K I D W I s E
Imperial Irrigation District: Burrowing Owl Conservation Program
Entries from Mrs Robles at Westmorland Elementary School
Damazzo C i ntora
Aleyna S i lva
Samantha Lara
Kendra Maldonado
Publishers' Message
When this magazine first launched nine years ago, we wanted to open a window for visitors, newcomers, and the rest of us to glimpse the diverse, vibrant, creative, innovative community that we know and love, but rarely see in the media.
Now, as increasing polarization, ugly social media diatribes, and economic uncertainty dominate public discourse, Imperial Valley Alive does more than tease readers with fleeting glimpses of a special community tucked in the heart of the Desert Southwest.
Our stories welcome readers into a unique place to call home. With its wide-open spaces, relatively small population base, and scarcity of traffic jams, the Imperial Valley exudes a down-home vibe that is a balm to souls weary of the pace and anonymity of urban life. Our community calls out to those feeling increasingly alienated, stressed, and anxious amid the acrimony of today’s turmoil.
As one young woman, home for a weekend visit with her family, recently told us, “Coming back to the Valley feels like peace.”
Yet this oasis of a region, surrounded by miles of open desert and isolated from the chaos and expense of metropolitan centers, isn’t always appreciated by locals who consider San Diego, Palm Springs, and Los Angeles to be greener pastures. And it remains invisible or even maligned by many from outside the region.
Too often, media outside the region write about the Valley virtually, creating a
caricature beset with the social ills of the day without capturing the heartbeat of the people and the community.
We understand the challenges the media faces today and how the essence of a place and its people can get lost amid latebreaking news, the pressure of the news cycle, and dwindling newsroom budgets.
IV Alive opens a door to welcome you home
We started Alive to balance the media coverage, which can paint a picture so bleak that it is hard to recognize the Valley or its people.
We planned the magazine to seek out, embrace, and celebrate the Valley and its people, their diversity, quality of life, geology and geography, agriculture, innovative spirit, and way of life.
It turns out, we don’t have to search much because the people who make the Valley a close-knit, enthusiastic, and spirited community eagerly share the stories that breathe life into this publication.
In this edition, you will meet some of the Valley’s passionate bowlers who thrive on league competition and even more on the camaraderie and family bonds they have built while knocking down pins.
will take you
And then read about Fred Curtis, a former math instructor who will take you inside a bowling ball to explain the science of the game.
District’s water safety program mascot for nearly 60 years. The scrappy duck has become a friend to generations of Valley school children. However, CoPublisher Bill Gay, who wrote the tale, considers Dippy a half-brother. Gay’s father, Alex, is credited with creating the mascot and naming him Dippy.
This edition features numerous stories about the innovation, dedication, and artistry that unite the Valley community. Read about Ted Flores, artist extraordinaire, who, year after year, puts life into the California Mid-Winter Fair’s theme by building elaborate displays in the Preble Building. Then there is painter Elsa Alvarez, who turned her family’s challenge of coping with Alzheimer's into a book to demystify the condition for future generations of children.
the science of safety mascot the Imperial
You can read the story of Dippy Duck, the quirky water safety mascot that’s been the Imperial
And Elaine Berg, an inveterate quilter, shares her knowledge to help stitch together a thriving crafting community. Finally, the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association and other organizations are working to enhance the food safety protection of vegetables grown in the region’s expansive open spaces.
Within the pages of this edition, we hope you, too, will feel the homespun welcome in the stories shared by the generous, creative, passionate, and spirited community members who breathe life into I.V. Alive.
Irrigation
Volume 9, Number 3
EDITORS & PUBLISHERS
Bill Gay
Sue Gay
Susan Giller
Bill Amidon
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Darren Simon
CONTRIBUTORS
Bill Gay
Caitlin Chávez
Susan Giller
Blake Nelson
Darren Simon
COVER PHOTO
Joselito N. Villero
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Bill Amidon
Sue Gay
Joselito N. Villero
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Alejandra Noriega
Alejandra Pereida
WEB DESIGNERS
Sergio Uriarte
Jesus Uriarte
SALES
Bill Amidon
John Lovecchio
ADVERTISING
bill.amidon@reliancepr.com 760-693-5330
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Send name, address and email address along with $20.00 (plus tax) for annual subscription to: Reliance Public Relations, Inc. P.O. Box 1944 • El Centro, CA 92244
www.imperialvalleyalive.com
IMPERIAL VALLEY ALIVE! is published quarterly by Reliance Public Relations, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical for any purpose without the written permission of Reliance Public Relations, Inc.
Artist's book
Hitting the lanes
Valley bowlers share a passion, Page 6
Fred Curtis
The science of a bowling ball, Page 7
Canal safety
Shines light on Alzheimer's for kids, Page 12
Elaine Berg
Makes patchwork an art, Page 14
IVVGA
Digs deep to bolster food safety, Page 16
A life of art
. Page 8
Mission to save lives soars on the wings of a duck, .
Ted Flores honored for support of the fair, Page 10
Master Chorale
Performing a first on USS Midway, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18
I.C. Courthouse
Celebrates century of service, Page 26
COVER PHOTO; Alan Chan competes at a bowling tournament at PlayZone Bowling and Amusement in El Centro. -Photo By Joselito N. Villero
INSIDE |
Publishers’ message, Page 3
Valley's Eateries, Page 20
PG 10
Calendar of events, Page 24
PG 8
Hitting the lanes
By Darren Simon
Call it the chorus of bowling.
The thunder of balls charging down wooden lanes and the crack as they strike down 10 pins—these are the sounds of Imperial Valley league bowling nightly, Monday through Thursday, as local bowlers come together for their shared passion.
Just ask El Centro resident Darrell Stalnaker, 91 years young, why he loves the sport he’s been doing for over half his life. “It’s all the people I get to bowl with and bowl against. I like the ones I bowl against a little more because I get to make them suffer.”
He put an exclamation point on that statement by immediately bowling a strike on a recent Thursday night at the Valley’s only bowling center, where nearly 60 league players participated
Valley bowlers share a passion
in the sport. In all, there are five different bowling leagues in the Valley operating at the time of this story, and a Mexicali league, all of which use the PlayZone Bowling and Amusement Center in El Centro.
