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Thursday November 14, 2019 Volume 65 | Number 12

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CELEBRATING THE RESIDENTIAL PARK COMMUNITIES FOR 65 YEARS

Bighorn Bam and The Shops on El Paseo Present

A Miracle on El Paseo

Benefiting Local Cancer Patients on November 23

photo courtesy of Bighorn Bam

he famous El Paseo shopping district will turn into a winter wonderland for the 12th annual “A Miracle on El Paseo,” Saturday, November 23, from 5 to 9 p.m. The festive evening is hosted by The Shops on El Paseo, the Coachella Valley’s premier luxury shopping and dining destination, and benefits BIGHORN Behind A Miracle (BAM). Guests are invited to kick off the holiday season with street dancers, carolers and other live entertainment, a five-story Ferris wheel, a designer fashion show, familyfun activities including Santa’s Village and ornament making, an interactive snow globe perfect for photo ops, and over 20 of the Valley’s top restaurants and vendors offering tastings, all included in one ticket price. The Shops on El Paseo owner Fred Fern, Palm Desert Mayor Susan Marie Weber, BIGHORN BAM founder Selby Dunham, and BAM chair Debbie Aarthun and cochair Cathy Johnson will do the honors of officially lighting the 60-foot El Paseo Christmas tree. This year, Santa will make a grand entrance on a City of Palm Desert fire truck accompanied by the Bear Brass Band, Palm Desert’s Xavier College Prep cheer and dance teams, live marching toy soldiers, the “Gift Wrap Girls,” Rockette-style dancers, and more.

Musical entertainment on the Hot Purple Energy concert stage will feature Stevie Nicks Illusion, a Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Wrapping up the evening are Palm Springs Modernism Week fan favorites, The Dreamboats, a Canadian quartet playing good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll with a sound that is equal parts Chuck Berry and The Wonders. For a limited time only, the following BAM retail partners located at The Shops on El Paseo will be donating 10% of each sale to BIGHORN BAM when BAM is mentioned during the sales transaction. · November 14–24: Escada, Grayse, Oliver Peoples, Ralph Lauren, and Summer Colony Living · November 20 – 23: Leggiadro · November 23: Riga’s Tickets purchased in advance are $50 for adults 21 and older, $15 for youth ages 6-20, and ages 5 and under are free. At the door, tickets are $60 for adults 21 and older and $20 for ages 6-20. One hundred percent of ticket sales go to helping cancer patients and their families. To purchase tickets for “A Miracle on El Paseo,” or to learn more about how you can support local cancer patients through BIGHORN BAM, visit www. BIGHORNBAM.net/miracle or call 760-610-8218.

ANSWER ON PAGE 9

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WORD SEARCH Study: Owning a Dog Can be Good for Us

ANSWER TO WORD SEARCH ON PAGE 9

AMBULATORY

DEVELOPMENT

JAUNDICE

ANOMALY

EXPRESSION

LEARNING

AROUSAL

FAMILY

MILESTONE

AUDITORY

FEEDING

MOVEMENT

BEHAVIOR

FLUENCY

REFLEX

CHILD

GAIT

SAFETY

COGNITION

GRASP

SCREENING

CONGENITAL

INFANT

TEETHING

Did you adopt a dog during AdoptA-Shelter-Dog Month in October? There’s some good news if you did. The Mayo Clinic has published a report of a large study (Kardiovize Brno 2030) showing why it’s to our benefit to own a pet. When we own a pet, especially a dog, we have healthier hearts and a better diet. We get more physical exercise, and we see blood-sugar levels that are more normal. Pets reduce our level of stress and help us stick to routines. Dogs help us fight isolation and loneliness by providing social interaction when we go out. Owning a pet can lower our blood pressure, and we’re less likely to have diabetes. However, despite the positives of owning a pet, there are concerns (and some solutions to them) to consider before we adopt: • Can you afford the food and veterinary care a dog requires? Ask the local food bank if it provides pet food. Look for a vet who offers

‘Was My Dog Poisoned?’

