Fall 2020 by ReliancePublicRelations

Fall 2020

Publishers' Message You would think, as did we, that going to press ought to be a piece of cake as we start the fifth year of publishing Imperial Valley Alive. By now, you would think – as we did – that there would be a plan, a routine, a nice orderly way of getting things done. By now, you would think, we ought to know what we are doing. Heck, all of us have been putting publications together and going to press long before we ever considered starting the magazine of our dreams, Imperial Valley Alive, which is a regular tribute to the people, places and things that make this region unique and extraordinary. Yet getting this edition to press and into your hands has challenged us like nothing before. And how this labor of love got lost in the sands of time is still befuddling. Like always, we started with a plan, a recitation of the theme we expected to explore, the people we wanted to interview, the articles we expected to develop. Yet even as we began work, the events of the world seemed to pull us away from our proscribed path. The angst of the pandemic, mounting evidence of racial inequity and violence, the political malaise of the day buffeted all of society and each of us individually. Everything we attempted to complete seemed knotted in a tangle of uncertainty. Soon, we seemed stuck in a

Bill Gay

Pulling it together in a region rich with diversity

quicksand of lethargy, lost in a quagmire of angst and doubt. We worked, and worked hard on numerous projects, including the magazine, yet much of our progress seemed to languish during the dark time from the pandemic lockdown of the spring through the sweltering doldrums of summer. Fall blew in with cooler weather. And, once again, the Valley’s season of renewal helped rouse us. More than ever, we needed that jolt to move us beyond the dreary stupor of the past several months. This edition was initially planned to capture glimpses of the Valley’s cultural diversity. While the edition before you forged a path different from what we had initially envisioned, it miraculously morphed into something profoundly perfect for today. The creative process will never cease to amaze! Fall brought with it the conclusion of a unique baseball season - and a chance to take a brief, and enjoyable, diversion. It gave rise to Gary Redfern’s story of Alex Dickerson, a young man with deep Valley roots who has overcome major adversity to star with the San Francisco Giants. In this edition, you also will have the chance to dig deep and learn bout the rich cultural history of the Kumeyaay, who inhabited this land for thousands of years. And should we think the cultural diversity is something unique

Susan Giller

Peggy Dale

to today’s social and political debate, think again. Native American diversity runs through Imperial, Mexicali, Yuma valleys and has for centuries. And beyond ethnic and cultural diversity, we are enthusiastic that this edition features a growing diversity of voices on these pages. Dr. Lennor Johnson, Imperial Valley College vice president for Student Services and Equity, writes a piece about the rich Black community history in the Valley and voices concern for its future. And Dr. Carlos R. Herrera, director of the Borderlands Institute and professor of history at San Diego State University, Imperial Valley, explores how early Spanish explorers interacted with and later clashed with the tribes of the region in the 1600s and 1700s. Perhaps history provides the wisdom we need to confront and come together during the troubling times we face today. Of course, diversity extends beyond culture. It is hard to look around the Valley without noticing the multitude of different crops under cultivation. And it is fascinating to see how different and unique each city is within the region. Perhaps one of the great things about the Valley is the people, whose different knowledge, skills and talents together create things that are extraordinary. May this edition be an example of just such an effort. 

Sue Gay

Bill Amidon Fall 2020

INDEX |

Volume 4, Number 3 EDITORS & PUBLISHERS Bill Gay Sue Gay Susan Giller Peggy Dale Bill Amidon

CONTRIBUTORS Jayson Barniske Carlos R. Herrera Lennor Johnson Gary Redfern Francoise Rhodes Darren Simon

Kumeyaay Elder Paul Cuero (center), Marcus Cuero (left), and James Anthony Cuero III (right) performed traditional bird medicine songs at an ceremony in 2017. - Photo provided by Paul Cuero

COVER PHOTO

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Joselito Villero

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

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Alejandra Noriega Alejandra Pereida

Tribal culture abounds in Land of the Kumeyaay, Page 6

WEB DESIGNERS

Cultural diversity runs through Imperial, Mexicali, Yuma valleys,

Jesus Uriarte Sergio Uriarte

Black community has rich history in Valley, but what does the future hold? Page 14

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Christmas Circle: Hub of Borrego Springs, Page 20

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Reliance Public Relations, Inc. P.O. Box 1944 • El Centro, CA 92244 www.imperialvalleyalive.com IMPERIAL VALLEY ALIVE! is published quarterly by Reliance Public Relations, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical for any purpose without the written permission of Reliance Public Relations, Inc.

Fall 2020

Task force determined to help Valley businesses recover, thrive,

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FLOURISH | Common ground helps Valley prosper, Page 16 Crop diversification meets changing market needs, Page 18

SUBSCRIPTIONS Send name, address and email address along with $20.00 (plus tax) for annual subscription to:

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SALES

Bill Amidon John Lovecchio

Skill, dedication help Dickerson rise above injury, heartbreak,

David Breeckner, Ph.D., executive director, talks about the shoreline activities of indigenous tribes along the shoreline of ancient Lake Cahuilla displayed in a diorama at Imperial Valley Desert Museum in Ocotillo, a small town 26 miles west of El Centro. - Photo by Joselito N. Villero

INSIDE | Publishers message, Page 3 Finding resilience during the pandemic, Page 22 PMHD celebrates commitment to care, Page 25 ECRMC raises the bar for diabetes education, Page 34

San Francisco Giants players Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson fist bump during a game. - Photo courtesy of the Dickerson family

Lennor Johnson, vice president of Student Services at Imperial Valley College, talks about his continuing journey to discover the history of the Black community in the Imperial Valley, and to find tangible solutions to the disappearing population. - Photo courtesy of Lennor Johnson

The sun sets on a day of harvesting in one of the diverse types of produce fields growing in the Imperial Valley. - Photo courtesy of Five Crown Marketing

Fall 2020

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Land of the

Kumeyaay By Jayson Barniske

For the ancient Kumeyaay people, every song tells a story; every word has a double meaning, and all life is sacred. Despite the adversities the tribe faced from the arrival of white settlers, the Kumeyaay are still here and proud to sing their song. “In the past, our territory ran from the ocean to the Colorado River. About 75 miles above and 75 miles below the border, ” said Paul Cuero, past chairman of the largest bands of Kumeyaay, which is in Campo. Historically, the four tribes that inhabited land in the Imperial Valley were the Quechan, the Cocopah, the Cahuilla, and the Kumeyaay, Dr David Breeckner, Executive Director of the Desert Museum in Ocotillo, said. No tribes today have reservation land in the Valley. “Today we (the Kumeyaay) have a little over 100,000 acres in reservation land not including Mexico,” Cuero said, noting that today, the Kumeyaay inhabit less than 1 percent of their original territory. “We still have a strong identity of who we are, and even though we don’t have jurisdiction of the property we once had, we still look after it. We have a lot of cultural sites throughout the desert in San Diego, Imperial County, and Riverside,” said Cuero. “Our artifacts are spread through the whole area from the ocean to the Colorado River, and we have repatriated some of the oldest remains in the region: around 9,000 to 9,600 years old remains located La Jolla.” The Kumeyaay continue to pass the ideals of living in harmony with nature and cohabitation with the planet and all other creatures to their children instead of adopting the modern practice of mastering the land. “A long time ago, it was a clan system. One clan had five or 10 Fall 2020

ABOVE: Frank Salazar of Campo stands in a fish trap along the shoreline of the ancient Lake Cahuilla in this still shot from the video "Desert Food," produced by Imperial Valley Desert Museum. TOP: Kristin O'Lear, head curator at the museum, shows a broken olla found in the Imperial Valley and repaired by modern conservationists. -Photo by Joselito N. Villero villages. Villages never grew bigger than 1,500 people. When it would get too big, they would start another village. They didn’t want to deplete the land,” said Cuero. “You always had to make sure animals had something to eat.” The ancient Kumeyaay created large geoglyphs, which are designs of animals or shapes etched in the ground or formed by rocks. The Imperial Valley has more geoglyphs than anywhere in the world other than the Nazca Lines in Peru, according to Breeckner. A large Kumeyaay geoglyph covers a mountainside off Dunaway Road in the Yuha Basin. Many of the geoglyphs in the vicinity, some dating back more than 1,000 years, have become victims of time and off-road traffic. “At one time, there were a great many geoglyphs off Dunaway Road, and they were destroyed over the years. They didn’t know, and we didn’t have rights. Today we have some rights that preserve these things, but we still have a long way to go,” said Cuero.

