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Winter 2026

Publishers'

Message

The Imperial Valley is an enigma to many; a treasure to those of us fortunate enough to know it. Though rural and isolated on the outskirts of California, the region is home to a surprising mix of cultures, religions, and ethnic groups that live in harmony. Though new by most standards, having been incorporated as California’s newest county in 1907, it has a unique history that Valley residents love to tell. Perhaps the most endearing part of the region is its people and their willingness to share their different cultures, heritage, and stories; to open their arms and welcome a stranger. During the holiday season, these qualities shine brightly in a tapestry woven from the customs, practices, and traditions of people of different heritages who make the Imperial Valley community what it is. This edition highlights the enduring heart of the Valley through the stories of fascinating people who illustrate some of the region’s defining qualities. There is the story of Codruț Pîrvu, a Romanian foreign exchange student spending the year in Calexico through the Rotary International Student Exchange Program. He was welcomed with open arms by his host family and community. The process enriched both the visitor and the host communities, fostering shared learning and understanding that transcends borders, cultures, and languages.

A glimpse at Valley's defining spirit

From the annual Kwanzaa celebration at the Johnson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church comes a story that illustrates how connection and heritage resonate deeply across the Valley’s varied traditions. The Kwanzaa celebration illuminates the vital importance of African American unity, culture, and pride. As the church lights the candles of the Kinara, the congregation honors the sacrifices of their elders and strengthens community bonds. It is a powerful affirmation of identity, family, and shared purpose—values that the church generously shares with the Valley. Then you won’t want to miss reading about Tim Asamen’s dedication to preserving the memory of the oncevibrant “Japantown” in El Centro, and the immense agricultural contributions of the Issei and Nisei—pioneers like Kumezo Hachimonji and Zentaro Asamen. It is a memory tragically curtailed by the internments of World War II. His commitment to keep that history alive is brought into sharp focus in the Japanese American Gallery at the Pioneers’ Museum in Imperial. Asamen works to ensure that younger generations know the complex story of who built this Valley, both its extraordinary achievements and its painful losses. The history of Imperial Valley isn’t a relic relegated to a dusty shelf, according to Angela Herrera. It lives in

QR code for our online Alive! page the stories families tell today. In an engaging story in this edition, Herrera, the director of the Pioneers’ Museum, explains that the Valley’s history is a treasure. She shares how the depth of the Valley’s knowledge of its roots surprised and impressed her and fuels her enthusiasm for preserving that history for future generations. We also examine the Valley's creative voice through the story of Calexico poet Charlie M. Zamarripa, who began writing poetry at age 13. His journey into poetic expression was inspired by music. Now, a former teacher, Zamarripa, uses poetry to connect and teach, continuing to experiment with different styles. And in this edition, you can read about Jessica Humes, whose commitment to preserving the Valley’s health and environment grew from discovering a piece of pumice on a childhood trip to the Salton Sea. That day sparked an interest in the sciences that would lead her back to the Valley after university and into a career that puts her at the forefront of addressing environmental issues at the sea. These and more stories form a vivid portrait of the Imperial Valley's vibrant social fabric. As you turn the pages, we invite you to immerse yourself in the enduring heart of the Valley and find inspiration in the people who call it home. Happy reading. 

Winter 2026

INDEX |

PG 16

Volume 10, Number 2 EDITORS & PUBLISHERS Bill Gay Sue Gay Susan Giller Bill Amidon

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Darren Simon

CONTRIBUTORS Bill Gay Caitlin Chávez Susan Giller Kayla Kirby Blake Nelson Darren Simon

COVER PHOTO

Joselito N. Villero

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bill Amidon Alejandra Noriega Alejandra Pereida Joselito N. Villero

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alejandra Noriega Alejandra Pereida

WEB DESIGNERS Sergio Uriarte Jesus Uriarte

SALES

Bill Amidon John Lovecchio

Cultural exchange |

Museum director |

Kwanzaa |

An historic note |

Japanese Americans |

VALLEY AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS SECTION

Calexico embraces Romanian student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6

Sharing a celebration of heritage and community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8

Remember pioneers lost to the Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 10

Jessica Humes |

Focused on protecting the Valley’s health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 12

Calexico poet |

Uses love of words to connect, teach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 14

Digging deep to preserve Valley history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 16

When Holtville High’s band played for President Reagan . . . . . . . . . .Page 18

Farm Smart

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 23

Stag Barbecue

Traditional gathering for ag’s future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 24

COLAB

Improving government together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26

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Winter 2026

Romanian student Codrut Pîrvu at his P host home in Calexico. -Photo by Joselito N. Villero

PG 10

PG 14 PG 8

PG 18 Inside |

Publishers’ Message, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3

Valley Eateries, . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 28

Calendar of Events, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 20

Kid Wise, . . . . . . . Page 33

Winter 2026

From Romania

to Calexico By Darren Simon When Codruț Pîrvu arrived in the United States from Romania in August to begin his year as a foreign exchange student, he wore a blue blazer adorned with international pins given to him by students from around the world. Half a year later, asked to try on the blazer for a photograph, he found it too tight. The 17-year-old, who is spending this year in Calexico, has certainly grown physically in that short time. At the same time, the ill-fitting blazer is symbolic of how he’s grown emotionally through his experience, the lessons he’s learned, and the broader worldview he’s gained. “I think this experience has made me more mature,” Pîrvu said. “I have experienced this mixture of cultures—I can see the American culture and the Mexican culture. I can understand people and their point of view better than before, and that will help me in my life.”

Winter 2026

One student's growing experience

Pîrvu is here through the Rotary International Student Exchange Program, which annually provides 9,000 students ages 15 to 19 the chance to experience new cultures and languages while sponsored by Rotary Clubs in more than 100 countries. In the program, students like Pîrvu typically stay with three different host families in the same community during their year abroad. He is currently hosted by Hortencia Armendariz and her husband, Camilo Garcia. Armendariz is president of the Imperial Valley College Board of Trustees. By mid-January, he is expected to join a second Calexico family. Pîrvu comes from the city of Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania, where he resides with his parents and grandfather. His family has both an apartment in the city and a home on a farm in the countryside, where they grow fruits and vegetables and raise livestock, including turkeys and pigs. His journey to Calexico began with a

Romanian student Codrut Pîrvu with his Calexico family. - Photos by Joselito N. Villero friend who, like him, took part in the Rotary student program—and lived in Nebraska for a year. “He told me how it was, and I knew it was a unique experience,” Pîrvu said. Once he decided to apply to the

Learn More Live More Embrace More

Become a Rotary Exchange Student and experience the adventure of a lifetime! program, he began a year-long process to determine his eligibility, including his emotional aptitude for participation. The process involved an interview session before a gathering of 40 Rotarians. When chosen, he thought he would be with a host family in Hollywood. When that family had to cancel, Rotary looked for a new host family. The Calexico Rotary Club answered the call for a host. Armendariz and her husband agreed to be the first hosts. The parents of three, who have two granddaughters, agreed that the time was right, for the second time in their lives, to host a student. Thirty-five years earlier, they hosted a student from Turkey. “We had a discussion as a family, and we all decided we could be a host family,” Armendariz said. Garcia added, “We had a couple of conversations with Codrut and his parents, and that’s how we were able to connect— and there was a real connection.” Pîrvu, whose goal is to become a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, acknowledges that arriving in Calexico was a culture shock, but in a good way. “We think in Eastern Europe that the U.S. is dangerous because of school shootings,” he said. “This is just our perception of the United States. But, I

Codrut Pîrvu with his host mother, Hortencia Armendariz, of Calexico. - Photo by Joselito N. Villlero found that the people are so kind.” Calexico quickly opened its arms to him. During his introduction to the Calexico Rotary Club, City Council and school board members welcomed him. Calexico High School Principal John Moreno greeted him with a Calexico Bulldog banner and T-shirt. Pîrvu has adapted quickly to his host city and school. A senior at Calexico High (though a junior back home), he plays on the school soccer and tennis teams and is a member of the ASB. He’s made friends and attended the homecoming dance. He loves Mexican candies, school pizza, and Mexican food, and he is earning As and Bs.

Not only has he had experiences in Calexico and the Valley, but through the program, he has engaged with other foreign exchange students in the West, and together they have traveled throughout Southern California and beyond. Back in Romania, despite missing their son (their only child), Pîrvu’s parents say they are pleased he has been able to have these experiences. “For us, it was very hard at the beginning. Still, it is very hard, but he wished to have this experience, and we support him,” said his mother, Oana Pîrvu, CONTINUED | PAGE 32

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Kwanzaa in the Valley

By Darren Simon A group of women gathers inside the Johnson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in El Centro on a December morning before services. They are there to begin decorating with red, black, and green, the colors that symbolize Kwanzaa and African American unity and pride. They place a seven-pronged candle holder called a Kinara and other decorations, including replica fruit, on a table overlooking the congregation. They do it to share their joy in teaching about this holiday, which celebrates African American culture. Celebrating Kwanzaa has become a new tradition for Johnson Chapel. This is the fourth year the church has been lighting the candles that usher in a holiday focused on honoring the sacrifices of those who came before, while teaching a new generation to take pride in their history and culture. “We just felt like this was important to do to keep the unity within the church and to share the pride we feel not just within the church but

Celebrating heritage, community, and unity within the community,” said Adrianne Lawson, a church trustee and treasurer. Marlene Thomas, the steward pro-tem of the church, added, “It really means community, unity, and family. It’s about celebrating our culture and about honoring our elders and those who have passed on.” Kwanzaa, a holiday more about culture than religion, is celebrated over seven days starting December 26 through the start of the new year. It’s not meant to replace other holidays; it’s more of an added layer to the season, unique in its goal to celebrate culture. In fact, at the Johnson Chapel, the Kwanzaa decorations were added to the Christmas decorations of Poinsettias and wreaths. Kwanzaa emerged from the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. It was the vision of one noted author, professor, and leader in the African American community, Maulana Karenga, who chairs the Africana Studies Department at California State University, Long Beach.

