Desert Hot Springs Local News Sept. 21 2009 Issue

DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 21, 2009 ©

DHS 108“Wow!”

Senior Center Ribbon Cutting

FAHRENHEIT HOT...

Desert Hot Springs

Californiaunemployment 12.2%

Camper Van Beethoven Campout 2009

0

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22 Desert Local News • September 21, 2009

Max Liebermann CEO/Publisher

[email protected]

Frank Cera President

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VP-Marketing/Community Alex Bias

760-464-4470

NEWS ROOMEditor/Senior writer

Leslie Andrews760-835-1542

STAFF WRITERSVicki Lawson

Harriet BrindleDr. Lisa Robyn Lawrence

Dr. Allen LawrencePat Krause

EditorialsJust the Fact’s MaxHank Hohenstein

Matt Weyuker

PHOTOGRAPHERSBruce Montgomery

Cathy JardinePat Krause

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**DLN Opinions expressed in this publication are those of

the relevant contributors.

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Desert Local News65911 7th StreetDHS, CA. 92240

SACRAMENTO – California’s unemployment rate was

12.2 percent in August, and nonfarm payroll jobs declined by 12,300 during the month,

according to data released Friday by the California Employment Development

Department (EDD) from two separate surveys.

The U.S. unemployment rate also increased in August, rising to 9.7 percent.

In July, the state’s unemployment rate was 11.9 percent, and in August 2008, the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a

federal survey of 5,500 California households.

Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 14,234,100 in August, a decrease of 12,300

over the month, according to a survey of businesses that is larger and less

variable statistically. The survey of 42,000 California businesses measures jobs in the economy. The year-over-year change (August 2008 to August 2009) shows a decrease of 741,500 jobs (down 5.0 percent).

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN CALIFORNIA

The federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of

employers, shows a decrease in the number of employed people. It estimates the

number of Californians holding jobs in August was 16,143,000, a decrease of

116,000 from July, and down 895,000 from the employment total in August of last

year.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,248,000 – up by 49,000

over the month, and up by 851,000 compared with August of last year.

PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT DETAIL (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)

EDD’s report on payroll employment (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 14,234,100 in August, a net loss of 12,300 jobs since the July survey.

California unemployemt rate

20%BY STAFF

12.2%Desert Hot Springs

Locally, Riverside County’s unemployment rate ranks at 15%. However, Imperial County remains the highest in the state, with an unemployment rate of 28.7%. Amongst Coachella Valley cities, Mecca, Coachella and Desert Hot Springs have the three highest unemployment rates.

3Desert Local News • September 21, 2009 3

This followed a loss of 38,900 jobs (as revised) in July.

Three categories (information; educational and health services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 11,400 jobs. Educational and health services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 6,000 jobs. Eight categories (natural resources and mining; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services) reported job declines this month, down 23,700 jobs.

Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest decline over the month, down by 7,100 jobs.

In a year-over-year comparison (August 2008 to August 2009), nonfarm payrollemployment in California decreased by 741,500 jobs (down 5.0 percent).One industry division, educational and health services, posted job gains over the year, adding 14,200 jobs (a 0.8 percent increase).

Ten categories (natural resources and mining; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) posted job declines over the year, down 755,700 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities employment showed the largest decline on a numerical basis, down by 190,700 jobs (a decline of 6.7 percent). Construction posted the largest decline on a percentage basis, down by 18.5 percent (a decrease of 142,000 jobs).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)

In related data, the EDD reported that there were 790,099 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the August survey week. This compares with 812,165 last month and 504,667 last year. At the same time, new claims for unemployment insurance were 69,488 in August 2009, compared with 80,048 in July and 51,731 in August of last year.

Locally, Riverside County’s unemployment rate ranks at 15%. However, Imperial County remains the highest in the state, with an unemployment rate of 28.7%. Amongst Coachella Valley cities, Mecca, Coachella and Desert Hot Springs have the three highest unemployment rates. Indian Wells, La Quinta and Bermuda Dunes have the lowest rates, under 8%.

Bermuda Dunes: 6.7 percentCathedral City: 14.7 percentCoachella: 23.2 percentDesert Hot Springs: 19.8 percentIndian Wells: 5.4 percentIndio: 16.2 percentLa Quinta: 8 percentMecca: 27.6 percentPalm Desert: 9 percent

12.2%

5Desert Local News • September 21, 2009

BY STAFF- DESERT HOT SPRINGS,

CA- BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools), the Screen Actors Guild Foundation’s literacy program, is looking for actors or other performers to read aloud in Desert Hot Springs elementary schools or other schools across the Coachella Valley.

Tere Romero Britton, the Coachella Valley coordinator of the program, said volunteer readers currently are assigned to Bubbling Wells Elementary School. Other area schools have expressed an interest in the program but can’t be accommodated until additional readers are available.

The BookPALS program was founded in Los Angeles in 1993 by actress Barbara Bain who starred in the “Mission Impossible” television series. The program has expanded into 12 cities across the nation reaching 100,000 students each week.

BookPALS was launched in the Coachella Valley in March 2007 and is in 9 schools from Desert Hot Springs to Indio reading to more than 1,700 students each week in grades kindergarten to sixth. The volunteers, who are trained by Britton, read once a week to two half-hour classes.

“This is one of the most rewarding things I have ever experienced, and I see we’re making a difference. I get as much out of the experience as the students,” said Peter Fredric, a voice-over actor and former television anchor, who has read to classes at Bubbling

Wells Elementary since the program began there.

Last school year BookPALS distributed more than 3,000 books donated by students at Marywood-Palm Valley School and by Borders , both in Rancho Mirage.

James McClure, who teaches third grade at Bubbling Wells, said in an evaluation, “Your program brings a greater experience than most (of our students) will ever receive. I can’t thank you enough for the gift of books. Many of the students have nothing to read at home, and your gift is often brought up during the school year.”

“We need volunteers who are expressive and want to help instill the joy of reading among our students,” said Britton. “The rewards are enormous for the students and the readers.”

Britton was honored this year by the Palm Springs Unified School District with a Shiny Apple Award for the work she and her readers are doing in district schools, including Bubbling Wells.