The first archaeologists studying the Kumeyaay culture in the Southwestern region hypothesized that the tribe only lived near the coast until the discovery of a 10,000-year-old site in Jacumba, Cuero said. “When we look at incoming development and always want to have monitors or people on the ground to see what might be destroyed from development and record our history,” said Cuero. “At one time, there was a huge lake, Lake Cahuilla. There were a lot of resources there. Same with the oceans. There were a lot of resources along with a main staple found in local mountains, black oak acorns and piñon, which is a nut that comes from a pine tree.” Cuero explained the ancient Kumeyaay traditionally had settlements on the coast, in the mountains, and in the Imperial Valley -specifically in an area where the New River now flows. Today there are 13 bands of Kumeyaay, five of which are located in Baja. “Now all of our reservations are in the

This map displays the lands occupied by the Kumeyaay tribes. - Image courtesy of the Imperial Valley Desert Museum rural areas of San Diego County. We do not have a reservation -- none -- in Imperial County,” Cuero said. He feels the Mexican government protects the tribal rights better than the U.S. government and allocates larger land plots for reservations.

The smallest Kumeyaay reservation is six acres in Jamul. The band’s largest reservation is 16,000 acres in Campo. California was one of the most densely populated and diverse areas for indigenous CONTINUED | PAGE 13

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Alex Dickerson as a young ballplayer and at varying stages of his baseball career.

Perseverance hallmark of major leaguer with Valley ties

By Gary Redfern

Imagine the moment: Bases loaded, two outs, two strikes, a raucous crowd reaching its crescendo. The pitcher goes into his windup and throws. In an instant the hitter’s bat strikes the ball with a resounding crack and the ball sails over the outfield wall for a grand slam. What kid doesn’t think of that? Alex Dickerson admits he did as a boy practicing his hitting stroke in the backyard of his family’s Poway home with a whiffle ball so his “hits” wouldn’t smash any windows. On May 10, 2016, as a pinch hitter for the San Diego Padres he lived that moment for real. Dickerson hit a grand slam off Chicago Cubs righty Adam Warren with his team down 8-3 in the eighth inning at fabled Wrigley Field. Though the Padres lost, 8-7, the homer is among the highlights in a baseball career of extreme ups and downs for a player whose family has roots in the Imperial Valley. “I did something really big here. You feel like it’s (staying in the majors) within your grasp,” Dickerson recalls. Of the scene, he adds, “It was as loud as anything I’ve ever heard. As soon as the ball hit my bat I knew it was gone. The Fall 2020

Alex Dickerson's baseball story is one of rare skill and dedication and potentially devastating injury and heartbreak. Constants are his work ethic and a support network. It all came together in a spectacular 2020 season with the San Francisco Giants. - Photos provided by Dickerson family crowd went silent.” Since being traded by the Padres in June 2019, Dickerson has been an outfielder with the San Francisco Giants, making his mark by hitting over .290 each year. His story is one of rare skill and dedication and potentially devastating injury and heartbreak. Constants are his work ethic and a support network. “People supported me. My parents.

Coaches,” Dickerson says of having to bounce back from a series of injuries that began when he was a sophomore in high school. “I thought I was going to be better (after the injuries). Mentally I have to get out of my own way. It’s as simple as putting a smile on my face and going out there.” Alex is the son of Ross and Carol Dickerson, long-time Poway residents who both have deep ties to the Imperial

Valley. Ross was raised in Westmorland and Carol’s parents, Dave Marks and Betty Marks-Ehman, both once lived in the area. Among local relatives are Ross’ cousin, Steve, and his wife, Tony, former operators of Dickerson Towing who live in Westmorland. Ross’ brother, Leroy and his wife, Toni, reside in Brawley. Family members say it’s a thrill seeing one of their own playing in big leagues. As to how Alex beat the odds — and the injuries — to reach that rarified plateau, his parents and Deron Johnson, a high school coach who still instructs Alex on hitting, contend it has to do with Alex focusing on this goal from the earliest age. “He was always in the backyard teeing off. He was always working on perfecting his technique, even at the T-ball (4-6 years old) age,” his mother, Carol, says. “You never had to ask him to go out and practice. He had a knack for it. That was his love even at that early age.” Noticing his son’s dedication, Alex says his father went so far as to buy a house with a bigger yard in which he could practice. “I would go out in the backyard and imagine scenarios. I even taught myself to hit right handed,” he says of his practice with the whiffle balls. “As far as the building

The late Howard Dickerson (center), lifetime Valley resident and longtime civic leader in Westmorland, with son Ross and his family in this 2013 Thanksgiving photo. From left are Ross and Carol Dickerson; Howard; Alex Dickerson and his sister Kelsie. - Photo provided by Dickerson family blocks and why my hands are good (for hitting), it was reps. I did thousands of them.” However, Alex wasn’t going it alone. “It hasn’t changed my whole life. They did everything, taking me to games growing up,” the major leaguer recalls of his parents’ support. “We’d go every Saturday and hit baseballs. It wasn’t like forcing me. It was supporting me.” After Little League, his next step was the Poway High School team where coach Johnson says the talent was immediately

apparent. “The first time he ever walked into my (batting) cage I said, ‘Hey, Alex, I want you to try something.’ The sound of the ball off his bat — wow. I called head coach over and said he might be one of the best players in the county,” Johnson recalls. “The thing that set him apart — his focus. He was unflappable. You could see it when he was young,” he adds. That latter trait became more important CONTINUED | PAGE 32

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An artist's rendering of the Spaniards' arrival in a Quechan village along the Colorado River in Yuma. - Image courtesy of National Park Service/David Rickman

At the

Crossroad

By Carlos R. Herrera, Ph.D., San Diego State University Imperial Valley

The frontier that encompasses today’s Imperial, Mexicali and Yuma valleys has a longstanding tradition of cultural diversity that runs throughout the entirety of its history. Even before the arrival of European settlers, indigenous people of the region defined this diversity by the dynamic and rich cultures they cultivated all along the desert landscape. As unique as these native cultures Fall 2020

