today totals $890 billion, which still trails a pre-pandemic peak of $930 billion in Q4 of 2019. But debt has surged over the last year. Credit card debt was 9.1% higher in Q1 of 2022 than the year before and 12.7% higher in Q2. The latter figure represents the fastest growth rate for credit card balances in nearly 20 years.

Credit card reliance and behavior vary across the country, meaning that rates of usage and delinquency can look different by geography. For example, many of the states with the highest credit card delinquency rates are found in the Southeast and Southwest, which have relatively low

incomes compared to the rest of the U.S. While low-income residents in these areas are less likely to have a card and tend to have lower balances, they are also more likely to struggle with paying off credit card debts.

Notably, 3 states in the Southeast and Southwest regions — Nevada (12%), Florida (10.66%), and Arkansas (10.23%) — stand out as having more than 10% of credit card debt 90+ days delinquent, which are the 3 highest delinquency rates in the nation. In contrast, the Upper Midwest and New England tend to have the lowest rates of delinquency, highlighted by Wisconsin (5.34%), Minnesota (5.78%), and Vermont (6.03%).

The data used in this analysis is from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Experian. To determine the states

with the highest delinquency rates, researchers at Upgraded Points calculated the share of credit card balances at least 90 days delinquent as of the fourth quarter of 2021. In the event of a tie, the state with the more outstanding total credit card debt per capita was ranked higher. The percentage point change in the credit card delinquency rate was calculated by comparing Q4 of 2021 to Q4 of 2019.

Here is a summary of the data for California:

Credit card delinquency rate (90+ days): 9.07%

Change since pre-pandemic (percentage points): +0.37

Per capita credit card debt: $3,330

Credit card debt as a share of all non-mortgage debt: 21.5% Average credit score: 721

From left: Federation CEO Alan Potash, Holocaust Survivor Ruth Lindemann, Federation Women’s Philanthropy Leslie Pepper

Desert Star Staff

Kristallnacht, known as The Night of Broken Glass,

was a planned series of attacks on Jewish synagogues and businesses in Nazi

Germany that erupted on November 9-10, 1938. Jewish synagogues were

Matthew Lopez’s Extraordinary Epic “The Inheritance” at the Geffen

ACT 1 Recap: Under Mike Donohue’s exquisite direction of a sterling cast, Matthew López’s 6-hour and 25-minute sprawling, awardwinning “The Inheritance” made its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. The following will re-acquaint you with the principal actors, some of whom created two different characters: Bill Brochtrup plays both the E.M. Forster character of Morgan and Walter Poole; Juan Castano characterizes Toby Darling, author and playwright living with his partner Eric Glass, the lynchpin and third-person narrator of the unfolding action wonderfully portrayed by Adam Kantor.

Bradley James Tejeda plays Adam, an aspiring actor with whom Toby falls in love; Leo, a down-and-out sex worker; and finally, a most talented Tuc Watkins plays Henry Wilcox, Walter’s wealthy Republican husband for 36 years. We were

also introduced to the excellent ensemble, or something akin to a Greek chorus, whose actions and reactions contribute to this riveting play.

ACT 2: The break-up that Toby instigated between him and Eric has more positive results for Eric than for his former partner, who seems to have embarked on a selfdestructive path. While Toby is immersed in his drug and alcohol downward spiral, while on Fire Island, he encourages 19-year-old Leo to have sex with countless men in one evening. The orgies are cleverly staged in a highly-stylized suggestive format, nicely enhanced by Josh Epstein’s lighting. In the meantime, Eric convinces Henry that he wants to see the Upstate New York house and eventually obliges him. A new character is Tantoo Cardinal’s, Margaret Avery. Born in the south, she has been the housekeeper at this home that finally welcomed

hundreds of AIDS-infected men who came there to die. In a touching monologue, she retells her story about her and her young son Michael, who went out of the closet. Unable to cope with his truth, she lost contact with him, and it wasn’t until years later that they reunited when he contracted AIDS and came to the house where she and Walter took care of him until he died at age 25. Margaret remains guilt-ridden that so many years were lost but consoles herself that she was devoted to him during the last year of his life. Subsequently, along with Walter, she looked after hundreds of men stricken with this deadly disease. This is a tearful moment in the play as this excellent actor tells her story. In a lighter moment, one of the characters quips, “Hell is better than South Carolina.” In the meantime, Eric is not happy with his husband, Henry. The latter makes it very clear that

