Imperial Valley Alive - Summer 2023

Summer 2023

Publishers' Message

The Imperial Valley has plenty for which to be thankful. Come summertime, though, and especially the “dog days of summer” we now are in, we are mostly thankful that Fall and the cooler temperatures it brings are not too far around the corner.

Face it. It’s hot outside and many of us would like nothing more than to skip this time of year. But instead, let’s hit the pause button on complaining about the heat and/ or humidity and start looking for ways to be grateful.

We at Imperial Valley Alive! magazine are thankful for many things, among them the creativity and energy to be found in the people, places, and things that make our Valley so unique. They enrich our lives and give us things to write about or photograph for each issue of Alive.

Most recently, that creativity and energy were no more apparent than at our local museums. Instead of shuttering its doors for summertime as has been done in the past, Pioneers Museum’s board and staff flung them wide open. They invited young and not-so-young alike to explore the museum’s gateways into Imperial Valley’s past and learn about those who paved the way for who we are today. Alive co-publisher and writer Susan Giller gives us a glimpse into the impact events such as these have had on those lucky enough to attend.

This summer Darren Simon, who pens novels for younger readers, gathered several of his fellow authors for a mass book-signing at the Imperial Valley Mall. Some of those authors live locally, while

others are former residents who returned “home” for the event.

Darren, who has a regular day job but also writes for Alive, found the book-signing so successful that he has planned another event for Dec. 9 at the mall, expanding it to include those authors who missed out this time around. Meanwhile, you can take a peek inside at photos from the book-signing. Also included in this Summer issue of Alive is a story by Julie Taylor Smith on the innovative “Biz Town” program in which local students, as well as their San Diego County peers, learn the ins and outs of creating and operating their own businesses, as well as the joys of participating in governance.

As dove season approaches, an infographic has been created by our own graphic designer Alejandra Noriega in collaboration with co-publisher Bill Amidon to shed some light into the annual tradition enjoyed by local residents and out-oftowners alike.

A little farther afield, but something to keep in mind for Fall, is the annual Borrego Days, sponsored by our neighbors to the northwest, the Borrego Springs Chamber &

Visitors Bureau. The two-day Borrego Days captures the history, artistry, and traditions of this desert community that is less than an hour’s drive from much of Imperial County. And a bit farther away, historic Route 66 draws to a close as it exits Arizona on its way to Santa Monica. Co-publisher and writer Peggy Dale shares some of the sights still to be found on this road that carried the hopes and dreams of many seeking a better life.

We who live in the Imperial Valley consider ourselves survivors, especially this time of year. We can be thankful for that mindset, which helps us flip that “it’s so hot” switch into discovering, “Wow. That’s so cool.” 

Bill Gay Susan Giller Peggy Dale

Sue Gay

Bill Amidon

Creativity, energy help make these hot months "cool ¨

Christian Garcia (in a dinosaur T-shirt) heads a group of teens touring the museum exhibits during the "Night at the Museum¨ event. - Photo by Mike Nicholas

Volume 7, Number 3

EDITORS & PUBLISHERS

Bill Gay

Sue Gay

Susan Giller

Peggy Dale

Bill Amidon

CONTRIBUTORS

Heidi Gutierrez

Julie Smith Taylor

COVER PHOTO

Susan Giller

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alejandra Noriega

Sue Gay

Susan Giller

Mickey Dale

Peggy Dale

Mike Nicholas

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Alejandra Noriega

WEB DESIGNER S

Jesus Uriarte

Sergio Uriarte

SALES

Bill Amidon

John Lovecchio

Heidi Gutierrez

ADVERTISING

bill.amidon@reliancepr.com

760-693-5330

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Send name, address and email address along with $20.00 (plus tax) for annual subscription to: Reliance Public Relations, Inc.

P.O. Box 1944 • El Centro, CA 92244

www.imperialvalleyalive.com

IMPERIAL VALLEY ALIVE! is published quarterly by Reliance Public Relations, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical for any purpose without the written permission of Reliance Public Relations, Inc.

EDUCATE |

Museum opens doors to learning, Page 6

Financial literacy starts early, Page 8

EXPLORE |

Route 66 led the way, Page 16

Plan a Fall visit to Borrego Springs Page 18

CELEBRATE |

Winning IVC coach, longtime educator Jeff Deyo retires, Page 10

Fireworks bring in successful 4th of July, Page 19

PREPARE |

Dove season is just around the corner, Pages 14-15

COVER PHOTO: From left: Christian Garcia, Diego Garcia, Rafael Bernal, and Caitlyn Aguilar pose while Amelia Aguilar snaps a selfie of the group with a Westerngarbed mannequin during the "Night at the Museum¨ event held for teens in the Imperial Valley Pioneers' Museum.

- Photo by Susan Giller

McCabe Elementary School students visit BizTown in San Diego as part of a financial literacy program. - Photo by Alejandra Noriega

Publishers’ Message, Page 3

Valley’s Eateries, Pages 20-23

Calendar of Events, Pages 24-25

Rooted in the desert of Southern California. Imperial Olive Mill is owned and operated by four generations of family farmers. From our groves within our lemon and date orchards, to our state-of-the-art Mill, we proudly produce fresh and locally grown Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

VISIT US AT OUR MILL STORE: 341 W Crown Court, Ste. 2B • Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-9318 • www.imperialolive.com

STORE HOURS: 10am to 4pm Monday — Friday

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 BUTTER

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 EXTRA VIRGIN

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 MANGO

 MISSION FIG

 ESTILO MODENA

 PEACH

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Calipatria's Fourth of July celebration was a rousing success. - Photo courtesy of Calipatria Lions Club

RIGHT: One of the exhibits at the Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Okla.

- Photo by Bill Amidon

‘Night at the Museum'

By Susan Giller

On a recent steamy Imperial Valley evening, the setting sun nudged the sky into darkness to cue up an unforgettable “Night at the Museum.” Suddenly, the sound of scampering feet, laughter, and an occasional yelp erupted in distant halls and galleries in the Imperial Valley Pioneers’ Museum. And in that moment history came to life.