Spain's presence on the Yuma frontier

proved to be, they all shared one thing in common, a dependence on precious water supplies made possible by the Colorado and Gila rivers. This life-sustaining resource determined what regional tribes could and could not do socially, culturally and economically. With the water, the tribes could grow food. During years when water flowed plentifully, the people produced an abundance of corn, beans, squash and melon. These were known as the good years. When water levels dipped below normal the people had no choice but to

compete, sometimes violently, for limited food supplies that resulted from drought. The people’s reliance on river water was equally matched by a dependence on nutrient-rich soil needed to grow food. The most fertile acreage spread out along the banks of the rivers, and the most coveted of these lands were located at Yuma, at the juncture where the Gila empties into the Colorado. The Quechan controlled the lands at Yuma and they held a fragile sway over neighboring tribes that included the Northern Mohave, the Cocopah in the

south, the O’odham (Pima) in the east, and the Tohono O’odham (Papago) in the southeast. Contact with the west was less frequent, but the Quechan did engage the Mountain Kumeyaay, who ventured onto the desert west of Yuma to farm during the cooler months of the year. All the tribes of the Colorado-Gila River Valley understood that their society, their very way of life, required that they establish some degree of authority in the region. Such influence determined who controlled the most accessible sections of the rivers and the choicest lands, but also defined the alliances the tribes created among themselves to enhance their standing in the region. The Quechan proved especially adept at molding inter-tribal relations, and their skill at negotiation proved invaluable when a new tribe appeared at Yuma in the 1770s. The people of the Colorado-Gila River frontier came to know the newcomers as the Spaniards. Spain’s presence at Yuma began as early as 1540, at which time a squad of troops under the command of Melchor Díaz ventured into the region to secure much-needed supplies for the floundering Francisco Vazquez de Coronado

expedition. Coronado and his contingent had come to the Arizona-New Mexico frontier on a hunch that the settlement of Hawikuh (Zuni Pueblo) might be one of the seven legendary cities of gold, which the Spaniards knew as Antillia. Coronado took Hawikuh by armed force, and in so doing he ensured that future relations between Spaniards and Indians would be marred by mistrust. Word of Coronado’s aggression at Hawikuh spread to surrounding territories, including Yuma. The tribes of the Colorado-Gila River frontier learned that the Spaniards possessed military technology that surpassed their own and should be considered a real threat. The people also learned that the Carlos R. Herrera, Ph.D., Associate Professor foreigners had brought with them a material of History, San Diego State University culture including metal tools that could Imperial Valley. be used to increase food production at Yuma. As important, they learned that the Perhaps driven by memory of Coronado’s Spaniards were willing to engage in trade exploits, the Indians seemed eager to be and make their technology available to rid of the newcomers for they told them that those willing to welcome them and to those they would not find gold or silver in their who embraced Christianity. lands, and that they should seek these Diáz’s transitory journey through Yuma desired goods elsewhere. Spain did not was mirrored in the early 1600s when return to the region until the 1700s. another Spanish cohort arrived to trade, CONTINUED | PAGE 26 create alliances and to spread Christianity.

Fall 2020

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Imperial Valley

Business Recovery Task Force

When COVID 19 business closures were required in March, the Brawley Chamber of Commerce and Reliance Public Relations, Inc., in partnership with the Joint Chambers, the local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp. (IVEDC), formed the Imperial Valley Business Recovery Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force is to understand the local impact of COVID19 closures and respond quickly with programs, resources and policy advocacy to mitigate business impacts, job losses and community access to goods and services. In May, a $50,000 grant from the county Local Health Authority was approved to defray promotional expenses and outreach. “A key Task Force emphasis has been individual responsibility regarding the safety issues involved: the responsibility to move into a less restrictive tier is up to citizens,” said Katie Luna, chief executive officer of the Brawley Chamber and task force coordinator. The task force information plan, as presented to the Local Health Authority in May, included goals focused on stopping the spread of COVID-19, seeking consensus of businesses regarding steps to economic recovery, local and state legislative advocacy and encouraging residents to patronize local businesses while not jeopardizing their health and the health of others. The strategies have been designed to empower businesses to chart their own destiny with a safe reopening in accordance with all regulations while making it socially acceptable for citizens to adhere to CDC safety standards,” said Luna. A media campaign was initially designed to focus on promoting a safety pledge, but due to changing state circumstances, the campaign objective was reoriented to encouraging residents to safely patronize local businesses that were open. In April, the Task Force established an information hotline for businesses. Additionally, the Task Force instituted the Fall 2020

pledge campaign to encourage personal and business responsibility to use PPE and practice hygiene to get businesses open. Working with the Imperial County Health Department, it created a safety poster that is currently posted in businesses throughout the county. The Task Force also worked with partners IVEDC and SBDC along with representatives from the local health department to conduct onsite business evaluations. To date, about 60 businesses have been visited to evaluate their level of preparedness for reopening and understanding of COVID19 protective measures in the workplace. “These business visits have proven to be highly impactful as the business community struggles to understand the continuously evolving requirements,” Luna said. In August, the Task Force launched a “Shop Local” marketing campaign in response to a flood of local consumers

headed to Arizona to shop. State regulations again changed in late summer and the county was allowed to reopen more businesses and services. The marketing campaign was modified to focus on “Open for Business, Safely.” “Through its advocacy effort, the Task Force has become the county’s communication conduit with businesses,” Luna said. “This coordination has led to the creation of new opportunities, including a pre-approved list of local businesses that are eligible, without a formal bid process, to supply goods and services to the county on an emergency basis.” Luna added, “the Task Force’s role will continue to evolve. It has become increasingly clear that the role of business, the employment it creates and the communication it provides are important links in an ongoing effort to diminish health disparities that Imperial County faces.” 

Your health is our #1 priority

This information is available to your business as a poster through the Imperial Valley Business Recovery Task Force.

KUMEYAAY CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 7

people before white settlers arrived, Cuero said. He references the book “Murder State,” written by Brendan Lindsay in the mid-1800s. “The book is a collection of newspaper articles detailing how state representatives attempted to wipe out the Indians,” Cuero said. “The first lieutenant governor of California said, ‘the only way that California could be is if we killed off all the natives.” During this time period, California paid settlers in raw copper to kill indigenous people. “If you killed an Indian, you would bring in their scalp, and they would give you $50 for a man and $25 for a woman and child,” Cuero said. Cuero said the Kumeyaay people are survivors. “We are resilient, and that’s why we are still here. We’ve been told the things we can’t do, but we push forward and help change some laws that help preserve our history. Just like in Imperial County,” said Cuero. He mentioned how the Bureau of Land Management erected a fence around the Yuha Man geoglyph to protect the ancient treasure from off-roaders’ damage. Tribal leaders dislike the idea that surrounding communities see the Kumeyaay as what they coin “gamey.” “That’s how people recognize the tribes, from casinos. But we are way more than that. We managed to survive. Everything they threw us, we were able to overcome it. Especially California tribes,” Cuero said, admitting his people are still fighting to survive today. The tribe governs itself in this day and age and makes its own rules. “We are still struggling as a people. We deal with a lot of trauma that has happened over the years with our people. It is still a very big thing. They conditioned us to rely on the government by not giving us our own freedom. When they created the reservations, we were initially forced to stay there. Now people feel like they don’t want to leave,” said Cuero. There are less than 100 people alive who can still speak the traditional Kumeyaay language, TIPAI AAH. Cuero shared a word from his language, “Howka,” which means hello. But like many words in the ancient language, it has a double meaning. “Howka” also means “ I hope the fire in your spirit burns strong.” A venerated tribe elder, Cuero teaches teenagers from the tribe traditional Kumeyaay songs known as “Bird Medicine.” “I’ve been taking students to sacred areas, teaching them our songs and stories. We believe the songs we sing today came from the creator himself.” “The songs are about four birds telling the story as they are taking this journey, singing about how they react to the world. They hold a lot of teaching. The first-morning song is about a weeping mockingbird who was so sad because the day had ended. The next day, he was so happy because a new day had started that he cried,” Cuero explained the teaching demonstrates why we have tears. “These songs teach us you are not the first or the last who is going through something, and somebody else has gone through these same things before and made it, and that you are not alone,” Cuero said. Only inhabiting a small portion of their traditional lands, the Kumeyaay still see themselves as caretakers of this region of the earth, and they will never stop singing their songs Martha Rodriguez is an elder in one of the Kumeyaay bands south of the border. When asked what was the most important thing people in the Imperial Valley should know about the Kumeyaay she responded without hesitation. “We are still here,” Rodriguez said.  Fall 2020

