Fall 2022 by ReliancePublicRelations

Fall 2022

Publishers'

Message

We in the Imperial Valley don’t wax eloquent about deciduous trees dropping bushels of multicolored leaves to commemorate the approach of fall. Instead, we breathe in the season and commune with the quiet joy it brings. We don’t need or want a desert version of a social media influencer, akin to Pennsylvania’s rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, to hype the impending season shift. That would be overkill and might overshadow the evidence that the Dog Days of summer, and often early fall, are waning. Here, fall only whispers its approach. As a result, the signs of Imperial Valley’s fall approaching often mystify the uninitiated. Part of the confusion is because fall here is unlike anywhere else. Here, fall is not a harbinger of the coming end of the year; instead, it is the season of renewal, of planting. Fall is the Imperial Valley’s spring. The fact that fall has sprung here is evident in the jam-packed calendar of community events in this edition of Imperial Valley Alive. Confused? That is understandable

Fall into the season

if, by fall, you are looking for a blustery prelude to winter. We here watch the signs of something very different. And we have peered out of our air-conditioned cocoons for days, even weeks awaiting the season’s subtle emergence. Suddenly, the new season permeates the atmosphere. The days shorten. The relentless oven blast of summer temperatures dips slightly. You feel the climatic shift on your skin; you breathe it in. Neighbors and friends venture outside and stop to chat even in the middle of the day. There is even wistful talk about making soup and (be still my beating heart) needing sweaters or jackets soon. Some inveterate season watchers contend fall arrives in the Imperial Valley on the wings of migrating birds. And it is true migrating hawks, gulls, and even vultures can now be seen here in growing numbers. Valley growers provide another tell that fall. They thrive because of the topsyturvy nature of this unique geographic desert region where fall is spring. Throughout the Valley, agricultural fields

have been prepared for fall vegetable crops. In some areas, new growth is already turning furrowed fields lush green. That fall is the Valley’s season of renewal is equally evident in the community calendar contained in this edition. Gone is the virtual hibernation imposed by summer’s relentless heat. Today, the calendar is full of fun and exciting things to do for every age group in almost every community in the region. On many days, the biggest challenge will be to choose from the multitude of options available. While some communities resort to pomp and pageantry to build excitement for an impending season shift, we at Imperial Valley Alive offer you a richer taste of the region. This edition provides stories about fascinating local individuals and information about innumerable community activities and events to keep you entertained. And hype about the season? We will leave that to Mother Nature, whose rare but spectacular midOctober thunderstorm heralded fall’s arrival with a bang. 

Fall 2022

INDEX |

Volume 6, Number 4 EDITORS & PUBLISHERS Bill Gay Sue Gay Susan Giller Peggy Dale Bill Amidon

CONTRIBUTORS

Stefanie Campos Julie Smith Taylor Darren Simon Charla Teeters-Stewart

COVER PHOTO Joselito Villero

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Joselito Villero Charla Teeters-Stewart

Antonia "Blanca¨ Mendez (center) cuts the red ribbon during the dedication ceremony of the pickleball court on Sept. 14 at the Conrad Harrison Youth Center, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sports Pavilion in El Centro. Mendez is joined by El Centro Mayor Tomás Oliva (fifth from right), pickleball players, and El Centro Council members. - Photo by Joselito N. Villero

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Alejandra Noriega Alejandra Pereida Tania Pamanes

PLAY |

WEB DESIGNERS

Page 6

ina Núñez-Mchiri comes home to G SDSU IV, Page 10

SALES

et ready for a safe and sane dunes G season, Page 14

ennor Johnson making his mark at L IVC, Page 11

Jesus Uriarte Sergio Uriarte

Bill Amidon John Lovecchio Heidi Gutierrez

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bill.amidon@reliancepr.com 760-693-5330

HONOR |

eague of Cities gives Sedalia L Sanders timely award, Page 8

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EDUCATE |

Pickleball takes flight and hits home,

Fall 2022

COVER PHOTO: Frank Marquez plays pickleball after the Sept. 14 dedication ceremony of the new pickleball court at Conrad Harrison Youth Center, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sports Pavilion in El Centro - Photo by Joselito N. Villero

CHRONICLE |

ilmmakers bring a touch of F Hollywood to Imperial Valley, Page 12

Costumed Star Wars enthusiasts pose in the Buttercup Valley area of the Imperial Sand Dunes as part of Discover the Desert Day. Buttercup Valley was home to the Sarlacc pit monster scene for "Return of the Jedi." - Photo by Charla Teeters-Stewart

INSIDE Publishers’ message, Page 3 IVVGA tackles water issues, Page 16 Moving Masters makes those hard moves easier, Page 17 New school trains locals for medical field, Page 21 Suicide prevention is focus of ICBHS services, programs,

Pages 22-23 Kid Wise, Page 31 Dining options, Pages 18-20 Calendar of events, Pages 25, 27-29

A scene for local filmmaker Manuel Baez's short film "A Bitter Murmur¨ is set and marked. - Photo provided by Manuel Baez

ECRMC: Women’s center opens, Page 34

Fall 2022

Pickleball By Darren Simon

What do you get when you cross tennis, ping pong, and a bit of badminton, throw in something akin to a Wiffle ball, and come up with what perhaps is the silliest name possible for a sport? You get one of the country’s fastest-growing and most accessible sports, which has caught on in a big way in the Imperial Valley. That sport is pickleball. And take it from this writer, an avid pickleball player for about two years now, anyone, regardless of their athleticism, coordination, fitness level, or age, can learn to play and quickly discover what a fun form of exercise it can be. Once you move beyond the basics, pickleball becomes a game of finesse and strategy where competition can be fastpaced and thrilling. And like other sports, pickleball provides a way to build new and lasting friendships (as long as you don’t get Fall 2022

A sweet sport for Valley players

angry on the court as this writer sometimes does — but that’s another story). “It’s a good way to get exercise without seeming like exercise,” said Judy Velasco. She is part of a Holtville group of players that uses a city basketball court, which the group converted into pickleball courts by having pickleball lines drawn and providing their nets. Members of the Holtville pickleball group play throughout the week, starting at 6 a.m. (7:30 a.m. in the winter), “We’ve gotten hooked on playing. It’s addictive,” said member Margie Garcia. “It really is.” Pickleball is an amalgam of games. At first, it looks similar to tennis. The pickleball court is a smaller version of a tennis court with a slightly lower net across the middle. The game can be played in singles or doubles, like tennis, ping pong, or badminton. Players use a paddle usually made of composite materials, like graphite,

Christopher Wren (top photo) and Jennie Alvarado (above) play pickleball after the Sept. 14 dedication ceremony for the pickleball court at Conrad Harrison Youth Center, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sports Pavilion in El Centro. - Photos by Joselito N. Villero

Clockwise from above: FROM LEFT: Playing pickleball Sept. 22 at the newly constructed court at Valley Christian Church in Imperial are Romeo Urbinelli and David Oronia (above left), Alexis Pacheco (top right) and James Suubam (below right). - Photos by Joselito N. Villero that is larger and thicker than a ping pong paddle but shorter than a tennis racket. The ball resembles a Wiffle ball, with perforations, but it’s a thicker polymer, and while it doesn’t bounce like a tennis ball, it does move fast when struck during play. The game involves a great deal of patience as players focus on carefully placed, softly hit “dinks” that bounce as close to the net as possible, interrupted by flurries of power as players smash the ball, looking to score the next point. “It can be very intense,” said Frank Marquez of El Centro, who is part of a group that plays at IV Fitness in El Centro on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The group’s games often start at 8 a.m. “It’s a game where it’s important to control the ball to make it do what you want. My motto is, it’s mind over matter.” The sport dates back to 1965, but more recently, it has grown in popularity in the Valley among players of all ages, teens to seniors. Most interviewed discovered the sport about three years ago. That’s about when the group in Holtville was introduced to the sport by San Diego players. Husband-and-wife team Madeline and Mallory Willis of El Centro introduced the IV Fitness group to the sport when they started

playing at the gym. Chris Wren was one of those who, while working out at the gym, wandered over to watch the Willis couple play. “They became our mentors,” said Wren. At the time, he said he was eager to find a new way to exercise because he had suffered a stroke. “We just started playing, and it steamrolled from there,” he added. To play at the IV Fitness gym, you either have to pay the monthly membership fee or a fee for the day you play. Along with the Holtville and El Centro groups, one of the more recently formed groups plays at the Valley Christian Church in Imperial. There, the Rev. John Jones, pastor of the church, and his wife Sue, oversaw construction of a gymnasium on church grounds that was funded by the congregation and support of a donor. The gym is used for youth activities, basketball, and, in addition, has two pickleball courts. From 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, the church gym is open for pickleball, and it’s free for anyone who wishes to attend. Players don’t have to be part of CONTINUED | PAGE 30

Let us host your special event!

Lunch 11am to 2pm daily

102 E. Del Rio Road, Brawley, CA 92227 Phone: 760.344.0085  Fax: 760.344.8488 Fall 2022

Photos chronicling Sedalia Sanders' journey in serving her community were provided by the City of El Centro. Above is a Dec. 11, 1996, article of one of Sanders' achievements.

