June

February B 2008

 Suzannne Garvey Gambill

Suzanne was a wonderful mate for thirty-two terrific years. It started with a blind date at a pool party in Palm Springs and ended in a hospice room in Rancho Mirage. thirty-two years was not nearly enough. At the pool party, we didn't especially seem to have a lot in common, but after an overly-intoxicated friend-of-the-hostess pushed Suzanne into the pool, I jumped in to help her, after she had told me she could not swim.
After pushing and lifting her small, gorgeous frame, (approximately 125 pounds) up out of the pool and expecting a huge, luscious kiss on the mouth, all my dripping ears heard was her Irish temper yelling at the culprit, "You dumb SOB, you got my hair wet!" With that she broke into uncontrollable laughter. I knew she was special and it looked like a nice ride home.
Needless to say, Suzanne and I became close very fast and before long were sharing a home in Palm Springs, where she worked nine to five as a Tennis Club Hotel accountant and I was working at the Gene Autry Hotel.
I had the desire to open a business of my own and we talked about relocating in a more affordable city. This would be either Cathedral City or Desert Hot Springs. Suzanne leaned toward DHS, because her daughter and family lived there.
Enough said; we wrapped up our business and within a short time we found ourselves finally settling in Desert Hot Springs, where we lived, loved and laughed with our many, many wonderful friends and neighbors.
What a great life she had in this town; what great friends she made!
Julie Corsini was mayor and it was Hayden's Restaurant every Saturday night, where the town's elite would meet to eat and where good friends met on a weekly basis. There was the Cottage Round Table and the Sunrise Rotary Club in which she was an active supporter. The chamber was very productive and we had a Merchant's Association, along with some 36 active service clubs and she knew most of the members.
You could not visit the grocery without running into Mary Gibson or Paula Harris or her grocery gossiping buddy, Barbara Webb. You knew it would not be a speedy process when you went grocery shopping.
We ran into many friends at the wonderful garage sales that no longer exist.
So many of our friends have gone before her. It is my belief and my hope that somewhere in God's plan she will be reunited with them and her many loved ones, and that she will enjoy the bountiful rewards that Heaven has to offer her for the good and true life that she has led in this earthly existence. God bless her; may she rest in peace.
From the many emails I’ve received in Suzanne’s regard, I know it’s not just me.
 

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August B 2007

Let's Start Hiring Local Folks

Well, another City official bites the dust.... Ho-Hum....(yawn)... What's new? We oldtimers watch as they come and go. We have had Police Chiefs, one after another, City Managers are the most unstable position it seems, because they are positioned right out on the front line. They get the questions, they make the forcasts; if they are ever wrong, they will pay for it. Usually what they do right is seldom remembered. But the things that don't go as predicted are always attached to their legacy, much like any politician.

I have always been of the mind that Desert Hot Springs or surrounding areas have talented and experienced and qualified persons who could serve as well as strangers brought in from some far-off land of Oz, to be our saviour.

Why is this city so determined to not hire our own? Why is it dead-set on importing the little known people of other cities, to serve in important positions instead of giving local people, who live in Desert Hot Springs a chance?

Just as I believe it is important for most, if not all of our police force to live in the city for which they serve, I believe appointed administrative officials should live in Desert Hot Springs.

Police who live in the city, who park their cruiser in their own driveway at night have proven in the past, that when they live in certain neighborhoods, criminals are less likely to act. Also, a cop who lives in the community will become known to the citizens, as well as they becoming known to the officers.

I have this strange belief that if a person lives in the city where he works, he or she will have a greater respect for that community and if he knows the citizens he serves, he will also have a greater respect for them. I believe it works for anyone in the capacity of service to the community, elected or appointed. We are lucky to have a Chief who served eleven years with the Palm Springs Police Depatment.

Our latest City Manager, Ann Marie Gallant has now resigned, joining the ever-growing ranks of those who have gone before her. In my nearly 30 years in this town, I would not attempt to give an accurate count of those who have preceded her.

Before Ann Marie was hired, the City paid for the services of one John Soulierre, with a long and credible background serving with the Mission Springs Water District. Soulierre is sharp, bright, intelligent and at the time he served as Deputy City Manager, was quite capable of stepping into the job, and believe it or not, he and his family resided in good old DHS.

But true to form, what did the brilliant minds of the City do? Of course, they went looking in every town except Desert Hot Sprngs. The search lasted, it seems, for months. Lucrative contracts, perks and agreements that are very hard to live up to, are usually the norm for this financially troubled city.

Dollars are so in need by the city, that now city hall charges each business a signage fee. This means you pay for a business license and if you happen to have a sign on your business, you are sent a bill for that too. How can you run a business without a sign? Isn't that a given? If money gets much tighter in Desert Hot Springs, they might start charging each business extra fees if you have a door on the building. After all, most of us have doors on our businesses. What about those of us who have carpets on the floor? A carpet charge for those who have rugs on the floor of their businesses? Isn't this called 'Grasping at Straws'? This ridiculous signage fee, in my opinion is like a citizen's taxes going to pave streets, then charging them a fee to drive on them. Isn't that how the Soviet Union got started?

