LocalSTAR Dictionary Distribution Day FLOOD ASSISTANCE continued from PAGE 1
actively involved in efforts to improve living conditions and access to safe drinking water in the unincorporated communities of the eastern Coachella Valley, including at Duroville. In recent months, Pérez has stepped in to bring state attention to the crisis at Duroville and the need to press forward on the construction of alternative housing for residents. The future of the Mountain View Estates complex has been uncertain, due to a determination by the California Department of Finance earlier this summer rejecting Riverside County’s request to use $12.1 million in redevelopment monies to fund the construction. In 2007, the Duroville park was declared uninhabitable due to extensive code violations and was placed under courtappointed receivership. Las Mañanitas Apartment complex is
managed by the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC). CVHC has developed 26 rental housing complexes, totaling 1,713 units. CVHC builds housing for people from all walks of life, including migrant and retired farm workers, large families, seniors, individuals with developmental and physical disabilities, and individuals living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) serves as the chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy. He represents the 80th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Blythe, Brawley, Calexico, C a l i p a t r i a , C a t h e d ra l City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Springs, and Westmorland.
Desert Sun Photos Correction The Desert Star Weekly wishes to apologize to the Desert Sun and the Gannett Corporation for using photo images of Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack and Dr. Raul Ruiz on the front page our Oct. 18 issue that are copyrighted by them. Our graphic artist acquired the images off the Internet and did not realize those photos were copyrighted by the Desert Sun. We would like to credit those photos to the Desert Sun and apologize for any inconvenience and misunderstanding.
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Slot Caption We also would like to apologize to the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino for an incorrect photo caption on page 23 of our Oct. 18 issue where a photo of covered slot machines stated “the slots were down.” The slots are not down at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino but were merely covered for a brief time while their gaming floor underwent a remodel project. We regret the error and apologize for any inconvenience.
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PALM SPRINGS, CA The Palm Springs Rotary Club (PSRC) visited the Cahuilla Elementary School on Wednesday, Oct. 24 to distribute 120 Webster’s Dictionaries to all third grade students, 120 World Atlases to all fourth grade students and 100 Thesauruses to all fifth grade students at the school. “Members of our club volunteer at the school, but this event is special because we know that for some kids this may be the only book that belongs to them. Our club and Rotary International strongly believe that literacy is so very important in the development of children,” said Milt Levinson. Dictionary Distribution Day is in its ninth year and is a partnership between Palm Springs Unified School District
Students at Cahuilla Elementary School (PSUSD) and the Palm Springs Rotary Club benefitting more than 2,300 students since its inception. The books cost $800 annually with total program costs at $7,100, all funded by the PSRC. The PSRC was founded in 1941. Rotary members have donated $1 million to more than 50 local charities and sponsored scholarships for
students via the club’s local Foundation. The club also raised more than $55,000 specifically to assist Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate polio worldwide. Rotary International, the world’s first service club organization, is made up of over 32,000 clubs located in more than 200 countries and geographical
areas. Its members form a global network of business and professional leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world. Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s 1.2 million members.
Green light for the
2012 Holiday Parade
By Dave Christensen DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA - The city council voted 2 to 1 to proceed with the Dec. 15 Holiday Parade. The vote for the parade was cast by Councilman Adam Sanchez and Mayor Yvonne Parks to proceed with the parade. Mayor Pro Tem Jan Pye cast the solo nay vote. Councilmembers Scott Matas and Russell Betts recused themselves. The proposed route of the parade will start at Desert View and Pierson Blvd., and proceed southbound to Two Bunch Palm shopping center. The city
will provide police protection, barricades, liability insurance and wave the permit fee. Contending against the parade, Police Commander Dan Bressler said “…the city did not have enough staff to have a parade go down Palm Drive,” but they would be able to staff an alternate parade route to go westbound on Pierson. However, the Community and Cultural Affairs Committee member and parade subcommittee leader Joe McKee said the committee “would not even lightly consider” changing the parade route. “For 20 years the parade went down Palm Drive, a significant number of buildings are abandoned, have been boarded up with foundations are just sitting there from buildings that have been torn
October 25, 2012
down. Access to the parade route would be more difficult for spectators and public parking would be further away with the proposed alternate route. “Marching into the wind would present a significant issue,” as opposed to the Palm Drive route where business buildings block the wind. The end route at K-Mart rather than Desert Hot Springs High School would benefit the business community,” McKee added. “We are ready to go, but we can’t convince bands to come if we don’t know if we are going to get your support. Everything we have done is worthless if we don’t get your approval.” “Either we start coming together as a community or we start falling apart,”
said Councilman Sanchez. “We don’t have a 4th of July parade because fireworks cost a tremendous amount of money. When it comes to doing an event that embraces what is good and great about this community, that’s what a parade does.” DHS Chamber of Commerce volunteer ambassador Jennifer Braun said “This community doesn’t have any events for the children of this community to look forward to. We need a parade for this city to heal; you can’t say bahhum-bug to that.” The city council vote gave the green light to proceed with plans to have a Holiday Parade on Dec. 15. On Oct. 18 the CCAC met and shifted into overdrive to “bring back” the Holiday Parade.
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