League of California Cities

By Julie Smith Taylor

El Centro Native Daughter Sedalia Sanders has spent a remarkable 40-plus years serving the community. Her dedication and sense of duty include her appointment to the El Centro City Council in 1984 that led to serving five terms as mayor during multiple terms as a City Council member, along with time as a hospital board member, and one term on the El Centro Elementary school board. In addition, Sanders has represented El Centro on regional and national levels for many years in leadership roles with the League of California Cities. Now in her 80s, Sanders continues to serve. Since 2015, she has been an active member on the Executive Committee of the California Commission on Aging and was reappointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Fall 2022

Sedalia Sanders honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

in 2020. Sanders also served under Gov. Pete Wilson, who appointed her in 1992 to his Task Force on Rural Competitiveness. In 1994, he asked her to serve as Vice Chair of his Rural Development Council. Sanders also served on the California Elected Women’s Association of Education & Research Board of Directors and as the Chair of the Imperial Valley Association of Governments. She is a former member of Women in Municipal Government, the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. In recognition of her years of service and volunteerism, Sanders has been named the 2022 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by The California League of Cities Past Presidents’ Council. She is the first African American Woman to receive this award. The Sept. 7 ceremony was held

at the Long Beach Convention Center. “The award honors a person who has committed their time, talents, and energy to making our communities better places to live, work, play, and raise our families,” said California Cities Immediate Past President and El Centro Council Member Cheryl Viegas Walker. “It was magical to be part of the ceremony to see her surrounded by friends, family, and the many colleagues who have supported her along the way,” said Walker. “She received a standing ovation from everyone following her spontaneous acceptance speech that was completely from the heart.” Walker said Sanders has been an inspirational mentor to her for more than 30 years. “Sedalia has always been graciously tenacious and has dedicated her life to the service of others. It has truly been a remarkable life well-lived. I am thrilled that

the award was given to her at a point in time that she could hear, see, and experience all that gratitude being expressed to her at the ceremony. “It was certainly one of the highlights for me to be able to recognize her in that way. Of all the titles that I could potentially use for myself, Sedalia’s friend is the highest honor,” Walker said. Sanders said it was wonderful just to be nominated. “But once I knew that I had won, I wanted to make sure all the people who have supported me through the years could witness this moment. My initial guest list was 46 people! In the end, I was blessed to have 22 very special people there with me including my two grandsons.” Sanders was born in El Centro during World War II. During her acceptance speech, she spoke about the values she learned from her parents, the things she lived through as a woman of color during segregation, and how things are so different now compared to those early days. “When I grew up, we had no phones, no sidewalks or the conveniences of today,” she said. “I worked in the fields but I had a strong, supportive family and parents that raised me with integrity, Christian values and honesty that has kept me on the right path all these years.” As a young woman, Sanders had the opportunity to attend the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. There, she lived with a family that was active in the Democratic Party and that was instrumental in the election of President John F. Kennedy. One day, Sedalia came home from school to find the president in her living room. “It was such an honor to meet him.” A few months later, Sedalia was attending a Baptist church in Minneapolis when a visiting pastor came to encourage the congregation to join him in marching for equality and the end of segregation. That pastor was Martin Luther King, Jr. “I couldn’t march, but I donated my last $5 to the cause,” she said. Sanders soon earned her degree in medical technology. She returned to El Centro, where she married her husband Albert, got a job in the hospital laboratory and raised two sons. “Albert has always been very supportive of me and of my need to serve,” she said. “I felt like I was called to volunteer and did so despite having a full-time job and responsibilities as a busy mother.” Sanders describes taking red-eye flights to Washington, D.C., attending meetings all day, and then turning around, flying home, changing her clothes and going right back to work the next morning. “It was a lot, but I loved it.” Sanders credits her success to many factors. “Were the hands of God on me? Yes! Did the Lord bless me? Yes! Did my family and husband support me? Yes! Did my faith community support me in every venture I tried? Yes!” She also credits former El Centro Mayor Tony Beltran for initially getting her involved in community service. Beltran encouraged her to serve on the hospital board in the early 1980s. “I told him I would think about it and my husband said, ‘Why not?’ So, I did.” Sanders said once she started asking questions and learning and reading as much as she could, she started to feel more confident in her role. When the mayor asked her to run for El Centro City Council and again asked herself, “Why not?” Sanders ran and won. The pattern repeated itself for decades. “We all have choices in our lives. I didn’t have to accept that initial board position, but I did. Once I did, I realized I could do this! I also realized, if others can do it, why not me? I was never taught to believe that my ethnicity or the color of my skin meant I couldn’t

Photos of Sedalia Sanders' longtime service to the community are courtesy of Sanders and the City of El Centro. do something. You can do whatever you want. It’s other people’s problem to think that you can’t.” Jack Terrazas, a long-time friend who served on the council with Sanders, said, “Sedalia has a certain gift of diplomacy that I have never seen before in anyone. Her ability to communicate at different levels is so impressive. She never held back and always defended her position very well. She has influenced so many lives in her years of service that I think she is very deserving of this award, especially coming from a small town like El Centro. I couldn’t be happier for her.”  Fall 2022

SDSU

Imperial Valley By Bill Gay Guillermina Gina Núñez-Mchiri is finally home. This veteran educator spent much of her childhood on the road as the daughter of migrant farm workers. She then settled in for a college career that included 18 years as an anthropology professor at the University of Texas El Paso -- including seven as its director of women’s and gender studies program. But now, Núñez-Mchiri is back home. On Aug. 4, she became the first Latina to hold the position of dean at SDSU Imperial Valley. After all of her travels earlier in life, the Border City is the place that she considers truly her home. That is where she made lasting friends and has deep roots. Calexico was where she attended elementary, junior high and high school. While continuity was interrupted in regular cycles when she and her four brothers and sisters would join their parents as they periodically left to follow the next harvest, Calexico was always there. Later she would write about it in an article titled “In Search of the Next Harvest.” It is in that piece that she recalled the hardships and joys of a migrant childhood. “My memories of growing up as a migrant child are filled with pain, laughter and songs,” she wrote. “As migrant farm workers, my family’s stays in any given place were intense, temporary and short-lived,” she stated. “As a family, we usually traveled throughout the Southwest in search of the next harvest.” Her parents worked for the same lettuce harvesting company. While her mom wrapped and packed lettuce, her father supervised field crews as a foreman. “I was introduced to agricultural farm work in my childhood, working alongside my parents during summer and winter school breaks — picking and packing strawberries, onions, cantaloupes, cauliflower and lettuce.” She still can describe how sore her fingers became from the abrasiveness of cantaloupes, from having to pick them up fast enough to pack them.

Fall 2022

Calexico roots run deep for first Latina dean

Late in their careers, Núñez-Mchiri’s parents settled in Calexico after years on the road and established their home first on Blair Street, then on Birch. “They made that choice to stay in Calexico,” she said, because of the sense of community there. The new dean recalled that her parents’ place was always a home away from home for a diverse group of young people, and her mom was always ready with food or water for visitors. Her father, who passed away several years ago, instilled a strong work ethic in his children. Gina worked part-time in the fields from the time she was 12 years old up until she earned her master’s degree. “I don’t know what it is like not to work,” she said. She also put herself through college by teaching citizenship classes. Her parents were strong advocates of education. Núñez-Mchiri remembers how her parents set the example for herself, her brothers and sisters by regularly shifting from a day of hard labor to support their children’s schooling and to pursue their own education. “When my parents got home from work, they washed and changed their clothes to go to parents meetings and to English and computer literacy classes.” That dedication and example to the three girls and two boys in the Núñez family paid off. “All five siblings are educators today with graduate degrees,” she said. While Núñez-Mchiri was growing up in Calexico, though, San Diego State University Imperial Valley on Heber Avenue was far from her mind. “I didn’t know much about this campus and had never stepped on it” until she was going through the hiring process for dean. When she was younger, “People were not aware of the only fouryear university in the Valley,” she said. That is something Núñez-Mchiri will be working hard to change. “I love to encourage students to apply,” she said. She fully realizes that SDSU Imperial Valley is the only option for many students to go to a four-year university. “If leaving the Valley is not in the cards due to economics or family obligations, it doesn’t mean your dreams stop,” Núñez-Mchiri said. Ever since she entered the dean’s office

Guillermina Gina Núñez-Mchiri - Photo by Alex Zazueta in August, Núñez-Mchiri has been spreading the word about SDSU Imperial Valley. She has been meeting with counselors, students and alumni. She also has been working on the lingering enrollment challenges that were created by the COVID shutdowns. All colleges and universities in the country suffered down turns. The Calexico campus had an enrollment of about 1,000 students before the pandemic, and the count for Fall 2022 was more than 800. “Our goal is to continue growing. We want people to come here,” she said. That is why outreach has stepped up, both for transfer students from Imperial Valley College as well as entry level freshmen. The new dean realizes also that the education landscape has changed since COVID, with online alternatives, such as SDSU’s Global Campus, attracting more students. “I think students love being in classrooms, but the online classroom is an option for those who need it,” she said. “Technology can give you many options.” This trend, said Núñez-Mchiri, also is forcing renewed attention on the digital divide, the gulf between those who have access to computers and those who do not. “COVID forced us all to reconsider how to do academics and we had to transition overnight,” she said. As the new dean becomes reacclimated with the Valley, she has seen changes, but fears there is still a “brain drain” that must be addressed. Young people still leave the Valley for their careers. “We now need to CONTINUED | PAGE 33

Imperial Valley College

By Susan Giller Lennor Johnson is passionate about closing equity gaps and eliminating barriers to student success in higher education. Recently appointed superintendent/ president of Imperial Valley College, Johnson is now living his purpose in the community he chose for his home. Finding home in the Imperial Valley was an unexpected perk that grew from an interview for an educational leadership position at Imperial Valley College. At the time, he was looking for a job at a college in the West to escape frigid Chicago winters. He was hired as IVC’s dean of student services in 2016 and later promoted to vice president of student services and equity. Last year, he was named IVC’s interim superintendent/president of the community college and then appointed to the top position permanently. In a letter to the campus he stated, “I am committed to student success and doing whatever it takes to help students achieve their goals.” Now he is at work creating even more opportunities for students. He and SDSU Imperial Valley Dean Guillermina Gina Núñez-Mchiri are working together. They hope to expedite IVC students transferring to the four-year institution to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Johnson envisions IVC and SDSU Imperial Valley’s Calexico and Brawley campuses as a higher education corridor that can accelerate student academic and career achievement. “We want to create a very natural transition from IVC to a four-year degree,” he said. “A lot of people fear success; that’s a real concern. I want to make it easier, more comfortable for students to make that leap.” For Johnson, the need to remove barriers to higher education for students from lowincome backgrounds and underserved communities is personal. He is a first-generation college graduate from a lowincome Chicago family. After serving four years in the Marine Corps, he applied for college admission because he didn’t want to stay in the military. He earned a degree in business administration from Robert Morris University

Lennor Johnson opens doors for home, student success

in Chicago, and a master’s in business administration from Governors State University in University Park, Ill. “I wanted to own lots of property and get rich,” he said. His college experience redirected his life’s path. As a student, he worked part-time in the campus admission office, talking to prospective students. “Working with students is where I found my passion,” Johnson said. It also is where he began to understand barriers that keep low-income and underserved groups of students from attending college. “College is available for anyone,” he said. “For some students, college is a rite of passage because they know what is needed to get there. But for many low-income students, college is an abstract concept; they lack that specific knowledge,” which makes them more likely to give up on the opportunity. “I want college to be a rite of passage for all students.” He vividly recalls one inner-city student who said she was interested in college but was vague about many details. For example, she did not know how to apply for admission or get financial aid. Moreover, she had no idea what a degree could mean to her in terms of future income. Johnson said despite her reluctance, he kept coaxing her to meet with a counselor to complete the necessary paperwork and go through the process. Eventually, she was admitted and graduated with a degree in accounting. Later she told Johnson without his prodding, she would not have attended college. “That got me hooked,” he said. “It’s addictive to make a difference in someone’s life like that.” After he received his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Argosy University, he held academic leadership positions with several colleges and universities, primarily in the Midwest. Then Chicago experienced brutal blizzard conditions in 2015-16. To escape future frigid winters, he started looking for academic leadership positions at colleges and universities in California. But, with two kids and three dogs, he figured his family would be happier in a suburban or rural area.