Highlights of the program include “Read Across America Day” when Dr. Seuss’ birthday is celebrated. BookPAL Readers dress up as Seuss characters to read, and distribute books to the students, said Britton.

Persons wishing to volunteer can contact Britton at 760-898-4052 or at HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected]”[email protected]. Please write “BookPALS DHS” in the subject line.

Readers Needed in Desert Hot Springs

6 Desert Local News • September 21, 2009 Desert Local News • September 21, 2009

20 21DHS ELECTION 2009 • DESERT LOCAL NEWS August 31, 2009

“Public safety is the building block

of every stable community. From that

starting point, we build a city.”

Desert Hot Springs Public Safety Commissioner

Desert Hot Springs Parolee Ad Hoc Commission

31 years in Law Enforcement

Desert Hot Springs Fire & Emergency Services Ad-Hoc Committee.

Desert Hot Springs Economic Development Sub-Committee

Vice Chair Coachella Valley Coalition to stop “Green Path North”

Active member of the community

Desert Hot Springs City Councilfor

760-329-5145http://friendsofrussmartin.com

Paid for by Friends of Russ Martin • Recipient committee #1318390

RUSS MARTINElect

Paid for by the Committee to elect Russell Betts I.D.1317810

BY STAFF-Mom, sister, daughter, wife - they’re

all special women in your life and you want to get them luxury gifts this holiday season. You can do luxury without spending the big bucks on beautiful gifts. All it takes is a little creativity and a good eye for quality.

“Pearls bring elegance and beauty to any outfit and also are an affordable jewelry choice,” says Jeremy Shepherd, CEO of PearlParadise.com. “Freshwater pearls are very versatile - they come in a variety of pastel colors so you can match an outfit or skin tone perfectly, and you can look for the perfectly round classic pearls or mix and match some of the more unique and creative shapes.” PearlParadise.com offers pearls up to 80 percent off retail price, and freshwater pearl earrings to complete strands of freshwater pearls start at $22.

Another popular style of pearl is the Tahitian drop pearl - a pear-shaped pearl with no banding around the middle like circle pearls. Every woman - no matter her age or style - should have a beautiful drop Tahitian pearl necklace or earring set to enhance the elegance of her wardrobe. To learn more about Tahitian pearls and see the huge variety of settings and designs, visit PearlParadise.com. Courtesy ARA

Luxury gifts you can afford

5DESERT LOCAL NEWS • FEBRUARY 4, 2009 Desert Local News • September 21, 2009 7

All services will be held at: Mission Lakes Country Club, 8484 Clubhouse Blvd, DHS

Drive through the complex to the Club House

Rosh HaShanah Services Friday, September 18 7:00pm Rosh HaShanah Services Saturday, September 19 10:00am Kol Nidre Services Sunday, September 27 7:00pm Yom Kippur Services Monday, September 28 10:00am

Discussion groups at 1:00 Yizkor at 4:00 Nilah at 4:30

BREAKFAST served after services No charge for residents of DHS – non-residents $20

Jewish Family Service of the Desert presents these services to the Jewish Residents of Desert Hot Springs as part of a financial

allocation from Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and the Desert Area.

For more information, please call 760-325-4088

No charge for services to residents of DHS non-residents $30

HIGH HOLIDAYS DESERT HOT SPRINGS

8 CALIFORNIAS SPA CITY • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 21, 2009

Voters in Desert Hot Springs will be asked to decide a wide range of issues in the upcoming election, from the future of a citywide property tax measure to a music festival that will rival two international music events, the Coachella Fest and Stagecoach.

Election officials expect no more than 25 percent of voters to decide most of the election, some starting to vote in just a few weeks when absentee ballots go out in the mail. The absentee ballots will make up at least one-third of the overall vote total.

On the issues taking hold as the election draws near, the city property tax finds two city council

challengers, Russ Martin and Terry Scheurer, seeing the issue as important in their campaigns. Both are against an increase in the tax for homeowners.

Incumbent candidates Scott Matas and Jan Pye have yet to take a position on the issue.

In the race for mayor, current council member and candidate for mayor, Russell Betts, is also against an increase in the tax on homeowners. On his campaign website and in campaign advertising, Betts calls the current property tax “unfair” because “it places too heavy a burden on residential homeowners.

Mayor Yvonne Parks, running for re-election has not taken a strong position either way on the issue but in

February expressed concern that Betts wanted to tax vacant landowners when they

do not receive the benefit of the tax. The tax funds, in part, public safety.

When it comes to the music festival, all candidates have been quiet. A review of candidate websites shows no one candidate citing the

event as worthy of mention.

At a council meeting last month, a presentation was made to the city council by promoters of the event. In that meeting all council members expressed general agreement with the idea but none pushed to have the music festival brought to the council for a vote of approval.

If anything is going to raise interest in the music festival, the election has not so far been it.

Other issues raised are a downtown revitalization project and continuing land buys in the downtown redevelopment zone. On this issue, council candidate Robert Bentley has been the most critical of the land buys. On his website, he says the borrowing to make the purchases has put too much debt on the city.

Other candidates have stayed quiet on the issue except for Parks who said the city will now slow down on the purchases. Parks had been a strong supporter of the

downtown acquisitions, even voting against a majority of council and in favor of a $1.1 million buy of a local hardware store.

Scheurer has also been critical of the downtown purchases. On his website he points to the buy of a Jewish temple building on Pierson Boulevard as a mistake. In that purchase, the city bought the temple building for $1.4 million but found out after the buy that it was structural unsound and must be torn down.

There are just seven weeks left until Election Day, November 3, 2009. For the fate of a music festival, so far voters will have to wait to see where the candidates stand. On the property tax issue, the voters also have yet to see all candidates take a position. On the usual issues of crime prevention, graffiti and code enforcement - favorites of candidates in every election – all candidates have adopted similar positions

Council challengers, Russ Martin and Terry Scheurer, seeing the issue as important in

their campaigns. Both are against an increase in the tax for homeowners.

There are just seven weeks left until Election

Day, November 3, 2009. For the fate of a

music festival, so far voters will have to wait to

see where the candidates stand.

Just the fact’s Max

Music Festival Off The Election Radar:

DOT REED: ‘If you built it, they will com’; we agree!