he is not interested in physical intimacy but assures Eric that he’s free to find fulfillment outside the marriage. This is in sharp contrast with when Henry happily proposed saying, “You are the author of my recent smiles.” There are poignant moments, such as when the two actors play the young Henry and Walter meeting for the first time and how they immediately embrace each other. Walter eventually takes up residence in his husband’s townhouse in the West Village, subsequently moving into the same building as Toby and Eric, which is how Eric and Walter become friends, eventually leading to meeting Henry. Eric’s new, older friend shares, “I learned how to f…ck when I was 14, but never knew what love was,” adding, “To fall in love is to have heartbreak.” There are delicious one-liners, such as Henry defending being a Republican. “Why shouldn’t I be a Republican?” “Because you’re gay!” This act is an outlet for opinions and discussions of myriad pressing social and political issues affecting the gay community and was well within the context of the action. Why not touch on subjects germane to their continued survival. Filled with remorse over breaking up with Eric, Toby pleads with him to take him back, but at this point, he is in love with Henry and is about to get married. Eventually, Eric, despite never having to worry about money again, is unhappy with the sexless marriage and wants out. After revisiting the White Plains house, Eric has an epiphany and wants to turn the house, where so many died, into a place where men could continue living. Still in a self-destructive spiral but trying to find his way out, Toby heads home to Alabama, where he remembers being called a faggot in school

but didn’t even know what that meant. Getting clearheaded and understanding his inability to receive and give love, he resolves to write a genuinely autobiographical play which, upon completion, his agent thinks is kind of long. (An in-joke reference to the length of “The Inheritance.”) Ready to sign the divorce papers, Eric asks his soon-to-be “Ex” to please give him the house, and as in “Howards End,” the property reverts back to the one for whom it was initially intended.

Remember that despite the theatrical exploration of heavy subjects López illuminates, his exquisite writing is sprinkled with pathos and laughter throughout the play, especially following a hefty scene, so there is timely comic relief. Sometimes your tears are ready to fall, but comic relief saves you from digging out those tissues.

‘ THE INHERITANCE”

Gil Cates Theatre

The Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024

Tuesday - Friday: 8:00pm Saturday: & Sunday: 1:00pm & 7:00pm Closing: Sunday, November 27, 2022

Running Time: PART 1: 3 hours and 10 minutes, including two intermissions.

PART 2: 3 hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission and a brief pause.

Tickets: $39 - $129 310.208.2028 or www.geffenplayhouse.org

By Desert Star Staff

“ It’s something that functions, so why would you wish to repair something that’s already working?” claimed Jim Franklin, Greater Palm Springs Association of Realtors.

“ I believe the city is placing the earnings of AirBnbs or getaway leasing over the homeowners and their concern for the residents,” claimed a Palm Springs citizen in opposition to temporary leasing.

The fight over property owners’ rights proceeds in Palm Springs.

In a 4-0 ballot on Monday evening, Palm Springs Common council authorized a

short-lived restriction on new temporary service licenses.

“ This is just a hold via November 30, and we will resume finishing the applications that individuals are filing,” stated Mayor Lisa Middleton.

While the ban is momentary, the council states it provides time to consider modifications to the ordinance. One of those modifications is decreasing the times permit holders are allowed to rent their homes per year.

“ Currently, that depends on 36 contracts annually, and currently, we’re considering phasing in a reduction that would certainly take that down to 24 times during the year,”

said Middleton. “A trip service for an agreement could be as long as 27 days, so this is still a significant quantity of time that a person could lease their home.”

“ Today, we’re checking out something in the vicinity of 60-90 days of the need of residency in the house,” claimed Middleton.

Many residents and groups have recommended caps on the number of services permitted within the city of Palm Spring times and in details areas. At the same time, some council members revealed that an available rental cap in the town would be unfair. They are checking out

a rental cap within locations.