Those Imperial Valley leagues include the “Vegas League”, which meets on Monday nights, the “Tuesday Mixed” League, Tuesday nights, the “Young @ Heart” Seniors League, Tuesday mornings, the “Wednesday Classic” League (the most competitive of the leagues), Wednesday nights, and the “Saints and Sinners” League on Thursday nights.
These leagues, which often consist of some of the same bowlers, meet through the fall, winter, and into the spring. Then, there’s summer league play, and other shorter-duration leagues and tournaments. In essence, league and competitive bowling at PlayZone is nearly year-round.
Some local bowlers will also compete in national competitions in Las Vegas and throughout the country. All league play is sanctioned under the Imperial Valley chapter of the U.S. Bowling Congress (USBC). Something new
added over the past year by the local USBC was charity tournaments: one for Reps 4 Vets, which provides support for local veterans, and Cody’s Closet, which provides clothing, shoes, and other necessities
Meghan Patton - Photos by Joselito N. Villero
Rick Breland
for those in the Valley in need.
The “Saints and Sinners” League became the focus of this article on a Thursday night in April. A total of 14 teams, each with four bowlers, faced off over several games. While competitive, everyone was there to laugh and to support each other.
“This has been a Thursday night staple for well over a decade,” said Patsy Robinson, 64, of Brawley, who serves as president of the Imperial Valley USBC. “It’s a fun way to make friends and bowl with buddies.”
As she spoke, her husband, Roy, 74, nailed two strikes in a row. Afterward, he said, “If it comes off my hand right, I know which way it will go. If done right, it’s like shaking your hand.”
Bowling a few lanes away from the Robinsons was Oscar Grijalva, 58, of Imperial, who in bowling terms might be considered the “kingpin.” Most people pointed to him as the bowler with the highest average.
“Once you get the bowl bug, it’s hard to get away from it,” said Grijalva, who kept throwing strikes. “I’m out for fun and to enjoy it, but also to be competitive.”
With that in mind, Grijalva and some of the more competitive bowlers often organize $10 “side pots” during an evening of bowling. They each put in money, and the spoils—often at least $100—go to the top bowler.
What does it take to become a proficient bowler? Years, Grijalva said. “It takes two years to be able to get 180 points in a game (out of 300 total), and three years to get up to 200 points.” Still, he added, “Everyone is welcome, and everyone here is willing to help you become a stronger bowler.”
CONTINUED | PAGE 28
Fred Curtis: The science of a bowling ball
By Darren Simon
When it comes to bowling, the bowler’s skill is critical, but no less important is the science of the ball. In the Imperial Valley, no one understands that better than Imperial resident Fred Curtis. Talk to many Valley league bowlers, and they will point to Curtis as half the reason for their bowling proficiency.
CONTINUED PAGE 30
Canal safety
Mission to save lives soars on the wings of a duck
By Bill Gay
The June 26, 1958, edition of the Calexico Chronicle featured an all-too-common story of that era.
“Two 13-year-old Holtville girls drowned yesterday while swimming in a canal only 50 yards from the home of one of them.” The story recounts the tragic death of the two young friends, good swimmers, in a slow-moving canal.
Ironically, on the Imperial Valley Press front page, where this account was also reported, was another story headlined, “Oxygen Saves Tot’s Life After Tumble into a Canal.” The story is about a 1-year-old Brawley youngster who was rescued after nearly drowning in an irrigation ditch near her home. Canal tragedies were once a way of life in the Valley. In May 1959, the Imperial Irrigation District instituted a formal canal safety program to reduce canal drownings. The program had two goals: to keep people away from dangerous areas and to educate potential rescuers in first aid techniques for drowning victims. The new focus on canal safety paid dividends. In 1961, the Yuma Daily Sun quoted Alex Gay, then assistant public relations officer at IID, as saying that the canal death rate had dropped considerably with the program. In 1960, there were no canal drownings.
The program had begun after Gay and William J. Stadler, then IID’s public relations officer, analyzed the relationship between canals and the number of drownings. It was found that “every year between seven and 10 persons, many of them children, lost their lives in Imperial County by drowning,” according to a 1973 IID employee newsletter, “Here’s The Scoop.”
The IID initiated the program with a brochure and added two dramatic films on water safety a year later, along with two life-sized mannequins called “Rescue Annie.” They were used to teach mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at schools and to emergency responders.
In addition to the Rescue Annie presentations, Gay’s job included responding to canal drownings and documenting the incidents photographically.
His recollections are documented in a written presentation to a college class in late 1973.
Gay, who has been credited with later developing the Dippy Duck concept, related that the slogan for the start of the safety program, “Don’t Go Near The Water, In Canals,” was a take-off of a popular 1959 movie, “Don’t Go Near The Water.”
At some point after the safety program began, Gay wrote, “One day while I was visiting one of our hydroelectric plants with some visitors, one of the District employees told me about a duck that had been unfortunate enough to be sucked through the duct that turned the wheel of the hydro generator.”
Gay said, “The duck surfaced downstream very much alive but thoroughly plucked.”
That duck incident, which occurred in the All-American Canal, gave him the idea to develop a mascot patterned after the U.S. Forest Service’s iconic Smokey Bear and the slogan, “Only you can prevent forest fires.”
Gay wrote, “Thus was born Dippy Duck, our symbol for water safety.”
Gay’s papers note that in addition to a reduction in drownings, “a couple of students who had learned mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from my program at school actually saved a couple of
CONTINUED PAGE 32
Donna Hampton works with Hedrick School students in 1973. - "Here's The Scoop" photo
A life of art
By Darren Simon
Brawley artist Ted Flores remembers growing up in Calipatria and getting in trouble in elementary school for doodling and drawing in class.
He wondered, then, why teachers wouldn’t let him do what he loved.
“We were supposed to be working on English or math or boring subjects like that. We were supposed to be listening to the teacher, and they would get so upset with me,” said Flores. Now 73, he has built a career and a life around his passion for art.