Staff Deb Geissler Publisher Kimberly Brucks Advertising Manager KBrucks@desertentertainer.com

Jose De La Cruz Senior Graphic Designer news@desertmobilehomenews.com

Serving 110 Mobile Manufactured Home and RV Parks in the Coachella, Morongo and Yucca Valley for 65 years. The Mobile Home News is a household tradition for the 55+ manufactured home park and RV Park population. Available at clubhouses and racks in manufactured home parks. Also available in many area businesses and senior centers. Businesses or private parties interested in advertising to the 55+ community please call 760-820-2610. Published Thursdays by Hi-Desert Publishing Company. News, photos or editorial submissions or story ideas should be sent to news@desertmobilehomenews.com All delivery issues should be directed to Ahkto Distribution at distribution@ahkto.com or call 760-459-4204

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Dear Paw’s Corner We have three dogs that freely roam our 26-acre property almost yearround. In August, our youngest dog, “Striper,” went out for a couple of hours and when he returned he was panting heavily. He began drooling and then vomiting. As we got ready to take him to the vet, he collapsed and stopped breathing. We weren’t able to revive him. Our vet said he could have eaten something poisonous. Since then I’ve walked or ridden all over our property to see what he might have eaten, but I’ve found nothing. My neighbors couldn’t have given him something bad. What could have happened? -- Mystified in Northern New Hampshire Dear Mystified First, I am truly sorry that you lost Striper so tragi-

senior discounts. Keep an eye out for annual vaccination clinics for low-cost immunizations. • If a shelter dog has behavioral issues because of previous experiences, do you have enough patience to handle the necessary training? Inquire at the local pet store about training classes for any dog you adopt. • Can you afford the initial shelter fees for an exam and spay or neuter, as well as the adoption fee? There’s an organization called Pets for the Elderly (petsfortheelderly.org) in 37 states that will help seniors over age 60 to cover the costs of adoption. • Are you able to walk enough to give a dog the amount of exercise it needs? Talk to a neighbor. You might find one that will be quite happy to walk the dog when you can’t. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

cally. Finding the reason may require a little more investigation. Did the veterinarian give any indication of what the poison may have been? Did you look at what Striper vomited up just before he collapsed, or take a sample to the vet? While it’s not always possible to tell without more testing, looking for clues to what happened can help to keep your two surviving dogs safe. Some wild plants are poisonous to dogs, though the worst types usually taste terrible. Standing water with a blue-green algae bloom is a possibility; this cyanobacteria, deadly to pets, often blooms in Southern states in late summer but is creeping northward due to climate change. Household garbage may have cleaning chemicals or old medications mixed in with tempting food scraps. Could old antifreeze have been dumped near the edge of your property? Consider any and all possibilities. Meanwhile, you can keep your other dogs safe by securing outdoor garbage can lids, separating household cleaning containers from regular trash and monitoring the dogs’ outdoor roaming more closely. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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DesertMobileHomeNews.com • If you’re like the average American, you will eat about 150 bananas this year -- 26 pounds’ worth.

1. GEOGRAPHY: In which two U.S. states is the Gila River located? 2. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin suffix –arium mean? 3. LITERATURE: Which 19th-century novel begins with the line, “For many days we had been tempesttossed.” 4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: In what year did President Richard Nixon resign from office? 5. MUSIC: Who had the 1970s hit “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”?

• It was novelist, poet and playwright Gertrude Stein who made the following sage observation: “Everybody knows if you are too careful, you are so occupied in being careful that you are sure to stumble over something.” • Some people enjoy novelty when dining out, but restaurateurs take a big risk when adding new items to a menu; it seems that less than a third of diners will actually try a new menu item.

• A researcher in Britain calculated that local farmland contains more than 2 million spiders per acre. Must be small ones, I’d say. • Up until the 1500s, the accepted way of dealing with a patient who was hemorrhaging was to cauterize the wound, often with boiling oil or red-hot irons. It was in the latter part of the 16th century that a French surgeon named Ambroise Pare began tying off the broken blood vessels with cord. That’s pretty much what surgeons do today. • The White House was not designed by an American. It was

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Irish architect James Hoban who won the competition to create the architectural plans for the home of the political leader of the United States. • The name of the state of Vermont comes from the French “mont vert,” which means “green mountain.” (If the explorers who named the state saw green mountains, they obviously were not there in the winter.) Thought for the Day “I don’t trust a man who uses the word evil 18 times in 10 minutes. If you’re half evil, nothing soothes you more than to think the person you are opposed to is totally evil.” -Norman Mailer (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