“ That will possibly remain around no greater than 15-20% of homes in a community,” claimed Middleton. “In those areas, we would certainly not take any person’s authorizations away, but we would use attrition to return down to that cap degree.”

The council is also considering giving junior permits, an inexpensive license permitting a longterm citizen of Palm Springs to rent their residence half a dozen times annually.

A concession between both sides of the aisle is still some time away.

“ If you are among those folks who think vacation rentals must not exist, what we’re most likely to propose is not what you’re most likely want,” claimed Middleton. “If you believe there must be no restrictions on vacation rentals, we’re not most likely to make you delighted. Our team believes this market can function when it’s extremely controlled, every person recognizes the guidelines, and every person follows them.”

The council will continue to discuss this topic during its second meeting on November 29, when a permanent resolution, could be made, possibly even earlier.

L-R: Bill Brochtrup, Kasey Mahaffy, and Adam Kantor in Matthew Lopez’s The Inheritance Act 2 at Geffen Playhouse through Sunday, November 27, 2022. Directed by Mike Donahue. Photos Photo by Jeff Lorch.

The holiday season presents opportunities for celebrating with loved ones, including their dogs and cats, for many families. However, holiday foods and decorations can pose health risks for pets, and the hustle and bustle may be overwhelming.

To help keep your pet safe amid the jolly chaos, consider these potential hazards from the experts at VCA Animal Hospitals, which has more than 1,000 locations across North America that cared for more than 4.5 million pets last year.

Decorations: Decorations are part of almost every holiday celebration but making some pet-proofed choices can also make your home safe for fourlegged guests. For example, if you put up a tree (live or artificial), ensure it’s set up securely and use shatter-proof ornaments, ideally hung above tail height and out of paws’

reach. If you have kittens less than 1-year-old in your home, they sometimes like to climb up the tree trunk to the top, so extra care may be needed. Hang smaller ornaments toward the top of the tree to reduce potential choking hazards and avoid salt dough ornaments, which may look like a snack to pets but can cause electrolyte problems, and tinsel as it can become lodged in a pet’s gut and cause issues.

Additionally, consider battery-operated candles instead of real ones, which can be easily knocked over by curious pets and burn them or lead to more severe fire risks. Dangling cords from seasonal decor can also appeal to pets, and if chewed while plugged in could result in electrical shock or burn to the tongue, so secure them out of sight and unplug them when not in use.

With the holidays

comes a delicious variety of baked goods, chocolate confections, and other rich foods. However, some of those seasonal goodies can present problems for pets. For example, chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a chemical similar to caffeine that’s highly toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion in small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but large amounts can cause seizures and heart arrhythmias.

Other traditional holiday mainstays, such as fruitcakes, bread, and cookies that contain grapes, raisins, or currants, can cause kidney failure in dogs. Sugarless gums and candies may contain xylitol, a natural sweetener, which can cause serious conditions like dangerously low blood sugar and liver failure in dogs. Leftover fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), leading to abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea.

Plants: Although live trees are non-toxic, their needles do not digest well, and their water may contain bacteria, mold, or fertilizer that should not be ingested. Additionally, poinsettias, which often have a terrible reputation among pet owners, can cause upset stomachs if the leaves are eaten. However, it’s typically milder than the symptoms associated with holly, mistletoe, and amaryllis. Daffodils, lilies, and narcissi are also toxic to pets.

Guests: An increase in visitors, ringing the doorbell, and the extra excitement of the holiday season can be stressful for pets. Try to keep your fourlegged friend’s feeding and exercise schedule as regular as possible and make time for additional stress-relieving playtime and snuggles. To help avoid overstimulation, keeping your pets in their own crates or a quiet room with food, water, and comfortable bedding while you have

company may be best. If you need additional assistance, consult with your veterinarian.

Travel: Holiday travel with your four-legged family members requires some extra packing and precautions. If traveling by car, ensure your pet is safely restrained using a secure harness or carrier and placed away from airbags. Make sure pets are microchipped, and their registration is up to date in case you become separated. Never leave pets alone in a vehicle or transport them in the bed of a truck. Also, be sure you have updated health certificates from your veterinarian, if required by any states you will visit or pass through, and pack copies of medical records, first aid supplies, food and medications, leashes, collars, and favorite toys.

