Spring 2023

Spring 2023

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Publishers'

Message

Winter and spring are ebbing and summer is just around the corner. And on some days, our thermometers and air conditioners think it is already here.

That’s the bad news.

On the positive side, in typical Imperial Valley fashion, the calendars are crammed with last-minute celebrations and events before the heat really hits. Check out the calendar in this edition and you will see upcoming activities ranging from a fishing fun day at Sunbeam Lake, a career expo at Imperial Valley College, a business show at the fairgrounds and a fireworks show in Calipatria.

These next few months may get a bit warmer, but that doesn’t stop us.

Imperial Valley is indeed ALIVE. Elsewhere in this edition, you will find prime examples of what we mean.

There is the new University of California Master Gardener Program that is chronicled by Imperial Valley Alive Co-Publisher Peggy Dale. The first 30 Master Gardeners recently wrapped up an intensive 15-week training program and are ready to share their expertise with the community.

These volunteers represent a swath of expertise and interests, ranging in age from young mothers to retired educators. In exchange for the training, they will offer volunteer services and outreach to the general public in

Bill Gay

Seasons change yet Valley always Alive

demonstration, community and school gardens around the county.

Tying into the local Master Gardener Program, Alive Co-Publisher Susan Giller checked out a day trip to the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, where the San Diego Master Gardener Program is firmly established, providing tours and insight into what grows to our west.

Then there is a story by Heidi Gutierrez focusing on Calipatria City Councilman Michael Luellen II, who at 18 years of age is one of the youngest elected officials in California and the youngest to ever serve on the Calipatria City Council.

Luellen announced his council campaign shortly after turning 18 and received the most votes of the six council candidates in the November 2022 election after a very effective grassroots campaign. He quickly received national recognition, becoming the special guest of Congressman Raul Ruiz at the 2023 State of the Union speech in Washington, D.C. Of course, summer time is also a time to “get out of the Valley” with some local travel. IV Alive Co-Publishers Bill and Sue Gay present photos and a story of an historically exciting way to get into downtown San Diego, skipping travel on Interstate 8.

The route takes them on old Highway 80, through Jacumba, Boulevard,

Susan Giller

Peggy Dale

and on Highway 94 through Campo, Delsura, Jamul, Lemon Grove and into downtown San Diego.

That route gives auto passengers an up-close look at the travel history of this region and showcases backcountry assets such as vineyards, hiking trails, wildflowers, deep canyons and country living.

For those wanting to follow that route, IV Alive Graphic Artist Alejandra Noriega has developed an illustrated map that you will find in this edition.

And, as spring comes to a close, Charla Teeters Stewart explores the explosion of desert blooms that came courtesy of an abundance of rainy weather throughout California. Thanks to photos supplied by many of our readers, you, too, can enjoy the beauty of desert blooms.

Readers also will find photo coverage of two significant events this spring.

Dale presents photo coverage of the immensely popular Pioneers Day Celebration at the Pioneer Museum while Sue Gay offers photo coverage of the veterans observance in April recognizing the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. So as you look over this edition you will see that the warm sunny weather coming in is just another facet that makes Imperial Valley truly alive.

Enjoy! 

Sue Gay

Bill Amidon 2023

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INDEX |

Volume 7, Number 2 EDITORS & PUBLISHERS Bill Gay Sue Gay Susan Giller Peggy Dale Bill Amidon

CONTRIBUTORS

Heidi Gutierrez Darren Simon Charla Teeters Stewart

COVER PHOTO Joselito N. Villero

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sue Gay Charla Teeters Stewart Peggy Dale Heidi Gutierrez

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Alejandra Noriega

WEB DESIGNERS Jesus Uriarte Sergio Uriarte

SALES

Bill Amidon John Lovecchio Heidi Gutierrez

ADVERTISING

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

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30 new Master Gardeners ready to share what they learned, Page 6

Explore highways 80 and 94 in San Diego County, Page 10 Highway map to help you find the way, Page 12-13

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COVER PHOTO: Gerardo Roman inspects newly harvested carrots at a vegetable field during a Master Gardeners class near Holtville. - Photo by Joselito N. Villero

Youthful city councilmember is resilient public servant, Page 16

Make plans now for the Flower Fields of Carlsbad, Page 8 Take a road trip to view the superbloom while you can, Page 14

INSIDE | E. coli study shows promise for cattle, produce industries, Page 18 Medically Tailored box program addresses dietary needs, Page 20 VFW Post 9305 marks 50th anniversary of Vietnam War’s end,

Page 22 Pioneers' Day celebrates county’s history, Page 23 Valley’s Eateries, Pages 25-27 Calendar of Events, Pages 30-33

TOP PHOTO: Blooms stand out in the Cymbidium Orchid Greenhouse at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad.

LEFT PHOTO: Visitors at the Flower Fields take advantage of benches and props in ranunculus fields to stage the perfect photo.

- Photos by Susan Giller

Students construct a raised garden bed during a Master Gardeners class near Holtville. - Photo by Joselito N. Villero

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Gerardo Roman inspects newly harvested carrots at a vegetable field during a Master Gardener class at the University of California Cooperative Extension in Holtville. - Photos by Joselito N. Villero

Master Gardeners

By Peggy Dale

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Imperial County’s inaugural Master Gardener Program is off to a rousing start, with the first cohort of 30 potential Master Gardeners wrapping up intensive training at the end of April.

The program’s successful launch is thanks to the energetic and enthusiastic Kristian Salgado, who hit the ground running when she was hired in April 2022 to head up Imperial County’s first University of California Master Gardener Program. Salgado already was working for the University of California-Imperial County Cooperative Extension, hired three years ago as the community education specialist for its Climate Smart program. With her change in job description, she shifted gears from working with farmers and ranchers to backyard gardeners.

Fast-forward to January 2023, when would-be Master Gardeners began an 2023

First cohort ready to spread knowledge

intensive 15-week training that ended on April 29. These 30 individuals represent a swath of expertise and interests, ranging in age from young mothers to retired educators. They were selected from 42 applicants and represent “the cream of the crop,” Salgado said.

Each first underwent an interview with Salgado and a colleague. They then paid the $130 program fee, purchased study materials, and footed the bill for their background checks, a requirement because of the 50 hours of volunteering attached to being certified.

“It’s an interesting combination of individuals, varied and diverse,” Salgado said.

In making its Master Gardener debut, Imperial County joined 53 other California counties that offer the program, an outreach through the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The first Imperial County program provided training by university experts

Sue Casey fills seedling transplant trays with vegetable seeds. for three hours – and sometimes more – every Saturday for 15 weeks.

As completion neared, participants explained some of their reasons for applying to the program and plans for volunteering.

“I just wanted to acquire a better knowledge of gardening and agriculture,” Carlos Molina said while touring nearby vegetable crops after class in early April. Molina, whose “day job” is with the Calexico OneStop office, said he is most

interested in learning about the winter crops that make the Imperial Valley the nation’s “salad bowl.” He hopes to use that knowledge to help the Valley’s youth experience growing something edible and healthy and “redirect their energy and attention to something productive other than being on the streets.”

For Lee Davis, “Initially, the program interested me because I have bees, and I wanted to look at ways to grow things for pollinators.” But it was while looking further into the program that Davis, program manager for the Imperial County Office of Education, discovered the teaching opportunities that come with being a Master Gardener.

“I love teaching, and I love serving,” Davis said. “I love that we get the opportunity to go into the communities we already deal with, whether it’s 4-H, church, school systems. For me specifically, working with ICOE, I want to be able to bring this to ECEP (Early Care and Education Programs) as well as alternative education, which has the teenage demographic.”