With Just Seven Weeks Until Election Day. WHY?


We have a teachable moment and I will leave current affairs for a controversy that raged 150 years ago. May I introduce, Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis, MD (1818 – 1865). Never heard of him, you are not alone. I have been at COD for 20 years and have had more than 2,000 students. Each semester I devote a few minutes to talk about Semmelweis and only once have I had a student who knew him. Next time a few friends gather, ask, “What do you think of the way they treated Semmelweis?” Every mother who ever gave birth in a hospital may owe her life to him.

Years ago a friend gave me a book titled “The Golden Age of Surgery, 1850 – 1950”. I was enthralled as it recounted most of the great strides in medicine during those 100 years. Great names and greater stories: Lister, Wells, Mayo and many others. However, the one who became anchored in my mind

was Semmelweis, one of the most prominent medical figures of his time. His work carries forward virtually unchanged as something we all do on a daily basis.

Born in Hungary he headed to law school to please his father, but thankfully switched to medicine, graduating in 1844. In three years he was practicing obstetrics in a teaching university in Vienna. In those days most women delivered at home. However, those women who delivered in a hospital, even a good one, experienced a mortality rate of nearly 30% - one in three! The physicians of the day thought puerperal fever (childbirth fever) was caused by crowding, poor ventilation or the beginning of lactation. In any case they assumed it was unpreventable.

Semmelweis pondered the difference. Why did those practicing midwifery at home have a much lower infection

rate than learned professionals in a teaching hospital? At that time an obstetrical friend cut his finger while performing an autopsy. He died. Many of his symptoms were similar to women dying from puerperal fever. Semmelweis made a chilling observation: students and physicians were carrying bits and pieces of tissue (tiny) from autopsy room to delivery room.

At his hospital in 1847 Semmelweis instituted a procedure requiring all personnel to wash their hands between autopsy and delivery room. Mortality dropped rates 500%. The younger doctors and students understood, but Semmelweis’ superior was critical. He then widened the washing requirement to additional situations of patient contact. The procedure was purely prophylactic. His superior was shaken by the favorable reports and caused the Ministry of Education to reject the idea

and Semmelweis was fired. In Germany many physicians and natural scientists rejected Semmelweis’ observations causing him to become increasingly bitter and frustrated. His spirit was broken and he suffered a form of mental illness. He was confined to an asylum and died two weeks later. The unofficial story is that he was not ‘cooperative’.

Where is the teachable moment? Every day we hear constant reminders of the impending pandemic of a viral disease known as influenza, colloquially called ‘Swine Flu’. The CDC has posted a list of ten things we can do to reduce our likelihood of contracting the virus. The first FIVE are all related to washing our hands. We are instructed to wash our hands often and for 15 seconds giving us plenty of time to offer a prayer saying, Thank you Dr. Semmelweis!!!!!

The Squeeze is on #23

BY HANK HOHENSTEIN Former DHS Citycouncilman Hank Hohenstein

Marketing and Advertisement760. 671.4309 -760.464.4470

Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the

relevant contributors.©

C Desert Local News • September 21, 2009 10

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- “This is truly what the seniors deserve,” said Mayor Yvonne Parks as she kicked off the ribbon cutting of the newly renovated Senior Center in Desert Hot Springs. “This is a great opportunity for all of us, and we thank the city.”

The city spent money recently to replace the flooring, remodel the bathrooms and the kitchen in the center, plus have the walls repainted as well.

“If somebody will twist my arm, one of these days I’d love to play the piano for you folks,” said Mayor Pro Tem Karl Baker. “It’s a pleasure to see this building come back to life. It has been a relic from the past but now it appears that Martin Magana and Rudy Acosta have gone to a good effort to make this a good place for seniors.”

The tables and computers were donated to the Senior Center via the city’s Senior Alliance. This ribbon cutting event took place on Tuesday, with light refreshments provided to those who attended.

DHS Senior Center Reopens

BY STAFFGloria and Yvonne

City Manager Rick Daniels

Chief Williams & Investigator Sherman

Xerxa School Principal Mike Grier

Carrols

All photos by Bruce Montgomery

C Desert Local News • September 21, 2009 11Desert Local News • September 21, 2009

Baker, Betts, Parks, Matas and Pye

Gloria Behenna president of Senior Services Club

City clerk Pat Hammers

Seniors volunteer and councilwoman Jan Pye


Retired 80-year-olds can often have double the social interaction of their 50-year-old counterparts. This supports research that happiness increases with age because social interaction stimulates your brain to release “feel good” chemicals like norepinephrine, which leads to contentment.

Informative nuggets like this, in addition to assessments and anecdotes from people who have chosen continuing care retirement community living, are packed into the book “Old Is the New Young: Erickson’s Secrets to Healthy Living.” The book empowers people over 50 to live happier, healthier, more active lives through a series of simple tips backed by the latest research.

“Society dictates what we do for the

first 60 or so years of our lives - we go to school, we join the workforce, we raise a family - but people are living longer and healthier than ever before; and the later years are, for many people, a big question mark,” says Mark Erickson, co-author, chief operating officer, and son of John Erickson, founder of Erickson

- a network of retirement communities around the country. “There’s a real opportunity right now to help people see all the possibilities that are out there and realize how they can make the most of this valuable time in their lives.”

As one of the leading national developers of full-service retirement communities for 25 years with 19 locations, Erickson is at the forefront of senior living, aging issues, health care, and innovation. The book’s four co-authors - Dr. Matt Narrett, Mark Erickson, Jacquelyn Kung and Lisa Davila - have broad backgrounds in aging and wellness.

Assess yourself

Take a few minutes to test your social health using one of several self-assessments featured in the book. Adapted from research conducted by British gerontologist Kevin Morgan and his colleagues, the following measures levels of social engagement.