Unlike the popular 2006 adventure/ comedy, this night needed no star-studded cast or a storyline rife with an ancient curse to unleash dead animals and artifacts to chase humans. Yet on this night at Pioneers’ Museum in Imperial, the sounds, sights, and chase signaled the start of something

Local history comes to life

magical.

This night, local history reached beyond displays and curated cases to touch the future. Welcome to the first Teen Night and Scavenger Hunt at Pioneers’ Museum. Lured by the promise of food, fun, and adventure, 17 Valley teens turned out to scurry through galleries and upstairs displays searching for clues, participating in a Quiz Bowl, and making memories.

Yet the action-packed fun held a healthy dose of substance, too. “Events like these are important because they help ignite a love of learning,” said Museum Director Caitlin Chávez. “It is a way to keep history alive. It is important to connect kids with their community. The culture of a region is part of a healthy community. It affects us all,

whether we have ancestors from here or are transplants.”

For the teens, all it took was free-flowing pizza and snacks and a chance to win some prizes to get the adventure started. Following a quick walking tour of the

FROM LEFT: Dominick Dinelli, Joshua Rodriguez, Amelie Elms and Alima Durand search for a clue in the Swiss Gallery at Pioneers' Museum. - Photo by Mike Nicholas

Michael Nicholas, Mia Nicholas, and Natalie Kenagy go over their "find" with Museum Director Caitlin Chavez. Not visible in the group is Claire Gilles. - Photo by Mike Nicholas

HISTORY ALIVE!

Imperial County Pioneers Museum is located at 373 East Aten Road, Imperial

 June/July summer activities

included:

 Kindergarten- 2nd grade Storytime every other Wednesday

 3rd - 5th grade Arts and Crafts every other Thursday

 Teen “Night at the Museum” for the first time in July

 Hours for public visits to the Museum.

For hours of operation, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, call 760-352-1165 Or check

► pioneersmuseum.org/contactus.html

► www.facebook.com/ ImperialCountyHistoricalSociety

► www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ imperialcountyhistoricalsociety

Museum’s collections, the teens were divided into groups and given 45 minutes to search through the Museum to find the answers to 10, sometimes cryptic, scavenger hunt list questions.

Such questions as “Name the book by Harold Bell Wright that was made into a Western film in 1926. (Spoiler Alert: “The Winning of Barbara Worth” is the title of the book about the effort to tap the Colorado River to bring water to the Valley. A gallery in the Museum is devoted to Wright and the book that has become an icon of the settling of the Valley.)

Some of the teens took time to look for signs of ancestors during the tour of the Museum. One boy scanned through a display of old high school graduating classes to see if he could identify an image of his grandmother among Calexico graduates. While the team that won the scavenger hunt was announced long before the time

CONTINUED PAGE 26

FROM LEFT: Josephine Castillote, Hannah Pyle, Xitlalli Hernandez, and Michael Lopez pose for a selfie with a dapper mannequin in a Museum exhibit to show they found one item on the scavenger hunt list. - Photo by Susan Giller

'Night at the Museum' participants pose for a group photo. - Photo by Mike Nicholas

Diego Garcia and Rafael Bernal scroll through a collection of previous Valley high school graduating class photos housed in Pioneers' Museum.. - Photo by Susan Giller

Financial literacy Starts

By Julie Smith Taylor

Most of us grew up knowing very little about how money really works. The concepts of budgeting, saving, maintaining a good credit score or how much money one needs to earn as an adult are often foreign and confusing for kids.

Now some third-fifth grade students from the Imperial Valley, San Diego County and Tijuana, Mexico, are getting a leg up on learning about money. Altogether some 30,000 children participated last school year in a 10-week financial literacy curriculum offered by Junior Achievement of San Diego and Imperial County. Junior Achievement is an organization that has been active for more than 70 years in Southern California and a century nationwide. The program culminates in a day-long, realworld experience for fifth-graders held at the McGrath Family JA BizTown in San

early at BizTown

Diego. Set up like a mock Main Street with storefronts and other buildings, kids will go through a five-hour simulation of what it’s like to actually run a city or be a business owner.

“It’s all about preparing kids to be successful,” said Sidd Vivek, CEO of Junior Achievement.. “Our goal is to economically empower young people to create future success through financial literacy.”

Vivek added, “We believe it’s important to start as early as kindergarten to impart these important lessons and how one’s success is connected to the community, local business, and the real world.

McCabe and Corfman schools in El Centro have collaborated with Junior Achievement and had its students attend BizTown for many years. McCabe fifthgrade teacher Gina Arevalo said, “Our school really values career and college readiness. It’s such a great experience because our administrative team fully supports the program. The curriculum

provided by Junior Achievement is so hands-on and easy to teach. We want to help our students be prepared for the future and to become future leaders. BizTown targets those skills so they can be career-ready.”

Arevalo said one of the most rewarding things about BizTown is seeing students become mini adults for a day.

“It’s a joy each year to see them do such a great job of implementing everything they learned and successfully carrying out their various roles during the event. It’s also a really fun-filled field trip after months of preparation that included writing resumes, holding

McCabe Elementary students participate in BizTown in San Diego - Photo by Alejandra Noriega

A McCabe Elementary student works at BizTown's Mission Bank during a simulation.

- Photo by Alejandra Noriega.

mock interviews, and even conducting political campaigns and holding a general election to select a mayor for BizTown.”

There are several mini lessons the kids learn from the experience, Arevalo said.

“As part of our debrief discussions we ask them questions like, ‘How can we take what you learned at BizTown and use that to really think about your own future? Can you see yourself being a business owner when you grow up? What kind of a career would you like to pursue?’, she said. “Ultimately, we want them to keep moving forward, get excited about different career paths and continue their education.”

By the time the kids are in fifth

grade, Vivek said, Junior Achievement challenges them to go through the steps of building a business.