APPRECIATE |

My Journey into the Valley

Dr. Lennor M. Johnson, Imperial Valley College vice president for Student Services and Equity Over the past four years, I have had the pleasure of living and working in the Imperial Valley. And, I must say it has been a delight. The people are amazing and quite welcoming. I work with some outstanding folks, and everyone appears to be committed to improving the lives of others. I find that to be fascinating, as it is a passion of mine. Serving in the Marine Corps has granted me the opportunity to live in many communities throughout the United States, and I must say the Imperial Valley is truly unique in a very good

Fall 2020

way, and I have never experienced this type of community altruism before. I knew from the moment I visited the county and met several outstanding people; this was the home for me. Simply put, I fell in love with the people and the community. I wanted to make a difference. Now that I have been here for over four years, I believe I have made a positive contribution to many of the students at Imperial Valley College. I look forward to making an even greater contribution to the community, with a particular focus on those who need it most, the most vulnerable citizens. With that, I desire to learn more about the history of Imperial Valley, the drivers of the high employment rates, the Mexicali influence, the growing homeless and foster youth population, and the disappearing black population. What are the factors driving these phenomena? What can we do? What can I do to help? Of course, I cannot tackle these research questions at once, but I can explore one that is close to me, the disappearing black population. According to U.S. Census, over the past 20 years, the Black population has decreased here by nearly 24 percent, and it is projected to continue to decline. This is alarming, to say the least, and during this time of social unrest and demand for equality, I wonder if Black Imperial Valley citizens are given a fair chance to enjoy the beauties of Imperial Valley. Initial evidence suggests that they have not. With that, I gladly partnered with representatives from San Diego State University Imperial Valley, the University of San Diego, and the Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee in a project to research the history of the Black community in Imperial Valley, titled the Deep Roots Project. We plan to record, examine and disseminate the oral histories of African Americans in Imperial County. With that information, we will develop a needs assessment and provide recommendations on how institutions and leaders can be more equitable and inclusive to the Black community. Some may argue, why is this necessary for such a small population? My retort is, “Why not?” As a Marine, we live by the motto, “leave no person behind.” Unfortunately, it appears that many of our Black brothers and sisters are being left behind. Many are impoverished, lack access to higher education and job opportunities, and quite frankly, many are being discriminated against. For a community that is so rich in altruism, I am certain that we can do better for all of our citizens. CONTINUED | PAGE 24

Fall 2020

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A view of improvements along Eighth Street in Brawley that were completed after COLAB negotiated with both the city and county officials about the transportation needs of packing sheds and businesses along the route. - Photo courtesy of COLAB

COLAB

Since its founding in 1998, the Imperial Valley’s Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business (COLAB) has become one of the longest running COLABs in California and one of the most unique in its diverse membership, bringing together sectors with oftentimes different interests to find common ground. COLAB members representing labor, agriculture and business recognize they do have much in common, the most important of which is ensuring the economic vitality of the Valley by sustaining an environment where agriculture thrives, businesses grow and workers earn a livable wage so a strong workforce remains in the Valley. At its heart, COLAB is an organization that advocates for its membership and closely monitors local government to ensure policies and regulations support and enhance the Valley’s business environment. However, providing a voice for such diverse sectors when standing before governing agencies like the county Board of Supervisors or the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors isn’t easy. It takes striking a balance among COLAB members. That, in and of itself is a challenging task — one COLAB staff has striven to accomplish. Fall 2020

Common ground helps Valley prosper

It also takes a willingness of the membership to support each other despite their differences. “The fact that COLAB exists brings us all together,” said Russell Roben, president of Duggins Construction, one of the original members of the organization. “It allows us all to have an entity to take up issues we would all have an interest in.” Nate Fairman, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 465, which represents 900 IID employees — and has been a COLAB member for four years — said the common ground between COLAB members is clear. “The common ground is finding the right balance of economic and business growth in a way that pays workers a livable wage and retains a skillful workforce in the Valley,” he said. Kurt Rubin of Rubin Seeds, a COLAB member for 14 years, said COLAB members, regardless of their background, are working for the betterment of the Valley, adding that COLAB becomes the entity that channels their efforts. “The whole crossover is that everyone is a member of the community and when they come together to fight higher rates or to make sure projects are getting done, then things get accomplished,” Rubin

said. He added at times, there can be differences of opinions during COLAB board meetings, but “in the end, we usually arrive at a united front as to the direction for COLAB to take.” When COLAB formed in the Valley in 1998, its primary purpose was to ensure policies and decisions made at the county level would foster an environment that supports local business and economic growth. COLAB’s advocacy would eventually extend to the IID, recognizing that IID also has a role in supporting a strong business environment by providing efficient power and water services. Today, COLAB finds itself on the frontline of critical issues, supporting its members through building strong relationships, carrying out educational outreach and through political advocacy work at all levels of government. The organization has advocated for fair rates on water and power, for permitting processes and fees that support, not hinder, business expansion and development, and for the repair and rebuilding of roads and highways along with bridge upgrades to support the needs of farmers and the movement of goods. “I describe COLAB as a watchdog of the government agencies of the Imperial Valley

to monitor IID, Imperial County and the cities to make sure they are spending our taxpayer money in a fruitful way that is benefitting the Valley,” said Rubin, who is first vice president of the COLAB board. Rubin spoke of COLAB’s advocacy for road repairs and resurfacing along the old Highway 111 in Brawley, which was heavily used by agriculture to reach critical produce cooler warehouses but had fallen into disrepair. COLAB’s advocacy led to the road repairs, Rubin said, adding that as an organization there was support among all the sectors to see that work done. However, there are also contentious issues where the different groups within COLAB find themselves at odds. The current debate over whether IID should implement a policy requiring project labor agreements (PLAs) on major projects is one such issue where the business interests of COLAB and the labor members find themselves on opposing sides with the unions supporting PLAs and local businesses in opposition. COLAB, in trying to serve the needs of its diverse membership, has advocated for IID to provide as much information as possible to the public on the issue. COLAB has further taken the stance that for the IID board to make an informed decision, it must hear from both sides of the issue. Roben said where COLAB makes a difference is in bringing the sectors to talk when they might otherwise not have a venue to share ideas. “We and the unions would not normally have a conversation because we don’t go down the same path,” Roben said. In relation to the PLAs, Roben said, there is a fundamental difference in philosophy between local businesses and the unions. However, through the participation in COLAB, there is recognition both sides “want to see the Valley do better.” Fairman said if the different sectors “existed in silos” rather than try to find middle ground, little would get accomplished. “What COLAB does is find that middle ground,” he said. “It prevents the creation of silos and creates coalitions where we see we have a lot more in common than we do not. COLAB offers that olive branch where we can attempt to sit down together.” The IBEW 465 joined COLAB four years ago. Since then, one more union has joined COLAB, and Fairman hopes more will join. He said it was important for the unions to join and engage in discussions not only to represent and advocate for labor, but to work through COLAB to help the Valley’s economy. Roben also spoke of the value of working collaboratively through COLAB needs to ensure the Valley continues to prosper. “I know that’s what we want—for people who live and work here to do better,” Roben said. 