For the last 25 years, he has poured his passion into his work at the California Mid-Winter Fair, designing and constructing the annual Preble Building display, which is always a crowd-pleaser for the thousands who attend the fair each year.
In February, the fair Board of
Ted Flores honored for support of the fair
Directors presented Flores with the annual Western Fair Association’s Blue Ribbon Award to honor his long service as an artist. The Board presents the award annually to an individual for their significant contributions to the fair. Flores’ award was presented during a sponsorship event held a day before the start of the 2025 fair.
“As a designer and builder, Ted is really crucial to our fair because he makes our themes come alive year after year,” said Fair Board President Cherisse Alford. “I don’t know what we would do without him. His work is just so amazing.”
For the 2025 fair, Flores replicated New Orleans during Mardi Gras (the fair’s theme was “Valley Gras”) with buildings, a train, and even a riverboat in the Preble Building, all awash in the colors of purple, green, and gold.
Alford said each year, she waits
Ted Flores pictured working inside the Preble Building at the Fair.
-Photo Courtesy of the California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta.
to see the Preble Building display until it is revealed to sponsors just before the fair. This time, seeing the display moved her as much, if not more than any past year, because of her joyful memories of visiting New Orleans.
“When I walked into the building, I teared up,” Alford said. “It was that amazing.”
Flores himself gets emotional as he talks about his years of service to the fair and the Blue Ribbon Award, which he said left him flabbergasted.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Flores said,“It was such an honor.”
He said it was a culmination of a career dedicated to the arts, not that he is close to ending it. He now looks forward to next year’s fair.
When Flores thinks about his career, he credits his parents, the late Gerardo and Lupe Flores, for inspiring all of their children to work hard and pursue their dreams.
His father, who moved to the United States in 1961 under the Bracero farmworker program, moved the family from Mexicali to Calipatria. The family, including nine siblings, followed the crops between the Imperial Valley and Bakersfield.
“We all worked in the fields to make ends meet,” Flores said.
Even after graduating with an art degree from Imperial Valley College, Flores spent a year on a farm. He was eventually offered a supervisor position, but he knew he had to return to his passion—art.
His talent may have emerged in elementary school, but it was honed at Brawley Union High School with the help of art teacher, the late John Lamat. It was Lamat who, before Flores, was in charge of the annual display at the fairgrounds.
“The hour of art class I had every day was my favorite time of the day,” said Flores, adding that Lamat
CONTINUED | PAGE 34
RECIBIR
RECIBIR
Membresia para Gimnasio
Artist's book shines light
on Alzheimer's for kids
By Blake Nelson
Elsa Alvarez was knee deep in the typical family grind with her husband and three kids in Brawley when she received a phone call from her dad: “Something is wrong with Mom.”
“We initially thought it was her nerves due to her last child leaving home,” said Alvarez. “But then we noticed she was having trouble with her vision, a little trouble with conversations, leaving stove burners on, or forgetting to turn
off the water faucet.”
It was about 30 years ago when a trip to a neurologist confirmed that Alvarez’s mother, Nicolasa M. Silva, lovingly referred to as Celia by her loved ones, had Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. She was only in her 50s. About 6.9 million people in the United States age 65 and older live with Alzheimer's disease. Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and
affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks. Currently, there is no cure. After the diagnosis, Silva’s symptoms seemed to progress rapidly. Alvarez and her four siblings began splitting their time with their mother to help their father, Manlio, take care of Silva, which included
Elsa Alvarez and her book cover.
- Photos by Joselito N. Villero
grocery shopping, bathing, and even staying overnight with their mom.
Alvarez’s children often accompanied her on overnight stays, where they experienced the changes in their grandmother.
“Once we knew what we were dealing with, I went to the library so I could figure out the best way to explain to my children what was happening with their grandmother,” Alvarez said. “But all of the books I found were written for adults.”
As they matured, Alvarez’s two sons and daughter became pillars of support for their mom as she navigated Silva’s illness. They had open family discussions about the disease’s progress and began to understand the importance of family and the value of being there for Silva, even when it became more difficult.
However, younger children in the extended family continued to struggle with visits to their grandmother’s house.
“The changes in my mother scared them,” said Alvarez. “But kids are so smart. I knew if there was something I could create that would speak to them, prepare them for these stages of life, and explain the importance of staying
together, they would quickly learn the difference between scary and not scary.”
It was then that opportunity presented itself. Alvarez’s daughter, Celeste, a former journalist and now public information officer for Imperial Valley College, suggested she apply for a grant that promotes using the arts to communicate about social
health issues. It was a natural fit. Alvarez had been sharing her oil paintings with the Imperial Valley community for over 30 years.
“Elsa is a long-time participant in the Imperial Valley Palate, Palette & Pallet, a beloved fundraiser our organization has been hosting for over 60 years,”
CONTINUED | PAGE 36
Elsa Alvarez works on her digital book design.
quilting tools, resources, and more. Like her predecessor, Berg created a quilting community by teaching community classes, participating in the Desert Quilters group, and helping organize the home arts exhibit at the California Mid-Winter Fair for several years.
“The Valley had five quilt shops, and once the rotary cutters came out in the '80s, quilting became a popular hobby,” said Berg.
In the first two years after Walmart opened in Imperial County with a fabrics section, however, sales dropped in all the locally owned quilt shops, causing most to quickly close. Berg’s shop eventually succumbed to the same fate, shuttering its doors in 1992 when she chose not to renew the lease.
Yet Berg’s love for quilting didn’t diminish. Following the shop’s closure, Berg continued with her personal quilting practice, even customizing the El Centro home she shares with her husband, Dennis, with a special room that fits the long-arm machine she started using in 2013.
A long-arm quilting machine is a specialized sewing machine with an extended arm that can sew large pieces of fabric, batting, and backing
into a finished quilt with less work.
“I think about how I used to hand quilt, and I'd only get maybe five or seven quilts done in a year,” said Berg. “Now I get anywhere from 30 to 38 quilts completed in a year because I have my own long arm machine.”