Candice Cano, a mother of four young children and an active gardener, spotted ladybug larvae on amaranth plants in a field after classroom instruction

FROM LEFT: Master Gardener classmates Eliza Barajas and Fabian Dominguez Jr. examine pests on leafy vegetables at a field during a class at the University of California Cooperative Extension in Holtville. - Photo by Joselito N. Villero at the adjacent UC Desert Research and Extension Center. Some of her classmates quickly joined her to look for more.

“The things that really drive me are biodiversity and the environment,

growing things that support the pollinators,” Cano said, adding that the program is “a good opportunity to meet other people who also like to garden and serve the community as well.” Plans CONTINUED | PAGE 34

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Butterfly sculptures float above visitors admiring the Butterfly Garden at the Flower Fields of Carlsbad. - Photos by Susan Giller

Day tripping the Flower Fields in Carlsbad

By Susan Giller

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For a cool and colorful spring day trip, you cannot beat the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.

The Flower Fields’ 50-plus acres of spectacular Tecolote® Giant Ranunculus blooms paint acres of hillside vivid hues of red, orange, white, pink, and purple.

During the season from March 1 to May 14, Mother’s Day this year, the floral spectacular lures visitors from around the world. The blooms are the product of a working farm that has blossomed into a regional tourist attraction.

Located at 5704 Paseo del Norte in Carlsbad, the Flower Field offers homage to the 85-year history of floral cultivation in the region – and much more. Today, the venue includes an array of additional features. There is a Cymbidium Orchid Greenhouse. You won’t want to miss the creative gardens designed and cultivated

by Master Gardeners of UC San Diego. A knowledgeable Master Gardener is present 2023

to answer questions and offer advice to those eager to learn about gardening.

The Flower Fields also features an Artists’ Garden and aviary, a butterfly sculpture garden, a poinsettia display and history, and a sweet pea maze and much more.

Prime photo spots are set throughout the fields so visitors can snap great shots without stepping on the blooms.

Visitors can also pick blueberries when the fruit is ripe and available. And narrated wagon tours around the fields are offered for an additional fee.

The Flower Fields offer special events like sunset wine tasting and music, yoga, art workshops and outdoor concerts. Upcoming events include: Picnic & Flowers from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., May 13 and 14 Mother’s Day celebration featuring Ballet Folklorico performances from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Flower Fields is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Tickets must be purchased online at www.theflowerfields.com. Be sure

An orange cymbidium orchid appears to wink at admirers visiting the orchid greenhouse. to check the website for special events and offers.

Admission is $23 for adults; $21 for seniors ages 60 and older and military; $12 for children 3-10; free for children younger than three. Seasonal passes are $48, $44 for seniors 60 and older, and $24 for children 3–10; group tours are available.

Even if a trip to the Flower Fields isn’t in the cards this season, it is not too early to plan ahead. With more than 250,000 visitors during the season, tickets sell out very quickly. 

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Antique rail cars of the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo are visible from Highway 94. - Photo by Sue Gay

Highways 80, 94

By Bill Gay

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A routine trip from El Centro to downtown San Diego these days is a two-hour jaunt at 65-70 mph that is a relatively straight shot down Interstate 8 through Mission Valley and into the downtown area. The drive is efficient, but boring.

With enough time and a somewhat adventuresome spirit, forget the boring drive.

A trip to downtown San Diego from the desert can give auto passengers an up-close look at the travel history of this region as well as showcase backcountry assets such as vineyards, hiking trails, wildflowers, deep canyons and country living.

This travel adventure takes place for just over 72 miles on Old Highway 80 and Highway 94. MapQuest calculates it takes about 20 minutes longer for a trip back in time than sticking on I-8. And on I-8, a driver could spend that amount of time just stuck in traffic.

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Take a trip through time

The trip begins at the top of the Mountain Springs Grade and the In-KoPah exit onto Old Highway 80. Except for the first few miles, the highway is fairly smooth heading to Jacumba, past that community’s glider airport.

A January story in the San Diego Reader noted “Entering Jacumba Hot Springs … is like stepping into a Steinbeck novel, where the dreams may have gone to dust but something stubborn and vital endures.”

A symbol of that community’s past glory stands out on the south side of Old Highway 80: The rock fireplace that was once a centerpiece of the former worldclass Hotel Jacumba that was destroyed by fire in 1983. Meanwhile, in a bid for future prosperity, travelers can’t help but notice the remodeling work underway on the large Jacumba Hot Springs Spa and Hotel in the center of town.

About five miles west of Jacumba, on Old 80, is the community of Bankhead Springs. It is named after Alabama Sen. John H. Bankhead, who championed the

development of Highway 80 as a national highway. His other claim to fame is that he was the grandfather of actress Tallulah Bankhead and there also are local legends that the actress had a hand in development of Bankhead Springs.

The community of Boulevard, which is near the intersection of Old Highway 80 and Highway 94, is home to the Wisteria Candy Cottage, a favorite stopping point for folks traveling the old highway. It also is home to the Calexico Lodge, a mountain get-away for many in Imperial Valley. Boulevard is also headquarters of the Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians, part of the Kumeyaay Nation.

Travelers enter Highway 94 at the nearby community of Manzanita.

One of the first landmarks along Highway 94 is a tall and photogenic trestle railroad bridge, the Campo Creek Viaduct, constructed in 1919 by the San Diego & Arizona Railroad as it sought to expand rail service through the mountains.

The historic community of Campo is

about 11 miles farther down the road.

The first building a visitor sees in Campo along Highway 94 is the large Campo Milling Corp. structure that is surrounded by dozens of antique motor vehicles. The nine-story structure was built in 1925 to process feldspar, a mineral that was discovered nearby and used to make porcelain for tubs, sinks and toilets.

In 1987, the landmark became the Motor Transport Museum and home to more than 200 antique vehicles.

According to the museum’s website, the mill contains a complete auto and fabrication shop used to restore vehicles on display. It also contains a library filled with automotive reference books, manuals and literature dating back to the late 19th century.

Farther into Campo, motorists can look to the left and see, at a distance from the highway, another transportation attraction. The Pacific Southwest Rail Museum features more than 120 pieces of railroad equipment. All-volunteer rail crews there offer rides aboard classic locomotives and railcars in a quick 45-minute tour of the rugged backcountry once traveled by the San Diego & Arizona Railway.

Highway 94 continues out of Campo

This small Catholic Church and cemetery is located just north of the intersection of Highway 94 and BIA Route 10 (Church Road). - Photo by Sue Gay and into a small, local version of Wine Country. There are several vineyards with wine-tasting opportunities along the route including the Campo Creek Vineyards, Dulzura Vineyard and Winery and Valentina Vineyards. Several miles off the highway on Honey Springs Road is another one, Deerhorn Valley Vineyards.

Motorists seeking another side trip can also take a left turn onto Highway 188 and head on a nine-mile trip to the quaint

Mexican city of Tecate, Baja California.

Highway 94 also takes on a different look west of Campo, with steep hills, deep canyons and lots of mountain curves.

Communities along the way include Canyon City, Potrero, Barrett Junction, Dulzura and Jamul. A driver cannot miss Jamul with its large casino dominating the roadside.

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OLD HWY 80 & HWY 94 Map

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DRIVE INTO THE PAST Start at the Imperial Valley Desert Museum for a museumto-museum trip to the USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego. With the exception of a stretch of Interstate 8 from the desert floor to the In-KoPah turnoff, the route follows Old Highway 80 and Highway 94. Along the way, drivers will enjoy many of the backcountry sites shown on this map.