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FLOURISH |

Crop

diversification

When it comes to agriculture, the success or failure of a farm depends on its ability to diversify its crops, and in the Imperial Valley, vegetable growers have embraced that concept, especially when it comes to keeping up with evolving food trends. Just look at the variety of vegetable crops identified in Imperial County’s 2019 Crop Report. Under the “Miscellaneous Crops” heading is a long list of vegetables, some more common and others made popular in recent years through changing demands, some of it generated by popular food channels. That list includes, artichokes, arugula, asparagus, beets, bok choy, celery, cilantro, collard, dill, gai lon, herbs, kale, mint, mizuna, mustard, Napa cabbage, okra, parsley, radish, rapini, squash, sweet basil, Swiss chard, thyme. Miscellaneous veggies are in addition to several varieties of lettuce, Fall 2020

Meeting changing market needs

Farmworkers harvest a local crop. spinach, broccoli, sweet corn, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, potatoes, carrots and baby carrots. Add into the mix, a variety of melons, and you have a nearly $800 million produce growing industry in

the Valley in 2019. In 2017, a report prepared for the County’s Agricultural Commissioner’s Office titled “Crop Report Plus Series,” highlighted the importance of the

Diversity is key to Imperial Valley agriculture, helping ensure all farmable acreage can be utilized. - Photos courtesy of Five Crowns Marketing Valley’s crop diversity. “Agriculture's impressive diversity continues to provide critical economic stability to the county,” the report stated, noting the multiplying factor of agriculture on the local economy totals a staggering $4.5 billion. Scott Howington, president of the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association, said the Valley is unique in its diversity of crops. That diversity extends not only to vegetable crops, but to cattle, dairies, grain and pasture crops, fruits, and the apiaries, he said. “If you look at agriculture as a whole, I would venture to say we are one of the most diverse counties in the nation,” said Howington, whose company, Oasis Farms, focuses on growing organic crops. Diversity is essential for several reasons, he said, but one key factor is there are areas with different soil types within the Valley. To ensure all farmable acreage can be utilized, growers must find the right crops that can thrive in certain soils. Ryan Mamer, who heads farm operations for Five Crowns Marketing, a Brawley-based farming, packing and shipping company that also contracts with growers throughout the Southwest, echoed the importance of understanding soils. “Number one is we need crop rotation,” said Mamer, who previously was president of the Vegetable Growers organization. “Each crop goes after different nutrients in the CONTINUED | PAGE 31 Fall 2020

APPRECIATE |

Christmas Circle By Francoise Rhodes Executive Director, Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau Reprinted with permission Every community has a park where people gather to people-watch, meet friends, enjoy live events, share wedding vows, have family reunions and simply embrace nature. In Borrego Springs that place is Christmas Circle, a uniquely round park that offers something for locals and visitors, children, teens and grownups. Originating in the early 1950s, the land was donated by the DiGiorgio family in honor of A.A. Burnand. Time passed and the park developed into what locals refer to as “the hub of the community.”

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Where people come to play in Borrego Springs

Christmas Circle is covered with a thick layer of luscious green grass and beautiful mature trees offering plenty of shade for park-goers when there to use the gazebo, stage, picnic tables, kitchen or public restrooms. And there is plenty of parking available for those coming to enjoy the park. So why is it named Christmas Circle? There are several theories about the name. But local sources say the most likely source of the name is the cattle brand with the word XMAS inside a circle. If you look at the street signs in Borrego Springs, many of the roads are named after cattle brands as ranching

in the area dates back to the 1700s when ranchers regularly moved herds between coastal, mountain, and desert lands that they owned or leased and as the weather determined the viability of pasturage. Today those ranches are long gone, but their legacy lives on throughout California. In 1997 the park property was deeded to a new (and current) 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, the Christmas Circle Community Park, Inc. Now the park is home to many of Borrego Springs’ signature events

including the Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival, sponsored by the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce that marks the official start of the popular desert season. Other happenings include the weekly Farmer’s Market, Annual Circle of Art Show and many more events. Today this wonderful Borrego Springs icon is maintained with funding through grants and private donations. And it continues to welcome events. More information about the Christmas Circle Community Park is available by calling (760) 289-9595. 

Christmas Circle then (left) and today (above). - Photos courtesy of the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Foundation and the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

Editors' Note: For a quick getaway, keep Borrego Springs in mind. This delightful community is a little over an hour's drive from most Imperial Valley cities and offers an abundance of outdoor activities, along with places to stay, play, shop and eat.

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Imperial County Behavioral Health Services

Finding resilience during the pandemic R

esilience is not only about surviving a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but also about thriving despite it. Resilience is the ability to find healthy ways to adapt, cope with, and recover from adversity or change, such as the drawn-out effects of the pandemic. The American Psychological Association describes resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of stress.” Imperial County Behavioral Health Services has been working on ways to help its clients, employees and those on the front lines cope as the pandemic and its effects stretch into their eighth month locally. “All of us are struggling, facing adversity because of the pandemic,” said Bren Manaugh, a licensed clinical social worker and certified clinical trauma specialist. During these times something as simple yet essential as connecting with others is made more difficult. “We are hardwired for connection. Research shows our brains are developed to depend on and respond to connection.” But right now, because of isolation, social distancing, and the need to wear masks or facial coverings, “We can’t even really smile at each other right now. We can’t see each other smiling.” Manaugh, of Health Management Associates in Austin, Texas, has been working with ICBHS on several projects. Among the work she has done in Imperial County have been a webinar for first responders navigating the pandemic’s drawn-out effects and a workshop for ICBHS employees on the importance of learning healthy ways of coping. Most recently she was a guest on the ICBHS “Let’s Talk About It” wellness radio program with hosts Scott Dudley and Maria Wyatt. The “Mental Health Resiliency in Times of Pandemic” program can be found on kxoradio.com and clicking on the link for Oct.

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19, 2020. A Spanish-language version with hosts Dalia Pesqueira and Raquel Villa is available by clicking the “¡Expresate!” link for the same date. The pandemic differs from short-term crises and disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes and hurricanes, Manaugh said, in that this is an extended time in which life is not normal. “What we count on to make our lives and work meaningful, it’s all up in the air. … I can’t overemphasize the degree to which we all are being impacted. “ “What do we do with that?” Manaugh asked. “How do we normalize that? Because that is the way to be resilient.” For people with symptoms or diagnoses of depression, anxiety or withdrawal, it is critical to maintain connections with others. “When we least feel like reaching out is when we most need to,” she said. Expressing compassion for others is another important element of resiliency, Manaugh said, and takes tuning into what is going on around us. “To move beyond the surface … (to) find that stillness or place of reflection, and think about what is meaningful,” she said. “What do I care about? What are my values? What makes me feel hopeful, makes me feel inspired? When we do that, we can be more open and receptive to others.” Understanding our own feelings and owning up to them will help us understand others, she said. People are “a lot more irritable and reactive,” she said. “The resting baseline of tension is a lot higher right now. Many people are operating on their last nerve.” Learn to recognize signs of internal triggers, she said, such as physiological or behavioral symptoms. “If you’re going off on people, are aware you are not being nice as usual, whatever it is, don’t beat yourself up. We want to

own it, but then step back and ask, what is this is telling me? … Find the tools or strategies to help ourselves calm down, relax, wind down so that we can inhabit a relaxed body.” Two simple tools Manaugh recommends in the “Let’s Talk About It” podcast involve breathing and relaxation exercises. While holding one hand on the chest and the other on the belly, Manaugh says to breath in through the nose for five counts, holding to a count of four, and then exhale through the mouth to the count of six. Do this a couple of times when stressed. A second tool is to “tune into your body. Notice where the tension is,” then count to five and intentionally relax. “On scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being calm and 5 being anxious, where are you right now?”, she asked. “There’s a significant shift in just those five seconds.” The exercise helps “flip a switch” in the brain, she explained. “The front part of our brain is where all of our higher functions are, like communications, the ability to process emotions, our creativity. But when we are really stressed, that part of the brain is dark. It can’t really come into play. In these five seconds of intentional relaxation of the body, you’re flipping that switch in your brain. You are physiologically reducing the tension and stress in the body. By doing that, you are better able to cope and deal with things going around you.” That, she said, is being resilient. “Not only are we coming out the other side,” she said, “but in some way, we are a better human being than when we came into this adversity.” 