The year was 1966. Karenga, who holds two doctoral degrees, was just beginning work on his first at the time. He wanted a way to help African Americans celebrate themselves and their heritage. He founded Kwanzaa, inspired by the First Fruits festivals of Southern Africa. The festivals celebrate both the harvest and African culture. Kwanzaa was meant as a way for African Americans to connect with their heritage. That’s why it means so much to Tammy R. Beasley, a church trustee and secretary. “Its meaning resonates deeply with me. To me, Kwanzaa represents heritage, unity, resilience, and a reminder of the strength within our community.” The holiday is celebrated by lighting the seven-pronged Kinara, one candle each night. This honors the seven principles of African culture and heritage: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility,

Tammy R. Beasley, left, and Adrianne Lawson, hold a Kwanzaa sign at the Johnson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in El Centro. ABOVE: The Kinara, which is lighted on Kwanzaa - Photos by Joselito N. Villero

Winter 2026

cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. “Just overall, what Kwanzaa means, as far as faith and culture, is so important,” said Desiree Johnson, a church trustee. In his 2024 writings on the holiday, Karenga said it is meant to celebrate light, especially in challenging times. He wrote, “During Kwanzaa, we practice the ritual of candle lighting called ‘lifting up the light that lasts,’ based not only in the history of our people in practice, but also from the sacred teachings of our ancestors.” He further wrote, “Indeed, we are told that we have a light within us and that we must come forth each day, lift up this light that lasts and share it with our people and the world.” On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, a community or special meal is FROM LEFT: Tammy R. Beasley, Marlene Thomas, the Rev. Dr. traditionally held. Also, while not the focus of the holiday, gifts Grisselle Velez, Desiree Johnson, Britney Cole and Adrianne can be exchanged. Those putting up decorations at Johnson Lawson. - Photos by Joselito N. Villero Chapel said it is typically just one gift. “It’s not about giving gifts,” Thomas said. “It’s about community and togetherness and a love and appreciation of the people around you.” Church member Britney Cole added that if a gift is given, “it’s about being thankful, and it’s the love you put into the gift.” For Johnson Chapel’s new pastor, The Rev. Dr. Grisselle Velez, there is pride in seeing the church she leads celebrate community, its history, and traditions. Velez is a native of Puerto Rico. She said in her culture, there is a similar celebration called Baquine, which is a celebration of life. She added that it’s important for young people to be introduced to traditions such as Kwanzaa, and she said the church can help foster such traditions. “It is so important that they understand their rich, rich culture.” The members of the church also want to share their traditions with the wider Imperial Valley community through Kwanzaa, Black History Month, and Juneteenth, as well as the African American gallery at the Pioneers Museum in Imperial. Members of the church have also done school presentations on the holidays. “Every holiday that is offered within the African American community is important because you need to know where you “Cheers to 20 years of providing came from,” Beasley said. Kwanzaa, she said, “Reminds me of the generations who loving care to our clients!” came before us and the responsibility we carry to continue building, lifting, and honoring our culture. Kwanzaa inspires Personal Maintenance me to reflect, refocus, and recommit to being my best self for Medication Supervision my family, my community, and my ancestors whose sacrifices made my journey possible.”  Companionship

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Preserving

Heritage

By Bill Gay A walk through the Japanese American Gallery at the Imperial Valley Pioneers' Museum is a tour of a vibrant community that was lost to the Valley 80 years ago. There are maps showing that the 400 block of Broadway in El Centro was once “Japantown,” filled with Japaneseowned businesses. There are numerous pictures of church and family life, as well as military contributions. But it is in the agriculture displays where lost stories are very evident. There is the Hachi Special, a unique tomato cultivar developed for the Valley by Kumezo Hachimonji, the owner of the Niland seed store. Next to that display is Hachimonji’s 1923 Bachelor of Science diploma from Columbia University. Elsewhere, there is a graphic showing the eleven produce companies that firstgeneration Japanese (Issei) operated in

Winter 2026

Remembering Japanese American pioneers

the Valley. Until World War II. One of the names on the list is Zentaro Asamen, Tim Asamen’s grandfather. It is the remembrance of these and other contributions to the Valley by Issei and second-generation (Nisei) Japanese that motivates the younger Asamen, a Westmorland resident who is chair of the gallery and a former president of the Imperial County Historical Society. “Anyone who was born in the late 1930s or afterward has no idea that there was a vibrant Japanese presence down here,” he said. In May 1942, Imperial Valley residents of Japanese ancestry—most of them American citizens—were incarcerated in internment camps. Because of local hostility at the end of the war and a lack of postwar opportunity, most of them never returned. The first Issei arrived in the Valley in 1904, just as it was first being settled. By 1940, there were

1,583 citizens of Japanese ancestry here, Asamen said. About 70 percent were farming, and most were engaged in the “big three” crops: melons, tomatoes, and lettuce. At the height of their operations, 90 percent of the fresh-market tomatoes consumed in the U.S. during the winter months originated in the Imperial Valley. At the onset of World War II, most of the Valley’s tomato acreage was farmed by people of Japanese descent. This success was engineered through innovation. The Valley’s unique climate enabled winter production, but it also posed risks, particularly from unpredictable winter frosts that could wipe out a fortune overnight. But Issei farmers developed two laborintensive techniques to manipulate nature: “hot capping” and “brush-covering.” Miniature “hot cap” greenhouses, looking like tiny pup tents in the fields, trapped

solar heat and protected the young plants. “Brush-covering" involved erecting paper walls propped up by arrow weed brush to shield plants from the wind and cold. These methods allowed Japanese farmers to bring their crops to harvest 10 to 14 days earlier than their competitors. In the world of produce, being first meant everything. B.A. Harrigan, the Imperial County Agricultural Commissioner at the time, noted the Japanese American innovations in “The First 30 Years” history of the Valley. “The first 10 years of the cantaloupe industry were largely in the hands of the American farmers ... However, the uncertain profit coupled with the increasing cost of material, labor, etc. just about drove these pioneers out of The Japanese-American gallery at the Imperial Valley Pioneers' Museum is designed to the game--by 1914--after which time the preserve a legacy, much of which was lost due to Japanese internments of World War II. Japanese farmers dominated the field - Photos by Joselito N. Villero and improved methods by introducing the covering and brushing systems,” Harrigan the president of the United States. cantaloupe-producing region in the said. United States, a reputation built by A 1929 farmland survey showed In 1915, the first harvest grown by Japanese tenant farmers. Japanese farmers either owned, were Kyutaro Nakamura was shipped to The goal was always to "harvest the tenants, or managed farming on nearly very first crate of the season when prices President Woodrow Wilson. Twelve years 60,000 of the 424,145 acres being later, Kenichi Iwata earned the honor and were highest. It became a local tradition farmed in the Imperial Valley then. CONTINUED | PAGE 34 And the Valley became the leading to airmail the first crate of the season to

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Winter 2026

Jessica Focused on

Humes By Darren Simon In Jessica Humes’ childhood, her parents once took her to visit the Salton Sea, where she found a pumice rock that washed ashore. “The idea that rocks could float had me picking up rocks everywhere we went,” she said. That day sparked an interest in the sciences that would lead her back to the Valley after university and into a career that would place her at the forefront of addressing environmental issues at the sea. There are likely very few people who have spent as much time at the Salton

protecting the Valley's health

Sea, as much time studying the sea’s environmental dynamics, and as much time working to prevent the spread of dust to surrounding communities as she has. Humes is the environmental compliance supervisor for the Imperial Irrigation District, a role that has her overseeing critical environmental analysis and mitigation projects in and around the sea and throughout the Imperial Valley. Her primary goal—to protect the community. “I grew up in the Imperial Valley. This place is home. This is where I am raising a family,” Humes said. “I am working on protecting the health of the community and the

Jessica Humes holds ladybugs in a field. ABOVE: Humes is picutured at a local geothermal plant. - Photos courtesy of Imperial Irrigation District