Vivek said, “Our program is very experiential. When they arrive at BizTown, it’s like a mini city where the kids roleplay as CEOs and entrepreneurs of a wide variety of businesses. They have to take out loans, make deposits, keep track of how they spend their money, do a payroll, etc. At the end of the simulation, there is an evaluation. Kids discuss what they learned, what worked and what went wrong.

“We also put an emphasis on philanthropy,” Vivek added. “All of these concepts are covered in the curriculum

leading up to the BizTown experience.” And even more Valley children are exposed to financial literacy concepts thanks to the help of Mechanics Bank employees. Earlier this year, more than 20 Mechanic Bank employees from the El Centro, Holtville and Brawley branches volunteered their time to work with the third-fifth grades at Ben Hulse Elementary School in Imperial.

“For two full days small teams of our employees presented on a variety of topics,” Mechanics Bank Area Manager Rafael Galvan said. “We covered the difference between a want and a need, the importance of budgeting,

CONTINUED PAGE 27

BizTown in San Diego offers financial education for elementary school students in Imperial and San Diego counties, as well as in Tijuana.

- Photo by Alejandra Noriega

Jeff Deyo

By Heidi Gutierrez

Retires from legendary IVC career

Jeff Deyo helped define the title “legendary” during his athletic career at Imperial Valley College.

After 43 years of teaching and coaching, Deyo has retired from IVC, leaving a rich legacy of men’s basketball championship wins that earned him the title.

Deyo, who started coaching at IVC in the fall of 1980, leaves an indelible mark on the campus with the 16 Conference Championship and regional and state win banners that decorate the DePaoli Sports Complex gymnasium today. Thirteen of those banners were earned when he was the head coach for the men's basketball teams in the 1980s and '90s.

"It is impossible not to talk about Jeff Deyo when it comes to the history of IVC athletics," said Associate Dean of Athletics, Exercise Science, & Health Education Enrique Lechuga. "Even the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference recognizes him as

a legendary coach."

Before starting his position as head coach for the men's basketball team at IVC, Deyo developed an impressive background in basketball. He attended Kofa High School, where he played varsity basketball for three years. He attended Mount Marty University in South Dakota for four years and played varsity basketball there. He then became a graduate assistant coach at West Virginia University for two years and worked as an assistant coach at Texas Lutheran College for three years.

From early in life, basketball was a force in Deyo’s life. "I am a coach's kid,” he said. “So my father told me when I was a teen, 'Son, I think coaching would be good for you, and you are not afraid of hard work.'"

Deyo's legacy at IVC was not built overnight. His reputation grew through consistent hard work and teamwork to recruit players, obtain funds for the men's basketball program, and coach.

"IVC was one of the most difficult coaching situations in America,” he said. “We did not have scholarships, dormitories, and no cafeteria at the time I started.”

However, Deyo didn’t let those obstacles stand in his way. “My wife (Valarie) and I adopted 10 to 15 men from out of the area and became 'mom and pop,'" said Deyo. "Our home was a basketball home, and we became an extended family.

“It was difficult but fulfilling. We went from being the worst community college to now No. 1."

In his third year at IVC, Deyo led his team to its first 20-win season. In the 1983 season, the Arabs won the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship and made it to the Final Four in the state. And he was just 32 years old at the time. From 1982 to 1995, with the exception of 1993, IVC won the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship. And many of those years the team went on to win the regional title and place in the state finals.

However, winning wasn’t everything to Deyo.

"Our challenge at IVC was to develop a great program that was turning out quality people," said Deyo. "The greatest source of pride for our coaching staff is that nearly every sophomore coming out of our program has had the opportunity to continue his education and playing career at four-year institutions."

A decade later, Deyo assisted then-head coach Jill Tucker to prepare the women's basketball team to win four conference titles. The team was undefeated in two of those years.

However, Deyo is much more than a winning coach. Alumni still speak of the impact he made on their lives as a mentor and even a father figure.

"Jeff did more than coach basketball; he coached life too," said Lee Elder, former Imperial Valley Press sports editor during Deyo’s coaching career. "I appreciated how he worked with those young men. A coach has a tremendous position in an athlete's life, not just in basketball."

Elder recalls that home games Deyo coached drew large crowds because the atmosphere was fun to be part of.

One of Deyo's most memorable games, according to Elder, was a state championship tournament game at the University of Santa Clara, in which IVC was playing against Los Angeles Southwest College. Elder remembered that it was a close game from start to finish. The score was tied with only two minutes to go. In the last 10 seconds, a player nicknamed D.D.

Jeff Deyo is shown at a celebration in his honor earlier this year at Faith Assembly in Imperial. -

Photo by Mickey Dale

Lee stole the ball, drove down the court and scored a layup to score. IVC won that round and advanced to the next round.

"That game was everything that showed what Jeff Deyo was about," said Elder. "He is a great defensive coach and taught his kids to push on even when the chips are down."

While he is leaving a 50-year career of teaching and coaching, Deyo said, "I don't think I have ‘worked’ a day in my professional life. It was a joy to be involved with the people at IVC. I truly

loved it; Imperial Valley is my home, and the Imperial Valley people are my people."

However, he’s not ready to quit coaching in retirement.

“I am an eye-to-eye, face-to-face, heart-to-heart instructor,” Deyo said. Curiously, it was the need to teach online during the pandemic that helped him realize he could take his personal style of coaching to athletes anywhere. He plans to offer coaching services to individual athletes online to help develop their sports expertise and life skills. 

One of the speakers gets a laugh from those at Deyo's retirement celebration earlier this year at Faith Assembly in Imperial. -

Photo by Mickey Dale

Former player D.D. Lee with Deyo at the event. - Photo by Mickey Dale

Authors’ DAY

Local writers offer page turners

More than a dozen authors with ties to the Imperial Valley gathered at the Imperial Valley Mall on July 8, 2023, for the first “Local Author Day at the Mall.” Most of the authors live in the Imperial Valley, while some are former residents who returned to participate in the event coordinated by Darren Simon.