For Berg, quilting is a daily practice,
stitched between gardening and taking care of her household. Whether it is tracing patterns, cutting fabric, blocking, or finishing a work on her long-arm machine, she said she works on some aspect of quilting every day without fail.
“Elaine has made more quilts than
CONTINUED PAGE 37
Elaine Berg pictured at her home, with her long-arm quilting machine. - Photos by Sue Gay
IVVGA
By Susan Giller
Food safety is the top priority for Imperial Valley vegetable growers for a very good reason. Imperial County’s produce harvest, most recently valued at $1.219 billion, is ranked as the nation’s second most valuable, right behind Salinas Valley, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Census of Agriculture.
So, it was no surprise that Holtville grower Jack Vessey put an exclamation point on Valley vegetable growers’ commitment to implementing food safety protocols during an interview that aired April 6 on the CBS Sunday Morning program. “We have to do it; any kind of outbreak is detrimental to our industry,” he said.
Maintaining food safety demands continuous effort and dedication, both in the fields and on many other fronts. That is why Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association (IVVGA) Executive Director Shelby Trimm has been part of a working group of state, federal, and agricultural organizations exploring ways to further protect Valley produce by studying lessons learned
Digs deep to bolster food safety
from other regions that faced foodborne illness outbreaks.
Meanwhile, in the CBS segment, correspondent David Pogue set out to explore how safe the nation’s food supply is and how the Trump administration's latest cuts will affect the work of the food safety agencies.
Trump administration's latest
In the Imperial Valley, he found growers using precise cultivation practices to grow lush fields of green leafy vegetables who are willing to go even further to protect the public’s faith in the food supply.
The Desert Southwest, including the Imperial Valley, Yuma, and Mexicali, is proud to be considered the nation’s winter salad bowl. However, a 2006 E. coli outbreak that was traced back to contaminated spinach grown in Northern California made it clear that business as usual was no longer good enough.
Before the outbreak ended, three people had died, and more than 200 people had fallen ill in six states. As
the public’s confidence in the nation’s food supply plummeted, so did the market for spinach, lettuce, cabbage, and all leafy green vegetables.
Imperial Valley growers joined a coalition of farmers throughout the
Harvesting in Imperial Valley leafy greens field. - Photo Valley Agribusiness
state to make an unprecedented commitment to protect public health and build public confidence in the food supply. They formed the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA), which, under state oversight, sets food safety practices for leafy greens farms throughout the state. The protocols include verifications by lab testing and frequent independent or government audits. The LGMA rules were developed before government regulations and are more stringent than the government regulations.
Vessey, a fourth-generation Holtville grower, and Brawley grower Larry Cox were among the growers appointed to the statewide LGMA advisory board in 2006 that oversaw the development of the science-based food safety protocols now used to identify and reduce sources of contamination on farms. The LGMA was formally established in 2007 and continues to evolve based on data and scientific findings.
In the April CBS Sunday Morning segment, Pogue visits Vessey’s Holtville area cabbage field, where they speak about the all-inclusive nature of the current LGMA protocols.
“Tissue sampling, the water sampling, the treatment of the water (are among the protocols),” Vessey said. Now, hair nets are required for anyone entering a field. Harvest knives must be disinfected. State auditors visit farms at least six times a year.
Vessey’s farm and many others in the Valley have added whole safety departments. And he said his farm holds mock drills twice a year.
“Within 30 minutes, I can tell you who was in the field, what fertilizer was used, what seed company provided the seed, and what harvest crew worked that day,” Vessey stated in the CBS segment. “The ability to stop a truck and bring product back is very important.”
Yet what goes on on-farm is only part of the equation when it comes to food safety.
“Food safety begins at the farm and ends at the consumer's table,” the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) website states. “The safety of our food is best
CONTINUED PAGE 35
Master Chorale
Performing a first on USS Midway
The Imperial Valley Master Chorale will celebrate America's spirit of freedom and sacrifice with two patriotic concerts to close out this concert season, including a first-ever appearance aboard the historic USS Midway Museum in San Diego.
The Chorale will perform aboard the USS Midway’s Flight Deck at noon on Saturday, May 24, during Memorial Day Weekend. The concert is free with
admission to the Midway that day.
Once the world’s largest warship, the USS Midway served from 1945 to 1992. It recently celebrated its 20th anniversary as one of San Diego’s most visited attractions. It is ranked No. 1 on TripAdvisor, out of more than 800 attractions in San Diego.
The floating museum attracts more than one million visitors annually and serves as a living tribute to America's
military history.
“This is a profound privilege for us,” said George Scott, artistic director of the Imperial Valley Master Chorale. “To represent our Valley aboard one of America's greatest historic landmarks, and to honor the sacrifices of our veterans and service members through music, is truly humbling. We've prepared a program filled with powerful, emotional songs that reflect the American spirit.”
Selections for the Midway concert will include patriotic favorites such as “America, the Beautiful,” “God Bless America,” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” along with contemporary tributes like “God Bless the USA” and “Because of the Brave.”
Following the San Diego appearance, the Chorale will return to the Valley for a second concert, "A Salute to Freedom," at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, in the Pioneers Museum in Imperial. This performance will expand the program to include additional selections such as “Simple Gifts,” “Distant Land,” and “This Land is Your Land.”
Tickets for the June 1 performance will be $15 each, with students through grade 12 admitted at no charge. Tickets are available from chorale members and will also be available at the door. The chorale is a central part of the nonprofit Imperial Valley Choral Society.