Winter 2026

environment I live in.” That is no easy task given the complexity of the issues she leads along with her team, starting with the Salton Sea, a 365-square-mile inland lake. It was formed (as it’s known today) in 1905, when floodwaters from the Colorado River breached an irrigation canal, spilling into the Salton Sea Basin for two years before the issue could be resolved. In California, there are few bodies of water with as much history and as many challenges as the Salton Sea. During the 1950s, the sea was a haven for visitors, including Hollywood elites, who saw it as an oasis in the desert. But in the years that followed, the sea struggled with water-quality issues as a terminal lake with no outlets. A pivotal point in the sea’s history came in 2003 with the signing of the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA), designed to help California live within its apportionment of the Colorado River. Water conservation, a key component of the QSA, impacts the amount of water flowing to the sea. And over the years, elevations have dropped, exposing playa—roughly 30,000 acres to date. QSA-implementing legislation called upon the state to lead a restoration effort to address the sea’s long-term health. Legislation also established the QSA Joint Powers Authority (JPA),

made up of IID, the San Diego County Water Authority, the Coachella Valley Water District, and the state, to carry out environmental mitigation to address the specific impacts of the QSA. Humes leads that mitigation effort for IID, along with her team. They carry out

a number of critical initiatives, including an air quality mitigation program that, to date, has addressed 2,700 acres of exposed playa at the sea, with thousands of additional acres in development. “Twenty percent of the playa is responsible for 80 percent of the emissions,” Humes said. “If we can control that 20 percent, we can control most of the dust.” Projects she has helped implement include surface roughening, vegetation enhancement, and, more recently, the development of groundwater wells that tap aquifers beneath the sea to support vegetation. In addition to air quality projects, Humes led the building of a 1,000-acre managed marsh on land adjacent to Highway 111 between Calipatria and Niland. She also oversees programs to monitor and protect the Valley’s burrowing owl and desert pupfish populations. It’s work that means a great deal to her as she serves her community. Humes was raised in Imperial and graduated from Imperial High School. Her interest in the sciences, sparked by that childhood visit to the sea, led her to

pursue a degree in geological science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. After earning her bachelor’s degree in 2008, her goal was to return to the Valley to work in the geothermal industry; instead, she accepted a position with IID as an environmental mitigation aid, working on the burrowing owl program. Humes, who earned a master’s degree in business with a focus on environmental management from Ashford University in 2013, would eventually become IID’s lead biologist, then environmental program manager, before taking on her newest role as environmental compliance supervisor. IID Water Manager Tina Shields said the work of Humes and her team has made a difference in supporting the region. “At the end of the day, there is no substitute for hometown professionals who choose to represent and advance their region to ensure long-term resiliency for our families, neighbors, and friends,” Shields said. “Jessica and her team have been responsible for CONTINUED | PAGE 37

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Poetry in Motion

Former educator now teaches through his words

experimenting with styles ranging from haiku to sonnet to prose, inspired by his love For Calexican Charlie M. Zamarripa, for classic poetry and by the writing poetry is a journey he began at 13. power of words to speak to “I've always been fascinated by poetry, the human condition. and it was based mostly on music,” Signing with publisher Zamarripa said. “There was always Impspired in 2020, the poet music in my house growing up, and I published his first book, “Lost in Thought,” liked listening to the words— lyrics really in 2021, followed by “Happy Endings” in impacted me. I wanted to do that, to make 2023. His drive to create is best shared in someone else feel something, whether his poem, “Writing Poetry.” good or bad.” His early writing was encouraged by a “I write poetry because on any given former teacher, Daniel Thornburg, who moment would play music while students were the world looks so much better assigned daily writing in their journals. With a metaphor attached to it…” “For the first five minutes of each class, From William Shakespeare’s sonnets to Mr. Thornburg the English Romantic would always poetry of Samual "I write poetry because on put on Bob Taylor Coleridge and any given moment the world Dylan songs,” Elizabeth Barrett Zamarripa said. Browning to the looks so much better with a “The words and transcendentalism message always metaphor attached to it...¨ of Walt Whitman, -Charlie M. Zamarripa Zamarripa is touched me.” Other influenced by their musicians and styles and techniques and sometimes songwriters, such as Paul Simon and even references them as muses in his own Cat Stevens, inspired the poet to express poems. himself through creative writing. “With poetry, I like the playing with “Music is a very important influence in my words,” he said. “Just putting a word in front life,” Zamarripa said. “Paul Simon’s song of another one, playing with words and how 'Duncan’ and Cat Stevens’ music always meaning and feelings can change with make me cry. They are doing the same word choice— it's amazing.” thing, making poetry, just with instruments.” His poetry covers a range of themes, Zamarripa began his writing journey by including love at all stages from initial

By Caitlin Chavez

Poet Charlie M. Zamarripa with his partner, Lisa Pierce, holding two of his collections. - Photos by Alejandra Pereida and carnal attraction to deeper levels of connection, citing muses that include his partner, Lisa Pierce, nature, and the poets he admires. Zamarripa also reflects on loss and depression in other works, from meditations on the human condition to inebriated gems of wisdom. His home, Calexico, also appears in some of his poems, such as “Sea Won Three.” “It makes me sad when people leave Calecia, In fact, it’s such a pity Vic and John are doing their thing on a Friday night I don’t belong anywhere else, than in Bulldog city…” Through his poetry, he reflects on the sense of belonging he feels in his hometown, seen in the conclusion of his poem “The Same Old Streets.” “It’s beautiful to walk these same old streets

One of Charlie Zamarripa's collections.

Winter 2026

It’s poetic to walk these same streets Proud that you are from Calexico…” For his upcoming poetry collection, which will be released in the new year, Zamarripa is interested in epic poetry. Rather than producing a collection of individual works, the poet hopes to focus on longer poems in a series. “While ‘Lost in Thought’ and ‘Happy Endings,’ contain sections of the seven-part ‘Tragedy of Crazy Bear,’ for my next work, I want to combine the series into a whole, with the addition of an epic poem on the five stages of grief,” Zamarripa said. Even though poetry is a solitary profession, Zamarripa has created a community with his love of the craft. As a previous English teacher at Calexico High School, he would include creative writing and poetry in the rigorous state-mandated curriculum. These days, he educates through his readings and support of creative writing in Imperial County. “Performing my poetry makes me really nervous, but it feels so good when you finish it, and you look around, and people actually pay attention and are affected by it,” Zamarripa said. Fellow local poet Annaka Penner-Smith has crossed paths with Zamarripa at open mic events in El Centro and recognizes him not only for his writing prowess but also for his performances and for shepherding others in the Imperial Valley writing community. “This past January at the Den in El Centro was the first time I heard Charlie perform,” Penner-Smith said. “He is a big presence

when he’s performing… a lot of people were shy to share their poetry, but Charlie was really encouraging.” Zamarripa continues to experiment with reading his poetry, more recently incorporating his first love, music, with his performances. “I've always wanted to have somebody play the guitar while I recite,” he said. “The first time I had a friend play while I read, it activated the words in a new way and has given me ideas for future readings.” Whether readers find his poems in his books or listen to his local performances, Zamarripa feels connected to a longer legacy of poets who use their craft to

process feelings and make meaning in their lives. “I want to make them cry, I want to make them feel—I think that's the goal,” he said. “Even though it is not music as we listen to on the radio, poetry is music in a sense with its ability to make us feel highs and lows.” Perhaps Zamarripa’s poetry is best described by the poet himself in his “Pro-Charlie Poem” from his first poetry collection. “Everybody needs a Charlie in their lives. We’re like your favorite accessory Like a chameleon, just waiting to match your mood…” 

Winter 2026

Pioneering Spirit

By Blake Nelson The Imperial Valley’s history calls for preservation. It lives on in stories shared around family dinner tables. It contributes to a living community culture and informs future generations whose vision will decide what the Valley will become. It's a history and culture woven throughout the community’s social fabric, forming the pieces of the puzzle that make up the Imperial Valley. It is that same history and culture that inspired Angela Herrera, an experienced educator and history buff, to become the director of the Pioneers’ Museum in Imperial. “I spent 20 years in San Diego County sharpening my expertise in historical preservation, community engagement, and child education,” Herrera said. “I seek out opportunities to put my strengths, interests, and enthusiasm to good use.” The Imperial County Historical Society

Winter 2026

Pioneers' Museum director digs deep to preserve history

appointed Herrera as museum director on April 14. It was a competitive hiring process, and when the board narrowed candidates to the final three, Herrera stood out. “We were particularly impressed by her experience in the field and her innovative approach to curation,” said Glenna Barrett, incoming board president. “Her passion for the arts and dedication to community engagement truly set her apart. She is the perfect fit to lead the museum.” The Pioneers’ Museum was founded to preserve the vision and journey of those who saw the Valley’s potential and worked to make the community what it is today. Galleries are built on financial donations and in-kind gifts, such as family heirlooms, textiles, and artifacts. Items donated to the museum are evaluated by archivists to confirm authenticity before being placed in exhibits, which rotate regularly to protect

Pioneers' Museum Director Angela Herrera works in the archives. - Photos by Joselito N. Villero sensitive materials. “The Pioneers’ Museum is a respected community institution, dedicated to telling this region’s story and preserving the pieces of history that support it,” Herrera said. “I’m humbled by the opportunity to contribute to community culture through discoveries and education.” The museum’s small staff relies heavily

on roughly 150 community volunteers to keep operations running smoothly. Responsibilities range from museum docents to those who support upkeep of the 22-acre property. Volunteers have also helped digitize nearly 100,000 historical documents. “This community is more knowledgeable about its roots than anywhere I’ve ever experienced,” Herrera said. “The enthusiasm is contagious.” Minnesota native Herrera holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Metropolitan State University. After relocating to San Diego, she cofounded and codirected Village Farm School, a 30-student homeschool co-op, specializing in academics and nonprofit business development. She and her students volunteered weekly at local organic farms where they learned part of what it takes to run a business and the value of safe farming practices. Herrera’s passion for history and education made her a natural fit for her next position as an instructor at the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe historical museum in Vista, one of the bestpreserved land-grant ranchos in the state. In addition to her work in education and preservation, Herrera brings strong agricultural and operational expertise. She served as a professional culinary gardener for the Cal-a-Vie resort and in management for Briggs Tree Company, both in Vista, where she led initiatives in inventory, communication, and workflow systems. When her daughter left home to become a “banana slug” at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Herrera set her sights on Imperial Valley. “Each of my professional and personal experiences has informed and inspired my next move,” she said. “These stepping stones led me to the Pioneer’s Museum, and my new community." Her dedication to becoming a part of the Valley’s heart and soul has not gone unnoticed. “Angela is a vibrant, hardworking asset to this region’s story,” said Lauren Layton, Imperial County Historical Society’s Board of Directors’ incoming vice president. “She wasn’t born in the Valley, but she embraces everything that counts—respect for history, love for community culture, and a vision for next steps. She fits in perfectly, and we can’t wait to see what she will do with the museum.” Museum operations, membership, funding, and educational outreach are at the core of Herrera’s strategic plan. She recently launched an exhibition, Pioneers’ Style: Weaving Cotton, Culture and Fashion Through the Ages, featuring pieces from

a collection of about 3,000 garments, many dating back to the early 1900s. “As a curator of this region’s history, I believe Pioneers’ Museum has a responsibility to cultivate curiosity, stimulate a thirst for knowledge, and nurture a respect for history in the minds of the children who will inherit the Valley’s legacy,” Herrera said. CONTINUED | PAGE 35