The authors’ works range from children’s books to adult crime dramas, poetry, comic books, and non-fiction writing. Simon, the author of several young adult fiction books, collaborated with Imperial Valley Mall General Manager Alicia Swaim to bring the authors together to promote their books and allow the public to get to know who they are and what they’ve written. The event was so successful that a second event will be held Dec. 9 at the mall with more local authors expected to participate. 

Imperial Valley authors gather at the Imperial Valley Mall on July 8 to mix with the public and share their work.

- Photos by Sue Gay

 Bag limit applies to individual hunter.

 A valid California hunting license is required to take all waterfowl, upland game, fur bearers, and mammals.

 A valid Upland Game Bird Stamp (validation) is required to hunt any upland game birds (except Junior License Holders).

 Shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

 There is no open hunting season for common ground-dove, ruddy grounddove or Inca dove.

Dove Identification:

WHITE-WINGED DOVE White on top leading edge of wing. Uniformly tan bu y body. Twotone squared or fan shaped tail with narrow white outer band.

MOURNING AND WHITE-WINGED DOVES:

Sept. 1-15, 2023, and Nov. 11-Dec. 25, 2023.

Bag Limit: Mourning and white-winged dove, 15 per day in aggregate, of which no more than 10 may be white-winged dove.

NONLEAD AMMO REQUIRED

Possession Limit: Mourning dove and whitewinged dove triple the daily bag limit,

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE: year-round with no bag or possession limit. Shoot Time: one half hour before sunrise to sunset.

 Doves must have a fully feather wing attached. All game birds must have a fully feathered wing or head attached while in possession & while transporting.

Opening day is Friday, Sept. 1, with the season running through Sept. 15 and again Nov. 11 to Dec. 25

Dove Map

SEE:

The sounds of shotguns as dawn breaks on opening day of dovehunting season are familiar ones to Imperial Valley residents. Local fi elds have long drawn dove hunters from inside and outside Imperial County and are highly ranked in publications such as Western Outdoor News (wonews.com). Opening day is Friday, Sept. 1, with the 2023 dove hunting season running through Sept. 15 and again Nov. 11 to Dec. 25 . Whether

gathering as friends or multiple generations of families, dove hunting in the Imperial Valley has been a tradition through the ages. Wildlife biologists use bands to mark some birds for research. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife asks hunters to report banded birds to reportband.gov. Visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland- game-birds for more information or use the QR code below to view regulations. PREPARE

NOTE: THE ABOVE REMINDERS ARE NOT A COPY OF THE LAWS; REFER TO THE CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME CODE, CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE AND THE IMPERIAL COUNTY ORDINANCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. ALSO THE CALIFORNIA FISH AND WILDLIFE WEB SITE FOR HUNTING REGULATIONS AT www.fgc.ca.gov.

UPLAND GAME FIELDS IN IMPERIAL COUNTY

MOURNING DOVE

Tail tapered to point. Tan bu y body with dark spots on back.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE

Black ring around neck. Larger than mourning dove. Uniformly tan bu y body. Two-tone squared or fan shaped tail with wide white outer band.

Route 66 Mother Road lives on

By Peggy Dale

Oh, the stories Route 66 could tell, if roads could speak. This major thoroughfare stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica will celebrate its 100th anniversary in three years. Commissioned in 1926 and fully paved in the 1930s, the original 2,448 miles of roadway carried millions of travelers and saw the United States through

some of its most tumultuous times. Early on, entrepreneurs spotted the road’s potential for marketing, and soon gimmicks of all kinds sprouted up, enticing travelers to stop and spend. The route took on another twist during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, which in league with the Great Depression that began in 1929 left millions economically devastated. Hundreds of thousands of Texans, Oklahomans,

Kansans, Arkansans,

TOP PHOTO: Route 66 passes by Standin' On the Corner Park in Winslow, Ariz., a corner made famous by the Eagles song "Take It Easy.¨ ABOVE RIGHT: Part of a mural near the park. ABOVE LEFT: The "Leaning Tower of Texas¨ near Amarillo, Texas.

- Photos by Mickey and Peggy Dale

The National Route 66 Museum is in Elk City, Okla. - Photo by Bill Amidon

and others, broken by shattered dreams, left their homes and farms and turned West on what author John Steinbeck later dubbed the “Mother Road.”

They loaded their motor cars with families and whatever goods could be packed in, on, and around them, and along the way hoped to fi nd work where they could. Some sent earnings back home to make good on debts promised to tradespeople. Most were grateful to be able to put food on their makeshift tables. The majority found their “promised land” in California’s

Central Valley, but many made their way to the Imperial Valley, picking citrus, cotton, or whatever was in season.

Long since replaced by freeways that could get people and goods more quickly to their destinations, the road was decommissioned as an offi cial U.S. highway in 1985 and shrunk in length when parts of it became inaccessible. Along its current 2,278 miles, the Mother Road still offers travelers glimpses into the past.

Cities and tiny towns along the route

CONTINUED PAGE 28

TOP: Cadillac Ranch is a popular stop on Route 66 near Amarillo, Texas.

ABOVE: A sign in Adrian, Texas, marks the halfway point on Route 66 between its start in Chicago and its ending at the Santa Monica Pier.

- Photos by Mickey and Peggy Dale

Borrego Days

Courtesy of the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce

Did you know the desert has seasons? It’s hot in the summer, when life slows to a crawl, then fabulous from October to mid-May. And when the weather cools, the Borrego Springs community roars back to life with its first major event, the Borrego Days Desert Festival. This year’s event will take place Oct. 21 and 22.

The festival had its start in 1966 as business owners and residents saw an increasing number of visitors from other states coming to Borrego Springs to escape cold winters and enjoy the beautiful desert sunshine. With these visitors (nicknamed snowbirds) came economic growth, tourism and a lively atmosphere felt by all.

Community leaders quickly realized

Fall festival celebrates "perfect desert weather ¨

how important snowbirds were to the area and felt that a season-opening festival welcoming snowbirds and visitors back to Borrego Springs was the perfect way to officially launch the new season.

This year’s event marks the 57th Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival, a family-friendly weekend held at the iconic Christmas Circle celebrating six months of perfect desert weather. Produced by the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center, attendees enjoy two days of live entertainment, car show, adult beer garden, crafts, artists, food, a kids’ zone and lots of surprises.