A local person as City Manager might know shortcuts to saving the city money. I believe that there will not be a permanent city manager until after the upcoming election. We will see who wants whom to serve in this all-important position. Now we have lost still another, in the person of former police chief, John Hensley.

Another reason I believe local talent should be found to fill these positions, is because hiring outsiders or out of towners, has shown that they just don't care all that much about the local citizens or the community. Generally, an official hired from another town, will soon invite his/her own friends to come and work for him/her, bringing more strangers who don't care, assuring insufficient service. This seems to be one of the most frequent complaints at city hall; the lack of compassion or interest in helping new businesses come to town. Rather, some I have listened to say it's easier to go elsewhere and do business.
This is not a new complaint, I have heard this ever since I came to this town and started giving a damn. It took me a while also.

I feel it would be smart for the sitting powers-that-be, to look at local folks like John Soulliere when it comes to hiring officials to serve the community.
I have noticed that they seem to care more. .........Or is it just me?


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August A 2007

Big Money; Giant Weapons

As Iran prepares for attacks on the United States, Russia has decided to make it a little easier for them to defend themselves when the U. S. retaliates with its unbelievably devastating force.
The Kremlin never got over Ronald Reagan and the United States winning the Cold War, so now they are jumping at the chance to offer Iran an arms deal which may total something near a billion dollars.
The reason Russia and Iran are getting so cozy is because the United States plans to arm Saudi Arabia big time. A multi-million dollar weapons deal with the Saudis will strengthen them against any invasion plans Iran might have, making them real allies of America, instead of just pretending to be our friends. That is the thinking in Washington, and we know about those brilliant minds in Washington, don’t we?
Weren’t the 911 Trade Center terrorists from Saudi Arabia?
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Gore-bal Warming?

Son of Al Gore admits guilt in his second clash with the law, (that we know of) involving speeding and illegal drugs.
In a guilty plea made in secrecy, his attorney Al Stockke made a deal with the courts to have him released.
The case went before a judge before the District Attorney’s office even knew of it.
Al Gore III gets to complete a drug aversion course and his entire record, past and present, will be eradicated.
If he had been the son of Oscar Dinglepuss, do you think he would be out walking around now; or driving for that matter? Does this have a smell or what?
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Wind & Water

I know you haven’t forgotten all the wind we’ve had lately. Our therapeutic breezes are at times, something that in another part of the country, would be classified as tornedoes.
Yes, the wind blows the sand and we breath it. It covers our cars and ruins the engines and door locks. It finds spaces under our doors and windows and comes right in and we breathe it.
With no Code Enforcement to check on the compliance of the developments sitting idle in our open lots, it is becoming Death Valley around here.
Have you noticed how the builders water the sand when they are building, but leave the raw, scalped land to blow when they are not building?
One project I personally know of has completed maybe half of his anticipated goal with new homes, but the other half of the project is loose top soil.
He has presently stopped building, due to a lack of buyers and probably money; but the wind still blows. I have not seen a water truck working since he finished his last house a few months ago.
At one corner of the field, a sand dune has piled up as high as the concrete security wall and indigents who live and sleep in the field behind Pizza Hut for the past four years, can walk right over the wall into the private, gated community on the other side, to partake of the facilities; and they do.... and the wind blows.
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Grafitti

The grafitti problem is being taken care of; whoever is painting over the scribblings of the taggers doesn’t have much of an eye for color-matching; not that they really care. Painting beige, (or Desert tan) over dark gray doesn’t quite enhance the looks of the structure. In some of the cases I’ve seen, often the graffitti looks better than the off-color cover-up.
I would like to suggest the owners of all businesses in the city, keep on hand a 5 gallon can of paint that matches their building, so that they can make immediate touch-ups. Or is it just me?

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Americans Should Not Feel Guilty

July B 2007

With the recent Independence celebration all across our country, we Americans still feel the glow of camaraderie and the 'coming together' of our country and culture.
But what about our culture? Are we the same Americans of 100 years ago? Of 50 years ago, or as recently as 20 years ago? I don't think so.

Fifty years ago, we were not persecuted or sued for hanging a portrait of Christ or a copy of the Ten Commandments in a public building or in a school. We weren't condemned as stepping on someone else's freedoms for placing a nativity scene in our own front yard. Our flag was honored and respected the world over, not burnt or spat upon. We tolerate many of these things because we don’t want to make others uncomfortable. How times have changed; how Americans have changed. How our culture suffers for it!

Now, it is truly, as Bill O'Reilly has often said, "A Culture War."
Just recently, Muslims, backed by the ACLU, filed suit to have a portrait of someone who may or may not be Christ, removed from a public building in Louisiana, which has been on the wall for 'who-knows-how-long?' Whether it is a portrait of Christ or not, (and how many have actually seen Him)? we are a Judeo-Christian culture and society, bred into our society and being by our founding fathers.

