Photo Credit: Ethan Kaminsky
THANK YOU FOR
THE MAJOR SPONSORSHIP PROVIDED
The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC) was created in 2016 in cooperation with the former Coachella, La Quinta, Cathedral City and Indio Chambers, along with the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. It enhances and significantly improves the way businesses interact with each other and the community in the entire Coachella Valley. As a Regional Chamber, the GCVCC delivers services and benefits to its members on a scope not seen before in the area.
CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JEFF FISHBEIN, CHAIR | COLDWELL BANKER / FISHBEIN REAL ESTATE GROUP
ALISON HENDRIX | ENTRAVISION
ANGELIQUE ONTIVEROS | DESERT ARC
| DESERT JET
DOUG MOTZ
The Gem Production Team Editor: Andrea Carter
Graphic Designer: Jeff Day
The Gem is produced by the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The Gem is an official publication of the GCVCC. Circulation: Approximately 23,000. Distributed free to all residents, Chamber members and businesses in La Quinta.
Even though here in the desert we don’t have leaves that begin to change, September brings with it a sense of renewal and growth – mirroring the goals of our vibrant business community.
The Chamber had our annual Season Kickoff last month at The Beer Hunter, with a tremendous crowd that enjoyed networking, cultivating ideas and fostering connections.
If you weren’t able to join us for our Season Kickoff, we have another event coming up that you definitely won’t want to miss. The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce presents the La Quinta State of the City, Business Awards and Expo on Thursday, September 28th at Embassy Suites La Quinta Hotel & Spa.
This annual gathering serves as a comprehensive overview of the City’s previous year’s activities, highlights future developments, and outlines significant plans relevant to the local business community. The evening’s speakers include Mayor Linda Evans and members of the La Quinta City Council. This event honors outstanding achievements and notable contributions to the community as well, including the distinguished La Quinta Business of the Year award. We strongly encourage interested attendees to secure tickets in advance as this special evening typically sells out.
As we approach the solemn anniversary of September 11, 2001, we are reminded of the incredible resilience, unity, and strength that emerged from the darkness of that tragic day. It is our duty and honor to come together once again to pay tribute to the lives lost, the heroes who bravely responded, and the enduring spirit of our great nation.
The City of La Quinta invites you to the 9/11 Memorial Event, an evening of reflection and remembrance that will take place on September 11th at 7:00 p.m. in the serene setting of Civic Center Park. This event will be a powerful opportunity for our community to stand as one, to show our unwavering support for the families affected, and to express our deepest gratitude to the first responders who put their lives on the line every day.
Join us as we light candles of hope and unity, as we honor the memories of those who were lost, and as we renew our commitment to fostering a future defined by empathy, compassion, and togetherness. This event will include speeches from community leaders, first responders, and survivors, all sharing their stories and reflections.
Wishing you all a September filled with fruitful endeavors and meaningful partnerships.
September 11 Candlelight Vigil
At the north side of the Civic Center park near the La Quinta Library rests a 9/11 memorial which incorporates a piece of steal from Ground Zero -- the vision of Andrew Davis, a La Quinta resident who started an Eagle Scout project when he was 15 that led to this memorial coming to fruition.
On September 11th, the City of La Quinta will hold its annual 9/11 Candlelight Vigil at 7 p.m. The City’s first candlelight vigil took place at the monument on September 11, 2013 – making this year the 10th anniversary of the event.
With the City’s help, Davis obtained the steel I-beam from the Port Authority in New York to build a 9/11 monument in La Quinta. Join this special evening which marks the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to remember and honor those who were lost.
More info: LaQuintaCA.gov
It will be a long process for the Coachella Valley to recover from Tropical Storm Hilary, and the City of La Quinta is working hard daily to help the community bounce back following this unprecedented weather event.
In preparation for the storm event, the City provided sand and sandbags to the public at several fill sites throughout La Quinta. City crews worked through the night to close unsafe and flooded roadways. Crews continue to assess the damage from the storm – removing downed trees from roadways, parks, parkways, and medians. The park cleanup will continue for several weeks.
City staff is assessing the retention basins and drainage facilities throughout La Quinta. Repairs, improvements, and reinforcement of these facilities will continue, and roadway repairs, including repair of several sinkholes, will also continue for the coming months.
In addition, future enhanced drainage improvements will be identified and constructed over the next several years.
More info: LaQuintaCA.gov/stormsafety
For this month’s Concerts in the Park series at SilverRock Park, don’t miss the Hometown Showcase line-ups of local bands on Saturday, September 30, from 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Bring your chairs or blankets for a fun event featuring free musical performances! From 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., The High Road Band will take the stage playing rock ‘n’ roll, blues and a little bit of country. The seven members of the La Quinta-based band play the classics in their own charismatic style.