For more tips to make the holidays safe for pets, visit vcahospitals. com. Family Feature

‘One Night Only’

Continued from Page 1

accompanied Alix Korey and Teri Ralson’s songs. After each song, the audience applauded with loud praises and clapping. Next, Chris Mann and Leslie Margherita brought a faster tempo with the songs, Staying Alive and Y.M.C.A. Some of the audience even started to sing along.

The final song, Theme from New York, New York, brought all the performers on stage with loud cheering and a standing ovation from the audience. A colorful ribbon tape rained down on the performers. Honorary Co-chairs were Helene Galen, Barry Manilow, Garry Kief, Harold Matzner, and in Memoriam, Patty Grundhofer. Event Cochairs were Barbara Fromm

and Teri Ketover. Scott Coulter was the director, and Ken Katz was the Executive Producer.

One Night Only Benefits the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. The Center has been around for 36 years and has treated over 23,000 kids. Children that have been mentally and physically abused or neglected. They have provided 800 therapy sessions and 100 forensic interviews a year. That is just a little of what the Center does, saving at-risk Kids. No child has ever been turned away because of an inability to pay.

Other performers were Lee Roy Reams, Ken Page, Julie Garnye, Klea Blackhurst, Alex Getlin, Sharon McNight, Anthony Murphy, Debbie Gravitte, Sean McDermott, Edmund Bagnell, Christine Andreas, Seth Sikes, Amanda McBroom, Clint Holmes, Chris

Mann, Scott Coulter, Karen Ziemba, and Carole J. Bufford with other singers and dancers.

Of course, it takes many people to put on a concert of this scope. But it’s worth

everyone’s time, once a year, to see something this big that also benefits a great charity.

Producer Michael Childers, Center in Maroon Jacket, with all the cast members. Photo by Pat Krause.

Singers Alex Getlin, Carol J. Buford, Honorary co-chair Barry Manilow, with singers Christine Andreas and Julie Garnye. Photo by Pat Krause

Food:

Health Centers Fight ‘Big Pharma’ Over Drug Savings Program

By Desert Star Staff

Opening statements start today in a case pitting “Big Pharma” against Community Health Centers serving lowincome and uninsured patients.

At issue is a government drug discount program known as 340B, which requires drugmakers to sell certain medications at lower prices to health centers and hospitals. Three drugmakers; AstraZeneca, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk; are suing the federal government for the right to restrict rebates to drugs dispensed at health centers rather than pharmacies closer to patients’ homes.

Vacheria Keys, director of regulatory affairs for the National Association of Community Health Centers, said it cuts into the centers’ revenue and, ultimately, affects public health.

“So, as health centers have been losing money, which translates into losing services for patients, pharmaceutical

manufacturers have actually made money over the last few years,” Keys pointed out. “Safety-net providers like health centers are passing out their COVID-19 vaccine to the most underserved communities.”

The three drug companies did not immediately reply to requests for comment, and theirs is one of three similar lawsuits. Other manufacturers have unilaterally limited the list of drugs they will discount.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has argued that the 340B program provides tens of billions of dollars in drug discounts but does not require health centers or hospitals to prove the money goes to patient care. Health centers countered sharing the financial data would allow drugmakers and health insurance companies to force them into unfavorable contracts.

Health centers report using the 340B savings to pay for services like dental

care, behavioral health, transportation, housing support, food pantries, and copay assistance programs.

Dr. Nicole Thibeau, director of pharmacy services for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, said, for example, they used

funds to deliver medications to patients during the pandemic.

“So, that allows an entity like mine to provide services that patients may not have access to because they are not insured, or it’s not covered by their insurance

or would otherwise be costprohibitive,” Thibeau explained.

Recently the government rejected an administrative complaint filed by Community Health Centers, so advocates for the centers are asking Congress to step in.

New Film Highlights Water Struggle Between Rural High Desert and L.A.

fish, cattle grazing, tourism, and Native American cultural sites. So advocates are asking for at least 2.8 acrefeet of water per year.

“We’re trying to have dialogues with them to say, hey, look, this is the number that we think would be at a minimum equitable for you to supply ratepayers in Southern California while maintaining our wetlands up here,” McClain said.