We kowtow to other cultures, as their culture overtakes ours. Why do Americans let this happen? Are we just innately guilty? Why the collective guilt complex?
Americans seem to feel guilty merely because the minorities will it so. They lay their guilt trips on the middle class, usually the Caucasian or Anglo citizens, and it is accepted as if it were the fault of the middle and upper classes of Anglos that there was a civil war and that slaves were brought here on wooden ships from Africa. It may have been instigated by Anglos and other lesser known ethnicities, but I know of no middle class family that has slaves, although I understand it is very prevalent in many third world cultures, even some of those cultures thriving in America.
No one living today, fought in the American Civil War. Still, minorities ask for compensation for the fact that their ancestors were owned as slaves. Many feel it is deserved, out of guilt, that their ancestors may have owned slaves or merely lived at that time. Have we become so ashamed to be white middle classed American citizens?

Now, there is one more thing that may upset many Anglo Americans; the acceptance of Pesos in some businesses in Texas. Although pesos are a legitimate and acceptable form of currency exchange, just as the dollar is acceptable in Mexico and Canada, some Americans may find a problem with this. Value Giant, a huge retail chain, has announced it will accept pesos as legal currency in its stores in Texas. Although it is legal, some may say it is one more step towards the deterioration of our culture.

For a few years now a few southwestern border towns exist where the English language is not spoken nor allowed, and which are extremely dangerous for Anglos to enter. Because of our timid and polite American culture, drenched in its artificial guilt, we allow these towns to exist, which is a direct violation of our Constitution.

Because of our timid, polite culture, we are afraid of hurting feelings, of upsetting someone, of not being liked or afraid of giving the impression that we might be prejudice or racist, whatever that is.

I believe that because of our undeserved guilt, we go out of our way to try to make people love us, putting a foreign culture above our own, and in doing so, rapidly making unconscious changes to an old established American culture. These foreign cultures laugh at our gullibility and naivete as our "guilt complex" broadens with each so called "insult" to another foreign culture. Why do we let 5% of the population mold us to their bidding?

Are we so "guilty" and so timid that we will continue to help others expedite the demise of our culture and thereby jeopardizing the future of our country?
Or is it just me?
 

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To the Victors Go The Spoils

May A 2007

Senator Harry Reid, that wild and crazy Democrat in the House of Representatives says we have lost the war.
I think he’s full of baloney, but in his little liberal mind, it is true.
In my opinion Harry Reid is a disgrace as a political leader. It is his kind of defeatism that cost us the war in Vietnam, when we were days away from victory. Guys like him and Henry Kissinger did not do any favors for this country.
Growing up as a young man, knowing I had to register for the draft and possibly have to face a violent enemy, I was not thrilled with the aspect of going to war, but I joined anyway. It was our duty and most in my America did the same thing.
I was told by veterans and my elders that there are two ways to get out of a war and that was to win or lose. Winning was always preferred to the other.
In my America, winning a war was the only way to get out of it; and that’s what America did. Down through the history of this country, we had never lost a war until Vietnam, and that one is also questionable.
In my America, everyone pulled together, not as political parties, not as competitors, not as one group envious or jealous of another, but as Americans,, dedicated to the goal of winning the war. Can you imagine, if we had been as polarized in World War I, WWII or Korea, that we would have won those wars?
The Democrats are so obsessed with defeating or disgracing George Bush and the Republicans that they cannot see the real enemy before them. They are doing exactly what our enemies want. They are playing into the hands of the terrorists and Saddaam is dancing in his grave.
Harry Reid and Nancey Pelosi have already surrendered to the enemy.
What does surrender mean? Well, in World War II it meant, “to the winner go the spoils.” In other words, the winner, or conqueror had the right to move into the loser’s land and stake his claim or put down his flag.
In World War II, we took many islands; a great deal of property, in the Pacific Theater out of the hands of the Japanese.. We are Americans, so what did we do? We held the islands for several years thereafter, finally returning them or most of them to the Japanese. We didn’t have to, but it was the right thing to do.
If we surrender America to the enemies we have right now, do you think they would let us keep our land, our country, or our way of life, like America did with it’s fallen enemies?
I don’t think so. Every nation on earth wants what we have. They could achieve this without going to war; all they have to do is grant their people freedom. That’s what America is based on, and although they are dwindling, we still have more freedoms and rights than any country on the planet. Those would all be gone.
Those of us who were allowed to live would have to change our lifestyles considerably, if we wanted to remain upright.
We would most likely have to learn a new language; a new culture. Men may end up wearing ankle-length robes and not be allowed to shave, and women would be looked upon as possessions rather than loved ones. They would be treated much worse than most people treat their pets. Women would be a convenience for the men on a whim, and have little to very few rights, if any.
No Bibles would be allowed and if it was suspicioned that an American flag was in one’s possession, it would mean decapitation for that person.
Just think, if you happen to be Jewish, but an American citizen; or just Jewish and living in America. You can pretty much kiss it good-bye.
Obviously, the liberal left does not think like this. They have no sense of the future. They apparently think that if we just pick up or marbles and come home from Iraq without winning this war, that our blood thirsty enemies will just go back to herding camels. Not so, my friend. Consider the Al-Qaeda cells that are already in this country, just biding their time until the trumpet sounds and they are prompted to action.
I believe to get out of this war, we need to win it. Or is it just me?

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April B 2007

Is the City Logo Authorized?