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Winter 2026

LEFT: President Ronald Reagan is pictured boarding a helicopter at Naval Air Facility, El Centro. ABOVE: the Holtville High School marching band plays for him. - Photos courtesy of Lendal Macon

An Historic When Holtville's

Note

By Kayla Kirby The sound of roaring jets was interrupted by the percussionists, woodwinds, and brass section of the 1986 Holtville High School band. As President Ronald Reagan stepped out from Air Force One, he was welcomed by the Holtville pride playing “Hail to the Chief.” Selected by Reagan himself, the Holtville High School Band of Pride filled the air with music as he stepped out of Air Force One on January 3, 1986, onto the runway at Naval Air Facility, El Centro. It’s a fond memory for retired 79-year-old Holtville High School Band Director Lendal Macon and for his students who were part of that historic moment. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of their performance, and to honor Macon for his years of service to the school, he was inducted into the Holtville Green and Gold Hall of Fame in a November ceremony. About half of the students from the 1986 band were in attendance, some traveling from as far

Winter 2026

band played for the president away as Maine. The story of the band’s performance for President Reagan is one Macon shares with a gleam in his eyes. It holds a special place in his heart, given his career as an educator and school band leader that spanned nearly 50 years. It was December of 1985, and the Holtville High School band traveled to San Diego to perform in the Holiday Bowl Parade and compete against the Brawley Union High and Central Union High schools’ bands. After performing, however, a scheduling issue forced the Holtville bus to leave immediately after the parade and miss the announcement of their first-place win in the band competition. It wasn’t until reading the San Diego Union-Tribune that Macon realized his band had won. President Reagan, who was preparing for a visit to the Imperial Valley, spotted their spread in the paper. Soon after, Reagan’s Secret Service agents contacted the school district to request that the band

perform for the president’s arrival at NAF, El Centro. Reagan was scheduled to travel to the Valley to meet with the President of Mexico in Mexicali, and to visit the wife of the then-recently deceased DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. “I received a phone call on Dec. 24, 1985, from my superintendent letting me know that we had been chosen to play for President Reagan, and I told my superintendent, I said, ‘Sir, this is Christmas; it’s not April Fools.’ He convinced me that it was true, and I said I’d love to play for the president,” Macon said. The entire band, 63 students, stayed in town to practice for the performance. Three alumni also joined to support the students. Led by Macon and his assistant, Jack Kelley, also the junior high band director, the band had to learn several new pieces of music and a new marching formation with less than a week to prepare. Practice began the day after Christmas and involved multiple sessions each day, some lasting 3 to 4 hours. John Eddins was a sophomore playing trumpet at that time and recalls feeling a bit intimidated but excited to put in the work on a presidential performance. “It was quite an experience for a bunch of high school kids,” Eddins said. “We were teenagers that got to play for the president.” Despite the already-tight deadline to learn “Hail to the Chief,” “Ruffles and Flourishes,” and “Anchors Away,” the band was required to present all equipment and instruments in their cases to the Secret Service at NAF, El Centro, one day prior to the president’s arrival, to be searched and secured. Jitters ran through the students on the big day, but as soon as Air Force One landed and the president stepped through the doorway, the band began playing to welcome him. After the performance, he announced his approval of the Band of Pride. In a life dedicated to music, Macon was prepared for the pressures of getting his students ready for the performance of their lives. Originally from Tennessee, he moved to the Valley during high school. He began his musical journey in fourth grade as a percussionist, and because of his skill, he was quickly promoted to the high school level. According to Macon, he knew he wanted to be a band director by the time he entered fifth grade. In his nearly 50-year-long career, Macon led several of his school bands to success through parade winnings, key performances,

and individual accomplishments before retiring in 2020. He led students to become perpetual sweepstakes winners of the Brawley Cattle Call Parade back when it was professionally judged by the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association. “For me, it’s been a thrill… I’ve been very fortunate. God has been very good to me,” Macon said. “When a student shows me how successful they have become, and I have many that have become very, very successful in life, it’s a feeling that is hard to express. It feels so good knowing that you had something to do with that.” For Eddins, who now resides in Arizona, Macon’s support made a difference in his life. Eddins began playing trumpet in the band with Macon during his sophomore year and served as drum major for the remainder of his high school career. He hadn’t seen most of his bandmates since high school graduation and said he was happy to reconnect with them during the Holtville Green and Gold Hall of Fame banquet. They squished in for a group photo and spent their time reminiscing about their experiences. Performing for President Reagan may have been a highlight, but it was not their only happy memory from their high school band days. “It was great to get together with all my old band mates, people who were in the auxiliary corps like the flags and the shields as well. I had a good time at that banquet, and I got a lot of phone numbers from a lot of people that I haven’t seen since graduation,” Eddins said. “We were excited, we were proud, we thought we were hot stuff (when we performed).”

TOP: President Ronald Regan arrives at Naval Air Facility, El Centro, on January 3, 1986. ABOVE: Retired band director Lendal Macon and some members of the 1986 band gather as they are honored at the Holtville Green and Gold Banquet in November. - Courtesy photos Eddins’ experiences have led him to try his hand at filmmaking. He is currently working on a documentary about the presidential performance and the band of 1986. Though he intended to complete it in celebration of the 40th anniversary of their performance, he said it is still in development. He hopes their meeting in November sparks interest in further discussions. Though the documentary focuses on the performance and the band, it would be incomplete without recognizing Macon's role in not only bringing them together but also leading them to success. “I think it was a long time coming,

personally. It should’ve happened long ago, as far as the recognition… It was a historical moment, not just for Imperial Valley but for Holtville in particular,” Eddins said. Macon says his dreams came true not only in becoming a band director but also in seeing his students go on to achieve so much success. “I named my band, ‘The Band of Pride’ because they were always proud of their accomplishments, and I was always proud of their accomplishments,” Macon said. “Every single one of my bands, I was proud of.” 

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Calendar of Events January 3 - April 4

January 17

January 27

February 7

The first Saturday of the month Bathhouse Bazaar 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Old Bathhouse 44450 Old Hwy 80, Jacumba jacumba.com

20th Annual Honey Festival, 5k, Parade, and Spelling Bee 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. 300 S. Center St., Westmorland ivregionalchamber.com

Chinese New Year Paint Night 5 - 7 p.m. Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Ctr. 421 Heffernan Ave., Calexico calexicorecreation.org

Carnaval 5 - 9 p.m. Downtown Imperial cityofimperial.org/events

January 6

January 17

January 29

February 13

Black History Month Paint Night 5 - 7 p.m. Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Ctr. 421 Heffernan Ave., Calexico calexicorecreation.org

Salton Sea Bird Festival 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Salton Sea Recreation Area 100225 State Park Rd., Mecca seaanddesert.org

January 8 - April 9 The second Thursday of the month 6th & Main Market Days 5 - 8 p.m. 6th St. & Main St., El Centro www.cityofelcentro.org

January 10 Sacatone Overlook Hike 8 a.m. IV Desert Museum 11 Frontage Rd., Ocotillo www.ivdesertmuseum.org

January 13 Black & White Art Exhibit Opening NIght 5:30 p.m. Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Ctr. 421 Heffernan Ave., Calexico calexicorecreation.org

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.

Winter 2026

IVEDC Annual Dinner 5:30 p.m. Brawley Elk’s Lodge #1420 161 S. Plaza St., Brawley ivedc.com/events

Senior Valentine's Day Dance 6 - 9 p.m. Community Center 707 Dool Ave., Calexico CA calexicorecreation.org

February 6

February 13

Noche Bohemia 6 - 9 p.m. Community Center 707 Dool Ave., Calexico CA calexicorecreation.org

Follow the Yellow Brick Road: The Life & Legacy of Leonard Knight 6 - 9 p.m. IV Desert Museum 11 Frontage Rd., Ocotillo www.ivdesertmuseum.org

January 22

February 7

Snowbird Breakfast 10 a.m. Imperial Valley Mall cityofelcentro.org

79th Annual Carrot Festival 10 a.m. 5th St., Holtville 580 S 1st St, Brawley, CA business.holtvillechamber.org

January 20

January 24 Andrade Canyon Trail Hike 8 a.m. IVDM Lowlanders 11 Frontage Rd., Ocotillo www.ivdesertmuseum.org

February 7 Mt. Palm Loop HIke 8 a.m. IVDM Lowlanders 11 Frontage Rd., Ocotillo www.ivdesertmuseum.org

Moonlight Serenade 7 - 10 p.m. Cheval Farms 346 Larsen Rd., Imperial bit.ly/49cFtkp

February 21 Desert Overlook & Moonlight Canyon Hike 8 a.m. IVDM Lowlanders 11 Frontage Rd., Ocotillo www.ivdesertmuseum.org