6. MEASUREMENTS: How long is a span, as mentioned in the Bible?

• “I love handmade whipped cream, but it’s a little bit messy when it starts out. I throw a small kitchen towel over the mixer until it gets solid, and this has cut down substantially on mixer messes!” -- T.T. in Minnesota

7. HISTORY: What was the code name of the Allies’ invasion of North Africa in World War II? 8. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which organization did Juliette Low found in 1912? 9. PSYCHOLOGY: What abnormal fear is represented in the condition called atychiphobia? 10. TELEVISION: What was the number of the mobile hospital unit in the TV drama “M*A*S*H”? © 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

ANSWER TO TRIVIA ON PAGE 9

• Do you butter your cheese? You might want to try it when you hear this tip from K.M. in Pennsylvania: “I was always taught to rub a bit of butter on the cut side of my cheese so that it would not dry out.”

• When static season hits, try this fun trick: Mix a liquid fabric softener and water in a 1 part to 4 parts ratio. Use this to spray carpets from time to time. • Looking for a small eco-friendly swap? Try using biodegradable

garbage bags. They are available at some grocery stores and at online retailers. * “When you get to the end of your bottle of shampoo or conditioner, just add a bit of water to the bottle, and then shake. You can get at least two more uses out of it, even if you think it’s totally empty. Waste not, want not!” -G.T. in Alabama (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Q: What happened to the TV show “The Resident”? Did it get canceled? -- W.C. A: Season three of the FOX medical drama “The Resident” actually premiered Sept. 24, but you might be missing it because it’s on a new night -- Tuesdays. Actor Morris Chestnut joins the show this season as smooth-talking surgeon Dr. Barrett Cain. He has played a physician on two other shows recently: “Rosewood” and “Nurse Jackie.” “The Resident” also stars several other actors familiar to TV audiences: Matt Czuchry, who plays Conrad, was on “The Good Wife” and “Gilmore Girls”; Emily Van Camp, who plays Nicolette, starred in “Revenge” and “Everwood”; and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who plays AJ, is of course best remembered from “The Cosby Show.” Q: Will the PBS show “My Mother and Other Strangers” from 2017 ever return with more episodes? -- R.K. A: Set in Northern Ireland, “My Mother and Other Strangers” depicted a family and its neighbors as they struggled to adjust to the addition of a U.S. Army Air Force

“My Mother and Other Strangers” Photo courtesy of PBS.

base -- and its 4,000 servicemen and -women -- in their rural village during World War II. Despite originally airing on BBC One with only five episodes, it was considered an anthology series under PBS’ “Masterpiece” umbrella. Masterpiece (formerly known as Masterpiece Theatre) has aired many acclaimed British productions. There is, however, another WWII-based drama on the PBS Masterpiece schedule for 2019. “World on Fire” stars Oscar-winner Helen Hunt (“Mad About You”) and is set in Britain, Poland, France, Germany and the United States. There’s also “Sanditon,” based on an unfinished story by Jane Austen, that will air in January. Also look for a new version of “All Creatures Great and Small,” based on the books by James Herriot about a country veterinarian in the 1930s. To sign up for an email newsletter that notifies you of all the upcoming Masterpiece shows, go to pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

Bird Whistle “I bought a wooden whistle, but it wouldn’t whistle” is part of an old children’s song that goes on to joke about buying a metal whistle. But a modern metal whistle used by a policeman looks very different from the wooden whistle made centuries ago. And today, if a whistle is wood, it usually is carved into an interesting shape or painted to hide the wood surface. Very early whistles were made from a hollow reed or bird bones. By the 17th century, ceramic whistles were made, often in the shape of an owl or other bird. The center of the whistle held water. Blowing into a hole on its back made the water move and make a sound. There also were wind whistles handmade or molded from clay. Many have been made since the 17th century, but few of the early clay bird whistles remain. Most are not marked, but

Bird whistles are still made, but of modern materials. This multicolored bird, a whistle that would whistle, sold for $212.

are decorated with an identifiable regional design. Today you can find a lot of whistles made of pot metal, celluloid or plastic. An unmarked earthenware bird whistle with colorful paint decoration was sold at a Hess Auction Group auction that featured Pennsylvania wares. The 4-inch-long bird sold for $212. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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CROSSWORD

ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 9

ACROSS 1. Small viper 4. Some are covert 7. A waiver of liability (abbr.) 10. Speak out 11. Retirement plan 12. Small dog 13. City in Iraq 15. Car mechanics group 16. Shrimp-like creature 19. Majestic 21. TV detective 23. Central Canadian province 24. Causing to wind around 25. Wise man 26. Knicks legend Willis 27. Muscular weaknesses

30. John Stockton compiled them 34. South American plant 35. To some extent 36. Where manners are displayed 41. Showy 45. Fall down 46. Shoelaces are often this 47. Disease-causing bacterium 50. Egg-shaped wind instrument 54. Sufferings 55. One who noisily enjoys 56. About blood 57. Transaction verification system (abbr.) 59. Related through female family members

60. Low velocity grenade 61. “In Living Color” comedian 62. Veterans battleground 63. Expression of creative skill 64. Midway between northeast and east 65. Patti Hearst’s captors

DOWN 1. Something useful 2. It goes great with peppers and onions 3. Orifice 4. Turned into bone 5. The Princess could detect it 6. Bands of colors

7. Makes use of 8. Central African country 9. Lake in the Kalahari Desert 13. He was a “Chairman” 14. Legally possess 17. One point north of due west 18. Small peg of wood 20. Stretch of swampy ground 22. Is indebted to 27. Where you were born (abbr.) 28. A team’s best pitcher 29. Cool! 31. Female sibling 32. This stimulates the thyroid (abbr.) 33. Reserved 37. More prickled 38. Forbidden by law 39. One-time presidential candidate 40. A TV show has more than one 41. A place to stash things 42. Defunct currency in India 43. Causes to ferment 44. A type of gland 47. __ Humbug! 48. Everyone has one 49. Punctuation 51. Central American fruit 52. Brooklyn hoopster 53. 100 square meters 58. Local area network

SUDOKU

ANSWER TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 9

Brain Teaser If you feel scared on Halloween, jolly on Christmas, how do feel on Thanksgiving? SEE ANSWER ON PAGE 9

As Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola fight to retain the traditional release of films into movie theaters instead of streaming services, the last vestige of true movie stars (created by the major studios during the Golden Age of Hollywood) -- Jane Fonda (81), Shirley MacLaine (85), Sophia Loren (84) and Robert Redford (83) -- struggle to retain their stardom. Jane Fonda starred last year in “The Book Club,” with Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen, and has retained visibility thanks to the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie” (65 episodes and counting since 2015), with Lily Tomlin, and being arrested for protests such as the recent global warming demonstration. Shirley MacLaine starred in Hallmark’s “A Heavenly Christmas” (2016), with Eric McCormack, Netflix’s “The Little Mermaid” (2018) and in Disney’s

It’s Best to Taper Off Heartburn Meds Dear Dr. Roach I am a 61-year-old woman in fairly good health except that I have been taking prescription omeprazole once a day for heartburn for at least 10 years, if not more. I’ve read articles that say this isn’t good to take long term, like I’ve been doing. When I’ve tried to stop by using famotidine instead, I still suffer from heartburn throughout the day. I’ve raised my bed and tried sleeping in an upright position. Your thoughts, please. -- O.D.S. Answer It certainly is a good idea to periodically review with your doctor all the medications you take, to decide whether they are still necessary. It is very often the case that people are taking medications for unclear reasons, and the person who is prescribing it has been doing so without really thinking about whether the benefits still outweigh the risks, especially as people get older and may have acquired new conditions or had medication changes.