Normally I watch the city council meetings from home on television. Before the meetings start and during the breaks, the cameraman usually puts up the city's "logo". This gives viewers time to study this piece of "art" and wonder what it means. Since I, as a citizen of Desert Hot Springs was never asked if I wanted to see the old logo changed for a new one, to me it is an unauthorized logo having little consistent with Desert Hot Springs. This may seem a trivial matter to some, but I assure you; the way we are viewed means a great deal in building the image of Desert Hot Springs. An attractive, meaningful and conducive logo is a city's Badge of Honor. It must be representative of the outstanding elements of the city.
According to one city councilmember, this is only a first phase of the designing process; however, as it appears at present, in my opinion, it should not be displayed on official papers, the official website, or in council chambers if it isn’t official.
Within a solid sphere, surrounded by a circular line of text, proclaiming the name of the city, state, and date of incorporation, there are two mountains, which could possibly represent Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. Gorgonio, along with two palm trees, something that every city in the valley has; nothing ultimately defining Desert Hot Springs. The first thing I looked for was the Angel in the Mountain.
The Angel, a natural formation in the image of a white-robed figure with "wings" outstretched, can only be seen from Desert Hot Springs. From this stone carving we get the name, "Angel View," from which came Dr. Bingham's vision of Angel View Crippled Children's Hospital. To some, it is our Guardian Angel, the work of the Master Sculptor; a magnificent image carved by the hand of God. This alone is enough to reevaluate the logo. It is good to be up with the times and show the other cities that we are just as hip as they are, but the new unauthorized logo is a bit too modern, too stark and although very pretty, it is not conducive with our city and community.
Below the mountains is a lined carpet of green. It could possibly be grass or crops, or maybe even lettuce. It appears to be the plowed rows, terraced and rolling hills of lush farmland.
We have no farms in Desert Hot Springs, unless you count the frog farm out in Sky Valley. There are a few green bushes on a stretch of sand that seems to touch the ocean; but might be the Salton Sea, it's hard to say. I don't think it's a lake. We have no lakes in Desert Hot Springs other than those man-made ones on golf courses in some of the gated communities; not representative of our water.
Of course, the giant sun with its expanding rays of sunshine is consistent with the climate, but other than that, I see little to describe Desert Hot Springs. Not a roadrunner or fringe-toed lizard in sight.
Back when Cole Eyraud asked me to draw a new logo in the late 70's we did a few pencil sketches. Even then, the old original logo was stale and had a look of bygone days; not what we saw coming as the new Desert Hot Springs. One sketch really pleased him but he kept making changes and finally stalled as he waited to present it to the council. I didn't have time to keep sketching and drawing for Cole, as I was busy trying to survive in my little Tee Shirt Shop, so the idea was abandoned.
As an old newspaper editorial illustrator who has done hundreds of logos during my time as Gambill Art & Graphix Studio, I would make a suggestion, with the community at heart. I would ask the council to please take another long look at the new unauthorized logo, and when they do, please confer with folks who have been here more than a year or two and take it before the citizens and maybe do something different; have it done locally. I am not volunteering for the job, but I do have some input and I'm sure many others do as well.
Publish the prospective logos in the local paper for resident's opinions and ultimate approval. Desert Hot Springs has a lot of charm and secrets out of town artists might not be aware of. We can do much better with suggestions from people who live here and have a stake in the future of Desert Hot  Springs.. We can do justice to Desert Hot Springs. We can have a very unique logo, with a city that offers so many entities not found elsewhere. To the younger citizens, it might not matter, but it will in years to come. Remember, once it's accepted, it is there for a long, long time.
If you have any comments regarding this article, please write me at editor@thevalleybreeze.com. Or is it just me?
 

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April A 2007

We need Leaders!

Have you been following the happenings in Washington D,C, of late? What a mess.
Since the election of 2006, when the Democrats came into power in, not only the House of Representatives, but also the United States Senate, I’m trying to find something that they have done positively for the good of the country.
Since they have come into the majority, and even before, it seems to me they have done nothing constructive, but continue to stay focused on trying to embarrass, impeach or just make President Bush look like a fool.
President Bush has his flaws, like any of us, but we are in a World War; and I can think of no one I would want in his place at this very precarious time in history.
The Dems just go from one foolish episode of “Let’s Embarrass Bush,” to another.
They worked and slaved and did as much damage as possible and caused so much consternation and used so much propaganda, that they finally got what they wanted; control of the House and Senate. But they’ve done nothing else.
With that new power, you would think they would start doing something to get this country back on the right track.
We have so many problems, besides the war; the terrorists living under our noses right here in the United states, for one.
The southern border stands wide open, no matter how much phony political propaganda is issued to try and sway public opinion. No one is doing much about “the fence.”
The Dems keep harping on “change.” Do we really need “change?” What do they want to change?
At the present time, the economy is at an all-time high and unemployment is at a serious low. What would they change about that?
Now when the White House decides to dismiss a few administration attorneys the Dems are all up in arms that the ones friendly to their cause may go, so they get all in an uproar and start yelling at Bush.
So what is new? I think Bush is getting so used to it he doesn’t even worry about it. But still they come after him.
The firing of the “several” prosecutors is completely legal and above board and President Bush has the right to fire anyone he feels like firing, for any reason, at any time. Yet, these small-minded “legislators”, (I use that term loosely) are so single-mindedly obsessed with “outing” Bush, that they grasp at any straw to try and build a case against him.
They are starting with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. They hope to force him to resign for his part in the firings. His job is quite extensive with something like 110,000 employees, and it would be extremely difficult for anyone to know everything that goes on in the Justice Department.
Even though no crime or injustice has been committed, the Dems want meat. They will take anything they can get. So at present, that is Alberto Gonzales. Not my choice for Attorney General, but still he was appointed by the President of the United States. I do not question the choice.
Now the latest and most damning of the Bush administration is the House vote to bring the troops home by September of 2008. This is great news for the enemy.
Bush has sworn to veto this legislation if it makes it through the senate, which is not likely. This is just one more idiotic move on the part of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
She rants and raves about the 3200 troops that have been killed since the war started. She should look at the murder numbers for Detroit in one year, or look to history. The Normandy invasion of World War II cost us 2500 American troops in a single day. This war is 5 years old.
We’ve never heard the Democrat’s plan, if it exists, as to how we will handle the terrorists when they follow the returning troops home to America. Of course, Nancy thinks if we stop, they will stop. If anyone ever needed a dose of reality, it is Nancy Pelosi and her ilk. She should stop with the personal politics and try to do something for the people of this country. All they are doing is wasting time investigating the Republicans. We need leaders!
So far, thank goodness, none of their schemes have worked. Although none have actually backfired, given more time in congress, I’m certain Nancy will self-destruct. In my opinion, It’s only a matter of time. Or is it just me?