-Photos by Sue Gay

Sites include:

7. Campo Motor Transport Museum

1. Imperial Valley Desert Museum 2. In-Ko-Pah Exit

8. Campo Museum

3. at the Jacumba Airport

9. A wine tasting around Campo

4. Wisteria Candy Cottage in

10. Turnoff to Tecate, Baja California

Boulevard

11. Viaduct visible along Highway 94

5. Junction of Old Highway 80 and

12. Jamul Casino

Highway 94

13. Entering downtown San Diego

6. Vintage railroad bridge over

14. USS Midway Museum 

Highway 94

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Winter showers

Bring Spring flowers

By Charla Teeters Stewart Can we all agree that this past winter was a weird one weather-wise? The atmospheric river that hit California played havoc with our state. Coastal residents were forced to flee their homes as excess rainfall caused floods and mudslides. And to our north, many residents were trapped in their homes by record snowfall.

While atmospheric rivers can cause

The dunes lily is found in the sandy desert flats and slopes at below 2,500 feet. It is easily seen growing along desert roads in the spring. - Photo by Charla Teeters Stewart

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Yellow flowers bloom on a cactus in the backyard of Miriam Trejo from Calexico.

- Photo by Miriam Trejo

plenty of trouble, this particular one also brought two benefits. First, the state finally got some relief from our years-long drought. Second, Mother Nature puts on an explosion of color called a superbloom.

This phenomenon is caused by the extra moisture of an unusually wet winter. Longdormant wildflower seeds germinate, and we see an explosion of flora. Here in the desert, the superbloom is especially eyecatching. The desert floor is blanketed in shades of pink, purple, yellow, orange and green. If you're a nature lover, you can't help but pull out your camera to capture all this beauty and share it with the world.

Be warned, though: This kaleidoscope of color won’t be around for long. Though predicted to last into early summer (in higher elevations) the superbloom will fade quickly. If you want a glimpse of these delicate, colorful displays drive out Historic County Route S2. Between Ocotillo and the Borrego Springs area you will see clusters of brittlebush, pink sand verbena and birdcage (desert primrose). Head east on Highway 78 through the Imperial Sand Dunes to view the Algodones Dunes sunflower, dune (desert) lily, and the indigo bush. Once you pass the dunes, turn right on Ogilby Road. There, clinging to the mountainsides, you'll see the burning red tops of the ocotillo, the yellow blooms of teddy bear cholla cactus, and clusters of prickly pear cactus. Plan your trip today so you don’t miss this glorious display, put on

by Mother Nature. 

This time of year a variety of wildflowers and cactus blooms blanket the hills and valleys of the Anza Borrego desert in Imperial County.

- Photos by Julie Reeves (top left), Charla Teeters Stewart (top right) and Beth Duron (above)

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"

In my head, I thought back, I am the kid from Calipat, from the small school and small town, and seeing someone on a national level listening and paying attention to what I have accomplished, shocked me¨

- Calipatria City Councilmember Michael Luellen talking about attending the State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 7.

Calipatria Councilmember Michael Luellen is shown at the 2023 State of the County event. - Photo by Heidi Gutierrez

Luellen at 18

Already a resilient public servant

By Heidi Gutierrez

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Becoming one of the youngest acting elected officials in California and the youngest to ever serve on the Calipatria City Council, Michael Luellen’s unfolding story could be an inspiration for all those who seek to change the world.

In serving his city, 18-year-old Luellen also follows through on his promise to his mother before she died of COVID-19 in January 2022. His father died in October 2016.

“I promised her I would always be there for my brother,” he said.

Luellen regularly visits his 5-year-old brother, Jeremiah Hernandez, who lives with his aunt in Brawley.

“He loves to play T-ball, basketball, and video games,” said Luellen. “He is everywhere and likes everything.”

Luellen, who is a student at Imperial Valley College, started his journey to civic leadership during his first year at Calipatria High School. He was encouraged by peers to run for class president.

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“I saw the students around me and was reminded of how we grew up together in the same classrooms for 10 years. They asked me to run because they saw how involved I have been at school, so I ran and won.”

In addition to serving as class president, Luellen became involved in FFA, the Calipatria History Club, the Calipatria High School Alliance Club, and the band. FFA inspired him to do more outside of school.

“I ran for the Southern Region FFA officer team but did not make it, so I had the opportunity to become an Imperial section officer for three years. I constantly went to Indio, Coachella, Blythe, and Imperial Valley for events and got to know students and advisors from each school there.”

At the same time, Luellen volunteered with the city’s Chamber of Commerce. It became an outlet for him.

“My grandparents taught me to give back to my community, to do everything in your power to lift people’s spirits even when they are having a bad day.”

So he thought to use his energy toward the community and worked his way up to acting secretary. At the end of his senior year, when he turned 18, he was elected Chamber of Commerce secretary.

“Calipatria is a tight-knit community, everyone knows each other, and once you express your interest, there is a lot of support from those in the community,” he said. “I attended a meeting, and somebody nominated me.”

Luellen realized he wanted to do more to help the community align with his vision for the city, which he said is “a stable and growing community with lots to offer.”

On graduation day from high school, Luellen decided to run for the City Council. A week after turning 18 – on July 7 – Luellen officially announced his candidacy for a seat on the council in the November 2022 election.

“I saw a trend with the community; local businesses coming and going, families leaving, and I did not want to see more negative impacts on the community,” he said. “I wanted to change that.”

Luellen’s grassroots campaign focused on learning more about the issues and community needs. His approach was simple: connect with others. He knocked on doors, talked to everyone he could, made phone calls, and attended events to get his name out.

After a four-month campaign, Luellen was the top vote-getter of the six candidates running.

Since the election, Luellen’s influence has grown. He is now a

local connection to Washington, D.C., and is advocating for the issues of Calipatria and all of the Imperial Valley.

On Feb. 7, Luellen attended the State of the Union Address in Congress as the guest of Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz, who represents Imperial County and parts of Riverside. It was an experience of a lifetime.

“In my head, I thought back, I am the kid from Calipat, from the small school and small town, and seeing someone on a national level listening and paying attention to what I have accomplished, shocked me,” he said.

The most memorable part of Luellen’s visit was meeting the people who have inspired him to continue doing what he is doing: former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and others.

“It was great to meet all these people, and it gave me the reassurance that if you put your heart into it and are willing to put in everything you got, you will be successful,” he said.

After the visit, it inspired Luellen to start thinking big.

Some of Luellen’s goals while serving as a Calipatria council member include: n reducing the cost city residents pay for water delivered by Golden State Water Co., a private water utility company n beautifying the city n increasing affordable housing n attracting families and businesses to locate in Calipatria.

Luellen believes a Community Benefits Agreement with the county that will disperse money from the development of lithium extraction will help finance services

Calipatria City Councilmember Michael Luellen poses with Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez (above), former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (above right), and with Rep. Raul Ruiz and Stella Jimenez (below right).

- Photos provided by Michael Luellen Calipatria residents need.

He also plans to reach out to other developers who may invest in Calipatria business and development with the advent of lithium extraction.

“We expect Calipatria to grow with the help of rental and mortgage assistance,” he said. “The City of Calipatria is the most affordable, and it is because of our leadership, even with three times the poverty level of the national average.”

With these plans, Luellen plans to fulfill his promise to his city. And to his mother.

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E. coli study

By Darren Simon A recent University of California, Davis, independent study on the Imperial Valley highlights that there have been minimal concentrations of E. coli and other pathogens found in proximity to local feedlots, signaling the ongoing ability of the Valley’s cattle and produce industries to co-exist as they have done since pioneers first transformed this region into an agricultural oasis.

The study’s findings are a strong reminder that local feedlots and growers are doing their part to be good neighbors and promote food safety. Both industries adhere to strict regulations to ensure the safety and high quality of the food produced in the Valley.

Working as good neighbors is key given the importance of both the cattle and produce industries to the local economy and to ensuring a food supply to the country. The Valley’s cattle industry is valued at nearly $530 million. Produce production cumulatively is valued at more

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Shows promise for cattle, produce industries

than $1 billion, according to the Imperial County Agricultural Commissioner’s latest Crop Report.