Lennor Johnson - Photo by Marcus John-Anthony Griffin He had never been to the Imperial Valley before an interview was set up at IVC. “I didn’t know the area and didn’t know anybody,” Johnson said. “So, I came down early to do some reconnaissance, and I liked it. “It is so very inviting here,” he said. “It’s like an oasis in the desert. It sticks to you.” The interview at IVC impressed Johnson even more. “Everyone was so warm, so embracing, so welcoming; it just felt right,” he said. He quickly realized that a community college is uniquely positioned to offer opportunities to low-income and marginalized students. Following the interview, Johnson stopped at a taco shop. “I was standing there looking around,” he said. “I had an epiphany. I realized I could live the rest of my life here.” When offered the position of IVC’s dean of student services, he jumped at it. Since then, he has been laser-focused on identifying and filling gaps in services, removing barriers to student success, and making campus policies and procedures more studentfriendly. Also, Johnson helped grow a college prison program. In addition, he enhanced a dual enrollment program that allows high school students to take college courses, and he helped create a campus food pantry and helped develop student housing. He also helped secure millions in grant funding to expand services for IVC students. And he worked to develop unique programs for disabled students, those from foster home CONTINUED | PAGE 33 Fall 2022

Local director and social activist Roy Dorantes composes the next shot for his latest film "Ni Una Mas!¨ along the shores of the Salton Sea. - Photo provided by Roy Dorantes

Hooray

for Valleywood! By Charla Teeters-Stewart

The Imperial Valley has provided the backdrop to many a cinematic marvel. In films such as “Jarhead” and “War Dogs,” Valley locations became the lands of the Middle East. In “Stargate” and “Return of the Jedi,” our desert provided the landscape of far-off galaxies, home to a menacing Sarlacc Pit Monster and ancient aliens. Valley locations provided the inner world of a video game for “Jumanji: The Next Level'' (and “Grand Theft Auto'' if you want to discuss real video games). Many small-screen productions also gravitate to the Valley. From television episodes to commercials, reality, and documentary/ travel projects, the Valley is a hot spot for film activity. And while big productions generate a lot of buzz, it’s the smaller projects that can generate the most excitement for the Imperial County Film Commission Fall 2022

Meaningful projects from local filmmakers

staff. The Imperial Valley is abundant with dreamers and talent, full of passion for the craft of filmmaking. Many local, and formally local, filmmakers, on shoestring budgets and in their spare time, are creating meaningful projects focused on great storytelling and shining a light on social issues. They use these passion projects to showcase their talent at film festivals and in specialized screenings. Recently five filmmakers discussed their upcoming projects, the challenges they face as independent filmmakers, and where to view their productions. Premiering in October, “Ni Una Mas! (Not One More)” is the next passion project for filmmaker Roy Dorantes. Dorantes uses filmmaking as a vehicle for his social activism. His past films focused on veterans, farmworkers, and mental health issues. "Ni Una Mas!" shines a light on domestic violence and the toll it takes on victims and society at large. The film premiered

Oct. 1 in SDSU Imperial Valley’s Rodney Auditorium. It took a year and a half and a cross-border cast and crew of more than 100 to bring the project to completion. “Ni Una Mas!” will be screened multiple times in the Valley, Yuma, Mexicali, and Southern California through November. Dorantes said the process of filmmaking helps him explore and understand an issue. “The whys and hows reveal themselves and the whole process helps me make sense of the issue,” he said. “Filmmaking for me is a means of sharing information and calling others to action.” Filmmaker Ryan Perez has found it difficult to pick his next project. He currently has three different projects all in the script-writing stage. Perez has been a consummate filmmaker, finding success on the film festival circuit. His “Salton Sea Poem” placed first in last year’s Salton Sea Film Festival and many of his projects have screened and received recognition at the Imperial Valley Film Festival and other

festivals. He credits his interest in filmmaking to his Calipatria High School English and drama club teacher’s encouragement, support and constructive criticism. Primarily a selftaught filmmaker, Perez’s drive and passion for the medium motivate his work. “Never be discouraged,” he said. “The number one killer of any project is to be discouraged. Do it anyway. Once you are into it, you’ll figure it out. It is OK to make mistakes and try, try again.” Perez has also received some on-thejob training through the Imperial County Film Commission. As productions come to town, he has been recommended and hired on to multiple sets as a production assistant, property assistant, and for the art department. Perez also recommends that aspiring filmmakers “Be nice! When I was younger and just starting out, I was overly competitive … it took me a while to realize that, on set, you’re not in a competition, you are all on the same team,” he said. “Here in the Imperial Valley, everyone is very welcoming and willing to help each other out.” Justin Burquist, who grew up in the Valley, comes home often and enters his work each year in the Imperial Valley

These films by local filmmakers can be viewed at the following links: "Ni Una Mas!¨ Trailer: https://youtu.be/npaDVRC0SKY "Salton Sea Poem¨ Trailer: SALTON SEA POEM SSFF FINALISTS 2021 YouTube "Touch¨ Trailer: https://vimeo.com/726228841 "Man From Jalisco¨ Episodes: RJLB Pictures - YouTube "Bitter Murmur¨ https://vimeo.com/684007154 Film Festival (IVFF). Burquist does his filmmaking in his spare time. Currently, he is shopping his short film "Touch" (a film about a psychic embedded with a police unit) at various film festivals, focusing on horror genre-specific events. Looking ahead he plans to tackle a music video shoot for a friend in Columbia, and in November he starts shooting his next short about two American women who meet with a psychic medium in Mexico to communicate with a ghost – and bad things Stills from local filmmaker Ryan Perez's happen. short film "Salton Sea Poem.¨ - Photo Burquist recommends up-and-coming CONTINUED | PAGE 32

provided by Ryan Perez

Fall 2022

- Photo by Charla Teeters-Stewart

up the toys and ice down the beverages, take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations that govern our favorite The desert spots. season Q (Teeters-Stewart): Any safety tips you would want the public to keep in mind before cometh heading out to Imperial County’s vast and amazing public lands? A (Estrada): The BLM, of course, wants to By Charla Teeters-Stewart encourage people to recreate responsibly, and while visitors ride at their own risk, there It is safe to say that all of us in the Imperial are some safety laws/regulations everyone Valley are pleased as punch to be taking in should be aware of. Each rider/passenger a first breath of autumn air. Temperatures of dirt bikes, ATVs, and UTVs must wear a may be only slightly cooler, but we collectively helmet. We also encourage those driving feel the change in the air. We breathe a little dune buggies to follow suit. easier, and the anticipation of fall life and Make sure that you display your safety activities bubbles in our brains. flag so others can see you coming up and With the change, we also know that soon over hills and other obstacles, and check our desert will be teeming with life. The that all your equipment lights are in working revving of engines, the smell of campfires, order. Another point of safety is to obey and packed local businesses; all are welcome the 15 mph speed limits within 500 feet of reminders of the influx of visitors to the highways, access roads, and within 50 feet of Imperial Valley and the tourism dollars they campsites. Slowing down around campsites bring. It also means that many of us will be is so important. Many visitors have kids, and heading out to our favorite off-road spots to we want to make sure everyone is safe and enjoy time with family and friends. secure, especially around their campsites. With all of that in mind, Imperial Valley Lastly, we hope recreators will do their best Alive’s Charla Teeters-Stewart sat down to to be aware of their surroundings and know talk with Asdrubal Estrada, Bureau of Land their capabilities. Not everyone has the same Management (BLM) Outdoor Recreation riding experience or driving abilities. It’s best planner about the upcoming 2022-23 off-road to ride in a group with everyone looking out for each other. season. Before you hook up the trailer, tune

Sand Dunes

Fall 2022

Q (Teeters-Stewart): Are there any new laws or changes at the Imperial Sand Dune Recreational Area (ISDRA), or other public lands, that law enforcement would want the public to be aware of? A (Estrada): There are no significant changes on the federal side, but there are significant changes to the California Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) laws and we encourage everyone to visit the state parks website to familiarize themselves with these changes before heading out. If you have additional questions, please call the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division Visitor Services Manager at 916-475-8138. Q (Teeters-Stewart): Any visitation trends people should know about? A (Estrada): During busy holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Year's, and others, visitation numbers can reach 100,000-150,000, just in the dunes. So, we ask recreators to keep in mind that they are sharing these spaces with a lot of other people and to please be patient with your fellow enthusiasts. We hope they will also be patient with us as we patrol and assist thousands of visitors over thousands of acres of Imperial County public lands. Also, everyone must clean up after themselves. High visitation numbers mean high volumes of trash, so please take your trash away. Let’s be good stewards of these amazing natural resources, keeping public lands clean and open for all to enjoy. Q (Teeters-Stewart): Are there any other desert attractions you recommend that visitors and locals check out in Imperial County? Maybe to see something different?