February 21 Mardi Gras Street Parade 5 - 9 p.m. 8th & Main St., El Centro www.cityofelcentro.org

March 3

March 28

International Women's Day Paint Night 5 - 7 p.m. Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Ctr. 421 Heffernan Ave., Calexico calexicorecreation.org

Easter Egg Hunt 9 - 11 a.m. Crummet Park 840 Dool Ave., Calexico calexicorecreation.org

March 7 Elephant Tree Discovery & Windcaves Trailhead HIke 8 a.m. IVDM Lowlanders 11 Frontage Rd., Ocotillo www.ivdesertmuseum.org

March 14 Daddy Daughter Dance (80s Theme) 6 - 9 p.m. Community Center 707 Dool Ave., Calexico CA calexicorecreation.org

March 17 Women in the Arts Art Exhibit 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Ctr. 421 Heffernan Ave., Calexico calexicorecreation.org

March 22 Blues, Brews, & BBQ 5 - 9 p.m. Downtown Imperial www.cityofimperial.org/events

March 27

April 4 Floating Egg Hunt 12 - 4 p.m. Aquatic Center 540 Park Ave., El Centro CA www.cityofelcentro.org

April 14 Creative Young Minds Art Exhibit 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Ctr. 421 Heffernan Ave., Calexico calexicorecreation.org

April 18 Children's Fair 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Bucklin Park 1350 S. 8th St., El Centro cityofelcentro.org

Children's Day Paint Night 5 - 7 p.m. Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Ctr. 421 Heffernan Ave., Calexico calexicorecreation.org

May 1

March 27

May 8

March 28 Easter Eggstravaganza 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Bucklin Park 1350 S. 8th St., El Centro cityofelcentro.org

January 23rd

CORONATION CITIZEN OF THE YEAR BANQUET CASA BLANCA VENUE @ 6 PM Featuring award of the 2026 Carrot Queen, Princess & Jr. Princess & the 2025 Citizen of the Year $50 Per Person – Presale $55 at the Door

Ice Cream Social 6 - 9 p.m. Downtown Townsquare, El Centro cityofelcentro.org

STREET FAIR @ 8 AM to 7 PM Food, Craft & Info Booths on Holt Ave CARROT FESTIVAL PARADE 5th St. @ 10 AM Applications in Chamber Office STUDENT ART SHOW City Hall @ 11 AM to 4 PM

February 5th

CARNIVAL MIDWAY OPENS!! @ 4 PM to 10 PM

CARNIVAL MIDWAY @ 12 PM to 10 PM

February 6th

PARADE AWARDS @ 12 PM (Approx)

CARNIVAL MIDWAY @ 4 PM to 10 PM

April 28

Vietnam War Veterans Day 10 - 11 a.m. Bucklin Park 1350 S. 8th St., El Centro cityofelcentro.org

IVDM 10th Annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction 6 - 9 p.m. Desert Trails RV Park & Golf Course 225 Wake Ave., El Centro bit.ly/4ax6Jws

2026 Carrot Festival Official Schedule Of Events

KICK-OFF CONCERT @ 7 PM to 9:30 PM Performance by Pure Majik

February 7th

DRUMLINE COMPETITION Awards after Parade Awards MARIACHI NIGHT Holt Ave. @ 5 PM to 7 PM Performance by Mariachi Acero del Valle

79 ANNUAL CARROT FESTIVAL PARADE & STREET FAIR @ 7 AM TH

February 8th

CARNIVAL MIDWAY @ 4 PM to 8 PM

2026 Carrot Festival Sponsor Packet

Senior Mother's Day Dance 6 - 9 p.m. Community Center 707 Dool Ave., Calexico CA calexicorecreation.org

May 12 Mother's Day Paint Night 5 - 7 p.m. Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Ctr. 421 Heffernan Ave., Calexico calexicorecreation.org 

*For all Sponsorships or Competition, go to Holtville Chamber of Commerce Website at

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| VALLEY AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS

Farm Smart

Events January 6 - Open Booking for all of MarchMay programs! Our March-April Vegetable Adventures program and our May Insect Program. Open booking was at 8am and by 1pm we were fully booked and already had schools signing up for the waitlist. They can book by emailing or calling 760-791-0261 January 23 - Save the Date! Join us for the Farm to School Annual Conference! Experience hands-on workshops, a farm tour, and follow-up trainings designed to help teachers bring agriculture and nutrition into their classrooms. It’s a dynamic day of learning, networking, and inspiration—plus, substitute stipends will be available to support teacher participation! February 7 - Save the Date! Farm Smart's 25th Anniversary Celebration! Celebrating 25 years of AG Education in the Imperial Valley. This one day event will be a nostalgic walk through of Farm Smart history, hands on activity stations, and a U-Pick harvesting field! https://tinyurl.com/3hmwf2km 

Winter 2026

VALLEY AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS |

Shelby Trimm

Josh Trimm

Stag

Barbecue By Susan Giller

A stag barbecue may seem like a relic of an age gone by, but for the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association (IVVGA), the tradition is anything but outdated. For half a century, this lighthearted annual gathering has powered a vital investment: preparing the next generation of agriculture leaders. So, when the 50th annual IVVGA Stag Barbecue opens its doors on January 29, 2026, attendees will enjoy more than a cigar bar, a hosted bar, and steak. They will have the satisfaction of knowing they are contributing to something more lasting. Over the years, the event has raised more than $336,000 to fund scholarships for Valley students pursuing degrees in agriculture. “IVVGA believes the future of our industry is dependent upon young leadership,” the organization’s website states. “We are proud to award scholarships each year to Imperial Valley students who have chosen to pursue an education directly related to agriculture.” The hope, according to IVVGA Executive Director Shelby Trimm, “is that the students will then return to benefit the industry through their studies.” However, the barbecue did not start with lofty aspirations. Trimm said the Annual Stag Barbecue began as a way for members to take a break, have a good dinner, and spend time visiting with

Winter 2026

Lindsey Stiff

Ben Abatti III

walks of life and from various areas of the Imperial Valley. They all share a desire to make a difference in agriculture, even if Vegetable growers they are uncertain about their career path when they first enter college. gather for the future Such was the case with Josh Trimm, who received IVVGA scholarships from 2016 to 2020. Today, he is the feedlot manager for Brandt Feedlot, one of the Valley’s premier cattle operations located friends toward the end of the produce north of Brawley. harvest season. Josh said he knew he wanted to pursue It wasn’t long before the event took on a a career in agriculture, but he did not know greater purpose – raising funds for the ag where he would land when he started scholarship program, she said. college. His father is a business manager “It really is the primary way we raise for the Elmore Company. funds for scholarships,” said Trimm, “Growing up, my dad was kind of my who, along with her husband, Josh, is a main exposure to ag,” he said. His father, previous scholarship winner. Robert Trimm, is a business manager By the end of 2025, IVVGA had for Elmore Company in Brawley. “But he awarded 407 scholarships to Valley high doesn't do a whole lot physically on the school graduates and college students farm.” majoring in agriculture. He said that receiving the IVVGA Deciding to major in agriculture may be scholarship and attending Oklahoma the easy part of applying for an IVVGA State University enabled him to explore scholarship. Scholarship applicants various aspects of agriculture. need not specify an agricultural During college, he did summer specialty. Estimates are that colleges internships; first at Brandt Feedlot, then at and universities offer between 15 and Cargill beef plant in Colorado, and finally 25 distinct undergraduate majors in at a cattle ranch in South Dakota. agriculture. That number may grow “That is how I found my niche,” Josh to about 50 when specialized and said. interdisciplinary degree paths are He said his degree in animal science considered. with a minor in ag business from Yet, the application for the IVVGA Oklahoma State University helped scholarships is rigorous. Applicants prepare him to manage the complexities must meet exacting grade-point-average of a large cattle feeding operation. requirements. They must submit an essay “My degree provides a foundation,” he explaining how they plan to use their said. “Training on the job builds expertise.” agriculture education, along with a letter Another IVVGA scholarship winner is of recommendation and references. A Lindsey Stiff , who shared her experience panel of IVVGA members interviews the in a 2021 interview. She was awarded an applicants to determine the scholarship IVVGA scholarship upon graduating from winners. Holtville High School in 2009 and again IVVGA scholarship recipients are a in 2013. Initially, she was sure she wanted diverse group. They come from many to major in animal sciences. Later, she

| VALLEY AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS changed her major to go into teaching. “It was the best decision I ever made,” she said. After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with her bachelor’s degree, Stiff taught at San Jacinto High School. She eventually decided to move back to the Valley and became an ag teacher at Imperial High School and Frank Wright Middle School. She loves what she does. “Students don’t realize how broad agriculture is and what they can achieve,” she said. Now she guides them to see the possibilities. Each scholarship recipient’s story is unique. IVVGA Executive Director Trimm took a circuitous route to find her career through the Vegetable Growers' scholarship program. “There is no question about it,” Trimm said, “I wouldn’t be here had it not been for this scholarship,” she said. Trimm was a senior at Brawley Union High School when she learned about the IVVGA’s scholarships. She received her scholarship from 2016 to 2019 and studied agricultural education at Oklahoma State University. College is expensive, and at times, Trimm said she had to work three jobs just to get by. The scholarship allowed her to focus more on her studies and improve her grade-point average. “I was so grateful to the organization,” she said. “I asked if I could show my appreciation by doing a summer internship with Veg Growers.” Even after the summer internship, Trimm expected to graduate and become an ag educator. However, when she returned to Brawley after graduation, she applied for the executive director’s position that was about to become vacant due to a planned retirement. Trimm remains an enthusiastic supporter of the scholarship program because of its impact on students and the hope it creates for the future of agriculture. The epitome of future ag leadership is Ben Abatti III, a 2013 IVVGA scholarship winner. Now a Holtville farmer, Abatti was recently honored with the California Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Achievement Award for his exceptional success in production agriculture and leadership. He received the award in December at the 107th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Anaheim. After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a bachelor's degree in bioresource and agricultural engineering, he returned to Holtville to work as a farm manager at his family’s Baja Farms. Yet a busy career has not stopped him from working to grow as an ag leader. In 2024, he was one of nine in California to participate in and complete the state Farm Bureau’s yearlong leadership program, which equips emerging agricultural leaders with the skills to influence policies that affect agriculture. He now serves on the Imperial County Farm Bureau board and was a past YF&R chair. The stories of these and hundreds more scholarship winners light the way to the 50th annual IVVGA Stag Barbecue being held in 2026. The event promises to be more More information than a celebration; it will be an investment in agriculture’s future about scholarships leadership.  Winter 2026