The study, titled “Low to Zero Concentrations of Airborne Bacterial Pathogens and Indicator E. coli in Proximity to Beef Cattle Feedlots in Imperial Valley, California,” was published in the medical journal, Microorganisms, in February. It was conducted by UC Davis’ Western Institute for Food Safety and Security and led by center director Dr. Edward Robert Atwill.

The statewide marketing organization, California Cattle Council, and the Imperial Valley cattle industry both requested the study.

“When we (the local cattle industry) asked for the study, we didn’t know what it would show, but it was an important step to make sure we were doing everything we could to address food safety and maintain a synergistic relationship with the produce industry," said Joe Dan Cameron, manager of the Mesquite Cattle Feeders Inc., which operates feedlots in Brawley

with 39,000 head of cattle.

The study, which analyzes the effects of distance from beef cattle feedlots, environmental factors, and climate on the occurrence of airborne bacterial indicators and pathogens in feedlot dust, was done over a period of six months and involved the collection of 300 air samples from five Valley feedlots.

Results from the study indicate “very low bacterial concentrations in ambient air” almost to the point of non-detection coming from area feedlots.

“The lack of bacterial pathogen detection suggests airborne deposition from nearby feedlots may not be a significant mechanism of leafy green bacterial pathogen contamination; the result of our study provides data to inform future revisions of produce-safety guidance,” the study states.

The study’s findings are a recognition, Cameron said, of the work feedlot operators do to manage their operations and prevent the spread of dust.

“There’s a lot of misconceptions

- Photos provided by Cierra Allen about what happens in feed yards,” he said. “We follow best management practices and operate under strict permits audited by both the Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District. We are doing everything we can to prevent fugitive dust, promote food safety and support Imperial Valley agriculture.”

Feedlots also operate under strict self-imposed regulations established by the cattle industry’s Beef Quality Assurance Program, which sets practices around cattle handling, facility CONTINUED | PAGE 36 2023

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SunTerra workers in Brawley gather commodities for the Medically Tailored produce boxes. - Photo by Susan Giller

Produce boxes

By Susan Giller Mom was onto something when she told you, “Eat your vegetables; they’re

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New service treats long-term ills good for you.” It turns out fresh produce may even help fix what ails you.

That is the premise of the “Medically Tailored Grocery Box” program. The

service supplies about 15 pounds of fresh produce in boxes packed by SunTerra in Brawley and delivered weekly to the doorsteps of Orange County Medi-Cal recipients coping with certain chronic conditions.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Ryan Kelley is so enthusiastic about the program that he has urged county officials to take the steps necessary to get the service available locally.

“The program already uses local produce, puts people to work here, and is improving our economy,” Kelley said.

“There are many here who would benefit from the service once the details are worked out.”

The Medically Tailored box program is just the latest work SunTerra has undertaken to ensure that fresh produce gets to those who need it most, according to Namath Haller, who oversees SunTerra’s Brawley operation.

SunTerra isn’t a newcomer to taking an innovative approach to providing healthy and nutritious food for those with unique needs. It started packing and delivering

Boxes of various fresh-picked produce fill the cooler in Brawley used by SunTerra to pack Project Food Boxes for various feeding programs. - Photo by Susan Giller Project Food Boxes full of produce to food banks and faithbased organizations in 2020 to offset pandemic-caused food insecurity through the USDA “Farmers to Families” program.

SunTerra still packs and delivers Project Food Box produce for distribution through food banks as part of the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Haller also serves on the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association Board of Directors, an organization that focuses on food safety, innovation and ongoing work to provide consumers with the safest, freshest and most nutritious produce.

CONTINUED | PAGE 37

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Vietnam War

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Veterans from throughout the Imperial Valley, along with their families, gathered in El Centro’s Bucklin Park on March 29 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. El Centro Mayor Martha Cardenas-Singh, whose father, Abe Cardenas, served in the war, spoke at the event that celebrated Vietnam War Veterans.

While the war ended 50 years ago, it wasn’t until 2017 that March 29 was officially designated National Vietnam 2023

Veterans, families mark 50th anniversary of war's end War Veterans day “as a way for Americans to honor and celebrate the men and women who wore our nation’s cloth a generation ago,” according to the Veterans of Foreign Wars website, vfw.org. The website goes on to state: “The day holds a special place in history as March 29, 1973, was the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam, as well as the same timeframe which Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.” 

1. Full Rifle Squad brothers: Greg Tumbaga Paul Lopez, Ed Castillo-Rubio (back to camera) Joe Noriega, Ronnie Ronning, Ruben Fernandez, Agustin Saldaña and Jesus Chavarria.

2. Michael Dermody (1965-1969) and Leonard Siqueiroz (1968-1973).

3. Bugler Robert Willingham.

4. Joe Noriega, Ronnie Rooning, Ed CastilloRubio (Half turn), Ruben Fernandez and Augustin Saldana.

5. Abe Cardenas wears his colors that reflect areas/campaigns in Vietnam, as well as other patches.

- Photos by Sue Gay

Pioneers'

Day

Pioneers' Park Museum celebrates Valley's history

Pioneers' Park Museum east of Imperial invited the community onto its grounds for Pioneers' Day on April 1 to learn about the early days of the Imperial Valley and the people who helped create the unique place in which we live.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The day featured old-fashioned, homemade ice cream; demonstrations in the blacksmith shop; a car show; entertainment; and costumed children and adults enjoying the day.

ABOVE, CENTER: Many of the galleries are seen from the second floor of the museum.

- Photos by Peggy Dale 2023

23

Imperial

Olive Mill

Customer demand for the quality extra virgin olive oil produced by Imperial California Olive Mill inspired Angela Barioni to take a “leap of faith” and open a storefront in Imperial that features the family’s specially curated line of extra virgin olive oil, along with other specialty products.

Until the shop opened in 2020, the olive oil could be found at farmers’ markets and other locations. But the discerning clientele wanted more.

“Our customers continued to ask us if we had a storefront where they could purchase our products without having to wait for a farmers’ market,” said Barioni, who operates the shop with daughter Erica Barioni-Amos, director of administration and marketing. “With the buzz of excitement from our customers, we took a leap of faith and decided to open up a brick-and-mortar storefront at the Olive Mill, where we press and bottle our exceptionally fresh extra virgin olive oil.”

The Olive Mill began operations in 2014,

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Store opens for discerning buyers

processing olives grown by the Barioni family, which represents five generations of farming in the Imperial Valley. A few years later the Imperial California Olive Mill label was created, providing customers in the Imperial Valley and beyond with its specially curated line of fresh, local, traceable, premium extra virgin olive oils.

In addition, the Imperial shop carries specialty balsamic vinegars and a variety of carefully selected food and gourmet items, some locally made and some imported from Europe.

As summer approaches and with grilling season in full swing, the Barionis recommend their Meyer Lemon Olive Oil for a variety of bright, light culinary dishes, from grilling meats, vegetables and stone fruits; to salad and vegetable dressings as well as a classic oil for baking lemon cookies and cakes or drizzling on vanilla ice cream and Greek yogurt.

Currently the only large commercial Olive Mill in Southern California, Imperial Olive

Paid Content

Inside the Olive Mill Shop in Imperial.

- Photo by Erica Barioni Mill continues to gain in popularity with continued bookings of Olive Mill tours and private tastings.

To set up a customized tour, tasting and club event at the Olive Mill, contact the Olive Mill store and tasting room at 760-355-9318.

Shop hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 341 W. Crown Court in Imperial. Products may be purchased at Imperial Market Days in Imperial from October through April and at Ramey’s Meats in Brawley, as well as online at www. imperialolive.com. Follow Imperial Olive on Facebook and Instagram. 