Answer yes or no to the questions below:

1. Do you read a newspaper or magazine on a regular basis?

2. Did you vote in the last election (local or national)?

3. Do you attend religious services or events?

4. Have you had a personal telephone conversation in the past week or so?

5. Do you browse or read books or materials from a library or bookstore?

6. Have you read or written a personal note (letter or e-mail) in the past week or so?

7. Have you attended a meeting or event of a club, group, or society in the past month?

8. Do you have a reliable mode of transportation to go shopping?

9. Do you have a full-time, part-time, or volunteer job?

10. Have you been away for vacation in the past year or so?

11. Are you planning to go on a vacation in the next year or so?

12. Do you interact with friends/family as much as you would like?

13. Do you have at least one friend or family member living within easy driving distance?

14. Can you leave your home and walk independently outside (with or without a cane or walker)?

15. Do you get out and do things as much as you would like?

16. Do you have at least one friend or neighbor who you could ask for urgent help if needed?

How did you do? Give yourself one point for each “yes” answer: 14 to 16 points means your social health is excellent; 12 to 13 points means your social health is fair; and 12 or fewer points means you need to work on improving your social network.

For more information about Erickson or “Old Is the New Young,” visit www.erickson.com or call (800) 920-0856. The book is available at bookstores nationwide and can also be purchased at www.globepequot.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Simple steps to a healthy and happy retirement

14 15Desert Local News • September 21, 2009

Crumbs and Camper Van Beethoven fans once again had a music-driven rugged campout in the high desert for the Fifth Annual Cracker Camper Van Beethoven Campout at Pappy & Harriet’s Palace in Pioneertown, Calif., on Sept 11-12, 2009.

Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven, both headed by singer David Lowery, are by no means new to the wild-and-wooly desert landscape of Pioneertown. They have successfully hosted the Campout for five years, mainly to celebrate the birthdays of Lowery and Johnny Hickman, Cracker guitarist. Both bands have become a novelty in the alternative rock genre and have maintained faithful fans through the years. The Campout is a festival to which the bands have stayed committed. It gives them a chance to hang with family, friends, and, of course, their fans. For Cracker, however, their fans are more commonly known as “crumbs.”

The opening night on Friday was dedicated to Camper Van Beethoven, a zany rock band that caught some attention during the ‘80s for their hit song “Take the Skinheads Bowling.” The band performed for two hours for fans who bobbed their heads and clapped their hands to the classic punk rock country tunes such as “The History of Utah” and “Eye of Fatima.” The band even played a number of their crazy traditional Slavic beats, igniting the crowd members to hop on alternating feet and yell “HEY!”

Cracker, the highlight performance of the event, took the stage Saturday night.

After Camper Van Beethoven disbanded, Lowery continued his music career by launching Cracker with guitarist Johnny Hickman in 1990. Frank Funaro, current drummer, has performed with Joey Ramone of The Ramones, and current bassist Sal Maida was a session member for one of Roxy Music’s tours. Cracker maintained an alternative rock sound with a darker edge and more honky-tonk feel. Hit songs such as “Low” and “Teen Angst” took control of the radio rock stations during the ‘90s, putting Cracker on the top music charts and helped them develop a devoted fan base. “Kerosene Hat,” Cracker’s 1993 platinum album, was actually written and recorded in Pioneertown during the early ‘90s.

Rumors of the fifth Campout being the final Campout ran rampant during the weekend. Cracker’s manager said that as long as Pappy & Harriet’s current owners are still there that the bands will continue Campout next year. She also mentioned that this was their best Campout thus far.

Cross our fingers that we’ll see another Campout on the calendar for 2010. Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven truly gave wonderful performances, not only because of their talented music, but also because of their obvious appreciation for their fans.

For more of the Cracker Camper Van Beethoven Campout, go to www.PalmSpringsGuides.com

Cracker Camper Van Beethoven Campout 2009STORY BY LAUREN LUNSTRUMPHOTOS BY CATHY JARDINE

Camper Van Beethhoven


Cracker Camper Van Beethoven Campout 2009

Camper Van Beethhoven

Desert Local News • September 21, 2009 16

Democrats of Desert Hot Springs Invite D.H.S. Democratics to join us at our monthly meeting.

Saturday Sept.26 at 11:00 am

Agua Caliente Hotel and Spa14-500 Palm Dr. Desert Hot Springs, 760-329-4481

Look forward to seeing you!

INDIO – The Indio night sky will light

up once again on Saturday, September 26th, when Motown’s soulful sounds come rolling into the Coachella Valley for a one night benefit concert at the El the Dorado Polo Club, with part of the proceeds going to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission’s “Building New Beginnings” to help the homeless. Some of Motown’s best tribute Doo-wop artists will be traveling from across the world to perform at the Under the Stars benefit, including such popular acts as The Platters, The Temptations, The Drifters, The Marvelletes/Shirelle’s, The Vandella’s and The Ojay’s.

Jan Jacques, a pioneer in bringing large concerts and musical acts to the Coachella Valley, is pulling out all the stops for this special production as he teams up with Robbie T, former owner of the highly popular Robbie T’s Restaurant in Indio. Both promise that the benefit concert Under the Stars will be “one night where you won’t want to forget your

dancing shoes or just sit back and relax and enjoy the music,” said Robbie T.

This jam packed indoor/outdoor evening of entertainment and Motown Doo-wop will be held at the upscale El Dorado Polo Club and will feature full-service bars, food, valet parking, plenty of comfortable seating and a spacious dance floor. A raffle drawing will also be held with prizes donated by Red Earth Casino, Lyons English Grill, Palm Springs and Palm Desert Cyclery, P.S. I Love Your Hair and more.

A portion of the proceeds from the Under the Stars benefit will be donated to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission’s “Building New Beginnings” program. The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is an organization aimed at not only helping the homeless, but anyone who can not afford to buy groceries, clothing or support their family during these difficult economic times. “This production is all about helping those in need,” said Jacques.

Under the Stars Benefit Concert: A Tribute to

Motown Doo-WopProceeds will benefit the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission’s

“Building New Beginnings” -Featuring World famous tribute artists; the Temptations, Drifters and more

BY STAFF Desert Hot Springs, Ca, Deborah Sweigart has

been appointed the new General Manager of Bella Monte Hot Springs Resort and Spa. Ms. Sweigart previously served as Assistant GM and Marketing Manager. In her new role at Bella Monte, Ms. Sweigart will maintain the overall responsibility for resort operations and public relations on behalf of the resort’s owners. In addition to over 30 years experience in management, sales and marketing, Ms. Sweigart brings a creative skill set of exemplary customer service and enthusiasm to this luxury boutique resort.