Sierra in the early 1900s.

McClain said if the water flow is reduced, many of the area’s native plants will give way to invasive cheatgrass, which will dry up in the summer and create a huge fire hazard.

UPDATE: A response from the L.A. Dept. of Water & Power has been added, which arrived after the deadline. (10:35 a.m. MDT, Nov. 15, 2022)

A new film about the transfer of water from the high desert to Los Angeles

- “Without Water” - has just been released on the internet. The film highlights the struggle between the community around Long Valley- between Mammoth and Bishop, California - and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LA DWP).

In a statement, the LA DWP said it “continues to provide water to ranchers in Mono County as it has historically done, and the amount of irrigation water is based on its operational needs and water conditions.” The agency also asserted that Los Angeles is one of the most waterefficient cities in the world.

Environmental groups say Mono County’s water should not be used to maintain suburban landscaping. The agency bought land and water rights in the Eastern

“That would be catastrophic,” McClain said. “Certainly, because there’s the community of Crowley Lake and Hilton Creek right there. But it could also get so intense that it would burn that landscape and destroy the seedbed and everything else with it. So we could see that landscape just not recover permanently.”

The courts have ordered the LA DWP to do an environmental assessment before changing the water deliveries. The agency is expected to announce its plans early next year. The 21-minute film has won multiple awards at film festivals this year. It can now be streamed on the “Keep Long Valley Green” YouTube and Vimeo.

Putting Spotlight on Lung Cancer and How to Prevent It

By Desert Star Staff

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the country’s deadliest form of cancer. There will be an estimated 130,000 lung cancer deaths in 2022, including nearly 2,000 in Minnesota, according to the American Cancer Society.

Michael Skokan, a pulmonary critical-care physician at The Oregon Clinic, said many of these deaths are preventable, and

the first action people can take is to stop smoking.

Skokan said the disease historically has presented some challenges to doctors.

“When you find it at an early stage, you can treat it,” Skokan said. “But over the years, we hadn’t been good at doing that because people don’t really have symptoms, and once they have symptoms, it’s usually a later stage, and it’s spread, and it’s much, much

more difficult to treat, and sometimes it’s not treatable.”

Skokan said people who haven’t yet quit and meet specific criteria can get screened for cancer with a C-T scan of their lungs. The scan helps doctors identify early-stage lung cancers, and the tool has been around for about a decade.

COVID-19 has an effect on lung health but has no direct link with cancer. However, Skokan

said the pandemic did affect treatment, with many people avoiding the doctor’s office.

“People who got other things during that time when everything was really problematic in getting carethat affected a lot of people who didn’t necessarily have COVID but got other things, including lung disease or lung cancer, and couldn’t get treated as timely as we had been able to do in the past,” Skokan said.

While the number of deaths is still high, Skokan noted that it has decreased in recent years for a few reasons.

“Number one, fewer people smoking. So we’re starting to see the effects of that. And the other thing is that our treatments are getting better,” he said. “So people who present with lung cancer - we now have more options for treatment, and people are living longer.”

By Desert Star Staff

The LA DWP has court permission to terminate longstanding water leases and limit irrigation water in Long and Little Round valleys.

Matt McClain, campaign manager for the Keep Long Valley Green Coalition, said that would endanger wildlife,

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Opportunity

Big Bear To Open for The Season

By Desert Star Staff

Snowstorm Comes at Opportune Time for Those Seeking to get Away for November Holidays.

Big Bear Lake, Calif.–Fresh snow from this week’s storm combined with two weeks of snowmaking efforts prompted Alpine Slide Big Bear to open its snow tubing hills for the 2022-2023 season.

The snow-tubing park reported that its snow base is three to four feet, with three full-length snow-tubing runs now open.

Big Bear’s first snowstorms of the season have come at an opportune time, especially for folks looking to get away for one or both of the upcoming November holidays. First is Veteran’s Day this Friday, November 11, and then Thanksgiving follows two weeks later on Thursday, November 24.

In addition to the tremendous natural snow, Alpine Slide Big Bear is prepared to make even more snow, with ideal snowmaking conditions in the cards for the next seven to 10 days.