An intermission will begin at 7:30 p.m., then The Desert Crows will perform from 8-9 p.m. The Desert Crows embody the defining spirit of rock ‘n’ roll for a culture that thirsts for the classics. The four-piece ensemble has a special brand of high-energy rock, dance, funk, and rhythm and blues.
Food truck vendors will be on site, but feel free to bring your own food and nonalcoholic beverages.
More info: PlayInLaQuinta.com
By Sherry Barkas, City of La Quinta
La Quinta native James Perez left the valley after high school to fulfill a dream of serving his country in the U.S. Army. He served multiple combat deployments. He was 28 when he died in a training incident in 2017.
Hunter Lopez grew up in the Coachella Valley and joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from La Quinta High School. He was 22 and near the end of his enlistment when he was killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2021.
To honor their families and to ensure Perez and Lopez are never forgotten, a new Gold Star Family Monument was dedicated by the City on August 26 at Civic Center park, with members of both families present.
Perez was the son of Debbie Schnell Alvarez Garcia and Luis Perez. Garcia said he had long wanted to serve his country and follow in the footsteps of his older brother, who was a Green Beret and had served in Iraq, and his grandfather James Schnell, who served with the 101st Airborne Division during World War II and was among those who jumped on D-Day over Normandy. James Perez was named after his grandfather.
“He said, ‘Mom, I just want you to be proud of me.’ I hope he knows how proud of him we are,” Garcia recalled.
Not a day goes by that Garcia and the rest of Perez’s family and friends – many of them he knew since kindergarten – don’t miss and think of him.
“Nothing came easy to James. Anything he wanted, he had to work really, really hard for it and he just wouldn’t give up,” she said.
She described her son as a man who made a lasting impression on people and could make everyone he met feel they were special. “He made me feel like the most special mom in the world,” she said.
Saint Francis of Assisi in La Quinta was packed with people whose lives he touched attending his funeral, Garcia said, including the two nurses who treated him when he was wounded in the IED explosion.
That turnout and support for her son comforted her, seeing how much he was loved and respected.
Perez was killed August 5, 2017, in Texas, while serving as a U.S. Army Ranger weapons squad leader with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment out of Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), Georgia.
Perez completed six combat missions and among the medals and recognitions he earned while serving was the Army Commendation Medal. He also received a Purple Heart when he was wounded by an IED explosion in Afghanistan.
After recovering, he voluntarily returned to combat duty, and was still in a wheelchair when he reenlisted for a third tour of duty, Garcia said.
Garcia is grateful to the City of La Quinta for the Gold Star Family monument, saying it will help people to remember her son and others who died while serving their country.
“He loved La Quinta,” Garcia said.
A Caring Young Man from an Early Age
Lopez was the son of Herman and Alicia Lopez. He was among 13 American service members killed in a suicide bombing outside the main gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul while helping to evacuate people and troops from the country ahead of a U.S. military withdrawal on August 26, 2021.
He was among the Marines who saved two girls from being crushed in the crowd at the airport during the bombing.
Lopez, the son of Herman and Alicia Lopez, both sworn officers with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, grew up in Indio and graduated from La Quinta High.
He served as a Riverside Sheriff’s Explorer Scout from 2014 to 2017 and planned to join the department after his enlistment. Lopez was serving as a rifleman with the 1st Platoon, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment when he was killed.
He was a “fun-loving, professional young man,” Alicia Lopez said. “Hunter had the ability to adapt to whatever situation he found himself in and was able to make conversation with a variety of people.”
Her son had many of the same interests as young men his age have in movies and music but “had an
old soul” – even as a young boy Hunter was very mature, Alicia Lopez said.
“Hunter preferred to have a few close friends that he spent time with. To these friends Hunter was loyal and would do anything for them,” she said.
To continue his mission of helping the community and fellow service members and to ensure his name lived on, the family started the Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation soon after his death. Funds assist other military members.
In partnership with the Desert Sands Unified School District, they also formed the Hunter Lopez Memorial Scholarship Fund to assist La Quinta High students pursuing careers in public service.
Hunter Lopez always valued being around his family and having extended family visits. Later, while on leave, Alicia Lopez said he would bring family members together with lifelong and new military friends. He has been described as a “Marine’s Marine.”
“After his passing we met several Marines who told us how Hunter gave up some of his leave time and personal time to help them with things such as getting their finances in order, developing a workout and nutrition plan, and getting their first driver’s license. All this done on his own time, at times delaying or completely missing out on his leave time at home,” Alicia Lopez said.
He knew at a young age that he wanted to serve his community. He looked out for elderly neighbors and stray dogs, and volunteered hundreds of hours through La Quinta High School’s Public Service Academy and as an Explorer for the sheriff’s department.