202 N. Eighth St. • El Centro, CA 92243 For an appointment or assessment please call:

800.817.5292 • 442.265.1525 www.co.imperial.ca.us/behavioralhealth

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JOHNSON CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 14

Lennor Johnson

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Diversity is the cornerstone of our democracy. It is what makes America the greatest country on the planet. It brings forth new ideas and concepts that can be “game changers” and can improve the trajectory of communities. One of the first challenges I learned about when I moved here is the Valley’s brain drain problem. That is when educated or talented individuals leave the community in which they were raised to be a service to another community. This has a crippling effect on business, education institutions, health care organizations and our political infrastructure. Of the 24 percent of the Black population that left the Valley over the past 20 years, what contributions could those individuals have made? Could one of them have been an entrepreneur who creates hundreds or thousands of jobs for Valley residents? Could one of them solve the Salton Sea problem? Could one of them

be the catalyst to making Imperial Valley a destination of desire? We will never know the answers to these questions, but what we know is that the brain drain problem is real, and the Black population is disappearing. What can we do? I hope that this study will help us understand the plight of the Black community and provide tangible solutions to how we can make the Valley more attractive for people like me, because it truly is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Background: Dr. Lennor M. Johnson has spent his life dedicated to education, research, and helping students achieve their goals. He has worked in higher education for more than 22 years and has served in several different leadership and faculty positions. He has helped thousands of students navigate the complex educational process and remove systemic barriers to student success. 

The doors to PMH first opened on Oct. 29, 1950, with Louis Peelyn as the first hospital administrator/ CEO. The first board members were E.J. “Jack” Fabbri, William M. Corn, Elmer Sears, T.B. Shank and Clarence R. Walker. The hospital’s original building still remains today as the core of the present facility. As the scope of healthcare needs in the area broadened, so did the services of the district. In October 1986, an eight-bed intensive care unit was dedicated. The $1.4-million facility was supported by the community and made possible through a Pioneers Memorial Hospital is a recognized 107-bed acute care fundraising campaign that surpassed the $470,000 goal set by facility that is committed to providing state-of-the-art healthcare in the newly formed Pioneers Memorial Hospital Foundation. the city of Brawley. Then-Foundation President Bill Gates stated, “Clearly, we have PMH is accredited by DNV or Det Norske Veritas – the Nordic accomplished a great deal, but there is still a lot to do. It’s just a Truth – a hospital accreditation organization approved by the matter of determining where the foundation can do the most good Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which has some of for the hospital.” the most strenuous standards in healthcare. In 1992, the board started a master-planning process to meet Additionally, Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District is proud the district’s healthcare needs for the early decades of the 21st to be an affiliate of the Scripps Health Network and is the only century. In 1993, voters in the district approved a $24-million ISO 9001-certified hospital in the Imperial Valley and San Diego. general obligation bond to fund renovations for the existing The ISO 9001 certification is an international signal of PMHD’s hospital facility, an extension of the east wing to create a new dedication and commitment to protecting patients’ health and emergency and urgent care area and construction of a freesafety. standing women’s center and outpatient surgery center. Pioneers was developed in the 1940s by community leaders The emergency room wing opened in May 1998 and a few with a vision for expanded health services in the northern part of months later on Sept. 23, 1998, dedication ceremonies were Imperial County. Through their foresight and devotion Pioneers held for the women’s center and outpatient surgery center. Memorial Hospital and the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District Both centers honor Phyllis Dillard, who served on the board (PMHD) were created. of directors for 34 years. Helping support the growth was the PMHD was originally formed under the governance of a board Women’s Auxiliary of Pioneers Memorial Hospital, which donated of directors that was appointed by the Imperial County Board $153,000 to completely furnish five of the 10 labor/delivery/ of Supervisors. Subsequent boards have been elected by the recovery/postpartum rooms in the women’s center, including all of residents of the district. the medical equipment as well as the furniture. 

Our History

and Commitment to Care

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CROSSROAD CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 11

In the first half of the 18th century, zealous Jesuits such as Eusebio Kino and Jacobo Sedelmeyer trailblazed among the Indians who inhabited the lands east of Yuma and along the Gila River. The missionaries had come to the desert to test the religious fervor of the people, and to let them know that Spain desired to expand its colonial presence from the Sonora frontier to Yuma. This time around, the river tribes expressed interest in Spain and the material goods of the Europeans, including ironware, horses and wheat. The greatest attraction, however, was the potential for military aid. Warfare among the tribes had increased in frequency, making a military alliance with Spain desirable. The tribe that managed such an arrangement stood to gain the military upper hand in the violence of the day and enhance its ability to dominate a slave market that had emerged in the region. These slaves consisted of Indian children captured during war and bartered for supplies within indigenous communities,

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or at Spanish settlements in southern Arizona and Sonora. Having heard that the Quechan desired an alliance with Spain, Juan Bautista de Anza, the captain of the Fronteras presidio in northern Sonora, petitioned King Carlos III in the 1730s for permission to establish a land route to Yuma and to initiate a dialogue about colonization with the Quechan. Anza had been a strong advocate of the Jesuit mission program and hoped to render aid in its expansion to the Colorado River. The king denied Anza’s request, and the captain’s efforts were dashed completely when Apache Indians ambushed and killed him near the Sonoran settlement of Soamca in 1740. Spain continued to weigh its options for a Yuma colony for the next 30 years, and ultimately revived the plan when King Carlos III ordered the colonization of Alta California in 1769. The decision to open up settlements in California stemmed from Spain’s need to curb territorial advancements made in the region by

Russian fur trappers who had expanded their activities along the Pacific Coast in the 1760s. The blueprint to settle Alta California did not call for the establishment of a Spanish colony at Yuma. Spain, however, was forced to reconsider this plan when it learned that the prevailing winds and current of the Pacific Ocean made it difficult to transport people and supplies to California by sea. Land travel proved to be the most effective means by which to support the newly established settlement at San Diego. Spain turned to the concerted efforts of Fray Francisco Garcés to determine the best location for a land route that would connect settlements in Arizona-Sonora with the Pacific Coast colony. Garcés arrived in Mexico in 1767 as part of a contingent of Franciscan friars ordered to take command of missions in Sonora after the Jesuit Expulsion. Garcés took up his post at Mission San Xavier del Bac in 1768 and began to make contact with the Indian Tribes of the Gila River that same