A (Estrada): Tumco! Tumco is an abandoned gold mining town, one of the earliest gold mining areas in California, and has a history spanning some 300 years. The area has seen several boomand-bust periods over that long history. It operated until 1947 when the townsite was abandoned, becoming a ghost town. To get there, visitors should take the Ogilby Road exit (159) off Interstate 8 and head north for approximately 8 miles. Or, if coming from the Glamis area take 78 east and turn south on Ogilby Road. Tumco is on the east side of Ogilby, clearly marked with BLM signs. Q (Teeters-Stewart): What are some of your most asked visitor questions? A (Estrada): We get a lot of questions from visitors that are coming from outside of California. They are not sure if they need a California OHV registration (green or red sticker). The answer is – It depends. It all depends on what state you're visiting from. California will only recognize other state registrations that honor California OHV identification. If your state does not honor California OHV registration, then California will not honor your state's registration. A list of states that will require a non-resident permit can be found at OHV.Parks.gov. With the first question answered, there

Above: A dune-loving dog sports his super cool eye protection while out on a ride in the Imperial Sand Dune Recreation Area. - Photo by Samantha Storms, BLM Right: Recreators gather at Sunset Hill in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area to enjoy a beautiful sunset. is usually a follow-up as to the difference between the California green and red stickers. A green sticker indicates that a vehicle is allowed to operate on public lands open to motor vehicles. The red sticker is issued for motorcycles and ATVs model year 2003-2021 that do not meet California emissions standards. Another popular question we addressed at this year’s Sand Sports Super Show was about the new Polaris Pro-R vehicle. All passengers riding in a UTV (utility terrain vehicle or utility vehicle) must wear a helmet in California. The new Pro-R is classified as a sand car/buggy, and passengers are not

required to wear helmets in a vehicle of that classification, though we always encourage people to do so. Q (Teeters-Stewart): As we wrap up this interview, is there anything else you would want to communicate to readers and recreators as they get ready for another season of fun? A (Estrada): Yes, of course. I want everyone to know about the many events the El Centro Field Office has coming up this season. We hope that people will take advantage of these opportunities and engage with their public lands, as well as the CONTINUED | PAGE 32

Fall 2022

IVVGA

Stream of information flows

The Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association (IVVGA) has always maintained the mission of informing its members about critical issues facing agriculture to support their efforts to grow the food so essential to the nation and the world. Now the IVVGA’s dedication to providing a steady flow of information to growers is more crucial than ever in the face of a relentless drought on the Colorado River, the lifeblood of the Imperial Valley. In June, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation called for approximately 2 million to 4 million acre-feet of additional conservation across the Colorado River Basin states that depend on the river. Since then, IVVGA’s ongoing educational campaign has targeted the dire conditions on the river and its two critical reservoirs, Lakes Mead and Powell. This year, the Bureau of Reclamation declared a Level 2 shortage on the river when the level of Lake Mead fell below 1,045 feet. That led to the implementation of certain reductions in water use under the 2007 Interim Guidelines and the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). The current reductions impact Arizona and Nevada as well as Mexico, which agreed to participate under international agreements (Minute 323). California is not yet impacted by reductions but could be in future years if the water level at Lake Mead continues to drop. Reclamation’s call for additional conservation for 2023, and subsequent years, is separate from the reductions under the Guidelines and the DCP, but it is likely California will have a role in trying to generate water to maintain operations at both Mead and Powell. With the goal of sharing this information, IVVGA has helped organize and participated in two water forums in the Imperial Valley since June. The first, the Imperial Valley Water Forum, was held June 16. It was organized jointly by IVVGA, the Imperial County Farm Bureau and the Imperial Valley Water (IVH2O) and was specifically for Imperial Valley growers. The event featured expert panelists on Colorado River hydrology and the operation of the river during a shortage. Local panelists also discussed the new equitable distribution program implemented by the Imperial Irrigation District (IID), which sets caps on both agricultural and municipal water usage. The second forum, the Colorado River Summit, was organized by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and held July 28. IVVGA was a sponsor of the water summit, and two of its board members, President Kevin Grizzle and Jack Vessey, participated as panelists to explain all the steps Imperial Valley growers have taken to conserve water while ensuring that agriculture continues to support the local economy. Along with the forums, IVVGA remains focused on attending local, state, regional and national meetings on behalf of its growers, who are busy carrying out the important work each day of growing the food we all depend on. IVVGA is able to ensure its members have access to the information from those meetings, whether providing updates during our monthly Board meetings, through our newsletter or via social media. On a final note, during these unprecedented times on the river, communication locally is essential, and IVVGA appreciates the efforts of IID to hold bi-weekly stakeholder meetings on the river and other critical water matters. IVVGA looks forward to continuing local discussions, to ensuring its membership is represented and has a voice on these critical river issues, and to keeping them informed so that agriculture can continue to succeed even during these difficult times.  Fall 2022

Moving Masters

Making relocation easy

Since 2013, the El Centro-based moving company Moving Masters has provided professional residential, commercial, and logistical services to both Imperial and San Diego counties, expertly supporting clients through all phases of a move, including packing, whether relocating locally or long distance. Founded by partners Charlie Chan and Fernando Lara, both Imperial Valley residents, Moving Masters prides itself on having a staff of well-trained, experienced moving professionals equipped with the latest tools to serve those going through a move. “We understand moving is not easy,” Chan said. “When someone is moving, they have their whole lives to juggle. We go in with trained staff and the proper equipment to make this phase of their move as smooth as possible.” Chan added it means a great deal to his company that their clients would trust them to handle what can be a stressful time. “I appreciate that they are entrusting us to help them transition from one place to another,” he said. With that in mind, Chan said, “We don’t go in using brute force. We are proficient, safe, and utilize the latest techniques and equipment to take care of our clients’ belongings.” That entails safely taking furniture apart, packing belongings in a way that carefully protects them, and reassembling furniture, all to ease the stress of the move.

- Photo provided by Moving Masters. Through monthly training sessions, Chan said, Moving Masters ensures its team is prepared to use the most up-to-date techniques throughout the move. As a local moving company, Moving Masters focuses on helping clients plan and manage the move, from the packing stages to delivery, while always ensuring their belongings are appropriately cared for, whether it is a residential or commercial move. For commercial moves, the company serves non-profit organizations, retail stores, educational institutions, and many other kinds of businesses. Moving Masters ensures the process is completed efficiently and with as little downtime as possible for commercial clients. With a fleet of moving trucks, Moving Masters also can handle long-distance moves outside Imperial and San Diego counties. “I get fulfillment from being able to assist our clients with all of these services and to guide them through the moving process,” Chan said. To contact Moving Masters, call 760-770-5300 or email Chan at Charlie@movingmasterspro.com. To learn, visit the company website, movingmasterspro.com. 

Fall 2022

NOURISH |

Valley's Eateries

American Food 2GO SALADS $ 210 E. Cole Blvd #5, Calexico, CA 92231 760-618-9120 https://bit.ly/30Jk7LT Applebee's Grill & Bar $$ 2421 Cottonwood Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-8311 www.applebees.com Applebee's Grill & Bar $$ 2505 Scaroni Ave, Calexico, CA 92231 760-768-1649 www.applebees.com

Brickhouse Deli 447 W. Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251 760-592-4352 www.bhdeli.co

Broken Yolk Café 3049 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-9655 https://bit.ly/35Vk5A9

Fall 2022

Imperial Valley's homegrown restaurants offer lots of tasty choices.

Brownie’s Diner $$ 990 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-2938 https://bit.ly/3cP5Ct7

Locally Owned

$10 & under per person

Beer/Wine only

$20 & under per person

Full Bar

Over $20 per person

Denny's $$ 1445 Ocotillo Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-2576 www.dennys.com

Habit Burger $ 2335 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-997-7805 www.habitburger.com

Juniors Café $ 1791 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-9556 https://bit.ly/3cP2oG5

Shake & Wake $ 1490 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5100 https://bit.ly/3EalJfZ

Denny's $$ 3403 Dogwood Rd. El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9023 www.dennys.com

Hope Café and Creperie $ 605 E 2nd St, Calexico, CA 92231 760-890-5259 https://bit.ly/3zyZAXd

Leroy's Backyard BBQ $$ 401 Broadway, El Centro, CA 92243 760-675-6546 https://bit.ly/3iLMFLP

Sizzler $$ 707 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-3780 http://www.sizzler.com

Hope Café and Creperie $ 1027 W State St. El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5092 hopecafeelcentro.com

Maranatha Steakhouse $$ 612 S. J St, Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-0777 https://bit.ly/2ZaBkx2

Famous Dave's $$ 3103 S. Dogwood Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-9044 https://bit.ly/3iPxIsf

Hot Rod's & Beer $$ 235 West E 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-356-9900 https://hotrodsnbeer. com

Panera Bread $$ 2321 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-332-6499 www.panerabread.com

Chili's Grill & Bar $$ 3303 S. Dogwood Rd, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-2116 www.chilis.com

Farmer Boys $$ 1532 Cruickshank Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-336-0227 www.farmerboys.com

Humble Farmer Brewing $$ 116 S. Imperial Ave Ste C, Imperial, CA 92251 760-545-0037 www.humblefarmerbrewing.com

China Palace Steakhouse $$$ 1075 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-1510 https://bit.ly/2TFOTSy

Foster Freeze $ 130 N. 5th St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-7566 https://fostersfreeze.com

IHOP $$ 2362 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-1100 www.ihop.com

Buckshot Deli & Diner $$ 8120 CA-111, Niland, CA 92257 760-359-0595 https://bit.ly/3jrInbX

Buffalo Wild Wings $$ 510 Danenberg Dr, Dogwood Sports El Centro, CA 92243 Bar & Grill $$ 760-337-9481 www.buffalowildwings.com 3603 S. Dogwood Rd, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4668 https://bit.ly/2UjlAFL

Burgers & Beer 260 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-4431 https://bit.ly/3h44J1n

Pepper Grind Coffee $ 1560 Pepper Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 https://bit.ly/3j3jcxd Red Feather Off-Road Market & Cafe $ 1182 N. Imperial Hwy, Ocotillo, CA 92259 760-358-7389 https://bit.ly/3vwXwvY

Sonora Fusion $$$ 560 W State St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5069 https://bit.ly/3wLozVP

The Original Town Pump Steakhouse 200 W Main St., Westmorland, CA 92281 760-344-3663 https://bit.ly/3wLlvch

Tropical Delights 221 W E St, Brawley, CA 92227 (760) 344-5051 https://bit.ly/3rakIPW

Asian Cuisine Chef Lee's Express $ 1049 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5555 https://bit.ly/3xx5M0q

RESTAURANT

China Inn Restaurant 461 W Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-1038 https://bit.ly/3xlMI4W

China Palace Restaurant $$ 1075 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-2798 https://bit.ly/3wFTh2y Fortune Garden $$ 3309 S. Dogwood Rd, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-9888 https://bit.ly/3iJn6uQ Fortune House $$ 1627 W Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-3888 https://bit.ly/3vrsZzu Golden Dragon $$ 928 Imperial Ave. Calexico, CA 92231 760-890-0066 Hong Kong $$ 550 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4497 https://bit.ly/3E4Wdcb