Valley's Eateries
American Food
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Back To Eden Juice $
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Imperial Valley's homegrown restaurants offer lots of tasty choices
Brickhouse Deli 447 W. Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251
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Buffalo Wild Wings $$
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Broken Yolk Café
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Brownie’s Diner $$ 990 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227
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China Palace Steakhouse $$$ 1075 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
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DQ Grill & Chill
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Denny's $$
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Denny's $$
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Farmer Boys $$ 1532 Cruickshank Dr, El Centro, CA 92243
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Foster Freeze $
130 N. 5th St, Brawley, CA 92227
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Habit Burger $
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Hope Café and Creperie $ 605 E 2nd St, Calexico, CA 92231 760-890-5259
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Hope Café and Creperie $ 1027 W State St. El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5092 hopecafeelcentro.com
Hot Rods & Beer $$ 235 West E 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-356-9900 hotrodsnbeer.com
Humble Farmer Brewing Co. 116 S. Imperial Ave Ste C, Imperial, CA 92251 760-545-0037
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IHOP $$ 2362 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-1100 www.ihop.com
Jersey Mike’s Subs 1002 N Imperial Ave. EL Centro, CA 92243 442-231-8093 www.jerseymikes.com
Junior's Café $ 1791 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
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Leroy's Backyard BBQ $$ 675 Main St. El Centro, CA 92243 760-675-6546
Maranatha Steakhouse $$ 612 S. J St, Imperial, CA 92251
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Menchie’s
508 E Danenberg Dr., #7
El Centro, Ca., 92243
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Panera Bread $$ 2321 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243
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Pepper Grind Coffee $
1560 Pepper Dr, El Centro, CA 92243
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Rabb Slabs Bbq $$
496 W. State, El Centro, CA 92243
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Red Feather Off-Road Market & Cafe $
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Shake & Wake $
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Sizzler $$
707 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
760-353-3780
http://www.sizzler.com
Sonora Fusion $$$
560 W State St, El Centro, CA 92243
760-693-5069
https://bit.ly/3wLozVP
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
Vibras Healthy
Nutrition $
136 N Plaza, Brawley, CA 92227
760-679-6277
https://bit.ly/41c6hfm
Ursa $$
612 W. Main St., El Centro, CA 92243
760-970-4011
http://ursadesert.com
Asian Cuisine
Chef Lee's Express $
1049 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
760-693-5555
https://bit.ly/3xx5M0q
Chi+Mac $$
330 Wake Ave
El Centro, CA 92243
760-353-0203
bit.ly/40zTMcC
China Inn Restaurant $$
461 W Main St, Brawley, CA 92227
760-344-1038
https://bit.ly/3xlMI4W
China Palace
Restaurant $$
1075 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
760-353-2798
https://bit.ly/3wFTh2y
Fortune Garden $$
3309 S. Dogwood Rd, El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-9888
https://bit.ly/3iJn6uQ
Fortune House $$ 1627 W Main St, El Centro, CA 92243
Golden Dragon $$
928 Imperial Ave. Calexico, CA 92231
760-890-0066
Helen’s Family $$
445 W. Main St. Brawley, Ca. 92227
760-592-6962 helensfamilyvietfood.com
K Sushi Bar & Grill $$
416 S. J St, Imperial, CA 92251
760-355-4440
https://bit.ly/3zyKbWT
Khan Korean
BBQ $$
330 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
760-353-0202
https://bit.ly/3gy1hwY
Komaki Sushi & Sea
Food $$
1133 Ben Hulse Hwy, Brawley, CA 92227
760-623-1033
https://bit.ly/3q5qyWB
Kotori Japanese
Food $$
300 E Cole Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231
760-768-8540
https://bit.ly/3zHPbZE
Lucky Chinese Restaurant $$
500 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-7680
www.luckyrestaurant.com
Los Ce-B-Ches $$
1074 E Coles Blvd Ste 7, Calexico, CA 92231
442-270-1402
https://bit.ly/35ps9sy
Mah’s Kitchen $$
290 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-8713
https://bit.ly/3q4OF3w
Peony Pavilion $$ 1505 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227
760-351-9888
https://bit.ly/3iJdGj3
Poke & Noodle
Japanese Cuisine $$
799 E. Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243
760-337-9208 https://bit.ly/2UccQkB
Sushi & Noodle $$ 800 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5075
Sushi & Noodles $$
630 S Brawley Ave, Unit #6, Brawley, CA 92227 760-623-1361 https://bit.ly/3E6JANF
Sushi Park $$
330 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-352-2377 https://bit.ly/3gB9uze
Sushi Spot $$ 115 North Imperial Ave. Ste F-G, Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-0441 https://bit.ly/39JEYUl
Volcano $$
445 E. Main St, El Centro, CA 92243 760-337-9105 volcanoelcentro.com
The Thai Bistro $ 775 E. Danenberg Dr. Ste. 105 El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 592-4611 exoticthaibistro.com
Unni Korean Food $ 582 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-970-4121 https://bit.ly/41xhJlA
Wongs Kitchen $ 102 W 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-791-3227
Italian Food
Assaggio Ristorante Italiano $$ 538 E St, Brawley, CA 92227 760-344-9750
https://qrco.de/Assaggio
Saltcedar Barbecue $
297 South Imperial Ave. Imperial, CA 92251
619-724-8162
Saltcedarbbq.com
https://bit.ly/3rakIPW
Valley Vida $$ 1560 Ocotillo Dr. Ste C El Centro, CA 92243
442-271-4103
https://valleyVida.com
760-352-3888
https://bit.ly/3vrsZzu
Fujisan Sushi $$
1560 Ocotillo Dr Suite O, El Centro, CA 92243
760-970-4436 www.fujisaniv.com
Chuck-E-Cheese $$
803 E. Danenberg Rd, El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-4785 www.chuckecheese.com
George’s Pizza $$ 116 W 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250
760-356-1192
https://bit.ly/3cPgc3A
Grasso's Italian Restaurant $$