Comments Deborah,

“From opulent rooms and spacious baths to our hot mineral water pools, outdoor fire pit and elegant patio areas, Bella Monte surrounds its guests in the perfect environment to enjoy a memorable stay. Personally, I think the hospitality industry offers some of the best jobs ever. When guests leave

Bella Monte, they are relaxed and restored and with smiles on their faces. It gives me a wonderful sense of satisfaction knowing we have directly affected someone’s life in a positive way. I look forward to playing a supportive role in Bella Monte’s bright future.”

As General Manager,

Ms. Deborah Sweigart’s demanding task will be to ensure the continuation of excellent service and impeccable standards set by previous GM, the late Patrick J. Sturgeon, that are a hallmark of the Bella Monte Hot Springs Resort and Spa.

Joel Bennett, owner of

the Bella Monte Resort, said “The property was created with the highest expectations and standards in mind for a premier luxury destination. The forthcoming season is of great importance and at this stage Deborah’s input and enthusiasm will be invaluable to ensure the continued success and improvement of the resort.”

BELLA MONTE RESORT AND SPAAnnounces Appointment Of New General Manager


Nestled in the foothills of Joshua Tree National Park, beautiful Miracle Springs Resort and Spa overlooks the Palm Springs Valley. 110 Large, Comfortable Rooms ~ 8 Natural Hot Mineral Water Pools ~ Excellent Restaurant ~ Lounge ~ Full-Service Spa ~ Weddings and Banquets.

Call 1-800-400-4414 for more information about MIRACLE SPRINGS RESORT & SPA

Miracle Springs Resort & Spa


The CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS The CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS The CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS and DESERT HOT SPRINGS AYSOand DESERT HOT SPRINGS AYSOand DESERT HOT SPRINGS AYSO

INVITE YOU TO INVITE YOU TO INVITE YOU TO OPENING DAY ATOPENING DAY ATOPENING DAY AT

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11:00am to 3:00pm11:00am to 3:00pm11:00am to 3:00pm CEREMONIES START AT 12:30CEREMONIES START AT 12:30CEREMONIES START AT 12:30

COME COME COME CELEBRATECELEBRATECELEBRATE OUR OUR OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW PARK BEAUTIFUL NEW PARK BEAUTIFUL NEW PARK

A DAY OF FOOD, FUN, MUSIC & A DAY OF FOOD, FUN, MUSIC & A DAY OF FOOD, FUN, MUSIC & SOCCERSOCCERSOCCER


just go toHttp://desertfox.comJust click this link!

Domain Names.COMs starting

at $8.95*!

ONE NIGHT ONLY

Rancho Mirage Cultural Commission proudly presents

Rancho Mirage Cultural Commission proudly presents

FIRST TIME EVER TOGETHER

Two unique voices in one unforgettable evening of blues, jazz, pop and Broadway favorites

Tickets On Sale Friday, October 2:

Rancho Mirage City Hall: 69-825 Highway 111 (760) 324-4511

Rancho Mirage Public Library: 71-100 Highway 111 (760) 341-7323

Open Seating: $35Purchase tickets early: this event will sell out.

Cash, Check, MasterCard & Visa Accepted

Sorry, no refunds

Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower39-000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 AT 7:30 PM

ONE NIGHT ONLYSUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 AT 7:30 PM

Sorry, No Refunds • Open Seating: $35

Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower39-000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage

20 21Editorial by Nancy MorganDesert Local News • September 21, 2009


Specializing in:Neck & Back Pain

Auto & Work InjuriesX-Ray Facilities Available

(760) 329-5534 Fax (760) 329-3837

Medicare & Most Insurance Plans Accepted

66483 PIERSON • BLVD DESERT• HOT SPRINGS • CA 92240

Its now official. I’m a racist. No less than a former president of the United States has declared that if I oppose the takeover of 17% of our economy under the guise of health care reform, I hate black people.

According to President Carter, U.S. Rep.

Joe Wilson’s objection to a ‘misstatement’ in President Obama’s speech to Congress last week was an act “based on racism” and rooted in fears of a black president. And a Rasmussen survey shows that fully 12% of Americans agree with him.

The old media has chimed in, with the

left’s favorite columnist, Maureen Dowd, going a step further. Rep. Joe Wilson said, “You lie’ to Obama. But Maureen Dowd heard, “You lie, boy.” Boy being one of the many politically incorrect words the left has decided is an indicator of racism. Point made. Case closed.

Another columnist, E. Danielle Egan, has joined the growing chorus. In the Philadelphia Enquirer, Egan blithely dismissed the app. 2 million protestors who turned out last weekend to protest Obama’s policies, writing them off as illegitimate. “So I have decided it’s time that what I’ve been watching be called what I believe it is: racism.” She continues, “The level of rage being expressed is different and out of sync with what we know from the past.” I guess she was visiting Atlantis during the Bush years, or something.

And just in case anyone has missed the point, ABC has devoted a full story to the racist motives of the Obama protestors.

So there. The media and political elite have spoken. Any opposition to Obama means the protestor is a bad person. A person unable to see beyond the color of his skin. A racist. (Isn’t that called profiling?)

Conveniently for these elites, they have also decided that responding to ignorant racists is quite beneath them. Being a racist is bad, therefore there is absolutely no need to respond to the underlying complaint. Whew.

This is the ultimate free pass. It almost

makes me wish I had been born black. Then I could make any claims I want, without any facts to back them up, and still maintain the moral high ground. I could blame every bad decision I ever made on racism and, best of all, put my opponents in the impossible situation of trying to prove a negative.

I would gain membership in the ever growing class of ‘victims’, which automatically grants me immunity from the normal rules of civilized behavior.

The fact that Joe Wilson was quite

correct in branding Obama a liar is not the point. By diverting the issue to racial animus, Obama’s ‘misstatement’ is conveniently overlooked. This is called a win-win situation.

Wilson’s audacity in branding Obama

a liar has caused a national firestorm. The left is in high dudgeon, quickly spinning the truth of Wilson’s (admittedly disrespectful) assertion into a condemnation of his integrity, topping it off with the unprecedented act of issuing a formal rebuke from the House. Bad boy! (Can I say that?)