Kotori Japanese Food $$ 300 E Cole Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231 760-768-8540 https://bit.ly/3zHPbZE

Sushi Park $$ 330 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-2377 https://bit.ly/3gB9uze Sushi Spot $$ 115 North Imperial Ave. Ste F-G, Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-0441 https://bit.ly/39JEYUl

Lucky Chinese Restaurant $$ 500 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-7680 www.luckyrestaurant.com Volcano $$ 445 E. Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 Los Ce-B-Ches $$ 760-337-9105 1074 E Coles Blvd Ste 7, volcanoelcentro.com Calexico, CA 92231 442-270-1402 https://bit.ly/35ps9sy

CHINESE & HAWAIIAN Mah’s Kitchen 290 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-8713 https://bit.ly/3q4OF3w

Peony Pavilion $$ 1505 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-351-9888 https://bit.ly/3iJdGj3 Poke & Noodle Japanese Cuisine $$ 799 E. Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9208 https://bit.ly/2UccQkB

The Thai Bistro 775 E. Danenberg Dr. Ste. 105 El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 592-4611 exoticthaibistro.com

Italian Food Assaggio Ristorante Italiano $$ 538 E St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-9750 https://qrco.de/Assaggio Chuck-E-Cheese $$ 803 E. Danenberg Rd, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-4785 www.chuckecheese.com

K Sushi Bar & Grill $$ 416 S. J St, Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-4440 https://bit.ly/3zyKbWT

Sushi & Noodle $$ 800 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5075

George’s Pizza $$ 116 W 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-356-1192 https://bit.ly/3cPgc3A

Khan Korean BBQ $$ 330 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-0202 https://bit.ly/3gy1hwY

Sushi & Noodles $$ 630 S Brawley Ave, Unit #6, Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-1361 https://bit.ly/3E6JANF

Grasso's Italian Restaurant $$ 1902 Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-4635 https://bit.ly/3gAvSd5

Inferno $$ 505 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-7744 https://bit.ly/3B7d1gH Inferno $$ 3451 S Dogwood Rd #1396, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4818 https://bit.ly/2Ze07Rp Italianos $$ 1523 Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-336-0336 italianoselcentro.com Johnny Carino's $$ 3203 S Dogwood Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9588 www.carinos.com

Mozzarelli Artisan Bistro 123 W Barioni Blvd, Imperial, CA 92251 760-545-0222 https://bit.ly/3b0Ctdd

Mozzarelli Pizza & Gelato $$ 950 N Imperial Ave, (inside Strikezone) El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-3300 https://bit.ly/3q7g4l2

Mexican Food Antojitos Como En Casa $$ 425 Desert Gardens Dr., El Centro, CA 92243 760-482-5621 antojitoscomoencasa.com Asadero Neighborhood $$ 220 W Birch St. Calexico, CA 92231 760-357-0890 https://bit.ly/39LddL2

Birrieria y Menuderia Guadalajaras $ 845 Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231 760-890-5181 https://bit.ly/3cNjmoc Briseida's Kitchen $$ 741 Cesar Chavez Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231 760-618-9180 https://bit.ly/3b2oeod

El Merendero $$ 1702 N Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5014 https://bit.ly/3GdMxxW El Zarape $$ 139 S. Imperial Ave, Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-4435 https://bit.ly/3gCuPrP Flautas & Sopes $ 1622 S 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5090 www.flautasysopesusa.site

Cardenas Markets $$ 1620 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-482-0139 www.cardenasmarkets.com Flautas & Sopes $$ 1531 Ford Dr, Celia's El Centro, CA 92243 Restaurant $$ 760-336-0825 1530 Adams Ave., www.flautasysopesusa.site El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-4570 Flautas & Sopes $ www.celiasrestaurants.com 715 Cesar Chavez Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231 Cilantros La 760-357-0655 Taqueria $ www.flautasysopesusa.site 643 S 4th St Ste 1, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5337 Hacienda Market & https://bit.ly/3gBgdJu Snack Bar $ 941 K St, D’Lupita's Brawley, CA 92227 Restaurant $$ 760-344-5542 336 W 5th St, https://bit.ly/3b0ILJR Holtville, CA 92250 760-356-7100 https://bit.ly/3gwwvo5 Holtville Taco Shop $ 404 E 5th St, D'Poly Taco, Grill & Holtville, CA 92250 Beer $$ 760-356-5756 1573 W. Main St, www.holtvilletacoshop.com El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4243 Jalisco's Bar & Grill https://bit.ly/35vdKLw $$ 844 N. Imperial Ave, El Cañon $ El Centro, CA 92243 625 Main St, 760-353-2515 Brawley, CA 92227 https://bit.ly/3nhTvsZ 760-344-2411

El Jumping Bean Taqueria 3129 S. Sixth St. Brawley, Ca. 92227 760-623-1150 https://bit.ly/3xMdgfV

Johnny's Burritos 490 D St., Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-0961 https://bit.ly/3cJkERa Fall 2022

Johnny's Burritos 301 Wake Ave., El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-0963 https://bit.ly/3cLY2Qb

Johnny's Burritos 105 S. Imperial Ave., Imperial CA 92251 760-355-0962 https://bit.ly/3vzAxAh

K Taquiza Restaurant $ 249 E Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5088 https://bit.ly/3GcVSpA Karina's Mexican Food $$ 845 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-0027 https://bit.ly/3njjQXG Kennedy's Taco $ 1560 Ocotillo Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4019 https://bit.ly/3m8DAOx

La Birrieria Red Tacos $ 710 Heil St, El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 970-4406 https://bit.ly/2SHS77N

Las Palmitas Taco Shop #1 $ 2003 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-2757 https://bit.ly/3gwEUYH

La Fonda Bar & Grill $$ 1950 S 4th St #1, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-6450 https://bit.ly/3E23yJm

Las Palmitas Taco Shop #2 $ 880 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-370-9120 https://bit.ly/3cL3jr0

La Fuente Restaurant $ 737 Emerson Ave, Calexico, CA 92231 760-357-5760 https://bit.ly/2ZcppyX

Letty's Casita $$ 705 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-8170 https://bit.ly/3wBPpPV

La Resaca $$ 143 S. 6th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-592-4971 https://bit.ly/3vFQox3

Los Cabos Seafood & Grill $$ 201 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5393 https://bit.ly/35xq51E

Las Californias Foods $ 1133 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-7122 https://bit.ly/3gN9vkP Las Chabelas Restaurant $$ 749 S. Brawley Ave, Brawley, CA 92227 760-351-2991 www.laschabelas.com

Sombrero Mexican Food $$ 703 E. Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 Mexca Brew Co. 612 W Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4544 https://bit.ly/2SkabEM

Patty’s Loncheria 1191 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 (760) 960 9023 https://bit.ly/3B3hjHd

Mi Casita $$ 324 S. Imperial Ave. Ste B, Calexico, CA 92231 760-556-9895 https://bit.ly/3cO17PE

Puerto Nuevo Patio

Nana Dora's 103 W. K St., Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-2677 https://bit.ly/2S3kWex

Los Cerritos Restaurant $ 411 E 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-756-3097 https://bit.ly/35yM1t9 Ma Lupe's $$ 390 W. Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-1180

& Grill $$ 395 Broadway, El Centro, CA 92243

760-337-2160 https://bit.ly/3xyamev

Tacos De Pescado Marlyn $$ 1614 S 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243

760-336-0430

760-353-1686

https://bit.ly/3iMIrUj

https://bit.ly/2SAvbaI

Rosa's Plane Food

The Burrito Factory

Inc. $$

445 S. Imperial Ave,

130 S. Imperial Ave.

Calexico, CA 92231

#3458,

760-890-8860

El Centro, CA 92243

https://bit.ly/3q5sg5Q

760-693-5110 https://bit.ly/3zxSGSd

Virginia's Casita $ Nana’s Kitchen 502 W. Aten Rd., Imperial, CA 92251 760-457-6077 https://bit.ly/3zCHvri

Sobe’s Restaurant 1151 S. 4th St., El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-6838 https://bit.ly/2Uf9q0t

645 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-351-2386 https://bit.ly/3b41jck

If you are interested in enhancing your restaurant's listing, contact Bill Amidon or Heidi Gutierrez at Reliance Public Relations, Inc., 760-693-5330.

Fall 2022

Honor Health Sciences By Darren Simon Honor Health Sciences, a privately owned nursing school in El Centro, started as a dream when Imperial Valley resident Jeffrey Chan, who has a doctorate in nursing, realized the need for nurses in the Valley, even before the start of the pandemic. Jeffrey, a family nurse practitioner, and his wife, Jaymee Chan, a registered nurse, decided to start a private nursing school for other aspiring students who want to pursue nursing. Both knew it would be difficult as they already were running a home health care service, Healthpeak Home Health, and two senior care facilities in the San Diego region, but neither was deterred. There was no stopping them. After years of planning and facing the challenges of starting a private nursing school, the dream became a reality. Fast forward to September 2022 and Honor

A dream come true for owners

Health Sciences finally opened its doors to its first batch of students, becoming the first private nursing school in the Valley. “I am so excited that we can offer this highquality accredited program to Imperial Valley students interested in a career in nursing,” Jaymee said. Honor Health Sciences offers a licensed vocational nursing program, but Jeffrey, who is president of the school, and Jaymee, vice president, are looking to expand the school’s offerings to include registered nursing and physical therapy programs, along with other programs. This year, the school, located at 958 N. Imperial Ave. in El Centro, accepted 24 students but will be looking to expand the number of students as well. "We had over 300 applicants but in the end, only the maximum number of 24 students were enrolled." Jaymee said. "We have the LVN program now, and our program is accredited by the Bureau of Private PostSecondary Education and the Board of

Jaymee and Jeffrey Chan. Vocational Nursing & Psychiatric Technicians.” Besides being president and vice president of Honor Health Sciences, Jeffrey and Jaymee Chan are also professors. "We are really thankful for everyone who is a big part of our Honor Health Sciences team, and also our Healthpeak Home Health team and our Serene Greenfield and Richview family in San Diego. We wouldn’t be able to do this without them," Jaymee said. She and her husband urge anyone with questions or interest in registering for next year to reach out to the school at 760-5924818. To learn more, see the school website at www.honorhealthsciences.com. "Education is priceless,” Jaymee said. “It's something you can have that nobody can take away from you." 