Alpine Slide has ski-resort

quality snowmaking systems to ensure there is always snow for snow-tubing enthusiasts.

Alpine Slide also makes it easy to get to the top of the hill with its Magic Carpet ride. The moving conveyor belt eliminates the stress of climbing the mountain and provides more opportunities for having fun on the slopes.

This family-friendly recreation area allows kids and adults to enjoy the winter season’s spirit with other attractions, including the Mineshaft Coaster, the Alpine Slide ride, and the Soaring Eagle. Another great attraction at Alpine Slide Big Bear is the iconic Alpine Slide ride, which resembles the Winter Olympics luge or bobsled. Riders navigate their own individually controlled sleds down a quarter-mile-long concrete track with high-banked turns and long straightaways. Other options for fun at Alpine Slide Big Bear include an 18-hole miniature golf course, go-karts, and video games. All outdoor attractions are open during the winter (weather permitting.)

Alpine Slide Big Bear is

open daily for snow tubing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Night tubing begins Friday, November 25, and after that is open every Friday, Saturday, and holiday nights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. All other attractions at Alpine

Slide at Magic Mountain, which includes the Mineshaft Coaster, the Alpine Slide ride, the Soaring Eagle, minigolf, and go-karts, are open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to

dusk. Alpine Slide Big Bear is located at 800 Wildrose Lane (just off Big Bear Blvd.). For pricing, height requirements, and general information, call 909-866-4626 or visit AlpineSlideBigBear.com.

Pediatrician-Approved Tips to Conquer Holiday Travel with Little Ones

The holiday season is a time for joy and togetherness, but it can often bring stress for parents of young children with the amount of “newness” in each experience, particularly when it comes to seasonal travel.

To help make holiday travel with little ones more manageable – whether traveling by bus, train, car or plane – Dr. Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, pediatric medical consultant for Gerber, offers this guidance for families.

Travel Light

Especially if traveling by plane, pack as light as possible (or check most of your luggage) so you have less to maneuver through security gates and on the plane. However, for longer trips, packing small, developmentally appropriate toys and snacks can provide perfect entertainment for little ones.

Prepare for Ear Pressure

Babies often scream during takeoff and landing on flights because they can’t easily equalize the pressure in their eustachian tubes, the connection between their ears and the back of the throat. When you’re ascending and descending, give your baby something safe to suck on, like a pacifier, to reduce the buildup of pressure in the ears. Taking small sips of water, breastmilk or formula and yawning are also ways to help babies and toddlers experiencing ear pressure during flights.

Plan for Time Adjustments

For long trips that include time zone changes, expect children to take several days to grow accustomed to their new schedules. Plan an extra day or two for that time adjustment, if possible, when mapping out your trip and make time for stops to stretch, snack and take bathroom breaks.

Pack Convenient Snacks

Having easy-to-access snacks that don’t make a large mess can make travel easier and less stressful. For example, Gerber Plant-Tastic Banana Berry & Veggie Smash with Oats Organic Pouch and Plant-Tastic Lil’ Crunchies White Bean Hummus are nutritious snacks for toddlers that come in resealable containers that are easy to pack for on-the-go families.

Bring Sanitizing Products

Having your own sanitizing wipes on-hand makes it easier to freshen up often-touched surfaces in public spaces like seatback trays, chairs and tables. While safe on most hard surfaces, check the label before

Maintain

Be Mindful of Anxiety While attending holiday gatherings, your child may become overwhelmed when meeting new

people, including family members. Babies start to develop separation anxiety and apprehension to strangers at about 6 months old as their brains start to understand the concept of object permanence (that something still exists when it is not present). Educating loved ones about this developmental stage can help you feel less anxious about big family gatherings with your little one. If your child is particularly sensitive, try introducing new people in smaller cohorts, as opposed to introducing him or her to the whole group at once.

Take Time for Yourself

While traveling with little ones can be a “bumpy road,” it’s important for parents to also try and enjoy the holidays as much as possible. Making some time for yourself –taking deep breaths, listening to a meditation on an option like the Calm app or playing a favorite song, for example – can help you recharge and relax ahead of a big event.

To find more expert tips and resources to help conquer the holiday season, visit Gerber.com.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

FAMILY FEATURES