VALLEY AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS |

COLAB

Improving local government together

By Susan Giller In the dynamic landscape of the Imperial Valley, decisions made by local governments resonate far beyond meeting room walls. They ripple into fields that feed the nation. They impact the businesses that drive our economy and provide jobs. And they touch all who call the Valley home. But the government does not serve the people well in a vacuum. Though the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business (COLAB) was formed to advocate for its members' interests, its overarching goal is to improve local government for all. To that end, COLAB has a calendar full of events scheduled during 2026 to engage the public in the electoral process. It plans to collaborate with other organizations to sponsor candidate forums to help voters learn candidates’ positions and make informed choices. It will also offer a free workshop to help prospective candidates navigate the electoral process and gain insight into running a campaign. “For our democratic system of government to work best for everyone, it needs informed citizen participation,” said COLAB Executive Director Shelby Trimm. “Yet our electoral process is so complex that it can become a barrier to prospective candidates. And too often voters just don’t vote.” California Secretary of State statistics routinely show Imperial County voter turnout is usually among the lowest in the state. COLAB plans to address the problem from different perspectives. CONTINUED | PAGE 36

Winter 2026

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Valley's Eateries

Imperial Valley's homegrown restaurants offer lots of tasty choices

American Food 1905 Bar & Grill $$ 1500 N. Imperial Ave., Imperial, CA 92251 760-919-5558 http://bit.ly/3ZUpnJ2 2GO SALADS $ 210 E. Cole Blvd #5, Calexico, CA 92231 760-618-9120 https://bit.ly/30Jk7LT Applebee's Grill & Bar $$ 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 Auntie Anne's $ 1497 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-996-6282 auntieannes.com Back To Eden Juice $ 616 Main St, Ste#4 Brawley, CA 92227 https://bit.ly/46UCFXh

Winter 2026

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 $$ 990 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-2938 https://bit.ly/3cP5Ct7 Buckshot Deli & Diner $$ 8120 CA-111, Niland, CA 92257 760-359-0595 https://bit.ly/3jrInbX Buffalo Wild Wings $$ 510 Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9481

www.buffalowildwings.com Denny's $$ 3403 Dogwood Rd. El Centro, CA 92243 Burgers & Beer $$ 760-337-9023 260 N. Imperial Ave., www.dennys.com El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-4431 Famous Dave's $$ https://bit.ly/3h44J1n 3103 S. Dogwood Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-9044 Cafecito Bar $ https://bit.ly/3iPxIsf 157 N Plaza St, Brawley, CA 92227 Farmer Boys $$ 760-262-3257 1532 Cruickshank Dr, https://bit.ly/3vnd3nt El Centro, CA 92243 760-336-0227 Chili's Grill & Bar $$ www.farmerboys.com 3303 S. Dogwood Rd, Foster Freeze $ El Centro, CA 92243 130 N. 5th St, 760-352-2116 Brawley, CA 92227 www.chilis.com 760-344-7566 https://fostersfreeze.com China Palace Steakhouse $$$ Habit Burger $ 1075 Adams Ave, 2335 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 El Centro, CA 92243 760-997-7805 760-353-1510 www.habitburger.com https://bit.ly/2TFOTSy

Locally Owned

$10 & under per person

Beer/Wine only

$20 & under per person

Full Bar

Over $20 per person

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

Menchie’s 508 E Danenberg Dr., #7 El Centro, Ca., 92243 760-970-4820 www.menchies.com

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

Panera Bread $$ 2321 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-332-6499 www.panerabread.com Pepper Grind Coffee $ 1560 Pepper Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 https://bit.ly/3j3jcxd Rabb Slabs Bbq $$ 496 W. State, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4867 bit.ly/3y1aquf

Cluck-It $$ 129 S 6th St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-550-6222 www.instagram.com/cluckit760

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

Jersey Mike’s Subs 1002 N Imperial Ave. EL Centro, CA 92243 442-231-8093 www.jerseymikes.com

DQ Grill & Chill Restaurant $$ 3063 N Imperial Ave. El Centro, CA 92243 www.dairyqueen.com

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

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

Red Feather Off-Road Market & Cafe $ 1182 N. Imperial Hwy, Ocotillo, CA 92259 760-358-7389 https://bit.ly/3vwXwvY

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

Hot Rods & Beer $$ 235 West E 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-356-9900 hotrodsnbeer.com

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

Saltcedar Barbecue $ 297 South Imperial Ave. 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

Valley Vida $$ 1560 Ocotillo Dr. Ste C El Centro, CA 92243 442-271-4103 https://valleyVida.com

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

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

Wingstop $ 1497 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-558-8838 wingstop.com Ursa $$ 612 W. Main St., El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4011 http://ursadesert.com

The Burger and I 595 W. Main St., Brawley, CA 92227 760-550-6031 bit.ly/3OqulpV

The Healthy Spot $ 134 Main St, Calipatria, CA 92233 760-354-2005 https://bit.ly/40kVCO5 The Original Town Pump Steakhouse $$ 200 W Main St., Westmorland, CA 92281 760-344-3663 https://bit.ly/3wLlvch Tropical Delights $$ 219 W E St, Brawley, CA 92227 (760) 344-5051 https://bit.ly/3rakIPW

Asian Cuisine BB Hawaiian BBQ $$ 775 Danenberg Dr, Ste 104 El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 556-0582

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 $$ 1627 W Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-3888 https://bit.ly/3vrsZzu Fujisan Sushi $$ 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

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 $$ 290 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-8713 https://bit.ly/3q4OF3w

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

Sushi Spot $$ 115 North Imperial Ave. Poke & Noodle Ste F-G, Japanese Cuisine $$ Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-0441 799 E. Danenberg Dr, https://bit.ly/39JEYUl El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9208 Volcano $$ https://bit.ly/2UccQkB 445 E. Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9105 Sushi & Noodle $$ volcanoelcentro.com 800 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 The Thai Bistro $ 775 E. Danenberg Dr. Ste. 105 442-283-5075 El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 592-4611 Sushi & Noodles $$ exoticthaibistro.com 630 S Brawley Ave, Unni Korean Food $ Unit #6, 582 Adams Ave, Brawley, CA 92227 El Centro, CA 92243 760-623-1361 760-970-4121 https://bit.ly/3E6JANF https://bit.ly/41xhJlA

Helen’s Family $$ 445 W. Main St. Chef Lee's Express $ Brawley, Ca. 92227 1049 N. Imperial Ave, 760-592-6962 El Centro, CA 92243 helensfamilyvietfood.com 760-693-5555 https://bit.ly/3xx5M0q Chi+Mac $$ 330 Wake Ave El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-0203 bit.ly/40zTMcC

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

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

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

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

An Imperial Valley Tradition

Est. 1963 Place your delivery order • www.imperialvalleydelivery.com

TAKE OUT, CURBSIDE AND DRIVE THRU, NEW HOURS! (Drive thru only in Brawley and Imperial)

BRAWLEY 490 D Street Brawley, CA 92227 (760) 344-0961

IMPERIAL 105 S Imperial Ave Imperial, CA 92251 (760) 355-0962

EL CENTRO 301 Wake Ave El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 353-0963 Winter 2026

Wongs Kitchen $ 102 W 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-791-3227

Italian Food

Mangiamos Pizza $$ 1802 N. Imperial Ave. Ste. C El Centro, CA 92243 442-231-8293 pizzaelcentro

Mona Lisa Cocktails Assaggio Ristorante & Cuisine $$$ 2393 CA-86, Italiano $$ Imperial, CA 92251 538 E St, 442-258-3350 Brawley, CA 92227 https://bit.ly/45pGYrn 760-344-9750 https://qrco.de/Assaggio Mozzarelli Artisan Bistro $$ Chuck-E-Cheese $$ 123 W Barioni Blvd, Imperial, CA 92251 803 E. Danenberg Rd, 760-545-0222 El Centro, CA 92243 https://bit.ly/3b0Ctdd 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

Winter 2026

Round Table Pizza 508 E Danenberg Dr.,#6 El Centro, Ca. 92243 760-970-4801 roundtablepizza.com

Mexican Food Antojitos Como En Casa $$ 841 W. Main St., El Centro, CA 92243 442-271-4016 Antojitos Como En Casa $$ 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

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

El Chochis Snacks & Salads $ 1065 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-790-8242 https://bit.ly/3K9LdzB

Baja Tacos $$ 460 Holt Ave. Holtville, CA 92250 442-225-7126 https://bit.ly/3XTV6JD