Fall 2022

ince 2008, the month of September has been designated as National Suicide Prevention Month, placing focus on breaking stigmas associated with mental health struggles and building awareness about the services to help those in need of support. Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) wants to assure Imperial Valley residents that help is available through its programs and services for all ages experiencing suicidal ideation, whether they are facing an immediate psychiatric medical emergency or seeking ongoing treatment. Nationally, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death across all age groups and even higher for those ages 10 to 24, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In the Imperial Valley, there has been an increasing need for suicide prevention services, especially crisis response services, said Michelle Villarreal, ICBHS’s program supervisor for the Mental Health Triage Unit, a critical part of ICBHS’s suicide prevention services.

Fall 2022

“There is a significant need for these services,” Villarreal said. As part of its services, ICBHS has placed great focus on providing an immediate response to those in crisis through its Crisis Care Mobile Unit (CCMU) program, which consists of staff trained in suicide prevention whose role it is to respond with law enforcement and other community agencies to individuals facing emotional or psychiatric distress. The CCMU is made up of separate units, including:  The Crisis Co-Response Team (CCRT) works in collaboration with law enforcement officers in the field to provide crisis intervention and linkage to needed treatment and community services;  School Based Response Team (SBRT) provides mobile crisis intervention services to individuals experiencing a psychiatric or emotional crisis at the local schools;  Care Response Team (CRT) provides assistance to the local hospital and

ICBHS outpatient clinics;  Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), which, like CCRT, will provide immediate field-based de-escalation services. The MCRT will respond to law enforcement agencies and other community agencies requesting intervention for individuals experiencing psychiatric or emotional distress. MCRT also provides outreach in communities by giving individuals the opportunity to immediately access services. Priscilla Patino, ICBHS’ manager for the CCMU and the Mental Health Triage Unit, said the Crisis Co-Response Team, which began in November 2020 as a pilot program before expanding to the additional mobile units, are meant to ensure ICBHS can respond to those in a mental health crisis anywhere in the county. “Under this new approach, our goal is to reach out and provide services in a more prompt manner,” Patino said. The Mental Health Triage Unit is another key piece of ICBHS’ suicide prevention services, providing immediate therapeutic

response to individuals exhibiting acute psychiatric symptoms. The triage unit is located at ICBHS’ facility at 202 Main Street in El Centro, and provides immediate interventions, including crisis interventions, targeted case management, mental health rehabilitation services and medication support services, if recommended. As an alternative treatment for psychiatric emergencies, ICBHS has its Casa Serena facility, also at the 202 Main Street site. Casa Serena offers comfort rooms to individuals promoting a calm environment. This therapeutic approach is accessible to clients of all ages experiencing emotional distress and is intended to help individuals identify and deescalate symptoms causing the distress. Services provided by Casa Serena will promote tranquility, mindfulness, and the reinforcement of coping skills. Along with immediate crisis support, ICBH offers ongoing mental health treatment services through its clinics, including its Children and Adolescent, Youth and Young Adult, and adult outpatient treatment clinics.

202 N. Eighth St. • El Centro, CA 92243 For appointment call:

(442) 265-1525 • (800) 817-5292 bhs.imperialcounty.org

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- Photo provided by The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Brawley

Brawley Cattle Call

The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Brawley is proud to host the 66th annual Cattle Call Jamboree from November 3rd through November 13th. The theme for this year’s festivities is “Wrangler Jeans and Rodeo Dreams.” The Chamber affectionately dubbed their group of Cattle Call events, the Jamboree back in 2017. These traditional events include the Kick-off mixer, Chili Cook-off, Mariachi Night, and the Cattle Call Parade. “It was Michael Novak who stated, ‘Tradition lives because people come along who catch its romance and add new glories.’ This is a sentiment that I take to heart, given that much of the activities we do within The Chamber of Commerce are traditional. We strive to continually honor

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Wrangler Jeans and Rodeo Dreams

our roots and traditions while bringing exciting new ideas that will fan the flames of these events for a lifetime. We have spent many hours in dialogue about how to modernize and evolve these events to be pleasing for all generations. Come join us for the 66th annual Cattle Call Jamboree,” said Ramiro Urias, CEO of The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Brawley. While The Chamber holds true to many Best ribs contest - Photo by traditions, they are excited to bring a few new twists to the Jamboree this year. The kick-off signature event, Cattle-Call Turi & the Crew. Owners of the Grocery Mixer, will be held Thursday, November Outlet in Brawley are honored to host the 3rd, which is before the Chili Cook-off event and look forward to spending the instead of the Monday after. This new date evening with you. gives the business community a chance If it’s chili you want, then don’t miss this to mingle the night away while listening to year’s Chili Cook-off on November 5th

Chilli Cook-off

Mariachi night

at 5:00 p.m. While tradition places this chili-tasting experience in the morning, the Chamber has given the event a modern twist by moving the opening time to 5 p.m. in hopes of boosting crowd attendance and drawing in a better line-up of entertainers. Performances this year will include PHT & the Honky Tonk Nights and Vulcan Mt. Boys. For the first time ever, the Chili Cook-off will include a side contest for best ribs. Mariachi Night 2022 will feature two live stages. The traditional main stage will host Mariachi singers and Folklorico dancers, while the second stage will feature a local norteño group. Vendors for the evening will include tacos of all kinds, libations, arts and crafts, and kids’ toys. The week of events rounds off with the Cattle Call Parade on November 12th.

For more information regarding the 2022 Cattle Call Jamboree, visit www.brawleychamber.com.

Calendar of Events Oct. 24 Savannah Ranch Park Work Party Monday, October 24, 2022 9 to 10 a.m., Savannah Ranch Park in Imperial. Volunteers are encouraged to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes for safety. For more information, please contact the City of Imperial Parks Department at (760) 355-3134.

Oct. 24 Cattle Call Concert Monday, October 24, 2022 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pioneers' Museum (Imperial County Historical Society), 373 E Aten Road, Imperial. For more information, visit www. ivchoralsociety.com

Oct. 25 Calexico Downtown Litter Clean Up Event

Cattle Call Parade - Photos provided by The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Brawley

The information included in the print version of Imperial Valley Alive! is what was available by publication deadline. Visit our calendar online at www.imperialvalleyalive.com and submit your event information.

5 a.m. to 1 p.m., 300 S Imperial Ave Suite 6, El Centro.

Oct. 26 Commercial Avenue Truck & Trailer Parts Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 105 W. Commercial Ave., El Centro. Join the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Avenue Truck & Trailer Parts to celebrate the El Centro location. Enjoy networking, hors d’oeuvres and more.

Oct. 26 AWANA Club Harvest Festival 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Trinity Baptist Church, 722 E 6th St, Holtville. There will be trunk or treats, crafts, food and more.

Oct. 26

Harvest Night Trunk or Treat Carnival & Car Show 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Christ Community Church, 590 W. Orange Ave., El Centro. Bring the whole family to Christ Community Church El Centro's parking lot for carnival games, trunk or treating, food, candy, live music, and a car show.

Family Night 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Calexico United Methodist Church.

Oct. 26 Trunk or Treat Fun Fest 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Western Avenue Baptist Church, 555 N. Western Ave., Brawley. There will be games, trunk decorating contests, treats, and more. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, cash only. No scary costumes, please.

Oct. 27 I.V. Palate, Palette & Pallet 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Imperial Valley Food Bank, 486 W Aten Road, Imperial. The Imperial Valley Palate, Palette & Pallet is a new take on a historic Imperial Valley fundraising event hosted for the first time by Imperial Valley Food Bank. To purchase tickets please visit the website IVP3.org. Presale tickets were available beginning Oct. 1 and reflect the festival’s traditional $25 ticket price. Fall 2022

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Oct. 28

Oct. 29

6th annual Mariposa Fundraiser Gala 6 p.m. to midnight, Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse, 796 W Evan Hewes Highway, El Centro. WomanHaven, A Center for Family Solutions, invites the community to this year’s fundraiser gala, “Everyone Knows Someone.” This event includes a reception with dinner, live music by La Chambita, no-host bar, a monologue presentation, and special awards presentation. The signature Mariposa Lily Awards are presented annually to survivors of domestic violence who have transformed their lives. Greek formal attire is welcomed. For more information and prices, view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D 37too6n3_7OF2jacbGUzdVAXXVRE ESB/view?usp=sharing

YFC Pumpkin Patch and Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Lisa Tucker Center, 447 W. Aten Road, Imperial. Event raises awareness for Youth for Christ of Imperial Valley. Join us for delicious food, live music, fun activities for the whole family, and pumpkins. Starting at just $5, there will be decorative and carving pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.

Noche Mexicana 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., 304 Encinas Ave, Calexico.

The book club is $10 for nonmembers and free for museum members. Call (760) 358-7016 or email info@ivdesermuseum.org to sign up or for information.

Oct. 29

Pioneers Museum DinnerDrawing 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Pioneers' Museum (Imperial County Historical Society), 373 E Aten Road, Imperial.

Halloween Spooktacular & Soap Box Race 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brawley Cattle Call Arena. Races begin at 11 a.m. Organized by Best S.T.E.P. Forward.

Oct. 29

Oct. 28 Bunco-Ween Fundraiser! 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., StrikeZone IV, 950 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro. Soroptimist of El Centro presents Bunco-Ween Fundraiser, $35 to play at the door or Eventbrite. Check in at 6 p.m. Prizes for best costume, best cackle, most wins, losses and more. Ticket includes food and beverage. Cash bar for cocktails, wine and beer. More information: (760) 592-2178.

Halloween Spooktacular & Soap Box Race! 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cattle Call Arena, Cattle Call Drive, Brawley. More info: (442) 322-9419.

Oct. 29 Floating Pumpkin Patch Noon to 3 p.m., El Centro Aquatic Center. This third annual event is free for all to attend. Jump into the competition pool or warmup pool and pick a pumpkin from the floating patch, decorate it at one of the pumpkin-decorating stations, or take the challenge and race across the inflatable Aqua Track. For more information, please contact the El Centro Aquatic Center at 760-335-4550 or by email at aquatic_center@cityofelcentro. org.

IVDM Book Club Rocky Readers 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Imperial Valley Desert Museum. Join staff and moderator and author Richard Carrico for a reading of Carrico’s book “Strangers in a Stolen Land: Indians of San Diego County From Prehistory to the New Deal.” The book is available in the museum gift shop.

Fall Family Festival 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1280 S. 8th St., El Centro.