It was around his freshman year in high school, that he began expressing an interest in the Marine Corps.
“As parents we tried to convince Hunter to consider a branch of service that didn’t have a reputation as being the toughest and (most) challenging, but Hunter would not have it,” Alicia Lopez said. “He wanted to test himself with the branch known for its warrior ethos and camaraderie, and from what we saw as parents and have been told by his fellow Marines and leadership, Hunter lived up to everything that is good about the United States Marine Corps,” she said.
Hunter Lopez served his country with pride and with every ounce of dedication, and with equal dedication protected and looked out for the wellbeing of his fellow Marines, she said.
The Lopezes said they are grateful to all for the continued prayers and support of the Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation and scholarship.
“Once you are faced with something like this your life is never the same, no matter what,” Alicia Lopez said.
Gold Star families are the families of military members that have died in the line of duty.
The Gold Star symbol was started during World War I as a way to honor the service member’s sacrifice while acknowledging the family’s loss, grief and continued healing.
The La Quinta Gold Star Family monument calls attention to the devastation felt by the families, who are never the same after suffering the loss of a loved one while serving their country, Alicia Lopez said.
“We believe it’s important for the country to know the sacrifice of Gold Star families and monuments such as this one are reminders that without this loss and enduring pain our country would not be the country it is today,” she said.
Neighborhood Watch Meeting
Thursday, September 21, 6 p.m.
Pavement Project Updates:
We’ve made it through another summer in the desert when things slow down and the weather heats up.
The City of La Quinta starts getting busy again in September, beginning with the annual 9/11 Candlelight Vigil.
It is the 10th year of our vigil, held in front of a memorial that incorporates a piece of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center towers in New York – Ground Zero for the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed that day when airplanes hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists were flown into the World Trade Center towers and The Pentagon. A third hijacked airplane was headed toward a federal building in Washington, D.C., when passengers realized what was happening. They rushed the front of the plane, causing hijackers to lose control and crash into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. There were no survivors. For his Eagle Scout project and with the City’s help, Andrew Davis obtained the steel I-beam from the Port Authority in New York to build a 9/11 monument in La Quinta. He started his project in 2011. Davis was 15 years old and a La Quinta resident at the time. Over three years, he raised $12,000 of the $46,750 needed for the project, and the City Council approved the use of $35,750 from Art in Public Places funds to help bring it to fruition.
The shipping costs for getting the I-beam to La Quinta from New York were covered by Robert Radi long before he served on the City Council.
The City held its first candlelight vigil at the monument on September 11, 2013. Please join us this year when we mark the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and remember the victims of that day. Our ceremony begins at 7 p.m. at the monument, located near the library at Civic Center park.
Location: City Hall, Study Session room
Come meet your neighbors and find out what is happening in your community by attending the Neighborhood Watch meeting with presentations from the Sheriff’s Department and City staff. This month’s topics will be Traffic Safety and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) for residential neighborhoods and businesses. The presentations will be done by the La Quinta Sheriff’s Department. For more information about Neighborhood Watch, contact Sally Shelton at sally_shelton@aol.com.
State of the City
Thursday, September 28, 5-8 p.m.
Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton La Quinta Hotel & Spa
Join Mayor Linda Evans and the City Council as they deliver the State of the City at a dinner event organized by the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. The La Quinta State of the City, Business Awards and Expo will begin with registration at 5 p.m., followed by a business expo until 6 p.m. when the State of the City presentation and dinner will commence. Tickets start at $99 and should be purchased in advance as this event tends to sell out. For tickets and more information, call (760) 347-0676 or visit GCVCC.org.
Concerts in the Park
Saturday, September 30, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Location: SilverRock Park
Lineup for the Hometown Showcase of local bands:
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - The High Road Band
7:30 - 8 p.m. - Intermission / Changeover
8 - 9 p.m. - The Desert Crows
Bring your chairs or blankets and join the City of La Quinta for the return of Concerts in the Park. This is a fun event that promises an unforgettable musical performance for free. Food truck vendors will be on site, but feel free to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Avenue 50 and Avenue 52: The Council awarded a contract with Granite Construction for $2.47 million for these pavement rehabilitation projects, which will occur at various locations through October. Work will include both demolition and replacement of existing pavement, and in less extensive areas, it will include grinding existing street surface and applying a new layer of asphalt.
Fred Waring Drive: The Fred Waring Drive rehabilitation project entails demolition and repaving of Fred Waring Drive between Washington and Adams streets. The project also includes the northbound portion of Washington Street between Avenue 48 and Lake La Quinta. Construction has begun and is expected to be completed in the fall. The estimated project cost is $2.46 million.