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

Birrieria La Patria $$ 301 Sorenson Ave. Calipatria, CA. 92233 760-354-2020 lapatriamgrestaurant.com

Chilibertos Tacos & Breakfast $$ 717 Imperial Ave., Calexico, CA 92231 760-890-5415 http://bit.ly/429h90Y

El Jumping Bean Taqueria #2 $$ 1050 S Brawley Ave #103, Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-7030 bit.ly/3m5FCPd

Birrieria y Menuderia Guadalajaras $ 845 Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231 760-890-5181 https://bit.ly/3cNjmoc Briseida's Kitchen $$ 741 Cesar Chavez Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231 760-618-9180 https://bit.ly/3b2oeod Cabos Modern Kitchen $$ 201 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5393 bit.ly/3WxXoMu Cachanillas Tacos & Cheves $$ 1101 Paulin Ave., Calexico CA 92231 760-890-0121

Cilantros La Taqueria $ 643 S 4th St Ste 1, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5337 https://bit.ly/3gBgdJu

El Guero Tacos & Beer $ 1560 Ocotillo Dr. El Centro, Ca. 92243 442-230-9971

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

Holtville Taco Shop $ 404 E 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-356-5756 www.holtvilletacoshop.com

D’Lupita's Restaurant $$ 336 W 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-356-7100 https://bit.ly/3gwwvo5

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

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

D'Poly Taco, Grill & Beer $$ 1573 W. Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4243 https://bit.ly/35vdKLw

El Zarape $$ 139 S. Imperial Ave, Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-4435 https://bit.ly/3gCuPrP

El Cañon $ 625 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-2411

Flautas & Sopes $ 1622 S 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5090 www.flautasysopesusa.site

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 $$ 845 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-0027 https://bit.ly/3njjQXG La Birrieria Red Tacos $ 710 Heil St, El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 970-4406 https://bit.ly/2SHS77N La Fonda Bar & Grill $$ 1950 S 4th St #1, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-6450 https://bit.ly/3E23yJm

El Jumping Bean Taqueria $$ 1050 South Brawley Avenue, #103 La Fuente Brawley, CA 92227 Restaurant $ 760-623-7030 eljumpingbean-taqueria.com 737 Emerson Ave, Calexico, CA 92231 760-357-5760 El Jumping Bean https://bit.ly/2ZcppyX CLX $$ 114 W Birch St La Resaca $$ Calexico, CA 92231 143 S. 6th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-890-0118 eljumpingbean-taqueria.com 760-592-4971 https://bit.ly/3vFQox3 El Jumping Bean Imperial $$ 144 S. J st. Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-9082 eljumpingbean-taqueria.com

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

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

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

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

Los Cerritos Restaurant $ 411 E 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-756-3097 https://bit.ly/35yM1t9

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

Ma Lupe's $$ 2600 Thomas Dr. El Centro, Ca. 92243

Perlita's $$ 1649 W. Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4107 perlitasmexicanfoodca.com

Ma Lupe's $$ 390 W. Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-1180

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

Sofia’s Seafood & Grill $$ 132 S Plaza St. Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-1080 bit.ly/3NbNgFO

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

Sombrero Mexican Food $$ 703 E. Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-2160 https://bit.ly/3xyamev

Rosa's Plane Food Inc. $$ 1523 Ma in St., El Centro, CA 92243 442-231-8040 https://bit.ly/3q5sg5Q

Tacos De Pescado Marlyn $$ 1614 S 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-1686 https://bit.ly/2SAvbaI

Sobe's Restaurant $ 1151 S. 4th St. EL Centro, CA 92243 760-352-6838 sobesrestaurant.com

The Burrito Factory $$ 130 S. Imperial Ave. #3458, El Centro, CA 92243 760-693-5110 https://bit.ly/3zxSGSd

Sofia’s Kitchen $$ 395 A St Ste B Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-1777 bit.ly/3HkRx5Z

Virginia's Casita $ 645 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-351-2386 https://bit.ly/3b41jck 

Maria's Taco Shop $ 401 Broadway, El Centro, CA 92243 760-675-6546 https://bit.ly/3iLMFLP 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

719 W Main St. El Centro, CA 92243

Discover a unique blend of curated vintage treasures and artisanal coffee in our charming El Centro location. Artisanal Coffee

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We'll have your drink ready when you arrive. Craft coffee & matcha made fresh, plus curated vintage ﬁnds in the heart of downtown El Centro.

Support Your Local Coffee Shop Winter 2026

FROM ROMANIA CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 7

Codrut Pîrvu in his foreign exchange student blazer. - Photo by Joselito N. Villero who, as required by the Rotary student exchange program, is also hosting a student this year from Brazil. “This is his dream come true. We did all we could to help him go to America.” She added that she is thankful for her son’s host parents. “Hortencia is the best host mom. She considers my son, like her

Winter 2026

son, and it was very good for us for him to have a family that supports him.” Garcia and Armendariz said Pîrvu is a member of the family. “He’s not someone who just came for his experience as a foreign exchange student. He is part of this family,” said Garcia, who added that he himself moved to the United States

from Pueblo, Mexico, when he was 15, which has enabled him to relate to Pîrvu and share his experiences. Pîrvu has another six months left in the program. In that time, he will experience prom and graduation, and will also stay with one to two new host families. Then comes a month-long trip across the country by train with other foreign exchange students—a trip that he, his host family, and his parents are still raising money for. Anyone wishing to donate can do so to the Calexico Rotary Club. Before that trip, Pîrvu said he just wanted to focus on continuing to enjoy his time with his host family, at his school, and in the city that has given him a chance to learn both American and Mexican traditions. “I am very honored, thankful to be here, and that they (Armendariz and Garcia) take care of me as part of the family,” Pîrvu said. “I feel like have grown so much, and I am also thankful for that.” Armendariz added, “It’s just so fulfilling to help make someone’s dream come a reality, and it doesn’t take much to open your home and your heart to fulfill a dream that will stay with someone the rest of their life.” 

KID WIsE Imperial Irrigation District:

Burrowing Owl Conservation Program Entries from Mrs. Puentes-Loya 3rd grade class at Desert Gardens Elementary School

Camilla Acosta

Joaq uin Morales

Derek Garcia

Emiliana Alvarez Winter 2026

PRESERVING FROM | PAGE 11

sent his melons by biplane to President Calvin Coolidge. Part of the Valley’s cantaloupe crop in the early 1920s was in a field near Brawley. It contained a new kind of cantaloupe that was developed by an Issei grower “whose name is lost to history,” Asamen said. I.D. Hale, a fruit shipper and distributor, discovered it there in about 1924. It was soon marketed as “Hale’s Best” and remains a popular melon variety today. Despite their agricultural dominance, the Japanese farmers lived a precarious existence, defined by the Alien Land Laws of 1913 and 1920. These laws prohibited "aliens ineligible for citizenship"—a designation that targeted Asian immigrants—from owning agricultural land. As a result, the vast majority of these farming families were tenant farmers or contract growers, unable to build equity in the soil they enriched. Yoshimi Watada, who grew up in a successful Niland farm family, recalled in an oral history in 2008 for the Manzanar National Historic Site how her father navigated these restrictions. Kazuyoshi Hasui was president of the Japanese

Winter 2026

Tomato Co-op in Niland. He had to lease land or, in some cases, use the name of a trusted Caucasian friend to purchase it. The inability to own land led to a transient lifestyle. Hasui designed a "mobile home" for his family. It was built in separate modules on wagons. "I thought the earthquake came and separated our house," Yoshimi recalled of her childhood home. "But that's how they built it, in different modules... You can lift this one and move it." This allowed the family to move from field to field as leases expired. For the children, the farm was a playground. Laurie Sasaki, born in Imperial, related in a 2010 oral history project that her mother would build small tents in the fields where she worked for Laurie. "She would take me out in the field and make these little tents so that I could sit under the... tent and then make my mud pies," Laurie remembered. Despite the hardships and legal discrimination, the Japanese farming communities forged deep bonds, not just among themselves but also with their neighbors. Both Yoshimi and Laurie recalled the

close relationships with the neighboring Mexican families. Food became a bridge between cultures. "I used to run down there when they used to have their tortillas," Laurie said. By the early 1940s, the drumbeat of war began to threaten the Japanese American community. Evan T. Hewes, president of the Imperial Irrigation District, took a pragmatic and courageous stance regarding Japanese farmers in comments published four days after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Hewes argued that the priority must be farm production. "The Japanese are good farmers," Hewes stated. "And regardless of whether they are citizens or aliens, they should be permitted (even required) to keep up production." Hewes argued that, "Since America is going to depend more and more on the foodstuffs produced in Imperial Valley, nothing could be more sensible than to leave our Japanese farmers strictly alone and not molest them in their farming operations." His philosophy was simple: "It’s better to keep ‘em working than to imprison them." But the order for removal came in May

PIONEERING. FROM | PAGE 17

1942. It struck at the worst possible moment— right as the melon harvest was underway. The tragedy was not just the incarceration of a people, but the dismantling of an agricultural empire they had built from scratch. Because most were tenant farmers, they had no land to return to after the war. Yoshimi Watada’s family's experience illustrates the devastating economic betrayal. Her father had placed land in the name of a Caucasian friend to bypass the ownership laws. When the family was forced to leave, the friend promised to harvest the crops and manage the farm. However, when Kazuyoshi Hasui returned in 1947, his friend had died, the property had been sold, and the money was gone. "My father couldn't find his house, and he couldn't find his packing shed," Yoshimi said. "Everything was gone." In fact, very few of the Japanese Americans who were interned returned to the Valley. Tim Asamen’s family was an exception. A family friend oversaw his grandfather's land during the war, and it was returned to the Asamens. But what was once a thriving community and what happened to it are among Tim Asamen’s primary motivations for preserving the memory of the Valley’s Japanese American heritage. 