An artist's rendering of colonists crossing the Colorado River at Yuma as part of an expedition led by Juan Bautista de Anza II on their way to settle in San Francisco. - Image courtesy of National Park Service/David Rickman year. In 1770, he again visited O’odham and Tohono O’odham villages along the Gila River. To his delight Garcés learned that hosts of Indians in the region desired conversion to Christianity. Eager to plant the cross among new converts, the friar may have overlooked the possibility that the people of the Gila had agreed to embrace the faith as a negotiating tactic to promote trade with Spain, and the inflow of Spanish goods and military aid into the region. Regardless of the motive, Fray Francisco undertook a third journey in 1771 to identify the most promising locations for the establishment of new missions along the Gila and Colorado Rivers. Garcés reached Yuma during his 1771 trip, and here he met chief Olleyquotequiebe. The Spaniards came to know the Quechan leader as “Salvador Palma”. Palma shared news about the Colorado River and its environs. He explained the strained relations that existed among the people of the region, insisting the Quechan would prove the most effective and loyal ally to Spain, and that other tribes could not be trusted. Garcés had received similar reports

from most of the tribes he visited, many of whom implored him to not travel to Yuma because the Quechan would kill him. Having weighed the political climate of the region, Garcés concluded Spain could foster ties with all the tribes and identified the Quechan at Yuma as the key to a successful mission program for the region. The friar based his views on two bits of information he gathered during his 1771 journey. The Quechan told Garcés that they had learned from the Mountain Kumeyaay that Spain had established a settlement at San Diego, proving that a pathway from Sonora to the Pacific Coast was possible. Garcés also learned that this land route included the arid desert west of Yuma. The missionary concluded that surviving the Yuha Desert crossing required that Spain establish a settlement among the Quechan, who would make water, food, and pasturage available to travellers. Garcés’ efforts at Yuma in 1771 convinced Spain to grant Juan Bautista de Anza II permission to explore and establish the proposed land route from the ArizonaSonora frontier to California. Like his father before him, Anza II recognized

the economic and military benefits of connecting interior colonies with Pacific Coast settlements, and in 1774 he established a pathway that ran from his presidio of Tubac to Yuma, across the Yuha Desert to Borrego Springs, and ultimately across the mountains to Mission San Gabriel in the Los Angeles region. Anza’s efforts did not end at San Gabriel. He continued the journey to the San Francisco Bay area. Here, Anza scouted for the best location to establish a colony for Spanish colonists who would serve as bulwark against Russian advancements into the region. On Oct. 23, 1775, Anza stood at the head of a colonizing party that consisted of 240 men, women and children, and over 1,000 head of livestock destined for San Francisco. The colonists began their journey at Tubac Presidio in Arizona and found themselves on the eastern bank of the Colorado River by Nov. 30. The Quechan welcomed the Spaniards at Yuma with gifts of food and a celebration that lasted well into the night. The following day, Chief Salvador Palma paid a visit to the Spanish camp and eagerly received Fall 2020

CROSSROAD CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 27

an ornate military uniform from Anza. The gift exchange initiated negotiations between the two leaders about a Spanish settlement at Yuma. Palma agreed to support such a colony in exchange for military aid and an annual supply of goods, which Anza guaranteed that Spain would deliver. Having secured a foothold at Yuma, the Spaniards continued their journey, skirting the Colorado for several days before turning their attention to the dreaded desert crossing. Anza separated the colonists into four groups, ordering each to travel one day apart so as to maintain the few watering holes that were dug into the desert floor. Scant water supplies proved to be a lesser problem than a bitter cold that embraced the desert, causing urine to freeze in chamber pots during the night, as well as the death of numerous livestock. To make matters worse, a blizzard raged as the Spaniards trudged across the desert, blanketing the route with snow and making it difficult to maintain one’s bearing. On Dec.17 all four groups reunited at a site Anza named San Sebastian (Harpers Well) and celebrated the successful desert crossing. The colonists

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continued their journey to Borrego Springs and across the Santa Rosa Mountains. By January 1776, they found themselves at San Gabriel Mission, and in the coming weeks Anza saw the weary travellers to their final destination. In so doing, Anza delivered on the promise to colonize San Francisco. As important, he fulfilled his father’s dream of expanding the Spanish Empire to Yuma. Spain stalled on the Yuma project for four years, and in the interim Salvador Palma’s power waned among his people because the Spaniards broke their promise of delivering goods, military aid, and trade. In 1780, Spain finally began construction on two missions, including Purísima Concepcion at Yuma, and San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer, which was located 10 miles upriver. Unfortunately, the Spanish colonists who settled at Yuma arrived woefully unprepared to fend for themselves and they soon began to demand food, land, and obedience from the Quechan. Tempers flared among Palma’s people, and even the chief soon lost hope that the alliance he had negotiated with Anza would falter lost hope that it would falter? or lost hope it would endure?. The end of the Yuma project came on June 17, 1781. That day, and for the next three, the Quechan assaulted the Spanish settlements, killing almost 100 colonists, including Fray Francisco Garcés. Having secured the lives of survivors, Spain abandoned Yuma forever. Spain’s presence at Yuma may have been short-lived, but its legacy continues into the present. The land route Juan Bautista de Anza established from Sonora to California now bears his name and is promoted as a historic trail of the U.S. National Park Service. Mission Purísima Concepcion still stands and continues to cater to the faithful. And just outside the entrance to the mission there stands a statue of Fray Francisco Garcés, the man whose vision of a Quechan-Spanish alliance at Yuma was shared by Chief Salvador Palma. 

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soil. By rotating crops, it keeps soil working in different ways.” Both men agree diversifying crops is also critical to meet the changing and emerging market demands. Of his operation, Howington said: “We are constantly in flux. There are crops we add every year, and crops we take out. We pack in the neighborhood of 48 different items every day.” He said much of the market is driven by “foodies” who learn about new trends in food by watching food channels. “A diversified farmer is going to recognize that,” Howington said. Mamer said at Five Crowns, the goal is to look for the next best variety. For instance, he noted, five years ago Five Crowns focused on white sweet corn but has adapted as the market interest turned to bi-colored sweet corn. He said it comes down to a trial and error process of putting new crops on the market to see how the public reacts to them. “The key for all growers is that we are trying to do the very best job we can to produce the very best crops possible,” Mamer said. He added one more key consideration when it comes to the importance of diversifying crops is the job creation that goes along with it. “With every single crop, we need good people,” Mamer said, adding: “The more jobs the ag industry can support, the more our Valley will thrive. This helps other businesses in the Valley by keeping more jobs here, and more money spent in our local economy.”

Bi-colored sweet corn has a growing market interest. - Photo courtesy of Five Crowns Marketing While the diversity of crops has proven important to the Valley’s economy, another element of that success depends upon growers and the diverse experience and knowledge they bring to the industry. Those growers come together as part of the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association to share their knowledge. “Veg Growers plays a critical role of bringing us together to share information, share ideas and concerns, and look for solutions to problems together,” Howington said. Mamer added, “We all grow diverse crops, and we can come together through Veg Growers to learn from each other.” Currently, the organization is focusing on food safety, on addressing the need

DAMAGE SPECIALISTS WATER FIRE MOLD

for safety caused by COVID-19, on looking at new technology that can improve growing efficiencies, and on working with Imperial Valley College to develop a new certificate program to train a new generation of farmers with the idea that they put to use their skills in the Valley. As an organization, Veg Growers serves as a voice for farmers in local government to ensure policies implemented in the Valley continue to support growers as they look to expand, diversify, and maintain a thriving agriculture economy. “Veg Growers, working alongside our partners in produce, is a strong voice for growers to make sure we can adapt, diversify, and succeed not only for today but for the future,” Howington said. 