Citywide Slurry Seal Project: Construction is underway on a citywide slurry seal project that is part of the fiveyear Pavement Management Program. Work areas include a portion of the Cove, Desert Pride neighborhood, Desert Club Drive, Seasons neighborhood, and Dune Palms Road south of Highway 111. The estimated cost is $1.04 million. Find more information and updates at LaQuintaCA.gov/roads.
Other Capital Improvement Program Projects:
Fritz Burns Park: Master planning efforts are wrapping up for the 6-acre Fritz Burns Park improvements project. The proposed improvements for the master plan were to be presented to the City Council in August but were delayed to September 19.
Landscape Renovation: Construction is expected to begin in October for the final phase of the La Quinta landscape renovation project refreshing the perimeter landscape in the Cactus Flower development with a desert oasis plant palette featuring various drought tolerant plants, boulders, multicolored crushed rock and drought friendly irrigation system.
Construction on the all-weather bridge at Dune Palms Road, over the stormwater channel, continues with expected completion in early 2025. Construction crews are working on the east side of the bridge. A bypass road has been constructed with one lane available in each direction. Barriers separate a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist lane from vehicles. Check LaQuintaCA.gov/dunepalms for project updates and to register to receive updates by email or text.
CV Link is a planned 40-mile, multi-modal pathway for cycling, walking, jogging and low-speed electric vehicles such as golf carts that will run through much of the Coachella Valley. La Quinta’s portion of CV Link is about 2 miles and runs along the south side of the Coachella Valley stormwater channel (also known as the Whitewater River) from Washington Street to Jefferson Street. This includes a signature promontory access point and bridge over the La Quinta stormwater channel, linking the City with Indio’s portion of CV Link.
The main CV Link pathway through La Quinta is under construction, and work has started on various connectors, including at Washington Street. The lights and the decomposed granite for walkers and joggers also need to be installed.
The work in La Quinta is part of a larger construction schedule that stretches from Palm Springs to Coachella, except Indian Wells and Rancho Mirage which opted out. The project is led by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG). The cities are at various stages of completion and CVAG is working to get additional miles under construction.
Because Promontory Point is also used as a construction staging area, it will likely be one of the last areas finished. When completed, it will not only provide a vital connection to CV Link, but it will provide a connection to the newly-funded Arts and Music Line, which will come down the channel to Avenue 48 and connect La Quinta to the cities of Indio and Coachella. For more about CV Link, visit CVAG.org or LaQuintaCA.gov/ residents/cv-link.
HICAP One-on-One Consultations
Monday, September 11, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
HICAP counselors will meet with you one-on-one to help you understand your Medicare health insurance benefits and options (prescription drug comparisons, information on low-cost medical insurance, advocate medical bill concerns.) Please call HICAP at (800) 434-0222 or (909) 256-8369 to make an appointment. Meet at the Wellness Center for your established appointment time.
Look Who’s in the Lobby
Bilhartz Desert Insurance – information table
Wednesday, September 20, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Riverside County Department of Social Services –Information table
Tuesday, September 12, 9 - 11 a.m.
Cool Center
The Riverside County Community Action Partnership program and the La Quinta Wellness Center have partnered as a Cool Center Monday through Friday, through October 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide drop-in sites for vulnerable individuals, seniors, the disabled, and others in need of temporary relief from the heat.
As part of a partnership between Desert Recreation District, the Boys and Girls Club and the City of La Quinta, this program teaches youth the fundamentals of a variety of sports including: pickleball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and more. Not only will they learn, practice, and strengthen their skills, but they will also have a blast being active with others their age.
Location: La Quinta Boys and Girls Club
Enrollment: September, October, November Wednesday at 6:15 - 7:30 p.m. / Ages: 7-12 years
For more information, call (760) 564-9921.
La Quinta Public Library is located at 78-275 Calle Tampico. Enjoy FREE programs for all ages! Questions? Call 760-564-4767
Please Note: The La Quinta Library will be closed for Labor Day, Monday, September 4.
DIY Tech Support | Ages 18+
Friday, September 1 & 8 @ 10:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. | In-person
NOW ON FRIDAY! Register for a halfhour appointment with Reference Staff and get assistance with basic tech needs such as figuring out how to navigate through a mobile phone, setting up an eBook app on your device, signing up for an email account, etc. Call or stop by to register. *Registration required
Anime Zone | Ages 10-17 (Tweens & Teens)
Saturday, September 2 @ 11:30 a.m. In-person
Enjoy random anime with friends. Commentary encouraged!
Baby Storytime | Ages 0-2 years
Wednesdays, September 6, 13, 20 & 27 @ 10:15 a.m. | In-person
Baby Storytime is back! Baby Storytime focuses on caregiver and baby interaction with activities to promote communication and fine motor skills through song, books, movement and playtime. Sponsored by Friends of the La Quinta Library.