DesertMobileHomeNews.com just-released “Noelle,” with Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader and Julie Hagerty. Sophia Loren is shooting “The Life Ahead” (due in March), based on a Romain Gary novel and directed by her son Edoardo Ponti. Sophia, who plays a holocaust survivor who forges a bond with a 12-year-old boy, vows it will be something to remember. Robert Redford’s last film as an actor was “The Old Man & the Gun,” but he couldn’t resist doing cameos in “Avengers: Endgame” and the HBO series “Watchmen.” A special mention for Olivia de Havilland, last surviving star of 1939’s “Gone with the Wind,” who turned 103 July 1 in Paris. Not to be outdone, two old pros, Angela Lansbury (94) and Dick Van Dyke (94 on Dec. 13), will finally get see their 2018 Christmas film “Buttons,” which was shown for only night in theaters last Dec. 8. The film, narrated by Robert Redford and Kate Winslet, and co-starring Jane Seymour and Roma Downey, will be released digitally Nov. 19 and on DVD Dec. 3. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc. Proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole frequently are prescribed for short-term use but end up being continued for years. Except in people who absolutely need it (such as people with Barrett’s esophagus), I agree with a trial of stopping and using H2 blockers like famotidine on an as-needed basis. I recommend a taper, not a sudden stop. Proton pump inhibitors are likely to increase the risk of infection, such as pneumonia (without acid in the stomach, bacteria are not killed as efficiently) and intestinal infections; may possibly increase the risk of osteoporosis; and probably reduce vitamin B-12 and iron absorption. Although there have been reports of increased risk of kidney disease and dementia, I doubt the actual clinical risk is significant. Still, there are enough possible adverse effects that it is worth balancing the risks against the benefits of reducing symptoms. I am glad you tried some nondrug therapies, as we doctors often do not emphasize how important they are. In addition to raising the head of the bed (bricks under the feet is traditional, but a foam wedge under the mattress is also effective), losing weight for those who would benefit, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and not eating three hours before bedtime make drugs unnecessary for many. Some people benefit from eliminating certain foods, especially caffeine, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods. (c) 2019 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

Ham & Green Beans With Noodles • 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can reducedfat cream of mushroom soup • 1 cup water • 2 cups frozen cut green beans, partially thawed • 1 3/4 cups uncooked noodles • 1 1/2 cups diced fat-free ham • 1/4 cup nonfat sour cream • 1/4 cup reduced-fat Parmesan cheese • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1. In a large skillet, combine mushroom soup and water. Stir in green beans, uncooked noodles and ham. Cover and cook over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until beans and noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. 2. Add sour cream, Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Mix well to combine. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes 4 (1 cup) servings. (c) 2019 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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Crossword Answer

WordSearch Answer

Sudoku Answer

Hocus-Focus Answers

Trivia Answers

Differences: 1. Girl’s bow is missing. 2. Collar is different. 3. Boy’s pencil is gone. 4. Name on briefcase is different. 5. Shrub is missing. 6. Picture on box has changed.

1. Arizona and New Mexico 2. A place associated with a specific thing, such as planetarium. 3. “The Swiss Family Robinson” 4. 1974 5. Meat Loaf 6. About 9 inches 7. Operation Torch 8. Girl Scouts 9. Fear of failure 10. 4077th

Brain Teaser Answers Stuffed!

• The Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OWAP) often farmed out investigations instead of handling them in-house. In 2,526 cases it sent investigations to other departments that weren’t equipped to handle them.

Whistleblower Act Doesn’t Work The Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 was designed to hold employees accountable, investigate allegations and protect whistleblowers from retaliation, including from supervisors, at the Department of Veterans Affairs. It isn’t working. The VA’s Office of the Inspector General investigated complaints from June 2017 until August 2019. The OIG discovered that:

tleblower by a supervisor who was apparently a social pal of someone high up in OAWP. The whistleblower (and others) had previously complained about the supervisor. The whistleblower was never even interviewed, and the others were hesitant to report allegations because of the social ties of the two senior staff.

• It failed to protect whistleblowers’ identities, which resulted in 51 cases of whistleblower retaliation. • OAWP butted in with investigations into areas that weren’t within its scope and ignored some of those it should have handled. It was supposed to refer criminal cases to the Office of the Inspector General, but did so only 38 times. • It didn’t provide clear written guidance or training for personnel. More than a year after it started, the OAWP still didn’t have a

way of identifying errors and ensuring that the work was not biased. Additionally, it didn’t get all the facts, including witness statements, in each case. One case was investigated in a way that was likely intentionally retaliatory against the whis-

• Many cases took over a year to close. Discipline or penalties were random and subjective. Evidence was withheld. In cases of whistleblower retaliation, the whistleblower was forced to agree to having his/her identity revealed. Wow! Where is the incentive for those who want to do the right thing to come forward? (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

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