A popular tradition over the years has been the Saturday morning flyover, where local pilots fly down Palm Canyon and over Christmas Circle, the uniquely round park that is the center

of many social activities in the cooler months.

The festival offers a beer garden for adults but there is a big emphasis on family, organizers say. That’s one of the reasons the kids’ zone is so large.

Borrego Days highlights the area’s sense of community as many of the festival vendors are local organizations and businesses. Others come from as far away as San Diego to Palm Springs to share their wares.

Borrego Springs has plenty to offer, especially when the temperatures drop. Home to many resorts, hotels and RV sites, visitors can choose from a variety of things to enjoy, including hiking, biking, golfing, and unique dining and shopping experiences.

First inhabited by the Kumeyaay and Cahuilla tribes, one of the earliest

Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs (above) is the setting for the annual Borrego Days (above right photos), scheduled for Oct. 21 and 22. - Photos courtesy of the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce

Independence Day

Calipatria puts on a show

Calipatria lit up the sky on July 2, 2023, to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Fireworks brought an end to a day full of events that brought more than 1,000 people out to celebrate Independence Day. Highlights included the return of the Calipatria Fire Department water polo competition along with hot dog-eating and ice cream-eating contents. Dozens of vendors offered a variety of locally created goods, beverages, and food. 

- Photos courtesy of the Calipatria Lions Club

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

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

Buffalo Wild Wings $$

510 Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243

760-337-9481

www.buffalowildwings. com

Locally Owned

Beer/Wine only

Full Bar

Dogwood Sports Bar & Grill $$

3603 S. Dogwood Rd, El Centro, CA 92243

760-970-4668

https://bit.ly/2UjlAFL

$10 & under per person

$20 & under per person

Over $20 per person

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

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

Brownie’s Diner $$

990 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227

760-344-2938

https://bit.ly/3cP5Ct7

Buckshot Deli & Diner $$

Back To Eden Juice

616 Main St, Ste#4

Brawley, CA 92227

https://bit.ly/46UCFXh

8120 CA-111, Niland, CA 92257

760-359-0595

https://bit.ly/3jrInbX

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

Denny's $$

1445 Ocotillo Dr, El Centro, CA 92243

760-352-2576

www.dennys.com

Denny's $$

3403 Dogwood Rd. El Centro, CA 92243

760-337-9023

www.dennys.com

Desert Rat Pizza $$

612 Main St, El Centro, CA 92243

760-960-7956

https://bit.ly/46XXOQ7

Famous Dave's $$

3103 S. Dogwood Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

760-352-9044

https://bit.ly/3iPxIsf

Farmer Boys $$

1532 Cruickshank Dr, El Centro, CA 92243

760-336-0227 www.farmerboys.com

Foster Freeze $

130 N. 5th St, Brawley, CA 92227

760-344-7566

https://fostersfreeze.com

Habit Burger $

2335 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243

760-997-7805

www.habitburger.com

Hope Café and Creperie $

605 E 2nd St, Calexico, CA 92231

760-890-5259

https://bit.ly/3zyZAXd

Hope Café and Creperie $

1027 W State St. El Centro, CA 92243

442-283-5092

hopecafeelcentro.com

Humble Farmer Brewing $$

116 S. Imperial Ave Ste C, Imperial, CA 92251

760-545-0037

www.humblefarmerbrewing.com

IHOP $$

2362 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243

760-352-1100

www.ihop.com

Juniors Café $

1791 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

760-353-9556

https://bit.ly/3cP2oG5

Leroy's Backyard

BBQ $$

401 Broadway, El Centro, CA 92243

760-675-6546

https://bit.ly/3iLMFLP

Maranatha Steakhouse $$

612 S. J St, Imperial, CA 92251

760-355-0777

https://bit.ly/2ZaBkx2

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

www.panerabread.com

Rabb Slabs BBQ 496 W State, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4867 bit.ly/3Y1AQUf

Red Feather Off-Road Market & Cafe $

1182 N. Imperial Hwy, Ocotillo, CA 92259 760-358-7389

https://bit.ly/3vwXwvY

Saltcedar Barbecue $

297 South Imperial Avenue 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

Sonora Fusion $$$

560 W State St, El Centro, CA 92243

760-693-5069

https://bit.ly/3wLozVP

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

The Burger and I

3451 S Dogwood St Spc 1396, El Centro, CA 92243

760-970-4849 bit.ly/3OqulpV

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, Brawley, CA 92227

(760) 344-5051

https://bit.ly/3rakIPW

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

Vibras Healthy Nutrition $

136 N Plaza, Brawley, CA 92227

760-679-6277

https://bit.ly/41c6hfm

K Sushi Bar & Grill $$

416 S. J St, Imperial, CA 92251

760-355-4440

https://bit.ly/3zyKbWT

Khan Korean BBQ $$

330 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

760-353-0202

https://bit.ly/3gy1hwY

Komaki Sushi & Sea Food $$

1133 Ben Hulse Hwy, Brawley, CA 92227

760-623-1033

https://bit.ly/3q5qyWB

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 $$

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

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

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

Fujisan Sushi $$

1560 Ocotillo Dr Suite O, El Centro, CA 92243

760-970-4436

www.fujisaniv.com

Golden Dragon $$

928 Imperial Ave.

Calexico, CA 92231

760-890-0066

The Wellness Bar $

141 S 6th St, Brawley, CA 92227

760-587-6937

bit.ly/3H9CnjN

Hong Kong $$

550 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

760-970-4497

https://bit.ly/3E4Wdcb

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

Chuck-E-Cheese $$ 803 E. Danenberg Rd, El Centro, CA 92243

760-352-4785

www.chuckecheese.com

George’s Pizza $$

116 W 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250

760-356-1192

https://bit.ly/3cPgc3A

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

Johnny Carino's $$ 3203 S Dogwood Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

760-337-9588 www.carinos.com

Mona Lisa Cocktails & Cuisine $$$ 2393 Highway 86, Imperial, CA 92251 bit.ly/3KbXKTm