1902 Main St, El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-4635
https://bit.ly/3gAvSd5
Inferno $$
505 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227
760-344-7744
https://bit.ly/3B7d1gH
Johnny Carino's $$
3203 S Dogwood Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
760-337-9588 www.carinos.com
Mangiamos Pizza $$
1802 N. Imperial Ave. Ste. C El Centro, CA 92243
442-231-8293
pizzaelcentro
Mona Lisa Cocktails & Cuisine $$$ 2393 CA-86, Imperial, CA 92251
442-258-3350
https://bit.ly/45pGYrn
Mozzarelli Artisan Bistro $$ 123 W Barioni Blvd, Imperial, CA 92251
760-545-0222
https://bit.ly/3b0Ctdd
Round Table Pizza
508 E Danenberg Dr.,#6
El Centro, Ca. 92243
760-970-4801 roundtablepizza.com
Mexican Food
Antojitos Como En
Casa $$
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
Baja Tacos $$ 460 Holt Ave. Holtville, CA 92250
442-225-7126
https://bit.ly/3XTV6JD
Birrieria La Patria $$ 301 Sorenson Ave. Calipatria, CA. 92233
760-354-2020
lapatriamgrestaurant. com
Birrieria y Menuderia
Guadalajaras $ 845 Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231
760-890-5181
https://bit.ly/3cNjmoc
Briseida's Kitchen $$
741 Cesar Chavez Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231
760-618-9180
https://bit.ly/3b2oeod
Cachanillas Tacos & Cheves $$ 1101 Paulin Ave., Calexico CA 92231
760-890-0121
Cardenas Markets $$ 1620 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
760-482-0139 www.cardenasmarkets.com
Celia’s Restaurant $$ 1530 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-4570
https://bit.ly/3q4ZFxQ
Chilibertos Tacos & Breakfast $$
717 Imperial Ave., Calexico, CA 92231
760-890-5415
http://bit.ly/429h90Y
Cilantros La Taqueria $
643 S 4th St Ste 1, El Centro, CA 92243
760-693-5337
https://bit.ly/3gBgdJu
D’Lupita's Restaurant $$
336 W 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250
760-356-7100
https://bit.ly/3gwwvo5
D'Poly Taco, Grill & Beer $$
1573 W. Main St, El Centro, CA 92243
760-970-4243
https://bit.ly/35vdKLw
El Cañon $
625 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227
760-344-2411
El Chochis Snacks & Salads $ 1065 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227
760-790-8242
https://bit.ly/3K9LdzB
El Jumping Bean
Taqueria #2 $$
1050 S Brawley Ave #103, Brawley, CA 92227
760-623-7030 bit.ly/3m5FCPd
El Guero Tacos & Beer $ 1560 Ocotillo Dr. El Centro, Ca. 92243 442-230-9971
El Menudazo $ 548 Broadway #C, El Centro, CA 760-970-4940 bit.ly/3n8dezl
El Merendero $$
1702 N Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5014
https://bit.ly/3GdMxxW
El Zarape $$ 139 S. Imperial Ave, Imperial, CA 92251
760-355-4435
https://bit.ly/3gCuPrP
Flautas & Sopes $ 1622 S 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243 442-283-5090 www.flautasysopesusa.site
Flautas & Sopes $$ 1531 Ford Dr, El Centro, CA 92243 760-336-0825 www.flautasysopesusa.site
Flautas & Sopes $ 715 Cesar Chavez Blvd, Calexico, CA 92231
760-357-0655 www.flautasysopesusa.site
Hacienda Market & Snack Bar $ 941 K St, Brawley, CA 92227
760-344-5542
https://bit.ly/3b0ILJR
Holtville Taco Shop $ 404 E 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250 760-356-5756
www.holtvilletacoshop.com
Jalisco's Bar & Grill $$ 844 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 760-353-2515
https://bit.ly/3nhTvsZ
Johnny's Burritos 490 D St., Brawley, CA 92227
760-344-0961
https://bit.ly/3cJkERa
La Fuente Restaurant $
737 Emerson Ave, Calexico, CA 92231
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
760-357-5760
https://bit.ly/2ZcppyX
La Resaca $$
143 S. 6th St, El Centro, CA 92243
760-592-4971
https://bit.ly/3vFQox3
Las Chabelas Restaurant $$
749 S. Brawley Ave, Brawley, CA 92227
760-351-2991 www.laschabelas.com
Las Palmitas Taco Shop #1 $
2003 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-2757
https://bit.ly/3gwEUYH
Las Palmitas Taco Shop #2 $ 880 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
760-370-9120
https://bit.ly/3cL3jr0
Letty's Casita $$
705 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-8170
https://bit.ly/3wBPpPV
Los Cerritos Restaurant $ 411 E 5th St, Holtville, CA 92250
760-756-3097
https://bit.ly/35yM1t9
Ma Lupe's $$
2600 Thomas Dr. El Centro, Ca. 92243
Ma Lupe's $$
390 W. Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251
760-355-1180
Maria's Taco Shop $
401 Broadway, El Centro, CA 92243
760-675-6546
https://bit.ly/3iLMFLP
Mi Casita $$
324 S. Imperial Ave. Ste B, Calexico, CA 92231
760-556-9895
https://bit.ly/3cO17PE
Mexca Brew Co. $$ 612 W Main St, El Centro, CA 92243
760-970-4544
https://bit.ly/2SkabEM
Nana Dora's 103 W. K St., Brawley, CA 92227
760-344-2677
https://bit.ly/2S3kWex
Mr Tempo Bar & Cantinas $$
201 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
760-693-5393
https://bit.ly/35xq51E
Nana’s Kitchen $$
502 W. Aten Rd., Imperial, CA 92251
760-457-6077
https://bit.ly/3zCHvri
Nicky’s Mexican Restaurant 644 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227
442-646-9492
bit.ly/44zYV71
Patty’s Loncheria $$ 1191 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227
760-960-9023
https://bit.ly/3B3hjHd
Puerto Nuevo Patio & Grill $$
395 Broadway, El Centro, CA 92243
760-336-0430
https://bit.ly/3iMIrUj
Rosa's Plane Food Inc. $$
445 S. Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231
760-890-8860
https://bit.ly/3q5sg5Q
Rosa's Plane Food Inc. $$ 1523 Main St., El Centro, CA 92243
442-231-8040
https://bit.ly/3q5sg5Q
Sobe's Restaurant $
1151 S. 4th St. EL Centro, CA 92243
760-352-6838 sobesrestaurant.com
Sofia’s Kitchen $$
395 A St Ste B Brawley, CA 92227
760-623-1777
bit.ly/3HkRx5Z
Sofia’s Seafood & Grill $$
132 S Plaza St. Brawley, CA 92227
760-623-1080 bit.ly/3NbNgFO
Sombrero Mexican Food $$
703 E. Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243
760-337-2160
https://bit.ly/3xyamev
Tacos De Pescado Marlyn $$ 1614 S 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243
760-353-1686
https://bit.ly/2SAvbaI
The Burrito Factory $$
130 S. Imperial Ave. #3458, El Centro, CA 92243
760-693-5110
https://bit.ly/3zxSGSd
Virginia's Casita $ 645 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227
760-351-2386
https://bit.ly/3b41jck
Calendar of Events
Spring and summer may heat up in the Southwest Desert, but the communities of the Imperial Valley and beyond offer an array of events to take the sting out of the weather and put the sizzle in fun. Planned events and activities in the region fill the spring and summer 2025 calendar with options for everyone to enjoy. From family-friendly activities to cultural celebrations and plenty of ways to cool off, there are plenty of ways to connect, create, and celebrate.