A.B.C. Storytime | Ages 2-4 years
Wednesdays, September 6, 13, 20 & 27 @ 11:15 a.m. | In-person
Acoustics, Books and Children storytime for ages up to 4 years old promotes early literacy and movement through books, songs, rhymes and music. Sponsored by Friends of the La Quinta Library.
Altered Book Club | Teens & Adults
Wednesday, September 6 & 20 @ 4 p.m.
In-person
Join us for a creative, mixed media art exploration using different techniques and materials to transform old, hardcover books headed to the shredder into works of art. Sponsored by Friends of the La Quinta Library. *Registration required
Chess Club | All Ages
Thursday, September 7, 14, 21 & 28 @ 4 p.m. | In-person Players of all levels welcome! Hosted by the Coachella Chess Club.
Sensory Hour | Ages 0-12 years
1st and 3rd Monday, September 18 (1st Monday is Labor Day, no Sensory Hour) @ 10:15 a.m. | In-person
2nd and 4th Friday, September 8 & 22 @ 3 p.m.
Sensory activities will promote the development of motor skills as well as socialization among peers. Sponsored by Friends of the La Quinta Library.
Read the States | Ages 13-17
Saturday, September 9 @ 11:30 a.m. In-person or Zoom
Visit a darkly possible future centered in Utah in “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins.
Writer’s Block | Ages 18+
Sunday, September 10 @ 1p.m.
In-person
Meet monthly with other local writers to explore the various aspects of creative writing. Participants will be able to share and critique their work with the group.
Love Story Book Club | Ages 18+
Sunday, September 10 @ 2:15 p.m.
In-person
Happily Ever-Afters not guaranteed in this traditional book club featuring romantic titles. September’s pick: “The Chosen and the Beautiful” by Nghi Vo. See the Adult Reference Desk to register and to ask about available copies.
*Registration required
Graphic Bites | Ages 13-17
Monday, September 11 @ 5:30 p.m.
In-person
NEW DAY! Now on the 2nd Monday of the month. Sample three comics or manga then share what’s interesting, what’s meh, and what’s irredeemable.
The Pagemasters’ Book Club | Ages 18+
Thursday, September 14 @ 5:30 p.m.
In-person or Zoom
A traditional book club for SciFi and Fantasy titles. In September, “Aurora” by David Koepp will be discussed. See the Reference Desk to register, copies are limited.
Anti-Bored Games | Ages 8-17 (Tweens & Teens)
Saturday, September 16 @ 11:30 a.m.
In-person
Challenge friends old and new to a selection of board games or take a turn on Nintendo Switch. (Game will be chosen day of).
Page Turners Book Club | Ages 18+
Thursday, September 21 @ 10:30 a.m.
In-person or Zoom
In September, we’ll discuss “The Plot” by Jean Hanff Korelitz. See the Adult Reference Desk to register. Copies are limited.
Judging Books Book Club | Ages 13-17
Saturday, September 23 @ 11:30 a.m.
In-person
Teens, pick your book based on a single sentence description. Will it live up to your expectations?
It’s a Library Birthday! | All ages
Saturday, September 23 @ 12:00 p.m.
In-person
Register your September birthday and let the library throw the birthday party! This once-a-month library birthday party will include games, crafts and stories geared to create a safe, fun, all-inclusive birthday experience. Members of the community are encouraged to come and celebrate September birthdays. Sponsored by Friends of the La Quinta Library. *Registration required
Impulse Affirmation | Ages 13-17
Monday, September 25 @ 5:30 p.m.
In-person
NEW DAY! Now on the 4th Monday of the month. Reader’s choice. Discuss in person or online at bit.ly/ LAQTeensDiscord.
Book Bundles - Personalized Recommendations
Not sure what to read next? Let your La Quinta librarians help! Fill out the form, tell us about your reading preferences, and we’ll pick a handful of books for you. Visit https://bit.ly/lqbookbundle to fill out the form and for more information.
Book Club To-Go | For Kids, Teens, and Adults
Book Club To-Go consists of ready-made book club kits, including 8-10 copies of a book, one set of discussion questions, one sign-out sheet and a bag. Each kit can be checked out for six weeks and all items must be returned at the same time.
Maker Craft: LABOR DAY Rock Art
Assembly line | All Ages
Saturday, September 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In-person
FREE (while supplies last)
In honor of Labor Day, join the Creation Station for a special rock art craft. For this craft you’ll work in small groups, adding a small design and then passing to the next person in the assembly line making a unique and group designed work of art.
