Desert Star Weekly 'Friday' June 16, 2023 issue!

Your adjudicated newspaper for Riverside County

desert STAR

“DHS Pop-Ups”

Friday

Nights on Pierson Continues by Popular Demand and Welcomes Pop-Up Vendors!”

By Desert Star Staff

We’re excited to share that “Friday Nights on Pierson” will now be a weekly event due to its positive reception by the community. Beginning June 16th, the event will take place every

Friday from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM in the Downtown Arts and Culture District of Desert Hot Springs.

We are thrilled to announce the addition of pop-up food vendors to our already impressive lineup,

providing an even greater variety of culinary options for our event. We are inviting local vendors specializing in food, art, and merchandise to participate in this exciting opportunity. If you desire to showcase your creations

Howard Shangraw named New Director of the CVRep Conservatory

By Desert Star Staff

Howard Shangraw, a veteran actor, director, playwright, and arts administrator, has been appointed as the new director of the Conservatory at Coachella Valley Repertory. The Conservatory has also announced its 2023 summer schedule of classes, which will run from June 19 to August 29. The summer session will offer a variety of courses, including Acting Technique, Going Solo: The Art of the OnePerson Show, The I Hate Shakespeare Shakespeare

Workshop, Empowered Improv, Improve Essentials, Acting Pro: Mastering the Audition, Movement for Actors: Athletes of Emotion and Improv FUNdamentals! The faculty includes experienced industry professionals who have taught advanced-level classes, master classes, and theatre programs.

The instructors include Alix Korey, a Broadway veteran and featured artist in CVRep’s 2023 Summer Cabaret Series, Jeanette Knight and Melanie Blue, who have both worked at CVRep, Kudra Wagner, the

CVRep Company Manager, and Mr. Shangraw. The courses are offered in two age categories: young people aged 8 through high school and adults aged 16 and above.

All classes are held at Coachella Valley Repertory, 68510 E. Palm Canyon Dr. in Cathedral City. For complete information and to enroll, visit the Coachella Valley Repertory’s website at www.cvrep.org/ conservatory-outreach or call the Conservatory office at (760) 296-2966, ext.? Scholarships are available.

and impress the taste buds of our attendees, we highly encourage you to apply to become a vendor. This is an extraordinary chance to exhibit your unique

offerings to a captivated audience and make a lasting impression. For more information

Benefits of Propane-Powered School Buses

this goal, such as propane, which is environmentally friendly and affordable.

Implementing solutions today, like propane-powered buses, can provide a better tomorrow for students. Consider these benefits of propane buses from the Propane Education & Research Council.

Student Health: Propane buses provide a variety of health benefits compared to diesel buses, including: Reducing harmful emissions that are known to cause respiratory issues like asthma and bronchitis

The Environment: Propane reduces emissions that negatively impact air quality in a scalable, affordable way.

Cost Savings: Propane and electricity offer clean transportation, but the cost is different. A propane bus costs roughly one-third of an electric bus, meaning school districts can retire aging diesel fleets three times faster.

By Desert Star Staff

around

ride to

Providing a quieter ride so students arrive calmer and ready to learn Offering a comfortable ride in a cabin that warms up quickly

Reliability: A range of 400 miles means propane buses offer reliable performance at long distances without stopping to refuel. Visit BetterOurBuses.com to find more information you can share with your student’s school district leaders.

CA Families Struggle to Find Affordable Child Care

By Desert Star Staff

California families are paying way too much for child care, according to the 2023 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation today.

The new report showed that single mothers in California pay 31% of the average median income for family-based child care, and couples pay 10%, the thirdhighest rate in the country.

Kelly Hardy, senior managing director of health and research at the nonprofit Children Now, said hundreds of thousands of California families need subsidized child care but cannot find it. She hopes the new state budget, being finalized this week, will address the issue.

“We’re looking for a 25% rate increase for all subsidized child care so that those providers can earn a living wage,” Hardy

explained. “And that the 20,000 child care spaces scheduled to be released in 2023-24, be released today.”

The research ranked the Golden State 35th for children’s overall well-being and 43rd for economic well-being, issues linked to the high cost of housing. The report also found that nationwide, educational indicators worsened over the past few years, with fewer 3- and 4-year-olds in preschool and drops in the percentage of fourth graders proficient in reading and eighth graders working at grade level in math.

Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, said Congress was on the right track when it expanded the Child Tax Credit during the pandemic and started sending families extra checks.

“It was the largest onetime reduction in child poverty in a single year that we’ve seen,” Boissiere pointed out. “And making permanent the expansion of the Child Tax Credit could significantly impact the number of children and families living in poverty.”

By Desert Star Staff

Firing up the grill can be a simple solution for creating various dishes in the comfort of your backyard or outdoor living space. Propane-powered grills are popular because they heat up quickly, requiring home chefs to spend less time preparing food. Plus, like indoor gas ranges, propane-powered grills allow greater control of heat levels for more precise cooking. However, it’s essential to take proper precautions around outdoor cooking appliances.

Consider these safety tips from Propane Education & Research Council experts before your next cookout, and learn more at Propane. com. Family Features

There is some good news: Teen births have continued to fall, and California has one of the country’s highest rates of health insurance for kids.

Disclosure: The Annie

E. Casey Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Children’s Issues, Education, Juvenile Justice, and Welfare Reform.

Continued from Page 1

or to apply as a pop-up food, art, or merchandise vendor, please email Erick Becerril, Community Programs Manager, at Ebecerril@cityofdhs.org.

WHAT: Friday Nights

on Pierson WHERE: 11940 Palm Drive Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240

WHEN: Every Friday, 2023 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

(Note: Parking is available at Builders Supply, City Hall, or permitted parking areas on Pierson/Palm)

Whether your child’s school bus takes them

the block or across town, every child deserves a safe, clean, healthy

the classroom. There are diverse energy options that can achieve