May 7-11
Family Fiddle Camp
8 a.m.- 9 p.m.
PRINTING
SHIPPING
MAILBOXES
NOTARY* PACKING RETURNS COPYING SCANNING
FAXING
SHREDDING**
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.
Whispering Winds - 17606 Harrison
Park Road, Julian Workshops, Lessons, Presentations California Bluegrass Association www.californiabluegrass.org
May 7
Learning & Loteria
5-7 p.m.
320 Heber Ave, Calexico
IVC Student Equity
May 8
Inaugural Kurt Honnold Memorial Golf Tournament
10 a.m.
Ram's Hill Golf Club
IV Food Bank tinyurl.com/2p6fdrdk
NEW LOCATION
1002 N IMPERIAL AVE STE 2
EL CENTRO, CA 92243
p: (760) 693-5145
f: (760) 693-5145
e: theupsstore.com/7057
HOURS MON-FRI: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM SAT: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM SUN: 10:00 AM -3:00 PM
May 15
4th Annual Margarita Showdown
6-10 p.m.
IV Food Bank
Pre-sale tickets $25, includes five tastings, a small plate of nachos & 5 drawing tickets.
$30 at the door. 21+
IV Regional Chamber of Commerce www.ivregionalchamber.com/ events-1/4th-annual-margaritashowdown-battle-of-the-bars
May 15
Holtville Farmers Market & Street Fair
5- 8:30 p.m.
Holt Park, Holtville
Live music, vendors, and more! Featuring the BUHS Rock Band Facebook/CityofHoltville1
May 16
In the Park After Dark 4 to 10 p.m.
Eager Park
An event filled with exotic flavors and a concert in the park www.cityofimperial.org/2025-parkafter-dark
May 17 & 18
Spring Art Show
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Julian Town Hall, 2129 Main St., Julian Julian Arts Guild www.julianartsguild.org
May 17
IV Community Foundation 12th Annual Golf Tournament
Del Rio Country Club, Brawley
May 17
Campo Market
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
8 Crestwood Road, Boulevard
May 17
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Event
Noon to 3 p.m.
375 1st St., El Centro
IV Social Justice Committee www.facebook.com/ivsjc
May 17
Paul Rodriguez - Live On Stage
7 p.m.
111 Yourman Road, Heber Prestige Event Center tinyurl.com/ysrwtp8f
May 24
USS Midway Patriotic Concert
Imperial Valley Master Chorale Noon on the flight deck
USS Midway Museum, 910 S. Harbor Drive, San Diego www.midway.org
May 24-26
Julian Gem Show
Town Hall - 2129 Main St., Julian Julian Chamber of Commerce
Julian Chamber of Commerce www.juliangemshow.com
May 26
Celebration of Memorial Day
June 1
"A Salute to Freedom¨ 4 p.m
Imperial Valley Master Chorale Pioneers Museum, Imperial
Celebrating our great country & the people who have fought for our freedom imperialvalleychoralsociety.com
June 7
4th Annual Music Festival
Noon to 6:30 p.m.
2712 Washington St., Julian, Ca.
Julian Heritage Foundation & Julian Chamber www.juliantownsquare.org
June 13
Summer Kickoff Pool Party 5 to 9 p.m.
El Centro Aquatic Center tinyurl.com/2hmvypye
June 7
Juneteenth Celebration
Noon to 5 p.m.
MLK Jr. Pavilion, 770 Park Ave. El Centro I V Social Justice Committee www.facebook.com/ivsjc
June 14
El Centro PAL Heat Stroke Tournament Del Rio Country Club
El Centro PAL www.elcentropal.org/fundraising-events.html
June 21
Taste of Julian 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Town Hall - 2129 Main St., Julian Julian Chamber of Commerce www.visitjulian.com
July 4
Celebration of Independence Day
July 4
Calipatria Fireworks Spectacular 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Imperial Valley Desert Museum
11 Frontage Rd, Ocotillo, CA
Ph: 760-358-7016
Open: Wednesday – Sunday 10 AM – 4
PM
Cost: General Admission $5
Website: ivdesertmuseum.org
Pioneers Museum
373 Aten Rd., Imperial, CA
Ph: 760-352-1165
North International Blvd., Calipatria Calipatria Foundation www.calipatria.com
July 4
Julian 4th of July Activities and Parade 9:30 a.m. to noon
Main Street, Julian www.julianparade.com
July 4
4th of July Fireworks Spectacular 6 to 9 p.m.
Desert Sun Stadium-1280 W. Desert Sun Dr., Yuma, Az
City of Yuma www.visityuma.com
Imperial Valley Museums
Open: September thru May
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM
Cost: General Admission $10
Students/Active Duty/Senior Citizens $5
Children under 5 . . . . . . . . FREE
Website: pioneersmuseum.net
Center of the World in Felicity "Museum of History in Granite¨
History of Humanity / The Church / Maze of Honor
Center of the World Plaza, Felicity, CA
Ph: 760-572-0100
Open: Nov 1 – April 30
(Guided Tours) Daily – 10 AM – 5 PM MST
May 1 – Oct 31
(Self Guided Tour) -7 AM – 7 PM
Costs – Include Parking
Adults $10
Children (5-12) $5
Children (Under 5) ...... FREE
Website: Historyingranite.org
of service
Imperial County Courthouse Celebrates century
By Bill Gay
The Imperial County Courthouse is a timeless landmark in El Centro.