Maker Craft: Sundial & Clock Reading All Ages
Thursday, September 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In-person
FREE (while supplies last)
Learn how to build a sundial along with how to tell time with this device. Mini lessons on how to read traditional clocks will also be offered.
Fiber Arts Bootcamp (FAB): Macramé Wall Hanger | All Ages
Sunday, September 24 from 1 to 3 p.m.
In-Person
FREE (while supplies last)
This month, members of FAB will learn how to make a simple macramé wall hanger inspired by the 1970s popular craft.
Interested in supporting and making a change in your community? Friends of the La Quinta Library is recruiting new board members. As a member of the library board, you get to make a difference in your community by ensuring that everyone has free access to information, resources, educational opportunities and programs. Call the Reference Desk for more information (760) 564-4767.
La Quinta, CA 92253 (760) 777-7170
The La Quinta Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm. Admission and programs are FREE
Scorpions!
The word “scorpion” often evokes fear. Although scorpions are abundant around the world, and encounters with humans are common, most people know very little about these remarkable creatures. This exhibit presents information about scorpions – their evolution, anatomy, family life, diet, and the truth about their venomous reputation – in addition to addressing scorpions in history and popular culture. Curated by Hi-Desert Nature Museum biologist, Stefanie Ritter.
La Quinta Legends: Frank Capra
Legendary director Frank Capra’s films made the American dream come alive on the silver screen during the 1930s and ’40s – and La Quinta may have played a part in his success! This exhibit shines the spotlight on the life of one of the city’s most celebrated residents.
As programs are subject to change, please find the latest information on these FREE programs at Facebook.com/ LaQuintaMuseum/events.
Friday, September 1 & 15, 1-3 p.m. Sketchbook Journaling
Get in touch with your inner artist with sketchbook journaling. Basic supplies provided.
Saturday, September 9, 1-3 p.m. Genealogy Meet-Up
Are you interested in your family tree? Are you a beginner or an expert in all things Genealogy? Come join this discussion and collaboration.
Tuesday, September 12 & 26, 1-3 p.m. STITCH Fiber Arts Group
Bring your fiber project to work on while you meet with friends old and new, share what you’ve been working on, and get inspired for your next project.
Wednesday, September 13, 1 p.m. TED Talk Hangout
Enjoy a TED talk on the big screen, and discuss. This month, watch “The Story of Marvel’s First Queer Latina Superhero” by Gabby Rivera.
Tuesday, September 19, 11a.m. Take a Break with Huell
Come see an episode of Huell Howser’s California’s Gold on the big screen. This month, Huell takes viewers to Fort Ross State Historic Park, and sails on the state’s official tall ship.
Good Books in the Gallery / La Sobremesa Cultural
Author Talk: It’s All in the Frijoles
Join this presentation of “It’s All in the Frijoles” by local author, Yolanda Nava. A limited number of free copies are available for book club participants – call (760) 777-7170 to request one.
¡Acompáñanos el día Viernes 29 de septiembre a las 2 p.m. a la presentación de libro «It›s All in the Frijoles» de la autora local, Yolanda Nava.
Saturday September 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. S.C.R.A.P. on Saturday!
The S.C.R.A.P Gallery is coming to the Museum! Bring the whole family and make your own masterpiece with upcycled materials.
Sketchbook Journaling, a “no-rules playful approach to creativity” meets the first and third Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m. Basic supplies are provided.
Genealogy Meet-Up meets the second Saturday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. and is open to anyone interested in knowing more about their family tree – whether a beginner or expert in genealogy.
TED Talk Hangout offers a different topic every second Wednesday at 1 p.m., followed by discussion of the presentation. A TED (technology, entertainment and design) Talk is a recorded public-speaking presentation that was originally given at the main TED annual event or one of its many satellite events around the world.
Walk into the Community Room of the La Quinta Museum on the second or fourth Tuesday of the month, and you will find a group of people whose hands are busy knitting, crocheting, doing needlepoint, or other stitch work while they chat with old and new friends.
“We come from all over the world … and learn from each other,” said Gilda Taigman, a La Quinta resident who was crocheting a shawl on a recent Tuesday afternoon.
“I love to learn,” said Taigman, who has been participating in the program since it started about eight years ago, when it was her and two others – former museum director Robin Stewart and the late Andrea Dooley, a longtime museum employee.
“A couple of us are interested in beading, so we’re going to start beading soon with the help of another group member who knows the art,” Taigman said. Another member of the group taught her how to do leather work.
STITCH Fiber Arts Club is one of several programs offered at the museum, all free and all offering opportunities to socialize and share thoughts and skills.
During season, more than 20 people sit around the tables in the Community Room stitching and chatting, museum Director Sharla Fox said. That dwindles to a handful of full-time residents of La Quinta and neighboring cities during summer.