Oct. 29 Harvest Festival 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., New Destiny Church, 202 Cooley Road, El Centro.

» » » » » »

Lic. No. 433262

☎760-353-6340 📠📠760-353-6341 Fall 2022

Oct. 31

Nov. 3

Nov. 5

Calexico Halloween Alley 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 1074 E. Cole Boulevard, Calexico.

Fall Festival 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Christ Community Church, 516 Main St, Brawley. Fun family event with food, facepainting, decorated themed cars with goodies for the kids, live music, and much more! For more information contact Francine Ginnis: francineginnis@gmail.com

Kick-off Cattle Call Mixer 6 p.m., Brawley Grocery Outlet, 315 Panno Drive, Brawley.

Plant Swap IV Collective 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., 221 N Imperial Ave., Imperial. Coordinated by Leleinia Llamas and the Imperial Valley Gardening Community. This event is open to members of the community who like to share plants and garden accessories to give away (no store-bought). Spaces are limited. To reserve, call (442) 283-5116.

Oct. 31 Turning Point Life Center Fall Fest 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Turning Point Life Center, 450 Cedar Ave., Holtville. Cake walk, hay rides, games, prizes, candy, and more. For more information, call 760-3564088 or email turningpointlifecenter@ gmail.com.

Oct. 31 Potluck & Movie Under the Stars 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Calvary Chapel Christian School, 1923 Austin Road, El Centro. Fun evening of food and fellowship. Bring a dish and a small bag of candy to share. Also, bring a lawn chair and/ or blankets to sit on while watching the movie. The event will take place in the courtyard & the back lawn. More info: (760) 352-0336

Oct. 31 Niland Chamber Trick or Treat 6 p.m., Niland Chamber of Commerce, 8031 Highway 111, Niland.

Nov. 4 4th Annual Wine Tasting 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Imperial Valley Food Bank, 486 W Aten Road, Imperial. Contact ICAOR for ticket and sponsorship information, (760) 352-6010/jessica@icaor.com or ruben@icaor.com.

Nov. 5 Cattle Call Chili Cook-off & Rib Contest 5 p.m., Main Street and Plaza Park.

Nov. 5 Nov. 1 SDSU Food Bank Ribbon Cutting 11:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m., San Diego State University Imperial Valley, 720 Heber Ave, Calexico.

P31 Women of the Word Gathering 9:30 a.m., Christ Community Church, 590 W. Orange, El Centro. Guest speaker Lorena Ogle; light refreshments in the courtyard. Tickets, ccciv.churchcenter.com/ registrations/events/1457403

1802 N Imperial Ave Ste D El Centro CA, 92243 (760) 693 5145 Mon-Fri 8:00 am to 7:00 pm Sat 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Sun 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

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Nov. 5 9th annual Imperial County Veterans Day Parade 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Holt Park, 570 Holt Road, Holtville.

Nov. 7 Cowboy Bingo 6:30 p.m., Boys & Girls Club of Imperial Valley, 165 S. Plaza, Brawley.

Nov. 9

Nov. 19

Dec. 3

Mariachi Night 5 p.m., Main St. and Plaza Park, Brawley.

ABATE 38's 25th annual Turkey Run 8:30 a.m., Walmart Supercenter, 2150 N. Waterman Ave., El Centro. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Registration is $10 and a turkey per person. This will include a full Thanksgiving meal for all participants. Participants will caravan throughout Imperial Valley to deliver all of these turkeys together, which is about five stops. One of the stops is in Calexico where breakfast will be served. The Turkey Run will end at Gateway Church on Legion Road in Brawley, where a complete Thanksgiving meal will be served. There will be raffles, 50/50, and prizes.

Holiday Tour Around the World 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Pioneers' Museum (Imperial County Historical Society), 373 E. Aten Road, Imperial.

Nov. 10 Cornhole Tournament 6 p.m., Boys & Girls Club of Imperial Valley, 165 S. Plaza, Brawley.

Nov. 11, 12, 13 Cattle Call Rodeo 7 p.m. Nov. 11 and 12; 1 p.m. Nov. 13. All performances are in Cattle Call Arena in Brawley.

Nov. 12 Cattle Call Parade 9 a.m., Main Street and Plaza Park.

Nov. 15 National Philanthropy Day Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse, 796 W. Evan Hewes Highway, El Centro. Individual tickets are $40. Sponsorship opportunities are available. To register or sponsor online, please visit: https:// ivcommunityfoundation.regfox.com/ national-philanthropy-day-imperialvalley-2022

Nov. 16 Career Development Workshop 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Imperial Valley College, 380 E. Aten Road, Imperial. Time to practice your interview skills! The primary goal of this workshop is to provide students with a real-life interview experience. The workshop hopes to simulate the interview process using mock interviews, combined with student/staff discussion and instruction. Workshop will be held in room 3111. To register, visit bit.ly/fall2022workshops

Dec. 3 76th annual El Centro Christmas Parade 10 a.m. to noon, corner 12th and Main streets, El Centro. Join the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Los Vigilantes and the City of El Centro in celebrating the Christmas spirit with the Christmas Parade theme of “Let It Snow,” with Frosty the Snowman.

Dec. 3-4

10th Annual PAM 5k Fun Run/ Walk Nov. 19 Begins at 8 a.m. Dec. 3 5K Honey Run In honor of Patricia Ann Medina, Pre-register now for the 5K Honey run with all proceeds helping support at the 17th annual Westmorland Honey the Cancer Resource Center of the Festival on Nov. 19. Desert and the Imperial Valley College Pre-register at $20 by Nov. 10 to save Foundation. Either run or walk 3.2 $5 on registration and be guaranteed a miles (5K). Come dressed in red or pink Honey Run 5K T-shirt. to support the cause. Registration table will be open by 6:30 a.m. near

Nov. 19

the IVC sport fields complex, just west of the IVC DePaoli Sports Complex. The race course will start and end near the IVC track and will take runners in a fun jog around the beautiful fields near campus. Parking will be free and the lots south of the gym will be the best to use. Bring your registration email.

Dec. 9 Parade of Lights 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Imperial More information to come. For information, (760) 355-3316.

Dec. 10 Christmas in a Small Town 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Imperial. More information to come. For information, (760) 355-3316.

Dec. 15 Christmas in the Park 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Holt Park, Holtville. 

17th annual Honey Festival 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 300 S. Center St., Westmorland. Gift baskets, Busy Bee of the Year Award, Beekeeper of the Year Award, youth boxing, parade, and dance performances. Pancake breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Nov. 19 Fall Festival 5 p.m. to midnight, Niland Chamber of Commerce, 8031 Highway 111, Niland.

Nov. 19 Ocotillo Rocks! 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Imperial Valley Desert Museum, 11 Frontage Road, Ocotillo. Rock out with IVDM this November with the return of its fourth annual Ocotillo Rocks. Explore the mysteries of the Earth and the forces at work underfoot and underground with this day which celebrates the unique geology of Southern California through games, activities, hikes, and more. This event is free to all visitors of IVDM, with no reservations required. Fall 2022

PICKLEBALL CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 7

the church — everyone is welcome, the Joneses both said. At first, the church gym had one pickleball court striped, but interest grew rapidly, which led the Joneses to add a second court. Both Joneses play and say they look forward to the weekly exercise and competition. They said adding the pickleball courts has expanded their involvement with the community beyond their church while building fellowship and friendships. “We’ve had people come and join us from different religions and those who don’t have any religion at all,” John Jones said. There is a lot of camaraderie among those who play pickleball in the Valley. Those who regularly play in Holtville often join in on Saturdays at IV Fitness. And many players from both Holtville and El Centro make their way to the church gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “We’ve all become good buddies, and we even do things to help each other,” Wren said. With interest in pickleball continuing to grow, the city of El Centro recently added four pickleball courts to the Conrad Harrison Youth Center gymnasium on Adams Avenue with Measure P funding. The new El Centro courts were dedicated in September. “I still don’t know what pickleball is, but I don’t need to know for us to care enough to get this done for you,” said El Centro Mayor Tomás Oliva during the ceremony. The city has set aside hours for pickleball, and players can reserve courts for a fee. You don’t even need equipment to try out the sport locally. The city can provide paddles and balls at the Conrad Harrison center, and all the groups that play at different sites have extra paddles and balls to share with newcomers. Additionally, all the groups enjoy teaching anyone new to the

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game — essentially providing free lessons. Mary Carter of El Centro only recently started playing, quickly discovering how much she loves the game. “I was at the gym working out,” she said. “I saw them playing, walked over, and said I wanted to try it. They were very, very patient with me.” All those interviewed said they quickly fell in love with pickleball for many reasons. “I just love the game,” said Lori Bannister of El Centro. “It’s just so much fun, and I look forward to the exercise.” But enough writing about pickleball. Like many others addicted to the sport (in a very positive way), this writer wants to play pickleball. 

A look inside pickleball

According to USA Pickleball.org, the game was conceived by Joel Pritchard, a U.S. representative from Washington, and his friend, Bill Bell, in 1965. The two had returned to Pritchard’s Bainbridge Island home following a game of golf to find their families bored with nothing to do. There was a badminton court, but they could not find all the rest of the equipment. So they cobbled together a new game with some ping pong paddles, a perforated ball, and a court with a lowered badminton net. Then, with the help of another friend, Barney McCallum, they wrote the rules for what would become pickleball. Pritchard’s wife, Joan, came up with the name for the new game. According to USA Pickleball.org, she drew the name for the mash-up sport from the term “pickle boat,” which referred to thrown-together leftover non-starters in crew races. Another school of thought is that Joan Pritchard named the sport after her dog, Pickles. However, there is an indication that the dog came later and was named after the sport. The sport has continued to grow in popularity. In 1984 the U.S. Amateur Pickleball Association was formed. By 1990, pickleball was played in all 50 states. Played indoors or outdoors on a court similar to but smaller than a tennis court, pickleball is played with a paddle smaller than a tennis racket but bigger than a ping pong paddle. Today’s pickleball paddles are technologically advanced. They are lightweight and made of materials like graphite with a honeycomb-style interior. In addition, the paddle can be textured to allow for more spin. The balls resemble Wiffle balls but tend to be made of harder polymer, which allows for more bounce (though don’t expect it to bounce like a tennis ball). The game can be played in singles or doubles, and the style of play is similar to tennis, though the rules are different. For example, in pickleball, you serve underhand, and there is a no-volley zone seven feet from the net that players cannot usually cross. It is called the kitchen. Many other rules, strategies, and details could be discussed. But suffice it to say pickleball is easy to learn and play and, more importantly, to enjoy.