Mozzarelli

Artisan Bistro $$ 123 W Barioni Blvd, Imperial, CA 92251

760-545-0222

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

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

www.cardenasmarkets.com

760-970-4121

https://bit.ly/41xhJlA

Wongs Kitchen $

102 W 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250

760-791-3227

Italian Food

Assaggio Ristorante

Italiano $$

538 E St, Brawley, CA 92227

760-344-9750

https://qrco.de/Assaggio

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 $$ 841 W. Main St., El Centro, CA 92243 442-271-4016

Celia’s Restaurant

1530 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

760-352-4570

https://bit.ly/3q4ZFxQ

Cilantros La Taqueria $ 643 S 4th St Ste 1, El Centro, CA 92243

760-693-5337

https://bit.ly/3gBgdJu

D’Lupita's Restaurant $$ 336 W 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250

760-356-7100

https://bit.ly/3gwwvo5

D'Poly Taco, Grill & Beer $$

1573 W. Main St, El Centro, CA 92243

760-970-4243

https://bit.ly/35vdKLw

El Cañon $

625 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227

760-344-2411

El Chochis Snacks & Salads $

1065 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227

760-790-8242

https://bit.ly/3K9LdzB

El Jumping Bean

Taqueria #2

1050 S Brawley Ave #103, Brawley, CA 92227

760-623-7030

bit.ly/3m5FCPd

El Menudazo $

548 broadway #c , El Centro, CA

760-970-4940

bit.ly/3n8dezl

El Merendero $$

1702 N Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

442-283-5014

https://bit.ly/3GdMxxW

El Jumping Bean

Taqueria

129 S 6th St, Brawley, CA 92227

760-623-115022

bit.ly/3m5FCPd

Flautas & Sopes $

1622 S 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243

442-283-5090

www.flautasysopesusa.site

Flautas & Sopes $$

1531 Ford Dr, El Centro, CA 92243

760-336-0825

www.flautasysopesusa.site

Flautas & Sopes $

715 Cesar Chavez Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231

760-357-0655

www.flautasysopesusa.site

Hacienda Market & Snack Bar $

941 K St, Brawley, CA 92227

760-344-5542

https://bit.ly/3b0ILJR

El Zarape $$

139 S. Imperial Ave, Imperial, CA 92251

760-355-4435

https://bit.ly/3gCuPrP

Jalisco's Bar & Grill $$

844 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

760-353-2515

https://bit.ly/3nhTvsZ

Johnny's Burritos

105 S. Imperial Ave., Imperial CA 92251

760-355-0962

https://bit.ly/3vzAxAh

Johnny's Burritos

490 D St., Brawley, CA 92227

760-344-0961

https://bit.ly/3cJkERa

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

Holtville Taco Shop $

404 E 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250

760-356-5756

www.holtvilletacoshop.com

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

Johnny's Burritos 301 Wake Ave., El Centro, CA 92243

760-353-0963

https://bit.ly/3cLY2Qb

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 Chabelas Restaurant $$

749 S. Brawley Ave, Brawley, CA 92227

760-351-2991

www.laschabelas.com

Las Palmitas Taco Shop #1 $

2003 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243

760-352-2757

https://bit.ly/3gwEUYH

Las Palmitas Taco Shop #2 $

880 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

760-370-9120

https://bit.ly/3cL3jr0

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

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

Mi Casita $$

324 S. Imperial Ave. Ste B, Calexico, CA 92231

760-556-9895

https://bit.ly/3cO17PE

Mexca Brew Co. $$

612 W Main St, El Centro, CA 92243

760-970-4544

https://bit.ly/2SkabEM

Nana Dora's 103 W. K St., Brawley, CA 92227

760-344-2677

https://bit.ly/2S3kWex

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

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

Nicky’s Mexican Restaurant 644 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227

442-646-9492

bit.ly/44zYV71

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

Rosa's Plane Food Inc. $$

445 S. Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231

760-890-8860

https://bit.ly/3q5sg5Q

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 

Calendar of Events

Aug. 12

Stargazing: Perseids Meteor Shower

7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Imperial Valley Desert Museum, 11 Frontage Road, Ocotillo. Hosted by Michael Rood. The Perseids are caused by the Earth passing through debris, such as bits of

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.

ice and rock, left behind by Comet SwiftTuttle, which last passed close to Earth in 1992. The Perseids peak when Earth passes through the densest and dustiest area on Aug. 11-12. Bring binoculars, chairs, or blankets.

For information, call 760-358-7016 or email info@ivdesertmuseum.org

Aug. 19

Traditional Craft Days - Games

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Imperial Valley Desert Museum, 11 Frontage Road, Ocotillo. Put your skills to the test as IVDM partners with Pioneers Museum to host a variety of games reflecting the heritage of the region's many indigenous peoples. With content and games for all ages, bring your friends and family out to IVDM for a day of skill, luck, collaboration, and friendly competition.

The event is made possible through the Brawley Rotary Club, which donated $500 to IVDM’s Traditional Craft Day summer series. Their donation will support the purchase of materials for the crafts, as well as refreshments for families across the day. This event is free to all visitors of IVDM. No reservations are required. For information, call 760-358-7016 or email info@ivdesertmuseum.org

Aug. 21

National Senior Citizens Day

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. Pavilion, 770 Park Ave., El Centro. The event

is free for senior citizens and includes games, prizes, raffles, exercise classes, dancing, information booths, and much more. For more information, contact the El Centro Adult Center at 760-370-0160. Sponsors include the City of El Centro, City of Calexico Housing Authority, El Centro Regional Medical Center, Catholic Charities, Imperial County Public Administrator, the Calexico Wellness Center, Imperial County Behavioral Health Services, and Pacific Southwest Community Development Corp.

Aug. 21

Back to School Holtville Unified School District Teachers

Luncheon

Noon, IV Swiss Club, 1585 E. Worthington Road, Holtville. Organized by the Holtville Chamber of Commerce, the event is made possible with the help of sponsors to provide a nice lunch and raffles for Holtville teachers. For information, contact Rosie Allegranza at the Holtville Chamber, 760356-2923.