The participants’ experience with stitching varies. Anyone just starting out is welcome to bring their materials to work with and “they will find great advice and inspiration from a friendly, talented group,” Fox said.
Judy Chamberlain, who started coming to La Quinta in the 1960s and has lived here full-time since 1984, was making a crazy quilt that will be the background for a shadow box she is creating for her niece.
“I love to do art,” Chamberlain said, adding she doesn’t sell what she creates. “I think of different projects each year to work on as gifts for family and friends.”
Across the room, Sandy Rosenberg was doing needlepoint with friends Carmen Rawe and Sandy Holzer. Rosenberg said he has been doing needlepoint for about 30 years.
“I had a motel in Rancho Mirage and a gentleman sitting by the pool was doing it and I thought, ‘I need another project’ … and he took me to get what I needed,” Rosenberg said.
He, Rawe and Holzer have been participating in STITCH for four or five years.
STITCH Fiber Arts Club meets every month on the second and fourth Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Take a Break with Huell: View an episode of “Huell Howser’s California Gold” on the big screen the third Tuesday of every month at 11 a.m. For more than 20 years, the late Howser’s signature series on KCET focused on California’s history, cultural diversity, natural wonders and people.
Good Books in the Gallery meets the last Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. A limited number of books to be discussed is available for free at the museum.
La Sobremesa Cultural, a cultural program in Spanish, is held the last Friday at 3 p.m. with a different theme each month. La Sobremesa un programa en español para el disfrute cultural, cada último viernes de mes, a las 3 p.m. Music at the Museum features a different musician or group performing in the courtyard the first Thursday of the month during season, from 5 to 6 p.m. A variety of family and youth oriented programs are also held throughout the month, including S.C.R.A.P. Gallery events on occasional Saturdays. Check the calendar in The Gem and the museum’s Facebook page for upcoming events.
The La Quinta Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 77885 Avenida Montezuma. Admission is always free. To Find more about the museum, its exhibits, programs and events at PlayInLaQuinta. com, in The Gem or on Facebook, or call (760) 777-7170.
There are a number of restaurants in and near La Quinta that offer extraordinary menu options, patio dining, chic surroundings and live music. You don’t need to travel far to discover memorable meals at exceptional eateries. Explore them all!
This year’s La Quinta State of the City, Business Awards and Expo, presented by the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC) in partnership with the City of La Quinta, will be held at the Embassy Suites La Quinta Hotel & Spa on Thursday, September 28.
Registration for this highly-anticipated event opens at 5:00 p.m., followed by an engaging business expo through 6:00 p.m. when the State of the City presentation and dinner will commence. The Embassy Suites La Quinta Hotel & Spa is located at 50777 Santa Rosa Plaza in La Quinta.
The annual gathering serves as a comprehensive overview of the City’s previous year’s activities, highlights future developments, and outlines significant plans relevant to the local business community.
Evening speakers include Mayor Linda Evans and members of the La Quinta City Council. This event honors outstanding achievements and notable contributions to the community made by local business professionals including the distinguished La Quinta Business of the Year award. Those wishing to attend the 2023 State of the City, Business Awards and Expo should get their tickets now, as this event tends to reach full capacity every year.
“Our State of the City event is an annual celebration and thank you to our residents and businesses. We share our City’s accomplishments and economic milestones, and provide a glimpse of our plans for the coming years,” said La Quinta Mayor, Linda Evans. “The evening includes networking, food, music, videos and fun – La Quinta style. We also partner with the Chamber to recognize select local businesses and resident entrepreneurs for their significant contributions to our Gem of the Desert. We look forward to seeing you there!”
Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Brandon Marley, shares that this is place to be for businesses and residents to get an indepth look at the work that has been done and what’s to come throughout the community. “It’s great to work alongside a City that not only supports its business community, but that creates opportunities to honor and show appreciation for its businesses, as well,” added Marley.
Attendees are strongly encouraged to secure tickets in advance. For further details, contact the Chamber at (760) 347-0676 or visit GCVCC.org.
Manitu Mental Muscle, a workshop being introduced at the Wellness Center this fall by Manitu Studio, is described by founder and teacher, Lynn Rosen-Bright, as an exercise in unlocking tension and anxiety through simple movement.
For Rosen-Bright and those she has worked with for over twenty years, the practice of mental muscle has been a path to coping and thriving in a life that is constantly changing and presenting new challenges. As explained by RosenBright, this method of release is one of those “life things” that stirred a need for her to develop what she now shares with others.