Not mentioned in this national brou haha is Sen Reid’s Dec 15, 2004 statement, where he called called President Bush a liar. “President Bush is a liar. He betrayed Nevada and he betrayed the country.”

I guess its OK to call white guys liars. Even when they can’t come up with any specific lie. Its just something everyone knows. Bush lied. Strangely enough, I’ve never been taken up on my challenge to pay $100.00 to anyone who can cite a specific lie that Bush told. I digress.

Also not included in the conversation the

left is successfully controlling, is President Obama’s statement last week branding Kanye West a jackass. But, hey, West is black...this is starting to get confusing.

I’m in awe of the left. Though they have

admitted not knowing the details of the 1,000 plus pages of the Obama health care ‘reform’, they have managed to divine what is in my heart. And the hearts of millions of others. And it’s called racism.

Despite having elected a black

president, the left would have us believe that the millions of whites who voted for Obama still hate black people. They would have us believe that, even though we can’t see it, racism is still a dominant force in America. Its just evolved into the silent ‘institutional’ kind of racism that no one can quantify. But it’s still there. I guess we just have to take their word for it. If we dare question their premise, we’re racists. Game, set and match.

Color Me RacistBY NANCY MORGAN




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Green Pages Desert Local News • September 21, 2009 24 PALM SPRINGS Green Pages Desert Local News • September 21, 2009

September, Palm Springs, CA – The Palm Springs Cultural Center

announced today that all three of its popular Certified Farmers’ Markets will open for their 2009/10 Season the last week of September. “The Palm Springs Market will open on Saturday, September 26th, the Old Town La Quinta Market will open on Sunday, September 27th, and the Mid-week Market in Palm Desert will open on Wednesday, September 30th,” said Paul Palodichuk, Market Manager. “We’re happy to be back with everyone’s favorite farmers, and this year we have some new farmers as well. In fact, all three markets are bigger this year.”

This year marks the third season for the Palm Springs Market, and the second season for both the La Quinta and Palm Desert Markets. “The markets will still take place on the same days as before,” continued Palodichuk. “And this year, the hours are the same for all three markets as well. We open bright and early at 8am and run through 12:30pm.”

Friends, fans and foodies can look forward to lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and farm fresh products, as well as chef demonstrations and entertainment on a weekly basis. The September 26th Grand Opening event in Palm Springs will feature folk music by Dave Heveron, and cooking demonstrations by Chef Paul Hietter from Love at First Bite Catering. The Old Town La Quinta Opening on Sunday, September 27th will feature music by Steve Denny and cooking demonstrations with Chef

Kelly Walling from the Hog’s Breath Inn. In Palm Desert, the September 30th Grand Opening will feature music by Sergio Villegas, with cooking demonstrations by Chef Bernard of Cuistot Restaurant.

The Certified Farmers Market is sponsored by the Palm Springs Cultural Center. It operates in three locations, and on three different days of the week, as follows:

- On Saturdays in Palm Springs, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, adjacent to the Camelot Theatres in the Palm Springs Mall parking lot at 2300 E. Baristo Road at Farrell.

- On Sundays in Old Town La Quinta, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, at 78100 Main Street, just a few blocks west of La Quinta City Hall off Calle Tampico.

- On Wednesdays in Palm Desert, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, at the Palm Desert Visitor Center, 72-567 Highway 111.

The Palm Springs Cultural Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which was established to encourage the development of the cultural arts in the Coachella Valley with a specific focus in the areas of film, fine art, live performance, dance, music, and community festivals. The Center is dedicated to advancing education, to nurturing community-wide participation in the cultural arts, and to sponsoring scholarship awards for deserving individuals.

Opening Dates Set for Popular Certified Farmers’ Markets

BY STAFF

Weekend getaways, shorter vacations and overnight business trips are great ways to save money and are becoming more prevalent, according to the Bureau of Transportation. Taking a few simple and natural steps to stay safe and healthy while on the road can not only protect your travel investment, but enhance your entire experience.

Refreshed and alert driving diffusion

A shorter, thriftier trip is likely to be by car. The inevitable rush to make the most of the limited time away after a tiring work week can create fatigue, so don’t make it a dangerous driving situation. Enliven your senses with essential oil scents.

Ditch the cardboard cutout car “freshener” that hangs from the rearview mirror. Not only distracting, these products are usually saturated with synthetic fragrance chemicals and probably aren’t the best thing to inhale while enclosed in your vehicle. Instead, rely on a sleek essential oil diffuser that plugs into your automobile’s phone charger power outlet. These devices feature small paper fiber pads to which you can apply your own custom blend of essential oils, allowing you to not only scent the air inside the car, but also to provide refreshing aromatherapy benefits to help keep you alert and focused on the road.

A simpler, alternative way to diffuse is to apply several drops of oil to a tissue and tuck it carefully into one of the vents in the dash.

Try these essential oils for the car:

* Peppermint essential oil - refreshing, awakening, uplifting.

* Eucalyptus essential oil - bracing, purifying, protecting.

* Lemon essential oil - pleasant,

deodorizing, cheering.How clean is your hotel room?

Overnight stays in less than posh hotel digs may be part of the money-saving travel trend. Even upscale hotels aren’t immune to dirt and germs, or worse, an apparent outbreak of bedbug infestations in the United States, recently publicized by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Bedbugs aside, there are always nagging doubts about just how clean a hotel room actually is. Has the shower or tub been scrubbed or merely wiped down? Is the toilet sanitized? Has the bedspread ever really been thoroughly cleaned? Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself after you check in, but before you settle into your temporary overnight home.

* Air and Surface Sanitizing Spray: Feel good about travel with a bottle of homemade purifying aromatherapy solution that relies on pleasantly scented and highly effective essential oils, rather than harsh chemical disinfectants. The following spray will help you create a hygienic environment in your temporary hotel home. Apply it to tub, vanity and toilet surfaces.

Ingredients:

Empty 12 to16 ounce spray bottle

10 ounces water

2 ounces isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or vodka

1/2 teaspoon tea tree essential oil (antimicrobial)

1/2 teaspoon lemon essential oil (cleansing)

1/2 teaspoon lavandin essential oil (protecting)

1/2 teaspoon sweet orange essential oil (freshening).