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

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

Locally Owned

$10 & under per person

Beer/Wine only

$20 & under per person

Full Bar

Over $20 per person

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buffalo Wild Wings $$ 510 Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9481 www.buffalowildwings. com Burgers & Beer $$ 260 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-4431 https://bit.ly/3h44J1n Chili's Grill & Bar $$ 3303 S. Dogwood Rd, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-2116 www.chilis.com China Palace Steakhouse $$$ 1075 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-1510 https://bit.ly/2TFOTSy

Dogwood Sports Bar & Grill $$ 3603 S. Dogwood Rd, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4668 https://bit.ly/2UjlAFL

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

Pepper Grind Coffee $ 1560 Pepper Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 https://bit.ly/3j3jcxd

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

Red Feather Off-Road Market Humble Farmer & Cafe $ Brewing $$ 1182 N. Imperial Hwy, 116 S. Imperial Ave Ste C, Ocotillo, CA 92259 Imperial, CA 92251 760-358-7389 760-545-0037 www.humblefarmerbrewing.com https://bit.ly/3vwXwvY

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sonora Fusion $$$ 560 W State St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5069 https://bit.ly/3wLozVP The Healthy Spot $ 134 Main St, Calipatria, CA 92233 760-354-2005 https://bit.ly/40kVCO5 The Original Town Pump Steakhouse $$ 200 W Main St., Westmorland, CA 92281 760-344-3663 https://bit.ly/3wLlvch

Tropical Delights 221 W E St, Saltcedar Barbecue $ Brawley, CA 92227 297 South Imperial (760) 344-5051 Avenue https://bit.ly/3rakIPW Imperial, CA 92251 619-724-8162 Saltcedarbbq.com Shake & Wake $ 1490 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5100 https://bit.ly/3EalJfZ Sizzler $$ 707 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-3780 http://www.sizzler.com

Vibras Healthy Nutrition $ 136 N Plaza, Brawley, CA 92227 760-679-6277 https://bit.ly/41c6hfm 2023

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The Wellness Bar $ 141 S 6th St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-587-6937 bit.ly/3H9CnjN

Asian Cuisine Chef Lee's Express $ 1049 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5555 https://bit.ly/3xx5M0q Chi+Mac $$ 330 Wake Ave El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-0203 bit.ly/40zTMcC China Inn Restaurant $$ 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

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Hong Kong $$ 550 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4497 https://bit.ly/3E4Wdcb 2023

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

Sushi Park $$ 330 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-2377 https://bit.ly/3gB9uze

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

Sushi Spot $$ 115 North Imperial Ave. Ste F-G, Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-0441 https://bit.ly/39JEYUl

Kotori Japanese Food $$ 300 E Cole Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231 760-768-8540 https://bit.ly/3zHPbZE Lucky Chinese Restaurant $$ 500 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-7680 www.luckyrestaurant.com Los Ce-B-Ches $$ 1074 E Coles Blvd Ste 7, Calexico, CA 92231 442-270-1402 https://bit.ly/35ps9sy Mah’s Kitchen $$ 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 Sushi & Noodle $$ 800 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5075 Sushi & Noodles $$ 630 S Brawley Ave, Unit #6, Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-1361 https://bit.ly/3E6JANF

Volcano $$ 445 E. Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9105 volcanoelcentro.com The Thai Bistro $ 775 E. Danenberg Dr. Ste. 105 El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 592-4611 exoticthaibistro.com Unni Korean Food $ 582 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4121 https://bit.ly/41xhJlA

Inferno $$ 505 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-7744 https://bit.ly/3B7d1gH

Briseida's Kitchen $$ 741 Cesar Chavez Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231 760-618-9180 https://bit.ly/3b2oeod

Johnny Carino's $$ 3203 S Dogwood Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9588 www.carinos.com

Cardenas Markets $$ 1620 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-482-0139 www.cardenasmarkets.com

El Menudazo $ 548 broadway #c , El Centro, CA 760-970-4940 bit.ly/3n8dezl

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

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

Celia’s Restaurant 1530 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-4570 https://bit.ly/3q4ZFxQ

El Merendero $$ 1702 N Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5014 https://bit.ly/3GdMxxW

El Zarape $$ 139 S. Imperial Ave, Cilantros La Taqueria $ Imperial, CA 92251 643 S 4th St Ste 1, 760-355-4435 El Centro, CA 92243 https://bit.ly/3gCuPrP Mexican Food 760-693-5337 Wongs Kitchen $ Flautas & Sopes $ 102 W 5th St, https://bit.ly/3gBgdJu Antojitos Como En 1622 S 4th St, Holtville, CA 92250 Casa $$ El Centro, CA 92243 760-791-3227 D’Lupita's 841 W. Main St., 442-283-5090 Restaurant $$ Italian Food www.flautasysopesusa.site El Centro, CA 92243 336 W 5th St, 442-271-4016 Assaggio Ristorante Holtville, CA 92250 Flautas & Sopes $$ Italiano $$ 1531 Ford Dr, 760-356-7100 Antojitos Como En 538 E St, https://bit.ly/3gwwvo5 El Centro, CA 92243 Casa $$ Brawley, CA 92227 760-336-0825 425 Desert Gardens Dr., 760-344-9750 www.flautasysopesusa.site D'Poly Taco, Grill & https://qrco.de/Assaggio El Centro, CA 92243 760-482-5621 Beer $$ Flautas & Sopes $ Chuck-E-Cheese $$ antojitoscomoencasa.com 1573 W. Main St, 715 Cesar Chavez Blvd, 803 E. Danenberg Rd, El Centro, CA 92243 Calexico, CA 92231 El Centro, CA 92243 Asadero 760-357-0655 760-970-4243 760-352-4785 Neighborhood $$ www.flautasysopesusa.site https://bit.ly/35vdKLw www.chuckecheese.com 220 W Birch St. Hacienda Market & Calexico, CA 92231 George’s Pizza $$ El Cañon $ Snack Bar $ 760-357-0890 116 W 5th St, 625 Main St, 941 K St, https://bit.ly/39LddL2 Holtville, CA 92250 Brawley, CA 92227 Brawley, CA 92227 760-356-1192 760-344-5542 760-344-2411 https://bit.ly/3cPgc3A Birrieria y https://bit.ly/3b0ILJR Menuderia Grasso's Italian El Jumping Bean Guadalajaras $ Holtville Taco Shop $ Restaurant $$ Taqueria $$ 845 Imperial Ave, 404 E 5th St, 1902 Main St, 1050 S. Brawley Avenue Holtville, CA 92250 Calexico, CA 92231 El Centro, CA 92243 Brawley, CA 92227 760-890-5181 760-356-5756 760-352-4635 (760) 623-7030 https://bit.ly/3cNjmoc www.holtvilletacoshop.com https://bit.ly/3gAvSd5

Jalisco's Bar & Grill $$ 844 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-2515 https://bit.ly/3nhTvsZ

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

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 $$ 845 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-0027 https://bit.ly/3njjQXG Kennedy's Taco $ 1560 Ocotillo Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4019 https://bit.ly/3m8DAOx La Birrieria Red Tacos $ 710 Heil St, El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 970-4406 https://bit.ly/2SHS77N La Fonda Bar & Grill $$ 1950 S 4th St #1, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-6450 https://bit.ly/3E23yJm La Fuente Restaurant $ 737 Emerson Ave, Calexico, CA 92231 760-357-5760 https://bit.ly/2ZcppyX

La Resaca $$ 143 S. 6th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-592-4971 https://bit.ly/3vFQox3 Las Californias Foods $ 1133 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-7122 https://bit.ly/3gN9vkP

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

Las Chabelas Restaurant $$ 749 S. Brawley Ave, Brawley, CA 92227 760-351-2991 www.laschabelas.com