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March B 2007

March A 2007

When was DHS ever "The Bully"?
A remark made by a city employee regarding the recent land grab by Cathedral City, that Desert Hot Springs is a bully, is so far off the mark that it only shows the depth of knowledge or the lack of, that this “official” has obtained in the short time he has served the city.
It seems there are many newbies who act as if they know the history of Desert Hot Springs, pretend to actually care about its future, but showing their obvious disdain for this historic old village.
Maybe Cathedral City did ask LAFCO to consider a request for bringing that area just north of I-10 into its sphere of Influence, but so did Desert Hot Springs.
I can remember in the early 90s, if not sooner, that the Desert Hot Springs was trying feverishly to secure that area. It seems to me that there were citizen committees that were working to make it part of our own, more than the city was, even then. I did a cartoon about it at the time.
Desert Hot Springs never really had the ammunition it needed to annex these areas, including Annexation 21, 22, Cholla Gardens and Mission Lakes Country Club.
In order to get the areas needed or wanted, the permission of the residents must be secured. Failing that, the annexation process would end. At least that was the process in the 1990s. There were also committees of residents in the area who were against the annexation.
Their reasoning, logically so, was to balance the scales of what they would give up and what they would get in return. They reasoned that Desert Hot Springs would need to offer them more than they were receiving from the County of Riverside. This means, in taxes, fire protection, infrastructure and availability of police. This was the same argument from Mission Lakes Country Club. "What can DHS give us that the county can't?"
Eventually, all these areas will be annexed; it is just a question of when, to whom or what city.
When Sonny Bono was mayor of Palm Springs, he promised that Palm Springs would not cross I-10 for any reason.
As soon as he left for congress a short time later, the new administration could not wait to come over and take the desirable tax base, including windmill companies and retail outlets, leaving the scraps to Desert Hot Springs. Does that sound like we are bullies? I don't see where Desert Hot Springs has ever been a bully. Bullies usually get their way. When was the last time Desert Hot Springs ever got anything out of our association with the "glamour cities" of the valley? We are still the step-child, and if the rest of the cities have their way, we will remain so.
Whatever is left in our sphere of influence, we should be going after with a fierce and fiery passion!
We have two main corridors; Pierson Boulevard and Palm Drive; if we lose those we may as well fold the tent. Highway 62 is not an option. Indian Canyon Drive is not an option. Pierson is ours; Palm Drive is ours. They are the crossroads of our city.
Will Cathedral City rename Palm Drive to Gene Autry Trail? Will they pay their fair share of the overpass debt? There is no reason for Desert Hot Springs to foot the entire bill if Cathedral City is going to reap all the benefits. Let them build the overpass, so the traffic can get to their many commercial outlets, while we sit and dream of another miracle to save us. Will they come far enough north to tap into our hot water aquifer? I’m sure they will try.
There are many questions still floating around. We have to have officials who care passionately for the future of this city and will fight to secure it.
I believe Scott Matas has that passion. He grew up here and wants nothing but the best for our town. I believe he will settle for no less. He will be like a breath of fresh air. Let's get behind him on March 6 and get him working towards annexation for us; our town, Desert Hot Springs, not for Palm Springs; not for Cathedral City or any other town. I don’t care if they like us or not. If this sounds like bullying, so what? I don’t know of a time we were ever a bully. Maybe it’s time we were.
Or is it just me?

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February B 2007

 Congress Has Set Us Back
So Far We May Not Recover

About fed-up?

President Jimmy Carter was a simpleton. One of his biggest boondoggles was his stupendously stupid gesture of giving away the Panama Canal; not to mention his constant attempts to destroy Israel through “diplomatic” means.