That first life experience happened at the age of sixteen when, in the span of a few hours, Rosen-Bright’s knees and ankles swelled to three times their size and her jaw would not move. She soon learned that her diagnosis was Rheumatoid Arthritis, possibly a specific and particularly virulent form unique to children. It was the beginning of a journey that would lead her to a myriad of diagnoses, including Fibromyalgia, Interstitial Cystitis, and more recently, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
There has been a lengthy list of procedures, medications, natural cures, and behavior modifications meant to work the wonders of the Tin Man’s Oil can, but as many who suffer with pain will attest, there isn’t always one magic remedy. Everyone experiences physical and mental pain differently.
Now in her sixties, Rosen-Bright found two avenues of relief. The first was acting. The Stanislavski method of relaxation for actors is one that not only helped her identify where pain and tension was locked up in her body, but how to effectively release that pain, freeing her physically and mentally to live a better life – not only on stage but also in her own life. She also attended sessions at the Gladman Center in Berkley where she learned to visualize and release both emotional and physical pain, confirming just how tightly the two are connected.
“These exercises show us just how much trauma we hold tight inside of our muscles which causes or exacerbates physical
as well as emotional pain,” Rosen-Bright explained. “Manitu Mental Muscle is a process that combines the techniques used by actors and the visualization used in pain management; both avenues that allow a person to work from the inside out to heal in a way that improves their ability to function physically, but also mentally and emotionally.”
A mental muscle workshop involves an easy in-chair hour of physical and emotional exploration through guided visualization paired with gentle movement. There is a process of selfdiscovery to identify and ease sources of tension or sadness felt in the form of discomfort, pain, or a sense of feeling emotionally or mentally stuck. Like any therapeutic activity, Mental muscle is an ongoing practice that progresses differently for each person based on their own experience.
The Manitu Mental Muscle workshop led by Rosen-Bright is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning in October from 3-4 p.m. at the Wellness Center, located at 78-450 Avenida La Fonda in La Quinta. For more information, call the Wellness Center at (760) 564-0096.
Riverside County Child Support provides services to parents and guardians of minor children. Every child needs financial and emotional support. Every child has the right to support from both parents. Our services are available regardless of marital status or income.
• Obtain a new child support/medical support order if you don’t have one from the court.
• Keeping case records
• Processing and tracking child support payments
• Enforce spousal support orders (if part of existing child support order)
If you already have a child support court order and need help enforcing that order, we can help!
• Establish parentage
• Locate absent parents
• Other county and community resources referrals available
• Convenient 24/7 access to your case/account information via Customer Connect
To apply, scan the QR code or visit us online.
We are excited to present to you some new and familiar GCVCC networking and educational events this year at no additional cost to our members. We strive to bring value to our membership in a wide variety of ways. Check out some great opportunities below and be sure we keep an eye on our events page as we fill up throughout the year. Make sure to take full advantage of your chamber membership by participating in these great membership opportunities.
We're taking our evening mixers to a whole new level this year. Many of our mixers are being designed and coordinated with our great local boards along with GCVCC staff to bring new and better networking opportunities than ever before. Members can also enjoy other experience based mixers throughout the year as well.
Our GCVCC educates events are educational events for businesses. These bring experts to teach you about everything from marketing, advertising, business law, sexual harassment training, financing, entrepreneurship and so much more.
Interested in knowing the benefits of membership in the GCVCC? Chamber 101, our membership orientation program is for you! This is open to prospective, new, and current members. Whether you’re considering joining or you’re a seasoned member who wants a refresher, stop by to learn how membership in the Chamber can benefit and support your business. You can also hear more about resources and services available, and network with other businesses.
Our NEW open house events allow members to network, mix and mingle while visiting multiple businesses. These events are held at business complexes, shopping centers and more. You start at location one, pickup your passport and head off to visit some other great businesses all at one great spot. Once you get your passport filled out, head back to our designated spot to be entered for great raffle prizes.
Lunch Club allows members to experience new culinary delights from across the valley while networking with dozens of fellow chamber members during their lunch hour. Each attendee is encouraged to bring their business card and 30 second elevator pitch with them.
Morning mixers, like our evening mixers, give members an opportunity to mix and mingle over coffee and breakfast. Meet new members, enjoy small expos and so much more. Be sure to bring your elevator speeches!
Our ribbon cuttings are not only a great way to celebrate great local businesses, but also network and meet community leaders.
Business walks are a great way to meet new people and new businesses. It not only gives members an opportunity to work with and get to know our GCVCC team, but spread the word about their own business as well.
You can leave the world better than you found it by supporting the community you want to create. When you leave a gift to DAP Health in your will or trust, or by beneficiary designation, you can provide comprehensive health care to our most vulnerable community members in the Coachella Valley. We believe all people deserve compassionate health care, regardless of their ability to pay.
Contact James Lindquist at JLindquist@daphealth.org for more information or questions or visit plannedgiving.daphealth.org.