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

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

Mexca Brew Co. $$ 612 W Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4544 https://bit.ly/2SkabEM

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

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

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

Puerto Nuevo Patio & Grill $$ 395 Broadway, El Centro, CA 92243 760-336-0430 https://bit.ly/3iMIrUj

Nicky’s Mexican Restaurant $$ 644 Main St Brawley, CA 92227 442-646-9492 nickysmexicanrestaurants.com

Rosa's Plane Food Inc. $$ 445 S. Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231 760-890-8860 https://bit.ly/3q5sg5Q

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

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

Letty's Casita $$ 705 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-8170 https://bit.ly/3wBPpPV Los Cabos Seafood & Grill $$ 201 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5393 https://bit.ly/35xq51E

Sofia’s Kitchen $$ 395 A St Ste B Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-1777 bit.ly/3HkRx5Z Sofia’s Seafood & Grill $$ 132 S Plaza St. Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-1080 bit.ly/3NbNgFO Sombrero Mexican Food $$ 703 E. Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-2160 https://bit.ly/3xyamev Tacos De Pescado Marlyn $$ 1614 S 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-1686 https://bit.ly/2SAvbaI The Burrito Factory $$ 130 S. Imperial Ave. #3458, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5110 https://bit.ly/3zxSGSd Virginia's Casita $ 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.

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27

Juanita Lopez celebrated her 97th birthday in February 2023. - Photo provided by Celia's

Celia's Restaurant

Family continues traditional food created 70 years ago by mother, Juanita.

By the Family of Juanita Lopez Dedicated to her mother, Juanita Lopez, Celia Herrera, the owner of Celia's restaurant, has kept her mom's signature cooking that for many generations families in the Imperial Valley have come to love.

Celia's restaurant in El Centro has been serving traditional Mexican food that has not changed in over 70 years, keeping the original flavor and seasoning her mother Juanita created when she worked at La Hacienda Cafe in the 50s.

La Hacienda Cafe, remembered to be one of the first Imperial, California restaurants that served authentic Mexican food, was owned

by Raul and Connie Caro. The cafe, known to have relocated a few times, was memorable at its location nearby the Imperial County Airport. During its first few years, Juanita approached the owners looking for work in the kitchen and was immediately hired, starting there in 1954.

She was 28 years old then, and since working there in its beginning days, Juanita saw how much the restaurant had grown.

"When I first started working, I would make only small pots of food. Later as the restaurant became more popular, I began

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cooking large pots."

Juanita watched how her cooking brought more customers, and it was to the point that the restaurant grew from having one dining area to three.

"The restaurant would be full of customers, and my employer did not want anyone else to cook, just me, so it would always have the same flavor," she said. "It was a satisfaction to see how clean the dishes were when customers finished; eating it meant they liked my food."

Juanita's love for the restaurant was shared by her family as well. She brought her daughters Celia and Cuqui to work with her.

Then later her son Salvador. Later came Lalo as a waiter, also a family member of Celia’s.

"The boss said to bring them to come work here, and I loved it so much I was a waitress for years," said Celia. “We are very proud of my mom.”

Juanita felt proud to work alongside some of her children at the restaurant, with most staff and customers becoming family.

La Hacienda Café soon became a place where everybody united, especially on Fridays when many families came to spend time with Paid Content

one another, joke around and enjoy good food.

After working 20 years at La Hacienda, Celia took a leap of faith to open her own restaurant.

"I always wanted to start a restaurant. It was always on my mind; I liked the kitchen and cooking, all of it; I was 20 when I started working there, and I started the restaurant when I turned 42."

Named after her, Celia's restaurant opened in 1991, with her mother joining her to help her with the restaurant after retiring from La Hacienda.

"I was so happy to help my daughter open the restaurant, knowing she loved the industry and had always dreamed of this,” she said.

Celia's restaurant featured her mother's famous traditional take on Mexican food that brought many of her La Hacienda customers to follow her to her daughter's location.

Many who visit the restaurant are there for Juanita's iconic dishes, such as the machaca, chile colorado, chile verde, enchiladas, chile rellenos, special quesadilla, etc.

Regulars like Lisa Whitner, who grew up in the valley eating at La Hacienda, come from out of town to eat at Celia's.

"I still feel six years old when I come to Celia's. The special quesadilla is the most special thing you will eat in your entire life Juanita's food lives in the hearts of the people in the Imperial Valley," she said.

"They couldn't have fed so many people, hundreds of customers, without Juanita; it was her food that brought them to La Hacienda and now Celia's," said Whitner.

Retired from Celia's restaurant, Juanita, who is now 97, supports her two daughters, Celia and Cuqui, behind the scenes, feeling proud of them for carrying on her love for cooking.

"I could not have done it without my mother.

I saw how dedicated she was to her job and learned from her how to work hard," said Celia.

For over 40 years, Juanita has fed three generations of families in the Imperial Valley, with her food becoming a known valley tradition. 

I want to pay tribute to my mo�er, f� teaching us to w�k and be a united family.

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Calendar of Events MAY 4 Cinco de Mayo Margarita Challenge 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Imperial Valley Fairgrounds.

Join the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce for

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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.

its second annual Cinco de Mayo Margarita Challenge. Each ticket purchased includes five tasting tickets for signature margaritas, an appetizer, and five raffle tickets. Raffle tickets are for pre-sale guests only. This event is for ages 21 and

older only and will include a prize drawing, music, photos, dancing, and more.

RSVP through the Chamber of Commerce at ivregionalchamber.com/events

The Children's Fair on April 1 saw a full house in El Centro's Bucklin Park - Photo by Alejandra Noriega

MAY 4

MAY 5

MAY 19

Mental Health Fair: Live The Sun Valley Experience 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun Valley Research Center, 2417 Marshall Avenue, Imperial.

Sun Valley Research Center and Sun Valley Behavioral Medical Center will host the second annual Mental Health Fair: Live The Sun Valley Experience event to give the Imperial Valley community the opportunity to learn from mental health experts on issues that are important to them.

Learn more about mental health services provided at the office and about clinical research. There will be educational lectures, free community resources, Star Wars trivia, a scavenger hunt quiz, the opportunity to meet providers and staff, take a tour of our offices, and enjoy free tacos for lunch and snacks, giveaways, and more.

Cinco De Mayo Fiesta 7 p.m., 661 W. State St., El Centro. $10 donation. Doors open at 7 p.m. There will be pulled pork nachos for sale.

La Nueva Tempestad will perform beginning at 9 p.m.

Mother's Day Paint & Sip 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Old Post Office Pavilion, 230 S. 5th St., El Centro.

Join the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and the City of El Centro to celebrate the special women in your life and enjoy a fun evening out with friends. Step-bystep guidance by instructor Kimberly Alfaro.

The cost is $50 per person, $90 for two, and $160 for four.

Each ticket includes one drink, one raffle ticket, canvas, paint, supplies, and guided instructions. To purchase tickets, visit www.ivregionalchamber.com.

MAY 5 Fourth annual Imperial Valley Taco Festival 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Plaza Park, Brawley, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Brawley.

For more information, visit www.brawleychamber.com or call 760-344-3160.

May 5 Holtville Farmers' Market & Street Fair 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Holt Park, Holtville.

There will be food, produce, merchandise, information, and more. Big Bad Wolf will perform live.

MAY 18 8th annual Wine, Art, and Music Festival 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., El Centro Community Center, 375 S. 1st St., El Centro, hosted by the Imperial Valley Desert Museum Society, Inc. This event is the premiere spring fundraiser for the Society, bringing together community members to support a great cause while enjoying local wines, food, and music. The event has become a staple of the Imperial Valley community.

MAY 20 WCT Family Fishin' Fun Day 2023 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunbeam Lake County Park, 1750 Drew Road, Seeley.