Ronald Reagan became the hero to the modern world and did much to bring pride and patriotism back to the country. He is credited with ending the cold war and bringing about the demise of Communism in the Soviet Union, including the toppling of the Berlin wall. It was Reagan who caused me, a Democrat at the time, to question the ever-changing tone of the Democrats and their elitist mind-set.

George Herbert Walker Bush was a likable, do-little president who bombed Saddaam Hussein and had his little war, spending billions of taxpayer dollars to restore Kuwait, after rescuing it from Iraq’s attempted domination, while making globalist slips of the tongue about how a one-world government was the only way. This statement was heard on television one time by myself, and was quickly hushed, not made publicly by Bush again.

I became a Republican when Bill Clinton was embarrassing the country and making dumb decisions at the expense of the American people and many people overseas, when he needed a distraction to hide his shameful tactics in the oval office.
Preferring to be an Independent, I became a Republican, not only because of Bill Clinton’ presidency, but also because of the people, mostly democrats, that he and his wife Hillary were associated with.
Too many questions and too many deaths surrounded the Clintons plus Bill’s many shenanigans. It was just not believable that 100 people could be liars while Bubba remained ever so truthful.

During George H.W. Bush’s presidency, I began noticing the rapid increase in the Mexico/United States border activity.
While a very few radio hosts talked about the hundreds of illegal aliens coming across the border daily I also noticed that many Americans, at that time, were calling these radio hosts, “racists”. I could not understand why they weren’t called patriots for trying to defend the U.S. Constitution by announcing the fact that these border-crashers were indeed illegal.
Chuck Harder, one of the first radio talk-show hosts to warn us of the ever-increasing amount of illegal crossings, was drummed off the air more than once.
So many well-meaning listeners angrily called his stations and his sponsors, that he was forced to purchase his own radio station and to broadcast independently.
This he did for several years and opened my eyes to the border crossings while our congress pretended there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Congress assumed that a few illegals were slipping across, but they were only coming for jobs to feed their families and to better their lives, so it was ok. We did not even consider at the time that perhaps this mindset may have been instigated by someone or some group higher up.
Pat Buchanan, a former presidential speech writer, who once ran for the presidential nomination, and did surprisingly well, also tried to warn us of the impending growth and danger of the illegals. He was subsequently branded a liar, a Hitler, a racist and any name which might define the devil.

That was about 15 years ago, when Harder and Buchanan were warning us to what was coming. Now it is here. The number, as last reported by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, (FAIR) and the American Border Patrol’s website, was approximately 10,000 per day crossing the combined borders illegally. According to the official definition, this constitutes an invasion. That includes aliens from Mexico and OTMs. (other than Mexicans) and in all that time the U.S. congress has done basically nothing but sit on their hands, look the other way and spout rhetoric. You can also forget any security fence being built on the border.

The presidents following Ronald Reagan have done nothing and the subsequent congresses have followed their lead.
Now, the Democrats are the majority in both houses and have never been strong on immigration control. I now worry that our border security is even more in peril.
To this day, congress, for fear of losing their season-pass to the White House parties, has done everything possible to please the president and keep the borders open, while ignoring the United States Constitution, the law of the land. To me, this is blatant treason, and a few members of congress are echoing that feeling.

Now with the two Border Patrol agents being imprisoned for trying to protect our border by catching a known drug runner, then having our government prosecute them with bogus information while kissing up to the smuggler, it is more than I can take. Recently one agent was put into the ‘general population’ in prison and was severly beaten. With the administration admitting the charges against the agents were bogus, I’m expecting a pardon for them from George Bush.
If he does not issue a pardon for these two American patriots, I would be in favor of a fresh, new, political party of Ameican citizens. A citizen congress is far overdue.

It is hard to be a “sheep citizen”, when I see a gutless congress and a president who cares little for the sovereignty of this country, seeming to want a merger with our northern and southern neighbors. It may be time for a real American Party. I just hope there is time to save this country. Are you fed up? Or is it just me?
 

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February A 2007

What Are We Voting For?