With the new year, Herrera will launch an exhibit in January on the evolution of journalism in the Valley. Tangible historical pieces, such as printing presses, will be on display to tell a visual story of how news was shared and received through the region. A new class in the art of blacksmithing is also ready to launch at the start of the new year, leading to the annual Pioneer’s Day festivities in February. She will help lead restoration efforts for several historic buildings, including the Heber College building, Rose School, and Estelle Train Station. Looking ahead, she plans to develop pioneering arts education and interactive programs through targeted grants and donations. Herrera is also committed to new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs at the museum to expand opportunities for local middle and high school students. She sees it as an investment with guaranteed returns. “Pioneers’ Museum is a living vessel, dedicated to new discovery and a resource that can bridge the

Angela Herrera - Photo by Joselito N. Villero ever-changing gap between the past, present, and future,” she said. “The Valley’s story is still being written, and I’m proud to be a part of it.” The museum runs on donations, grants, and volunteer time. Supporters can give one-time, set up “recurring gifts” or “legacy giving” to underwrite long-term preservation efforts through the website, Pioneers Museum. For those who’d prefer to donate time and energy, email info@ pioneersmuseum.net or call the museum at 760.352.1165. 

760-335-6357

WWW.LOCKEAC.COM Winter 2026

COLAB CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 26

It will start the year by partnering with the county Registrar of Voters to hold the candidate training workshop on January 21, 2026, in the Ag Center in Imperial. Individuals planning to run for a specific office, or even considering a run, are welcome to attend. “We are happy to collaborate with COLAB to provide the training,” said Linsey Dale, Imperial County Registrar of Voters. “The process is complicated. The important thing is for candidates to fully understand the requirements.” Candidates must meet strict requirements and reporting deadlines for various government agencies. “We will go through what is expected and give tips on form filing and deadlines,” Dale said. “For the Registrar of Voters, providing education is the biggest goal.” Along with specific requirements of the election process, attendees will learn about what is involved in developing and running a successful political campaign. Local professionals and an elected representative who is not currently campaigning will discuss, from different perspectives, how to create and run a campaign. Planning a campaign, forming a campaign committee, strategic communications and marketing, fundraising and campaign budgeting, and ensuring the campaign complies with election rules and requirements will be among the topics covered. The workshop is intended to demystify the complex process of running for office and provide potential leaders with the tools they need to run effective, ethical campaigns. Attendees will leave with a thick binder of information to assist in their campaigns. For voters, the COLAB website will provide information about

Winter 2026

candidates to help make informed choices in every election. It also provides links to public agencies’ calendars and elected representatives' contact information to make it easier for individuals to reach out and make your opinion known. COLAB began offering candidate training and holding candidate forums to combat Imperial County’s chronically low voter turnout with information and education. To that end, candidate forums to be held during the 2026 election cycle will be livestreamed on the COLAB Facebook page for anyone who cannot attend. Some question why an advocacy organization such as COLAB works to enhance voter participation in the election process. “As a non-partisan and non-political organization, COLAB does not participate in local, state, or national elections,” COLAB’s website states. However, the “organization is dedicated to transparency and accountability in local government…” Trimm added, “Community involvement is key to making sure we have local government that is responsive to the people.” As an advocacy organization, COLAB also benefits from working with a responsive government. COLAB is unique in that it unites three distinct sectors: labor, agriculture, and business. By bringing their strengths together, COLAB speaks with a united voice. Yet the organization’s goals are not just about protecting interests; they are about enhancing the natural and business environments of Imperial County for the benefit of everyone, according to Trimm. One of COLAB’s most effective tools for reaching its goals is having open dialogue between the private sector and government agencies. “Our advocacy often means ensuring labor, agriculture, and business have a seat at the table when policies affecting them are being crafted,” Trimm said. Advocacy can also involve listening to better understand an issue of concern. Early in 2026, Trimm said she will schedule representatives of key regulatory agencies to explain to COLAB members some of the regulations that raised concerns. “We want to make sure we understand an issue before suggesting changes,” Trimm said. At its core, COLAB’s work is about "improving local government for all." Creating a responsive government is an essential step toward improving the Valley for all. 

HUMES CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 13

so much on the ground progress, from IID’s Salton Sea Air Quality Program to dust emission projects and the construction of IID’s beautiful managed marsh that all of Imperial Valley can enjoy.” Shields added, “Her and her staff’s work is also critical to allowing other IID infrastructure projects to progress while maintaining the district’s environmental stewardship goals.” During her years with IID, Humes worked alongside the late Bruce Wilcox, who first led IID’s environmental mitigation programs at the sea. He would go on to become the first assistant secretary of Salton Sea policy under the California Natural Resources Agency, leading what would become the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP), the state’s phased approach to restoration. “Everything I learned about environmental mitigation, I learned from him,” Humes said, adding that when Wilcox joined the state, it helped establish a strong bridge between the state and IID. “That bridge was just already there, and it helped build the relationship we have today.” Humes said she and her team

continue to foster a collaborative relationship with the state and with IID’s QSA JPA partners to ensure the community's needs are met. State officials credited Humes for her efforts to share information and work together toward a common goal. “I have worked with Jessica for over five years, and her ability to facilitate the exchange of information and collaborate on project planning and implementation is invaluable to the Salton Sea Management Program,” said Melinda Dorin, lead manager for the state Department of Water Resources Salton Sea Restoration Office. “Working collaboratively to share data and identify project areas and methods saves time and resources for the SSMP.” Dorin added, “Jessica’s easy-going style, knowledge about IID projects and commitments, the Salton Sea region, and her responsiveness have helped maintain the exchange of information and collaboration that is so important in implementing a successful program.” Looking ahead, Humes said she remains focused as an IID representative on developing projects that protect the community's health. “We are trying to be as proactive

as we can in implementing programs before dust becomes an issue,” she said. “We are trying really hard to keep the Imperial Valley a healthy environment for us all to live in.” 

Winter 2026

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISO

Overcoming the win A

(SAD) Awareness Month, a vital reminder that help is available. ICBHS wants to emphasize that there are effective ways to manage and overcome these feelings, whether they stem from SAD, the holiday season, or other factors.

December marks Seasonal Affective Disorder

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), SAD typically occurs during the late fall and winter months when sunlight exposure diminishes and temperatures drop.

s the days grow shorter and darker, many people experience a decline in energy and motivation, which can trigger feelings of depression and overall mood. Such a shift in emotions may be attributed to seasonal affective disorder, a condition that affects millions across the country.

Winter 2026

Symptoms usually improve with the arrival of spring and summer, but not everyone experiences this seasonal pattern. SAD is a form of depression and shares many symptoms with major depressive disorder. According to NAMI, they include:  Sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings  Feelings of hopelessness, guilt,

ORDER AWARENESS MONTH

nter blues is possible worthlessness, or helplessness  Loss of interest or pleasure in formerly enjoyable activities  Fatigue and decreased energy  Overeating (or conversely, lack of appetite)  Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions  Social withdrawal  Thoughts of death or suicide If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, especially during the darker months, it’s important to seek support. You can contact ICBHS for an evaluation. Once diagnosed, treatment options similar to other depressive disorders, primarily focusing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can be available. CBT works by addressing negative thought patterns that contribute to depression and encouraging behavioral changes that promote well-being. Whether depressive symptoms are caused by SAD, or brought on by the holiday season, or any other factor, consider the following steps to help:  Accept your feelings: It’s okay not to feel happy. Give yourself compassion no matter what you are feeling.

 Maintain healthy habits: Maintaining healthy habits like going to therapy, getting enough sleep and exercising are critical to keeping your mental health on track.  Make time to connect: Make time for your important relationships and connect with yourself through self-care.

Tips to manage anxiety, stress, and sadness.  Use mindfulness: In addition to professional mental health care, mindfulness, focusing on the present, whether through breathing, meditation or while doing daily activities, can be a valuable mental wellness tool.

 Soak up the sun: Numerous studies have pointed to the mental health benefits of spending time in nature, including stress relief, better concentration, lower levels of inflammation and improved mental energy.  Avoid reliance on substances: While it might be tempting to seek relief through drugs or alcohol, these substances can worsen depressive symptoms and interfere with recovery.

Tips for being mindful:

 Deep breathing: Inhale through your nose to a count of four, hold for one second and

then exhale through the mouth to a count of five, then repeat.  Enjoy a stroll: As you walk, pay attention to your breath and the sights and sounds around you. If thoughts and worries enter your mind, notice them but then return to the present.  Practice mindful eating: Be aware of taste, textures, and flavors in each bite.  Body scan: Bring your attention to how each part of your body is feeling. This can help you connect with your body.  Find mindfulness resources: This can include online programs and teacherguided practices. A Final Thought: Recognizing and addressing seasonal depression is a sign of strength. You're not alone, and help is available. As Dr. Norman Rosenthal, the psychiatrist who first described SAD, said, "Light is a powerful tool in fighting depression. Even in the darkest days, there are ways to bring light into your life." If you do find yourself in need of support, reach out to ICBHS at (442) 265-1525 or (800) 817-5292. ICBHS has services for all age groups, including its programs for adults, youth and young adults, and children and adolescents. It also offers its substance use disorder services for adolescents and adults. 

For an appointment call: (442 ) 265-1525 • (800) 817-5292 bhs.imperialcounty.org

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