Aug. 26

Spare the Pets Bowling Tournament

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., StrikeZone IV, 950 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro. The tournament will benefit the Humane Society of Imperial County.

Sponsored by Imperial County Association of Realtors (ICAOR), the event is for teams only. The $120 team cost includes lane fee, T-shirt and pizza/soda for team bowlers. Entries and payment must be turned into ICAOR by Aug. 10. For information and entry forms, call 760-352-6010 or email staff@icaor.com

Aug. 26

3rd Annual Pesky Pests

7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Imperial Valley Desert Museum, 11 Frontage Road, Ocotillo. Beat the heat and explore the desert after dark with IVDM and USDA.

Join USDA entomologist Deborah de la Riva to celebrate the ecology and wonders of our desert's many insects. Free to the public, this event offers blacklight tours of the desert floor, live insect displays, talks about local creepy crawlers, and much more.

For information, call 760-358-7016 or email info@ivdesertmuseum.org

Sept. 28

A Night in Hollywood

6 p.m., Pioneers Museum, 373 E. Aten Road,

Imperial. Presented by the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. Cocktail/ evening attire requested. For information on pricing and the event, call 760-352-7413 or visit ivregionalchamber.com

Oct. 1

Carrot Royalty Competition

The competitions for Carrot Queen, Carrot Princess and Carrot Junior Princess are open to all young ladies attending Imperial Valley Schools, in grades kindergarten through 12. The categories and ages are: Carrot Queen, 9th through 12th grade; Carrot Princess, 6th through 8th grade; and Carrot Junior Princess, kindergarten through 5th grade. Entries for the competition open Oct.

1. Deadline to enter is Dec. 21. Beginning in October, applications will be available in the Holtville Chamber of Commerce office and on the chamber website, www. holtvillechamber.org

For more information, contact Rosie Allegranza at the Holtville Chamber of Commerce, 760-356-2923.

Oct. 5

Autumn & the Arts

6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., new Imperial County Office of Education Conference Center, 4202 Sperber Road, El Centro. The fundraiser helps promote arts in Imperial County and support the ICOE Foundation for Education’s scholarship program. Individual tickets are $100 each;

table sponsorships, $600. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to sponsor the event, visit https://foundation. icoe.org/fundraiser

Oct. 6

Dinner for Life

6 p.m., 1290 S. Imperial Ave., El Centro. The dinner will benefit the IV Life Center. For more information visit www. ivlifecenter.com

Oct. 21 and 22

Kristin Weaver Brown Barrel Racing Clinic

Beginning at 6 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. at Roohide Saddlery Arena in El Centro.

Kristin is the only barrel racer to have won AQHA World titles in reining and working cow horse as well as in barrel racing. Her accomplishments include: NFR qualifier, AQHA World Champion barrel racer, four-time AQHA Reserve World Champion. She will instruct in horsemanship techniques with plenty of one-on-one work.

For a registration form or more information contact Diana Luthi Nichols at 620-3402372 or diokep@osprey.net

A $200 deposit is required to hold your spot. Full fees are due in September. Clinic fees are $575/horse. Unlimited audits available for $50/day

expired, none of the remaining teams quit their searches till they answered all the questions.

“We really are a world-class collection,” Chávez said. “This museum is a treasure.”

This summer, the Museum has added programs for children of all ages and, for the first time, is remaining open for visitors to draw more people in.

“We are expanding to keep history alive for our residents and those beyond Imperial Valley,” Chávez said.

Chávez and Archivist Tyler Brinkerhoff became the Museum’s professionally trained and experienced staff when they were hired

earlier this year by the Imperial County Historical Society, which oversees the museum.

Both she and Brinkerhoff say they are awed by the work done by volunteers to build the museum collection before their arrival.

“All that is here is due to the efforts of the volunteers,” Chávez said. “Now, we can expand on what’s here with a professional staff. We can make history live here by adding exhibits, representing more voices, and inviting more people in.”

In addition to holding the very popular Pioneers’ Day, the Museum opened its facilities for a Citizenship Ceremony this year, which drew a crowd of families and friends.

“We hope these people will want to come back, and will bring their children and friends,” Chávez said, because the Museum will now be part of their history.

Chávez had high praise for museum volunteer Elizabeth Pritchard, who organized the Teen Night activities.

Pritchard, who is working on her degree to teach history to high school students, kept the teens engaged and on point throughout the evening.

A longtime Holtville resident, Pritchard said she became a museum volunteer shortly before Pioneers’ Day in April. At the event, she took charge of the roping activity. Soon after, she said she was appointed chair of the Museum Education Committee, which has been instrumental in creating programs for kids of all ages this summer.

“It’s been a joy to learn from the volunteers,” said Chávez.

Retired photographer Mike Nicholas, a volunteer helping digitize the photo collection, is very enthusiastic about all that is happening at the Museum now.

“It is like the doors blew open, and a new energy is flowing here,” he said. “It’s an exciting time to be here.” 

Children attending a Pioneers' Museum story-time event show off masks they made to illustrate what they learned. - Photo courtesy of Pioneers' Museum

having a savings account, giving back through philanthropy, earning potential and how good ideas can turn into entrepreneurship,” he said. “We followed the Junior Achievement curriculum, which was really hands-on and included interactive games and lessons so we weren’t just lecturing to them. Every class had a total of five sessions and each one built upon the next. We kept it to their level by discussing what they could do with their birthday and Christmas money. It really kept them engaged and we all enjoyed sharing stories from our own childhoods and life experiences.”

Last year, Galvan also presented at another school to older students with a focus on helping them develop knowledge about lending practices and what it takes to get set up for financial success.

“We want to give them the tools and the knowledge that will help them long-term,” he said. “Even if they are still too young to apply this information right now, they can share with their parents and start creating good financial habits that will stay with them for a lifetime.”

Galvan is enthusiastic about the Junior Achievement curriculum.