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle. Shake and apply to a washcloth, and wipe down the TV’s remote, the clock radio, the door handles and the faucet handles in the bathroom.

* Purifying and Relaxing Linen Mist: Here are some great tips for making a strange bed feel more like home. Take along your own pillow and replace the ones provided. Create your own linen mist and use it on your own bed at home, then travel with the same blend, taking a little bit of home with you. When you arrive at your destination, turn down the covers, exchange the pillows and apply your signature scent to the bed.

Ingredients:

Empty 4 to 8 ounce spray bottle

4 to 8 ounces water

13 drops lavender essential oil (relaxing, calming)

5 drops lavandin or spike lavender essential oil (purifying, protecting)

Directions:

Combine the water and oil in the bottle. Shake the contents thoroughly just before application.

Remember to look for pure and natural essential oil brands like Aura Cacia that don’t include synthetic petrochemical fragrances. For more information on how to enhance your life through aromatherapy, visit www.auracacia.com.


Business or leisure, driving or flying - travel safely naturally

25Green Pages Desert Local News • September 21, 2009

Weekend getaways, shorter vacations and overnight business trips are great ways to save money and are becoming more prevalent, according to the Bureau of Transportation. Taking a few simple and natural steps to stay safe and healthy while on the road can not only protect your travel investment, but enhance your entire experience.

Refreshed and alert driving diffusion

A shorter, thriftier trip is likely to be by car. The inevitable rush to make the most of the limited time away after a tiring work week can create fatigue, so don’t make it a dangerous driving situation. Enliven your senses with essential oil scents.

Ditch the cardboard cutout car “freshener” that hangs from the rearview mirror. Not only distracting, these products are usually saturated with synthetic fragrance chemicals and probably aren’t the best thing to inhale while enclosed in your vehicle. Instead, rely on a sleek essential oil diffuser that plugs into your automobile’s phone charger power outlet. These devices feature small paper fiber pads to which you can apply your own custom blend of essential oils, allowing you to not only scent the air inside the car, but also to provide refreshing aromatherapy benefits to help keep you alert and focused on the road.

A simpler, alternative way to diffuse is to apply several drops of oil to a tissue and tuck it carefully into one of the vents in the dash.

Try these essential oils for the car:

* Peppermint essential oil - refreshing, awakening, uplifting.

* Eucalyptus essential oil - bracing, purifying, protecting.

* Lemon essential oil - pleasant,

deodorizing, cheering.How clean is your hotel room?

Overnight stays in less than posh hotel digs may be part of the money-saving travel trend. Even upscale hotels aren’t immune to dirt and germs, or worse, an apparent outbreak of bedbug infestations in the United States, recently publicized by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Bedbugs aside, there are always nagging doubts about just how clean a hotel room actually is. Has the shower or tub been scrubbed or merely wiped down? Is the toilet sanitized? Has the bedspread ever really been thoroughly cleaned? Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself after you check in, but before you settle into your temporary overnight home.

* Air and Surface Sanitizing Spray: Feel good about travel with a bottle of homemade purifying aromatherapy solution that relies on pleasantly scented and highly effective essential oils, rather than harsh chemical disinfectants. The following spray will help you create a hygienic environment in your temporary hotel home. Apply it to tub, vanity and toilet surfaces.

Ingredients:

Empty 12 to16 ounce spray bottle

10 ounces water

2 ounces isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or vodka

1/2 teaspoon tea tree essential oil (antimicrobial)

1/2 teaspoon lemon essential oil (cleansing)

1/2 teaspoon lavandin essential oil (protecting)

1/2 teaspoon sweet orange essential oil (freshening).

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle. Shake and apply to a washcloth, and wipe down the TV’s remote, the clock radio, the door handles and the faucet handles in the bathroom.

* Purifying and Relaxing Linen Mist: Here are some great tips for making a strange bed feel more like home. Take along your own pillow and replace the ones provided. Create your own linen mist and use it on your own bed at home, then travel with the same blend, taking a little bit of home with you. When you arrive at your destination, turn down the covers, exchange the pillows and apply your signature scent to the bed.

Ingredients:

Empty 4 to 8 ounce spray bottle

4 to 8 ounces water

13 drops lavender essential oil (relaxing, calming)

5 drops lavandin or spike lavender essential oil (purifying, protecting)

Directions:

Combine the water and oil in the bottle. Shake the contents thoroughly just before application.

Remember to look for pure and natural essential oil brands like Aura Cacia that don’t include synthetic petrochemical fragrances. For more information on how to enhance your life through aromatherapy, visit www.auracacia.com.


Business or leisure, driving or flying - travel safely naturally



Whether cleaning your new home before moving in, or looking for a way to juggle the increase in housework that comes when you move from an apartment to a single-family house, you can tidy up your environment naturally, easily and inexpensively.

It’s the dirty little secret of home buying - sometimes the previous owners leave a mess behind when they move out. Even if sellers leave a house in good shape, you’ll still want to give your new home a good cleaning so it truly feels like you’re making a fresh start.

Before you settle in to your new home, dust, mop and scrub. Start out by fairly distributing chores among family members.

“It might be fun to play with

your new washing machine now, but doing all the laundry all the time will get old fast,” says Jen Singer, family lifestyle expert.

“So task your spouse with grabbing a natural laundry stain remover that cleans powerfully to tackle tough stains, such as Nature’s Source Laundry Stain Remover by Shout. The line also has other natural cleaners I like to use for other chores around the home by trusted brands including Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles. They contain 99 percent or more natural ingredients; and they are affordable and available in many grocery and mass merchandise stores.”

To learn more about living and cleaning naturally, visit www.NaturesSourceCleaners.com.

First time homeowners: Clean house naturally with inexpensive improvements

BY ARA STAFF

27 Desert Local News • September 21, 2009 MATT WEYUKER COLUMN DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 21, 2009

STEREOPSISBY MATT WEYUKER Former DHS Mayor Matt Weyuker

September

21th

Well boys and girls it’s time for Uncle Matt’s rather “grim tale” about our town, and its considerably sordid history at this, the 46th anniversary of Desert Hot Springs incorporation. Most of us know about the saga of Cabot Yerxa and his discovery of the hot water that Dr. Coffey put to such good use in the treatment of his patients, but how many of us know about the controversial city incorporation, and the results of that decision that has led us to our present situation?