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...VALLEYWOOD! CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 13

filmmakers embrace the technology. “Tech has reached the point where everybody has a high-res camera in their pocket,” he said. “There are no excuses for not trying. Also, you can't go into filmmaking for the money, you’ve got to do it because it is something you enjoy. Do it for the joy." In the Valley the name Brandt is most often associated with cattle and farming. But one Brandt is filming a different path for himself. Ryan Brandt has been roping locals into filmmaking projects since he was in high school – and he’s still at it. Now working on the eighth and ninth episodes of his original “The Man From Jalisco,” Brandt highlights the water rights issues facing the Imperial Valley and California. While attending the UCLA screenwriting program, Ryan was challenged to write a script that mattered to him. Water was frontand-center in his own family’s business. He based some of the film’s characters on individuals he recalled from the farms of his childhood. The series can be viewed on his RJLB Pictures YouTube channel and airs occasionally on KSWT and in Mexicali. “The Man From Jalisco” has been Brandt’s passion project since 2009. One of his other projects, “Cowboy Bill,” was one of his first critically acclaimed short films. He also filmed “Captain Cook and the Leap for Mankind,” a four-part television series that was shot in England on a sailing ship. He advises filmmakers to get support from those they know. Brandt said, "I can’t say enough about all the friends that have helped along the way. You can’t do it without the community, including all the different cities and entities like the Film Commission. Everybody plays their part and helps tremendously. Community, friends, and family are important keys to success.”

With zero budget and no experience, Manuel Baez started experimenting with film in 2011. Since then, he’s only released three films, and they have all garnered acclaim, and prizes. His latest "A Bitter Murmur," premiered in June at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood as part of the Dances With Films Festival. Baez said it was a “…surreal experience seeing his project on a huge screen in a packed theater like that. The festival did an awesome job making us feel like we were a part of Hollywood.” However, he said it was hard to not fixate on the flaws in his film on the big screen. “I know the audience didn’t see the issues. They didn’t know what went into the editing or shooting of it, they simply enjoyed it. As the filmmaker, you see all the things you wish you could have done differently. But it was well received, we could not have asked for better.” Baez hopes that with the short film in hand he can secure funding to make “A Bitter Murmur” into a feature-length film. The film’s next screenings will be at the NoHo Cinefest in North Hollywood, the SOHO International Film Festival in New York, and the Georgia Latino International Film Festival. As for the future, Baez has many different storylines brewing in his head. He looks forward to seeing where his cinematic adventure takes him. So, hooray for Valleywood! We should all claim bragging rights over and champion the efforts of our local filmmakers; their creativity, tenacity, and drive are to be marveled at and respected. Hollywood is an unpredictable industry. It takes true passion and love of the craft to face the inevitable obstacles, naysayers, and the fickle opinions of an audience. But these creatives do all of that with aplomb, bringing quality art to big, and small, screens near you. 

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staff of the BLM, in ways they might not normally get to. • Meet the Crew (Restoration) at Buttercup Ranger Station – Oct. 29 • Glamis Trunk-or-Treat at North Dunes Glamis Flats – Oct. 29 •C offee with the Rangers (EMS) at Osborne Overlook – Nov. 4 •C offee with the Rangers (EMS) at Superstition SRMA – Dec. 3th •T umco Hike, Bats, and History at Tumco Historic Mine – Dec. 16 • Glamis Black Bag Cleanup at ISDRA multiple locations, the last weekend of December • Meet the Crew (CXTs) at Buttercup Ranger Station – Jan. 7, 2023 • MLK Cleanup at ISDRA multiple locations – Jan. 14, 2023 •H auser Hike at Hauser Geode Beds near Blythe, CA. – Jan. 28, 2023 •S tar Wars Day at Buttercup Ranger Station – Feb. 4, 2023 •P ainted Gorge Cleanup near Ocotillo, CA. – Feb. 11, 2023 •Y uha 4x4 Tour at Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail – March 11, 2023 •M eet the BLM El Centro Rangers (Res, EMS, LE, CXT) at Cahuilla Ranger Station – March 25, 2023

Additional resources:

State Parks OHV website: http://OHV.Parks.CA.gov ISDRA, El Centro Field Office website: https://blm.gov/visit/imperial-sand-dunes ISDRA, Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ blmimperialsanddunes  Fall 2022

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think about training for careers in other industries such as renewables.” SDSU Imperial Valley has received $80 million in state funds to build a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Innovation Center at its Brawley campus that will change the face of education in the Valley. “We will look at new ways to solve problems,” she said. “With technology, we can try different options.” The new dean admits that “for too long, there has been little investment at SDSU Imperial Valley,” but with the STEM center as well as an expansion in faculty and new programs being offered, that has changed for the Imperial Valley campus. Family was the factor that drew Núñez-Mchiri back home. Her mom contracted COVID during the height of the pandemic and suffered lingering consequences that resulted in her receiving a year of home care before she died last February. While her mom was ill, Núñez-Mchiri did what she could to support her brothers and sisters who were caring for their mom. When she could get away from her job, she would drive 10 hours to Calexico from El Paso to assist in the care. “It was a very humbling time but I did it with love,” she said. But that was what started her thinking about a job change. While all of this was occurring, Núñez-Mchiri received a call out of nowhere in class one day from a former foreman she had worked for in the fields. Seeing a teaching moment for her El Paso students, Núñez-Mchiri put her former boss on Facetime with her class and let them interact. That was one more signal to her. “I thought it was a calling for me.” Then, she said, “I was invited to apply for a faculty position at SDSU in San Diego and soon after was informed about the Imperial Valley dean position and was encouraged to apply. “The stars aligned in a series of events that drew me home to help move SDSU Imperial Valley forward.” 

backgrounds, formerly incarcerated students, homeless students, and other impacted populations. The programs he helped develop have positioned IVC as one of the 10 finalists for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. It is the first time the college has been named to the elite group of community colleges recognized by Aspen for achieving high, improving, and equitable student outcomes. Yet Johnson isn’t willing to sit back and enjoy his accomplishments. Instead, he looks forward to completing improvements to IVC’s auto-tech facilities and tennis courts. He envisions the construction of an Emergency Responder Training Center and developing programs and classrooms for careers in lithium technology. Both projects and more would result from the passage of Measure B, a bond issue on the November ballot. Despite his busy campus schedule, Johnson doesn’t shy away from getting involved in efforts to improve the Imperial Valley, the community he now calls home. “My life has always been about public service,” he said. He is a member of the Imperial Valley Breakfast Rotary Club. In addition, he works with the Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee, where he advocates for education reform and economic development, particularly for minority and disenfranchised communities. He was a founding board member of Elevation Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to help at-risk youth obtain the education, skills, employment, and community connections necessary to lead successful lives. For Johnson, removing barriers for student success and opening a door to a home are part of the same package. 

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Marisel Chibas

 Dr. Marisel Chibas, FACOG, board-certified with a Master's Degree in Public Health  Providing gynecological care of adolescents to post-menopausal women  Around age 12 (in conjunction with a pediatrician) to patients who are in their 80s and 90s. ECRMC | 1271 Ross Ave. | El Centro, CA 92243

Fall 2022

New director of Women's Health Center at ECRMC

Dr. Marisel Chibas followed her heart to practice obstetrics and gynecology in the Imperial Valley and now she is listening to her heart again with a new venture as director of the Women’s Health Center at El Centro Regional Medical Center. “When I graduated from residency, I interviewed in many places and what struck me about practicing here was the ability to provide care in an environment where I could focus on providing needed care to females in a setting where the emphasis is on quality of care,” explained Chibas as to why she moved from the more familiar locales of New York, Boston and Chicago to the polar opposite, unfamiliar El Centro. The continued need coupled with the warmth of the residents of Imperial Valley drives Chibas to remain here. Her patients may say the same about her, as they faithfully continue throughout their life cycles in her care. “A lot of patients have been with me since 2004,” she said. “They’ve been faithful and I feel that I have to be loyal with them continuing the care I deliver.” Chibas is honored to have cared for and delivered multiple generations in one family, delivering children of those she delivered years ago. “I’ve seen patients walking and then through a walker and then through a wheelchair,” said Chibas. “It’s a privilege to us that we can’t lightly take. … You want to feel comfortable because there are so many things that happen to us and it’s not just physical, it’s mental, too.” Chibas said she cares for her patients how she would want to be treated by a physician. Practicing at ECRMC, she said she may take her time with her patient in an environment that’s not always about volume. “We’re special. We need to be made to feel special,” she said. “Sometimes in five minutes you can’t figure out what’s wrong with them.” Practicing medicine for a great deal of the population that is low-income and wrought with obesity and diabetes presents its own challenges … frequenting too many fast food restaurants because fat is filling, it’s too hot to exercise outdoors and gym membership may be over budget. Not to mention everyday stresses that add to depression or mental illness. “I think women bear the brunt of a lot of depression in this country because of the responsibilities of keeping a family together,” she said. The move to the Women’s Health Center from private practice allows Chibas to continue providing care with more resources. “We have excellent doctors here,” said Chibas, explaining she is excited to practice in a setting where she has colleagues who she may refer to easily. “Overall it’s a nice environment to know that everyone there is trying to make a difference and help people,” she said. “I hope that when patients come they see it’s welcoming, comfortable for them and they have appropriate resources for their care.” 

New ECRMC

Women’s Health Center

Comprehensive Gynecological Care ECRMC’s new Women’s Health Center, staffed by Dr. Marisel Chibas and her team, offers comprehensive gynecology services to women of all ages. Dedicated professionals will guide patients through the many stages of womanhood, from pediatric and adolescent gynecology to post-menopause.

To make an appointment, call us at: (760) 352-7756

ecrmc.org

35 1271 Ross Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 Fall 2022

Get Ready for Winter & Spring 2023! Winter Intersession January 3 - February 3, 2023

Spring Semester

February 13 - June 9, 2023

View the schedules now at www.imperial.edu/schedule Priority registration for classes begins November 7, 2022!

Imperial Valley College 380 E. Aten Road • Imperial, CA 92251 • (760) 352-8320 • www.imperial.edu

Fall 2022

Top 10 Nationwide for Community College Excellence!