Come enjoy a fun day of family fishing time in honor of Wes, Cody and Tanner Townsel and help raise scholarship funds. There will be food and prizes.

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MAY 23 Spay and Neuter Clinic 9 a.m., hosted by Desert Veterinary Group.

This is a one-day low-cost spay and neuter clinic for dogs and cats. Males, $40; females, $70 regardless of weight. Call Desert Vet Group at 760-355-0141 to reserve a spot. This event fills up fast. Sponsored by Spay and Neuter of the Desert Society (S.A.N.D.S.).

JUNE 15 Pathways to Success Expo 2023 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Imperial Valley College, 380 E. Aten Road, Imperial.

Includes workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free lunch, career fair with onsite job opportunities.

Workshops include: Discover financial skillsets: opening a bank account, good credit/bad credit, employment skillsets of resume writing, interview tips, new hire paperwork, and more.

Explore local options with a guidance counselor, admissions, and financial aid.

There will be more than 100 local job positions available at the event. Find the perfect summer job or discover a career path.

Registration is required at www.eventbrite.com and search for Pathways to Success Expo. The early bird price is $5.

For questions or additional information, or to sponsor or Pioneers' Day at Pioneers' Park Museum near Imperial was well-attended.

- Photo by Peggy Dale become a vendor, email kayla@ivregionalchamber.com.

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JUNE 22 Imperial Valley Regional Business Spotlight 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Casa de Mañana, Imperial Valley Fairgrounds See what the Imperial Valley has to offer through its various businesses and service organizations. Participating will be more than 100 local businesses, including restaurants, services, retail, and informational. Don't miss the opportunity to win drawing prizes, learn about local business, and network. There will be cash drawings of $250, $500, and $1,000.

For more information or to participate as a vendor, call (760) 352-7413 or email kayla@ivregionalchamber.com

JULY 2 Calipatria Fourth of July Fireworks Show 9 p.m., Calipatria For more information, visit the Calipatria Fireworks Show 2023 page on Facebook.

A child excitedly points to a helicopter flying above Pioneers' Park Museum on April 1.

JULY 28 Christmas in July 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sports Pavilion, 770 Park Ave., El Centro, CA 92243.

Join the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce along with more than 50 local vendors for shopping, delicious food and drink, games and activities for the kiddos, bar, music, and more during this free community event.

July 28, 2023 @ 5:30-9 p.m.

Enter the Christmas Tree Drawing for a chance to win. There will be vendor and sponsorship opportunities available.

For questions, call (760) 352-7413 or email kayla@ ivregionalchamber.com. 

Roping lessons were taught on April 1 at Pioneers' Park Museum. - Photos by Peggy Dale

Crowds of children and adults enjoy the Children's Fair on April 1 in El Centro. - Photo by Alejandra Noriega

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 2023

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MASTER GARDENS CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 7

Students visit a vegetable field during a Master Gardeners class at the University of California Cooperative Extension in Holtville.

- Photo by Joselito N. Villero

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for her home garden are to grow more plants native to California that will attract wildlife like birds, dragonflies, and “things that really need a hand.”

Weekly topics in the classroom range from plant identification to understanding soils and fertilization to safe and sustainable pest management to water management, and growing things like citrus and grapes. An earlyApril field trip to Keithly-Williams Seed in Holtville netted green onion seedlings and vegetable seeds.

On April 9, the gardeners interacted with Professor Milt McGiffen of the UC Riverside Department of Botany and Plant Sciences as he addressed home gardening and composting basics.

Like most of the university speakers, McGiffen is no stranger to the Imperial County Cooperative Extension office, participating in various research there.

Familiarity with the county’s growing environment is a big plus for students, who can put into practice the things they learn.

“You can grow crops when everyone else can’t,” McGiffen told the class.

“That’s why you’re the winter salad bowl of the U.S.” The Valley’s positioning as an agricultural-based community inspired El Centro-area resident A.J. Gaddis to apply for the program.

“It’s time to combine what the public 2023

understands with what’s going on in the ag community.” Gaddis said, “Getting the gardening taught should be a top priority.

“The education aspect, the public awareness, the training, the knowledge, the expertise, all are the result of this program,” she said. One of her favorite classes was on soil testing, where she learned that “anything is possible in gardening. You can take soil where something is not growing, treat it, introduce the seeds, and grow the right type of plants … (that) benefit the soil for future gardening.”

Gaddis said her hope is to develop a demonstration garden on her rural El Centro property, where people can come learn about plants that successfully grow in the Imperial Valley.

Calexico High School ag teacher Gerardo Roman has a more academic approach to becoming a Master Gardener. Roman, who was inspired to take the courses on his own to help his ninth-grade students.

“What’s exciting about the Master Gardener class is that every session is provided by a university researcher who is at the forefront, and that’s my reason for taking the classes: Getting the current information of what is happening in the ag industry so I can go back and provide that to my (“Introduction to Agriculture”) students,” Roman said. “What I’m

looking forward to is being able to take this knowledge out to the community, and perhaps even teaching my students to become junior master gardeners, where we will go across the street to the elementary school and set up some type of a garden.”

He added: “The more educated people are of where food comes from, the more supportive they’ll be of the industry, and also we will be able to educate students whose only experience with ag has been possibly the farmworker element that their parents are part of. I want them to see the many different careers they can obtain with a college degree in the industry.”

Salgado, a Humboldt State graduate who resides in her native Calexico with her husband and young family, is excited to see the outpouring of knowledge her cohort will bring to their communities.

“These individuals are going to be the extensions and representatives of the University of California in Imperial County,” she said. “They will wear the Master Gardener vests. How they interact with residents, how they share the information they’ve learned, are very important.”

The Master Gardener Program typically is taught every two years.

This first series of classes for Imperial County has proven so successful that Salgado is already looking ahead to planning the next one. 

HIGHWAYS CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 11

For a glimpse of local travel history, try a drive from Jacumba to the USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego on a nontraditional route. Stay off Interstate highways and experience the back country on old Highway 80 and Highway 94. - Photo by Sue Gay cannot help but ponder the rough history of this area. Cahighways.org notes that Highway 94 — also known as Campo Road or Old Route 200 — began as foot trails and later accommodated wagons and stagecoaches.

“In the 1880s, Campo Road provided necessary and difficult access for the backcountry pioneers to San Diego to sell their products and secure needed supplies. The first telegraph line from San Diego to Arizona followed the general route of Campo Road in 1874,” the website notes. It also was home to the first telegraph line from San Diego to Arizona

Campo Road also was heavily used by the Army during the Mexican Revolution of 1911, World War 1 and “extensively during World War 2 for support of Camp Lockett in Campo.” Camp Lockett was the final home of the famous Buffalo Soldiers of the Army’s 10th Calvary.

Highway 94 joins the metropolitan area of San Diego at the Jamacha Junction near Cuyamaca College, several miles after passing through Jamul.

Drivers continuing on 94 soon find themselves on the Martin Luther King Freeway and merging for a brief period onto Highway 125.

But continuing west on Highway 94 through Lemon Grove and Spring Valley, passing the point where the 805, 15 and 5 freeways merge, drivers end up in the middle of East Village in downtown San Diego and just blocks from the Gaslamp Quarter and Harbor Drive.

A drive down Highways Old 80 and 94 may take a bit more time to reach downtown. But for what I-8 offers in efficiency, it cannot match the adventure of this scenic and sometimes challenging backcountry drive.

Old 80 and Highway 94 are definitely not boring. 

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E. COLI STUDY CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 19

management, cattle transportation, record keeping and protecting herd health and animal welfare.

The study, he said, became critical in the wake of E. coli outbreaks tied to produce operations outside the Imperial Valley. Most prominently, a 2018 outbreak within a Romaine lettuce operation in Yuma placed a spotlight on the proximity between farms and feedlots despite a clear pathway on how the outbreak occurred.

