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Thank you, Councilman Mr. Betts, Mr. Max Lieberman, Amy Shah of Mission Lakes Marketplace, Javier Soto & Elizabeth Gonzalez at Lamar advertising for putting this together since we were in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was such an amazing feeling to be a part of this surprise in the making and seeing it now? it’s just an awesome feeling. - Gabriela Franco Felt
W E E K L Y
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID Desert Hot Springs, CA PERMIT NO 00005
Septmeber 8, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 70
“Family is all that Matters” FIATM Founder and CEO, Kuba Brown, Secretary, Wayne Brown, Donna B. Layne, and COO, David Jordan Layne.
“Unifying Communities One Family at a Time” By Desert Star Staff Riverside, Calif. - Nothing can stop the nonprofit group FIATM from achieving its goal of “Unifying Communities - One Family at a Time.”
FIATM, which stands for “Family is all that Matters,” has already survived a crisis that would have forced many charitable organizations to close their doors.
A late-night fire destroyed the group’s Moreno Valley headquarters on Jan. 1, 2021. FIATM just put in a computer lab and adjusted its programs to be Covid
By Desert Star Staff COACHELLA, Calif. – Learn how to save water and have fun by joining the Water Conservation Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Coachella Water Authority & Sanitary District. Participants who follow the clues to find conservation message signs placed strategically around the city will collect items to build a picnic basket for two. Clues in a scavenger hunt passbook lead to 20 locations at parks and other landmarks throughout the City of Coachella. Each site has a sign with fun waterrelated facts in English and Spanish and a QR code
that can be scanned with a smartphone. The code directs participants to a web page with additional conservation tips and a secret word to enter the passbook. The secret word verifies participants found the location and will allow them to collect prizes. “Now that we are in another severe drought, we all need to take steps to preserve our water supply,” said Coachella Utilities Manager Cástulo Estrada. “This is a fantastic opportunity for residents of all ages to learn more about water conservation and have fun at the same time.” Coachella residents can
claim a prize to help create a picnic for two for every five secret words recorded in their passbook. The first five words can be redeemed for two cups, the second five words can be redeemed for two plates, the following five words qualify for utensils for two, and those who collect secret words from finding all 20 locations will receive a soft-side mini cooler. “Whether it is through our schools, our beautiful library or other programs, we are always searching for opportunities to expand education in Coachella,” Mayor Steven
compliant when the New Year’s fire destroyed their facility and shut down 13 other neighboring businesses. Despite that setback, FIATM founder and Chief Executive Officer Kuba Brown, its Chief Operation
Officer, David J. Layne, and the rest of the group’s board members, staff, volunteers, and their community partners never stopped helping needy families with food, utilities Continues on Page 3
Conservation-themed scavenger hunt offers citywide fun
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