Moving into the new year, we the people of Desert Hot Springs are once again asked to choose a new city council member to serve us to the best of his ability.
Familair faces appear before us to try one more time to gain a semblance of power for reasons always murky at best.
A clear and impartial City Council Candidate Forum should be held with an impartial moderator, preferably one from another city, whereby the public has a chance to ask important questions of the candidates.
With the modern climate of politics in this country, a citizen may often wonder why anyone would ever want to run for public office or be a part of it.
When we were young and dumb, we would have said, “Why, he’s running because he wants to make a difference! He’s running because he wants to get this country headed back in the right direction. He’s running because he loves his country and wants to better it for the people!”
Yes, at one time, most of us believed this. It is a different time. Maybe the younger generations still do believe there is a shining saviour out there who will ride in on his fiery steed and vanquish the evil doers and create Camelot.
In today’s political environment it isn’t hard to see who cares for the city and for the people, and who cares for the advancement and “power” of attaining office for self promotion.
One need only watch a few televised city council meetings to determine who the self-agrandizers are. It is very obvious.
The campaigners today play with a different set of rules.
The campaigns also signal the mysterious disappearance of The Valley Breeze from racks and counters throughout Desert Hot Springs. I realize the popularity of the Breeze is great, but papers have been seen going out the door by the handsful. When two hundred Valley Breezes are left at the DHS Senior Center on Wednesday afternoon and then disappear by Thursday, it may look a bit suspicious.
Those in charge of various newspaper locations have been alerted to watch for the thieves and report them immediately. In some cases the people have alerted the Valley Breeze to the disappearances of the papers, with the usual suspects in mind.
This happened just before another election a couple of years ago.
At that time, one of the thieves was challenged by the person in charge. His reply was that he had many friends who wanted to read the paper. In a few cases, this may be true. However, if proven otherwise, a newspaper-napper can be prosecuted for theft. It has happened in other cities. It is expensive to print a newspaper and the thieves of these newspapers are not only robbing the readers of public information, but are also committing a crime, punishable by law.
In the coming days and even on into the months approaching the General Election, some managers will have video cameras handy and will be on the lookout.
Be warned; stealing newspapers, even if they are a free newspaper, is punishable by law. Technically, the law says ‘one newspaper for one person.’ We do not hold to that standard, but most do. To those who think they have an advantage by making the Valley Breeze disappear should give some thought to the circumstances.
Obviously, these culprits fear The Valley Breeze will make endorsements for candidates other than their own.
In this case they are probably correct.
In the opinion of this writer there is only one candidate who will do the utmost to promote, secure and advance the city and community of Desert Hot Springs above all else.
He is a business owner; and it has been years since we’ve had an actual business owner on the council if ever. A business owner understands the merchants. His name is Scott Matas and he seems the most outstanding candidate for city council. Scott has a long history with Desert Hot Springs, having grown up and attending school here. He has been a 16 year volunteer Fire Fighter and was awarded The Volunteer of the Year Award, among many, many others, including the Mayor's Community Hero Award presented by Mayor Matt Weyuker in 2002.
To my way of thinking, there is only one choice to fill the seat of City Councilman, and that would be Scott Matas, to help round out a well-balanced Desert Hot Springs City Council.
To get more information on this spiritual, good community family man, go to: www.scotmatas.com and see for yourself, the hisory of this caring young man, who says he has lived in Desert Hot Springs so long, “I am an oldtimer at 35.”
Awards do not make the man, but still, there had to be a reason he was chosen to receive them. Scott Matas should be allowed to increase his service for our community, for the benefit of all.
Or is it just me?

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January B 2007

These are Historic Times

This is such a historic time for many of us right now; but I suppose it always is.
In Palm Springs we watch intently as preparations are made to honor a United States President and a popular valley figure, our resident president, Gerald R. Ford. Our associate, Lynne Howes was able to get up close and personal to the proceedings, as his coffin is placed on the aircraft for a journey to Washington, D.C.
Almost at the same time in history, Iraqis are celebrating and rioting over the execution of a vicious tyrannical butcher, Saddam Hussein, dictator of one of the largest nations of muslims in the world.
In a secluded cemetery, on Saturday, December 30, 2007, another beloved figure is laid to rest. At Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cathedral City, California. Paula Harris, a personal friend for nearly 30 years, is honored by a multitude of friends, admirers and family. You could say that with Paula's popularity that she might have even had a fan-base. No one in my memory, in Desert Hot Springs, was more loved, more popular, envied or admired than was Paula Mae Judkins, better known as Paula Harris. I often jokingly answered her as "Miss Paula", when she commanded me to do a task, when I helped her setting up the bar for our monthly Chamber of Commerce mixers. Paul Ross and I were her mules. We were her slaves and we loved every minute of it; carrying out her demands to the letter. When the bar was set-up to Paula's satisfaction, she would chase us away until it was time to fetch ice for her or to close up and carry away the bar paraphernalia.
I attended her funeral, not as a journalist, but as a friend, so you won’t see any photos of the ceremony or of the casket. Gerald Ford was a president of the U.S.; Paula was a friend. I think to record the proceedings is fine, but not to have camera flashes going off during.
As I stood there, on this cool, but bright morning, many memories raced through my mind, and I thought, “Paula is gone.”
I wish we could get her back. Then I think to myself, "maybe she is in a better place. Now, she is at peace."
So I wondered, "why do we mourn?" Is it out of selfishness because we won't have her here to entertain us and be our friend?
Do we mourn a loss such as Dr. Tad Lonergan, Jerry Skuse, Barbara Webb, Ed Jacobson, Paul Allen, or Paula Harris, because we need them or because we want them? They are in a place so much better than where they were. Do we not want the best for them?
This kind of thinking is the reason many rejoice at a death of a dear one, rather than grieve. We should celebrate Paula's great life and her contributions. A remarkable woman, Paula did so much for her community and city.
In an effort to take pressure off our police force, Paula, became a co-founder in the formation of the Desert Hot Springs Citizens On Patrol (COP) for our city. She took the time to attend classes and special training, learning every aspect of what was necessary to become a qualified Citizen On Patrol. She did many "Ride-alongs" with police and I believe she even took firearms training. She learned the proper method of giving Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation, (CPR) and used a vinyl training dummy to teach mouth-to-mouth lessons to her COP members. I rented an office next door to Paula in her building, where she was my "land lady". Often she would ask, "when are you going to take training and get with the COP program?" “Would I have to learn CPR and mouth to mouth?” “Of course,” she said.
I then told her that I would be happy to take the training, if she would be the practice dummy." After I picked myself up off the floor, we had a good laugh. She was my buddy and I’m still a little selfish; but I think it’s okay, ; or is it just me?