Years before that in 2007, an E. coli outbreak, again outside the Valley, led to the creation of the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement, also known as LGMA, which sets food safety regulations under which many California farmers who grow leafy greens, like lettuce, spinach, and spring mix, operate.

One of the regulations calls for a one-mile buffer between crops and concentrated animal feeding operations, like feedlots. The goal, the organization’s website states, is to ensure safe leafy greens and confidence “in our food safety programs.”

Other produce crops operate under different safety guidelines, but all place certain restrictions on maintaining a

distance from feedlots.

Local growers must abide by such regulations to successfully market their crops and work with shippers.

Cameron said he understands the concerns but emphasized the need for scientific data to help inform future discussions between the industries as setting such restrictions has implications for both feedlots and farms.

“For us in the cattle industry, we wanted there to be science behind these distances because it can cause the value of farm ground surrounding our operations to go down and it puts a target on our backs,” he said, adding it’s also important to keep in mind that many feedlot operators grow produce themselves or lease farmland.

Justin Oldfield, executive director of the California Cattle Council, said the UC Davis study was meant to fill the void in scientific information. He pointed out that while the California Cattle Council contributed funding, the study was conducted completely independently.

“The ultimate goal was to bring wellinformed science to the table to help inform decisions that were being made in the absence of science,” Oldfield said, adding what the study ultimately proves is

that “these two industries can absolutely co-exist, just as they have done for years.”

Kevin Grizzle, a Holtville area farmer who grows leafy green crops, said the UC Davis study is an important step to better understand how E. coli is spread. He is hopeful more studies will be done to find those answers and ensure the continued stellar food safety record of local crops.

He pointed out some shippers actually require a two-mile separation between feedlots and leafy green crops, so going forward such studies will be important in the ongoing dialogue on such regulations, in particular as there are potentially thousands of additional Valley acres that could be planted in produce based on the study’s information.

“It’s great to have these studies and to have these collaborations with the feedlots,” said Grizzle, who is president of the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association. He added, “We are certainly willing to continue to carry on this conversation. It’s not adversarial; it’s not us against them. We are all working together.”

Cameron agreed, adding, “It’s my hope that through collaboration and best management practices, we can grow here together.” 

» » » » » »

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Lic. No. 433262

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☎760-353-6340 📠📠760-353-6341 2023

PRODUCE CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 21

The new Medically Tailored produce box service is an outgrowth of CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal). CalAIM is a plan to transform Medi-Cal so it integrates with other social services. The goal is to improve outcomes for millions of Medi-Cal recipients, especially those with complex needs.

The Medically Tailored produce boxes are for Medi-Cal recipients with chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart problems, stroke, chronic lung disorders, kidney problems, HIV, cancer, and chronic or disabling mental/behavioral health disorders.

Estimates are that 80,000 to 90,000 Imperial Valley Medi-Cal recipients would be eligible for the Medically Tailored produce boxes, Haller said.

Though delivery of the Medically Tailored boxes started for eligible Orange County Medi-Cal recipients five months ago, the program is already paying health dividends, said Annie Huber, a registered dietician working with the SunTerra program. She and five other dieticians work to ensure recipients receive a produce box specifically tailored to their conditions.

For instance, Huber said those boxes

The SunTerra packing shed team fills Medically Tailored boxes. - Photo by Susan Giller designed for diabetic clients will include only low glycemic produce. Other boxes are tailored to those whose diets limit their salt intake.

Of the 5,000 Orange County Medi-Cal clients receiving boxes, Huber said, 95 percent of the program recipients have gone without hospital admission, and 91 percent have not needed treatment in an emergency room.

“For people with serious chronic health conditions, the outcomes are amazing,” she said. “Some who were pre-diabetic and (are) no longer, some who have high blood pressure have had their medication reduced, and some have lost weight.”

The contents of all the boxes vary

depending on what is being harvested.

Haller said that locally grown corn and cabbage are packed in some of the boxes. Soon, Imperial Valley melons will be added to appropriate boxes. Other produce being packed in the boxes includes apples, avocados, oranges, strawberries, carrots, tomatoes, Anaheim peppers, Persian cucumbers, onions, potatoes, lettuce, pinto beans, and brown rice in some of the boxes.

The produce box delivery service offers an enticement that Mom’s admonition to “eat your vegetables” could not match.

“The freshness of the produce speaks for itself,” Huber said. “It has all been very positive.” 

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Wellness Center on road to reco F

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or those struggling with a mental illness, daily challenges can cloud thoughts of achieving their dreams.

However, help is available through the Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) Wellness Centers in El Centro and Brawley.

The Wellness Centers serve people ages 18 years and older already enrolled in ICBHS’ Adult services but who may need additional help. Through the Wellness Centers, these clients can find additional support on their way to recovery, guiding them toward healthier lifestyles, reconnecting them with their communities through social interaction, and providing access to educational and job training services in the Imperial Valley.

“The purpose of the Wellness Centers is to help them develop the skills they need to recover, to develop their social interaction skills, develop healthier lifestyle choices, build self-esteem and to get them back involved in the community again,” said Adrian Celis, Mental Health Worker Supervisor for Adult Services.

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act, the Wellness Centers work

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ers lend support covery, success closely with local agencies, colleges, businesses, health care agencies, and music instructors to offer the following services: n Provide life, social, and employability skills through the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) Project STAR (Succeeding Through Actions and Responsibility); n Provide support toward earning a GED certificate through IVROP, Project ALTO (Academics Leads to Opportunities); n Counseling support is available to help participants pursue higher education through Imperial Valley College; n Employment training services are provided through the State Department of Rehabilitation, which has a contract with the Work Training Center; n Fitness training and nutrition support are provided through Fitness Oasis, a local gym; n Physical examinations are provided through Innercare (the former Clinicas De Salud Del Pueblo) so that participants can

qualify to participate in fitness training; n Music therapy and classes are offered with support from local music instructors.

Participants are referred to the Wellness Centers by their treatment teams. Through daily structured activities, support groups and a friendly, supportive environment, they learn to be self-efficient, find direction and are better able to recognize the choices they have available to them through the community and local agencies.

The Wellness Centers will provide the materials participants need, such as books for their classes, if there is a financial need.

“Our goal is to eliminate as many barriers as we can in order for participants to be successful,” said Maria Martinez, also a Mental Health Worker Supervisor for Adult Services.

She added, “What we promote is the belief with our participants that they will be able to recover, move forward and live the life they would like to live.”

The Wellness Centers also help

break down stigmas connected with mental illness by increasing community awareness, which further helps participants reconnect with the community and choose a path toward a more successful lifestyle.

Both Celis and Martinez can point to many success stories from the Wellness Centers. Many graduates of the services (those who have achieved their goals) have gone on not only to earn their associate’s degrees, but also bachelor’s and master’s degrees, found fulfilling careers, married, and started their own families.

“A lot of our participants that are dealing with mental illness don’t see themselves being successful in their lives, but we are trying to encourage them that they can be successful,” Celis said. “Our services do work.

We’ve seen the proof.”

For more information on ICBHS services, including the Wellness Center, call (442) 265-1525. The El Centro Wellness Center is located at 2695 South Fourth Street. The Brawley Wellness Center is located at 205 Main Street. 

202 N. Eighth St. El Centro, CA 92243 For appointment call: (442) 265-1525 • (800) 817-5292 bhs.imperialcounty.org 2023

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STAY AWAY, STAY ALIVE. NEVER SWIM IN CANALS NEVER PLAY NEAR CANALS NEVER JUMP INTO CANALS Dippy Duck wants to remind everyone to this summer.

Visit Dippy Duck’s Facebook page  / DippyDuckSafety or dippyduck.com for more information and activities.

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