A good “grim” story usually begins with “Once upon a time” – well I won’t let you down. “Once upon a time,” there was a small town located on the highest northwest rim of the Coachella Valley that was noted for two things – its therapeutic hot mineral water dispensed at several boutique spas – and an inordinate number of retirees. In the 60s some civic-minded folks got the bodacious idea to incorporate the city. This proposition was voted on September 17, 1963, and it barely passed – the city had its local government approval – and therein lies the “grim” in our saga.

In spite of the fact that there were some motivated individuals who tried to lead the city into fulfilling its potential, the city’s revenues were sorely lacking from the get-go. Boys and girls, that single fact has haunted our town’s ability to finance

adequate public safety and/or anything in the way of positive growth – especially in the way of sales-tax generating shopping centers like there is all over this valley – and not in Desert Hot Springs.

I don’t believe that any of the well-meaning seven nominees for elected city office will be able to stop the financial bloodletting that the city manager has created with his rubber-stamp mayor and council. The current group of DHS “electeds” hasn’t been willing to stop the debt-ridden reckless RDA spending that is bleeding dry our city’s future – remember, four nominees on the November ballot followed the city manager like lemmings and voted for this wasteful spending. The city’s residents should be able to expect a more prudent fiscal behavior from their locally elected representatives.

With the federal government’s ravenous fiscal appetites literally “breaking the bank,” creating trillions of dollars-in-debt, wasting taxpayers money with ill-thought-out bailouts, and raising taxes – and California being insolvent – one would think that local government could be counted on to be more judicious with its handling of taxpayer generated revenue.

The candidates will bombard us with rhetoric about “public safety,” but with the state set to release another 16,000

prisoners – how will our small ill-funded town handle the influx of “parolees” who are no doubt going to land here? Do you think there will ever be a sufficient number of police added to an overworked and inadequately staffed PD? Do you believe that anyone of the seven candidates has the gumption to stand up to the city manager’s imprudent spending habits?

The “grim” part of this tale is that Desert Hot Springs is broke and in debt, city officials are spending money like they have it, the residents bear the highest tax burden in the valley, and the local city administration is ignoring these fiscal realities. From the city’s inauspicious beginnings to the present, Desert Hot Springs has never been adequately funded from any sources. Boys and girls, I didn’t make this “grim” story up – it’s history.

Most “grim stories” have “happy endings,” but there won’t be a knight-riding-a-white-horse-to save-the-day “happy ending” unless the city government gets its act together.



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Business Directory28 Desert Local News • September 21, 2009

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Business Directory29REAL ESTATE • DESERT LOCAL NEWS September 21, 2009

Having been the former Mayor of the City of

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Editorial Desert Local News • September 21, 2009 31

Over the past few weeks a disturbing trend has emerged. Opponents of healthcare reform have used the term “American exceptionalism “to try and discredit the drive for improvement in our system. The point of this is to say we are a great country and no foreigner could teach us anything. It scares me to death. It flies in the face of all statistics on heath care efficiency published by the World Health Organization. Our health system is rated behind all members of the developed world. Our elderly die sooner. Our children are more likely to die at birth. In the developed world our costs are generally 50 % more than other countries and for that we get worse outcomes.

Let me put this in more concrete terms. We have a product that is the worst in the developed world. It is a good system for those wealthy enough to afford any cost. However, for most people it does not work well. It bankrupts them and makes many choose between buying medicine and buying food. It’s a great system for health insurance companies. But, the cost of this system is unsustainable. It eats up 17% of our GNP now and will continue to double if something isn’t done. What other products do we have in this country that are so bad and so expensive?

There are two main arguments of the anti-healthcare groups worth discussing. (I will not include the “death panel” argument. That amendment was attached to the bill by a Republican and dealt with paying expenses while making up living wills.) First, that it is Socialism

and its stepchild that it wasn’t something mentioned in the constitution. What is

socialism? Socialism is defined as “a system of social organization in which the means of production and distribution of goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government”. The way I read this, the definition deals mostly with industrial production and products. But, for purposes of this article we will include the healthcare system as a product. What is now a “socialized” function under this looser definition? Road construction, police, firefighters, FAA, public schools, prisons, Social Security, Medicare, VA , FBI,DEA, and the border patrol to name a few. None of these programs are mentioned in the constitution. The constitution also doesn’t mention airports we have built with government funds, but I haven’t heard an outcry from the small government people that we should totally privatize everything that supports aviation. If we are worried about a government take over maybe we should start by dealing with all the programs listed above that are outside the vision of people that lived a few hundred years ago. In fact, Representative Weiner (Democrat, N.Y.) submitted an amendment in committee to abolish Medicare. It is also government run healthcare. How many outraged Republicans voted for that amendment? Zero.

The second argument is that a government program will get between you and your doctor. There is already someone between you and your doctor. An insurance executive is there. And what

is his goal? Not to cure you. His goal, by law, is to maximize corporate profit. There are many areas for which I applaud the capitalist system. It creates much wealth. But, do you want a healthcare system whose primary goal is not your health but wealth generation?

In the beginning of this article, I mentioned we have the worst healthcare system in the developed world. We are actually ranked 37th behind Costa Rica and many other poorer countries. But, we are exceptional. We spend 17% of our entire economy on healthcare. It burdens our businesses and is expected to grow to 34% of our economy in only a few years if nothing is done. But, we’re exceptional.

I love this country. But, I want us to improve. In the past we have borrowed many things from other countries. Making steel, cars, radios, Social Security (this along with universal healthcare was adopted in Germany in the 1880s). Many of the things we take for granted were made first elsewhere and improved here. If we are to remain a great country we need to learn and change. If you don’t want to emulate a “foreign system” how about the VA? It delivers excellent care to a generally older and sicker group of people at a 40% reduction in cost.

Do not believe we remain a great country by not learning and improving. It is the shortest route to disaster.

We are Number

One!BY JOE MCKEE




May - September 2009

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Desert Hot Springs Local News Sept. 21 2009 Issue

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Transcript of Desert Hot Springs Local News Sept. 21 2009 Issue