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January A 2007

December B 2006 -

 A Christian Celebration? Merry Christmas To You!

I have listened to politicians declare their Christianity over the years and wondered how dedicated they really were to the religion of Jesus Christ.
When it was popular and fashionable to be a Christian for the last 235 years of this country’s existence, it paid to be a “Christian”, for the sake of getting elected and they all jumped on the bandwagon. Now, it doesn’t always work
As a matter of fact, the first muslim has been elected to the
United States Congress and refuses to take the oath of office with his hand on the Bible. Instead, he will be sworn on the Koran, the Muslim Bible.
Will the politicians of the future go along with what is popular, if that trend happens to be muslim? Maybe they can swear on a bubble-gum wrapper. Obviously it matters not what the historical values of this country were based on.
I am not saying that the future Congressional officials will be muslim, I’m only saying to watch your congress person. See how they lean in their “religion.” This country was created and based on the Judeo-Christian theology.
There was no mention of anyone swearing an oath to Mohammed.
It makes me wonder how his voters and supporters feel about his dedication to a “religion” that seems to have the goal of killing everyone who does not agree with it?
Back to our elected officials. Are they only using Christianity to appease their constituents? I’m sure there are some who try to be faithful followers and do their best to live as the Bible commands.
None of us is a perfect Chirstian or perfect people. I don’t know what is required to be a perfect muslim.
A politician seems to lose his Christianity when it comes to voting for something that might benefit him or his buddies in Washington. Christianity flies out the window.
What’s that? “Judge not, lest ye be judged?” Oh, I’ll be judged all right, but I’m merely pointing out that we have to get politicians who are faithful to their convictions. If they are voted in to serve their constituents when 86% say we should follow the U.S. Constitution and secure our borders and congress sits on their collective hands and does nothing, what do you call that? Has money and greed overtaken any Christian values? Is it more important to be comfortable and have “money and power” on earth for a short time, than it is to have peace and joy forever? If it is impossible for these guys to seperate the two, then they should not run for political office; and by the same token, they are abandoning their religion.
I am celebrating Christmas this year, as I have every year since I was born. It is not “Happy Holiday” or “Good Tidings” or “Season’s Greetings;” it is “Merry Christmas.”
You can say anything you like that makes you feel good about yourself, but you should not abanbon our Christian beliefs and our Christian celebration at Christmas time. It is Christmas, no matter what. Politicians can change laws, they can deny Christmas exists, they can take bribes and be intimidated by huge corporations, illegal alien votes and those who hate Christmas and America; but they cannot change that which is, that which has always been and that which always will be.

Or is it just me?

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So What's Wrong With Apple Pie?

December A 2006 -

As we begin to settle into the holiday season, we are reminded of bygone days. Past family Christmas celebrations come to mind as well as other sacred holidays.
Christmas comes normally, at the same time as the Jewish holiday, Channukah.
To me this only gives strength and stability to the belief and timing of the birth of the Christ child in Bethlehem.
Although I am not educated in the Hebrew or Jewish religion, I do realize that our culture and spiritual beliefs stem from original Judeo-Christianity.
Our country has survived and prospered under this culture and these beliefs.
It happens every year, and it will happen again this year, that those who feel they must do their part to destroy these holidays and these beliefs, will raise their ugly heads again in protest. Although it seems the only religions protested are the Christian and Jewish religions.
Why do you suppose this is? I believe it is because we are tolerant. Maybe too tolerant. The Christian religion says “turn the other cheek,” and we have been doing it for 2000 years. However, as a nation, as a country in defense of itself, we have always come together as one, with one purpose; that being to protect this country and our American way of life.
Obviously, those who want to change our society or culture, have become aware of our “cheek-turning.” They apparently feel they can walk all over our religion, our culture and our flag. In most cases, the United States government allows this. The flag desecration is automatic because it can be defined in the U.S. Constitution as a “freedom of expression.” This is the most asinine expression of any freedoms I can imagine! Doesn’t it also follow, if the flag belongs to all Americans, that those who want to express their freedoms could just as well blow up the Lincoln Memorial or the Washington Monument? Don’t those beloved landmarks belong to all Americans, as well?
This lazy, greedy, do-nothing, corrupt bunch of politicians that presently occupy the House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats alike, are the worst I can remember since I’ve been old enough to vote. The way the Constitution is trashed or simply ignored, in my opinion, is nothing less than treason. Truth be known, I would guess they collectively commit treason daily. They have made it legal.
The most brazen is the neglect of our southern and northern borders. Our daily complacency regarding our security.
This elected bunch of racketeers do nothing to stop the flow of illegal gun runners, dope dealers or people smugglers coming across by the thousands. If one looks for the official definition of invasion, this qualifies. There are regulations that define “invasion” and theyearly number of illegals far ex