McCabe Elementary School students participate in BizTown. - Photos courtesy of McCabe Elementary School

“We believe it’s important to invest and give back to our community,” he said. “This opportunity to partner with Junior Achievement to increase awareness of financial literacy is the perfect fit for us at Mechanics Bank. We also believe that by helping young people become more knowledgeable about money management, it ultimately helps our entire community long-term.”

Junior Achievement, Vivek said, teaches students the skills to succeed.

“We don’t want students learning about business knowledge or money lessons the hard way,” Vivek said. “If we give young people the proper tools, tangible skills, and easier access to the social capital gained through networking and business connections, it not only gives everyone a chance at real success in life and business, but it can also break the cycles of poverty and inequality.”

Visit www.ja.sandiego.org for more information about Junior Achievement and the nonprofit's financial literacy lessons programs. 

have held on to their connections to Route 66, promoting road stops and turning their downtowns into living museums of neon lights, Art Deco and mid-century architecture, and gas-stations-turned-diners.

The iconic emblem of Route 66 lives on in those communities. It continues to draw travelers of all ages to take breaks from their cramped quarters, to stop, stretch their legs, and experience a bit of what used to be. 

The Mother Road’s history has been preserved in museums along the route. For a virtual tour of the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Okla., visit: https://youtu.be/qZ8_jJ5sXhU.

Closer to home are the following museums:

• The Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman, Ariz., explorekingman.com/attraction-PowerhouseRoute-66-Museum

• The California Route 66 Museum in Barstow, Calif., califrt66museum.org

• The Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Victorville, Calif., route66museum.org For an interactive map on roadside attractions, visit route66roadtrip.com.

ABOVE: Mickey Dale hams it up at the Slug Bug Ranch just off Route 66 and Interstate 40 in Panhandle, Texas.

RIGHT: A sign marks the present-day midpoint of Route 66 in Adrian, Texas.

- Photos by Peggy Dale

BORREGO DAYS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

known European travelers through the area was explorer Juan Bautista de Anza, for whom the Anza Borrego State Park is named. De Anza, searching for an inland route to the coast, journeyed through the area in the late 1700s.

In modern times, this part of the desert has been home to military

operations during World War II and the setting for several Hollywood productions.

Today, dozens of metal sculptures spread across the valley are one of the major draws. The sculptures, housed on Galleta Meadows Estate, were gifted to the area by landowner Dennis Avery and managed by the

Under The Sun Foundation. Many can be seen from Borrego Springs Road, which leads to town from the south on Highway 78.

Borrego Days kicks off the season in Borrego Springs, and the Chamber of Commerce invites you to “join us for Borrego Days and let the season begin!”

POSITIVE & ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

The medical e ects from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been well documented for several years, but more recent studies have folded in the medical benefits of positive childhood experiences.

“For around a decade we’ve known about ACEs, identifying adverse experiences that have a clear link to medical problems later on,” said Scott Dudley, Behavioral Health Manager of the Center for Clinical Training for Imperial County Behavioral Health Services. ACES have been linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance use problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

Once the link became clear, “the research community started looking at who had a larger number of ACEs exposures and turned out OK,” he said. Then research shifted into studying positive childhood experiences, and ACEs became PACEs (Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences). “Researchers were trying to sort out what helps build resiliency to help ward o long-term e ects of adverse experiences during childhood,” he added.

Many of Imperial County Behavioral Health Services’ programs weave the message of positive experiences into treatment plans and into training of sta . As an example, Dudley cited upcoming cultural competence training for ICBHS sta on the nature of traditional healing, as a way to respect values held dear by

those in the community.

As for treatment programs that incorporate PACEs, Dudley said, “Where ICBHS comes in is through social intervention, in encouraging positive mental health. When we’re working with a consumer base on interventions, they’re grounded in connecting back to the positive factors. With adults, we’re helping them with their parenting so it’s a more successful parenting experience. With youth, we’re working with getting them connected with friends, coaches and teachers who can have strong relations. Sometimes our own sta will end up having that out-oftreatment relationship with them.”

 Feel that your family stood by you during di cult times

 Enjoy participating in community traditions

 Feel a sense of belonging in high school

with a consumer base on interventions,

 Feel supported by friends

Positive experiences are “easily plug and play,” Dudley said, pointing to an article titled “There is Hope: Research Shows

Positive Childhood Experiences

Combat the E ects of Childhood Trauma” on the website pcaaz.org.

The article lists positive experiences as:

 Feel able to talk with family about your feelings

ADVERSE EXPERIENCES BUILDING RESILIENCY BENEFITS LONG-TERM HEALTH

 Have at least two non-parent adults who took a genuine interest in you

 Feel safe and protected by an adult in your home

“The more of those that a child has, the more they will help that child avoid adverse e ects of childhood trauma,”

adverse e ects of childhood trauma,” Dudley said.

an article published April 21, 2021, on psychologytoday.com. “As a result, there is growing evidence that more of these positive experiences are protective for both mental and physical health in adults,” the article, “Positive Childhood Experiences May Improve Mental Health,”

states.

experience,” Dudley said. “This is super doable,” he added. “They don’t require legislation or money, but they help target what direction I need to head.”

substance

Research shows adults with more of these positive interactions have “fewer mental health problems, better diet and fewer sleep problems, and less risky sex and substance abuse,” according to

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, ICBHS sta has been reaching out to the community and to high schools, where preventions will center around positive childhood

Awareness Month, ICBHS sta has been reaching out to the community and to experiences.

“I’ll be speaking on how they can empower themselves to seek out these types of situations to balance out the childhood

Dudley, co-host with Maria Wyatt on ICBHS’ podcast “Let’s Talk About It,” last month addressed the benefits of positive childhood experiences with Frank Spesia, PACEs coordinator for the St. Joseph County, Indiana, Department of Health. To learn more about PACEs, visit kxoradio. com and follow the link for “Let’s Talk About It,” then click on the April 20 podcast.

to seek out these types

If you or someone you know would benefit from the services o ered by ICBHS, call 442-265-1525 for an appointment.