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DICKERSON CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 9

The issue was there were not many doctors willing to do back surgery on a teenager. The Dickersons, however, were not deterred. “I saw eight doctors,” Alex says. “One said ‘I think I can fix this.’ I just had this nagging leg pain. After the surgery, the pain was gone.” Johnson remembers Alex rebounded and showed flashes of greatness as a junior before breaking out his senior year when he was named All-San Diego Division 1 high school player of the year, according to mlb.com. Despite that success, college offers were slim, Ross recalls. Then the Poway connection kicked in and Dominic Johnson, Deron’s brother and another of Alex’s high school baseball coaches, helped him connect to Indiana Alex Dickerson hits the ball while playing for University and its head baseball coach, the State College Spikes. - Photos provided by Tracy Smith, who traveled to the San Diego Dickerson family area to meet Alex and watch him play. “They were saying this guy is pretty good and I went and watched him and I’m like, when the budding baseball star was ‘Yeah, he could be good,’” recalls Smith, derailed by a back injury in his sophomore year. It wouldn’t be the last time he suffered who is now head baseball coach at Arizona State University. a major injury but in the long run it might Alex received a coveted scholarship. It have had the most impact. Of the grim outlook, his father admits, paid off for him and Indiana U. “We thought he’d never play again.” For the Big 10 conference he was

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freshman of the year and then conference player of the year as a sophomore. Following a stellar junior season the result was almost inevitable: he was selected in the third round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 draft. Following several years of minor league success and a trade to the Padres organization following the 2013 season, Alex made his major league debut in 2015. Of how the call up occurred Alex says he received a call from Jamie Quirk, his manager for minor-league El Paso, at 1 a.m. The team was playing a series in Albuquerque. “He said, ‘Hey, you’re going to the big leagues.’ I was going to Milwaukee. I got zero sleep. Connecting flights. I got there just before the National Anthem. It was a jaw-dropping moment. You fight so hard to get there. It was just a really exciting moment for me.” Later in 2015 a broken-bat single at Petco Park in San Diego was his first major league hit. His family and friends were on hand to witness it. However, his stay with the Padres in 2015 was brief. The next season, 2016, was better, including that memorable grand slam, but Alex suffered an injury, the first of two that would derail his career for more

than two years. He didn’t play at all in 2017 or 2018 due to a second back surgery and then surgery on his left arm. During that time was when the value of enduring that first injury in high school became clear, Alex recalls. “I never believed any of them would end my career. It could be because I had a really bad one early,” he says. Rather than wallowing in pity, he says he used his recovery time to improve his mental outlook, assess his approach to the game and begin mapping a future after his playing days end. “An injury gives you perspective,” Alex explains. “When you’re injured you can learn a lot more watching what happens with guys — confidence or worry. Those are the things you never see when you’re playing.” He adds, “A lot of the injuries were when I was at my best. But you realize you’re not invincible. It gives you perspective. I was that much smarter. Every time I have gone through injuries it has made me a better player.” The numbers bear that out. Upon being traded from San Diego to San Francisco in 2019 he hit a stellar .290 for the Giants with six homers and 26 RBI in 155 at-bats. He then upped the ante in the pandemic-

Alex, Kelsie, Carol and Ross Dickerson at the 2014 CAL Soccer at USC. shortened 2020 season by hitting .298 with 10 homers and 27 RBI over 151 at-bats. This year also brought fatherhood. Alex’s wife, Jennifer, gave birth to their son, Levi, on Sept. 20. Alex says he is looking forward to a healthy 2021 and more success for a team that was predicted to go nowhere and yet was only eliminated from the playoffs with a loss on the season’s final day. Yet, at 30 he is already contemplating his postretirement plans.

“I absolutely will (coach). When I make that transition I will have seen the game from a different perspective,” Alex says. “I have decided it would be pro ranks. A lot of the things I have would work for a minor leaguer or a major leaguer.” He adds, “What can I give back to the game is more than I got. I have made note of a lot of things. A lot of the anxiety I have taken note of. You can remove yourself and just go out and play.” 

WHERE CUSTOMERS ALWAYS COME FIRST.

Fall 2020

Diabetes Education

El Centro Regional Medical Center is on the front line of diabetes education in a county that ranks the highest for diabetes in the state of California. With a diabetes ranking of 16.9 percent, according to a UCLA study done in 2016, Imperial County has more than double the percentage of diabetics per capita when compared to the second-highest county. El Centro Regional Medical Center offers both a diabetes prevention program for those diagnosed with pre-diabetes and a self-management education program for those with Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes, said Stephen Jaime, the hospital’s diabetes educator. Jaime brings personal experience and expertise to his role as diabetes educator, having been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child. Type 1 is considered an autoimmune disease, Jaime explained. As is typical with Type 1, “Something in my system attacked my immune system and the pancreas cells that produce insulin,” Jaime said. “I don’t produce insulin at all, so to treat that I have to inject insulin.” With Type 2 diabetes, he said, either the patient has developed insulin resistance or is not producing enough insulin. Treatment typically involves medication designed to help the pancreas produce insulin. Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and often disappears after delivery but increases the risk the mother will develop diabetes later in life, according to the American Diabetes Association. “When a woman develops gestational diabetes, the risk factor is 10-fold for Type 2 diabetes later in life,” Jaime said. Fall 2020

ECRMC raises the bar

The hospital’s diabetes prevention program addresses risk factors those diagnosed with pre-diabetes face, Jaime said. “We try to help people understand the process of what happens when you develop diabetes.” The program is a yearlong commitment that targets lifestyle changes. It follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) and is monitored by both to ensure ECRMC is taking all the necessary steps to educate and help the community. “There is a CDC study showing a lifestyle change program is more successful in preventing diabetes,” Jaime said. Anyone diagnosed with prediabetes can sign up for the prevention program. For those already diagnosed with diabetes, ECRMC offers the only selfmanagement program in the county. The program is certified by the ADA, which periodically audits the program to ensure guidelines are followed. Patients with Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes are qualified to take 10 hours of education in five classes of two hours each. Topics cover what diabetes is, treatment options, and how to maintain control; healthy eating and physical activity; medications and how to use devices to monitor blood sugar and insulin pumps; potential complications and how to prevent or treat them; and a psycho-social element on changing one’s lifestyle to promote healthier ways of living. “It’s hard to change your lifestyle,” Jaime said. “We have training to help do that and

support. That’s what we’re here for.” Among lifestyle changes, Jaime urges exercising and controlling the amount of sugar and carbs in food through portion control, which helps drop blood sugar. “In the Mexican culture, it’s hard for us to give up our tortillas, rice and beans,” Jaime said. “We use the My Plate method (from the U.S. Department of Agriculture), which uses a plate to recommend how much in proteins, grains, fruit should on the plate. … The other thing I can’t stress enough is to really monitor your blood sugar, especially if you are feeling funny.” The prevention program is open to anyone with prediabetes, while the selfmanagement program for diabetics requires a referral from one’s primary care physician. More information is available by calling 760-482-5000 and following the message prompt for an outpatient clinic. Jaime also can be reached by email at Stephen.Jaime@ecrmc.org. 

Common symptoms of diabetes (American Diabetes Association) • Urinating often • Feeling very thirsty • Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating • Extreme fatigue • Blurry vision • Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal • Weight loss—even though you are eating more (type 1) • Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)

NOVEMBER

NATIONAL

DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH

STOP DIABETES BEFORE IT STARTS The ECRMC Diabetes Prevention Program is a lifestyle change program designed to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Offered to individuals diagnosed with pre-diabetes and/or with high risk of developing this medical condition, this CDC-recognized program can also lower your risk of having some cardiovascular complications, improve your health, and help you feel more physically active.

For more information contact us at diabetesprevention@ecrmc.org or (760) 482-5000.

Fall 2020