From humble beginnings in a “temporary” building in 1907 to the Beaux-Arts masterpiece that was dedicated in 1924 at 393 West Main St. in El Centro, the courthouse embodies the evolving identity and increasing caseload of the judicial system in Imperial County.
As the building marked its 100th anniversary in 2024, the court underwent its latest transition. That is when the criminal courts were centralized in a newly built, ultramodern facility on Wake Avenue,
midway between the historic courthouse and the Imperial County Jail.
Yet, change is nothing new to the historic county courthouse. The county administrative offices had also resided in the building until they were relocated across the street in the 1970s.
courthouse. The county administrative
Today, civil, probate, family, juvenile, small claims, and traffic cases are still heard in the iconic Main Street courthouse.
Imperial County's judicial history began in November 1907, when the region was established as California’s youngest county. To meet the immediate needs of the new county government, officials constructed a temporary courthouse on Main Street in El Centro. Built from hollow tiles, this structure was
intentionally designed to be repurposed for business use once a permanent courthouse was completed.
This practical foresight, as noted by historian Otis Tout in "The First 30 Years," demonstrated the pragmatic approach of county officials to rapid development. The temporary courthouse served for the next 17 years as the nucleus for legal and governmental activities during the county’s formative years.
However, as Imperial County grew
The Elks Lodge building in El Centro. - Photo by Bill Gay
The Imperial County Courthouse on Main Street in El Centro.
- Photo by Bill Amidon
in both population and significance, the need for a larger, more permanent structure became apparent, according to Tout’s book. Designed by architects Ralph Swearingen and Don W. Wells, the then-new courthouse was a stunning example of Beaux-Arts architecture, embodying grandeur and stability that emerged from Paris to the United States in the late 1800s and faded from popularity during the Depression in the 1930s.
Built at a cost of $350,000, the courthouse was dedicated in
November 1924 with great fanfare. The ceremony blended historical reflection and Masonic tradition, with Grand Master D. J. Reese of Ventura leading the cornerstone ceremony and Judge Franklin J. Cole delivering a keynote address.
The dedication drew a crowd from across the region, including a delegation from San Diego. Visitors marveled at the edifice’s modern amenities and elegant design, which were considered the pinnacle of courthouse architecture in California at the time.
The old temporary courthouse building was sold to the El Centro Elks Lodge in 1925 for $25,000.
As Tout noted, “The dedication of Imperial County’s new $350,000 courthouse in El Centro took place in November 1924. The crowds visited the county offices and courtrooms and found the whole structure the most modern in the entire State of California.”
The new courthouse quickly became the heart of Imperial County’s legal and
CONTINUED PAGE 31
A historical photo of the Imperial County Courthouse, dedicated in 1924.
To keep the games fair for everyone, regardless of skill level, there is a handicap system.
“It evens the playing field so that everyone has a chance to win, no matter who you are, even if a lower average team playing against a higher average team,” Patsy Robinson said.
Competition is certainly a part of league play. Team scores are tallied with the goal of reaching the league’s finals and the possibility of being crowned champion. Part of the cost for
competing in league play (up to $30 a week, per league) goes toward prize money. Every team wins a portion of that money based on its ranking.
Yet, bowlers say the league is more about bringing together friends and families. Kristina Shields, 42, of Imperial, spoke as she bowled with her husband, Cory, and their son, Travis.
“I started bowling three years ago,” she said. “My friend, Meghan (Meghan Patton of Imperial, also there bowling), got me involved, and then I got my
husband involved, and then our son joined us. We just have a lot of fun.”
The leagues build a family atmosphere.
“This league is family,” said Brawley resident Kenny Robertson, 39. “Everybody here is cool, but we all break each other’s chops.”
For Robertson’s father, Terry, 71, the love for bowling was a form of healing after COVID.
“I got sick with COVID and was in a coma for a month,”
Terry said. “When I woke up, I
Stephen Moore - Photos by Joselito N. Villero
had to learn how to walk, eat… everything. When I got out of the hospital, I wanted to return to bowling.
“It meant the world to me when I was finally able to bowl again, and it means the world to me to be here bowling with my son.”
For Stalnaker, bowling is rich with memories. He remembers bowling in one professional tournament alongside two of the earliest professional bowlers, the late Dick Webber, often referred to as the “Father of Bowling,” and the late Don Carter. Both men are noted in the annals of bowling for being among the greatest ever in the sport.
Though not a professional bowler, Stalnaker had qualified through a tournament in La Mesa to bowl in a professional national tournament held in San Diego.
“They kicked my ass,” Stalnaker joked. “I think I thought I was better than I was, but what an experience.”
He added, “Bowling has been such a big part of my life. I can still come out here and whip the younger guys.”
Joyce Ingram, 88, of Brawley, a bowler since 1964, is still competitive. Asked if she ever gets angry while bowling, the answer is emphatic. “I get angry if I don’t bowl well and let my team down.”
Still, Ingram said it’s really about having fun and being with friends more than anything else.
“I love the people I have met here,” she said. “I love seeing the people I know. They are all so kind to me, and that means a lot.”
Anyone interested in joining league play can contact the Imperial Valley USBC at https://imperialvalleyusbc.com/ contact/. To participate, bowlers must become a USBC member for $25 per year, plus the weekly cost of league play. Grace Chan
Curtis, 61, owns Leo’s Pro Shop located in the Valley’s only bowling center, PlayZone Bowling and Amusement in El Centro. He is also a certified bowling instructor and the one who customizes the balls by drilling proper finger holes to meet a bowler’s needs.
It’s no simple task to customize a ball. It requires an understanding of both science and math.
“I take the bowlers out to the lanes to see how they roll the ball, their rotation, their positive access point. Once I have those vectors, I do the math… geometry basically,” said Curtis, who has a degree in math and physics from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Mexicali.
He added, “With those vectors, I determine how to lay out the ball to help the bowler as much as I can, so they can enjoy and grow with bowling like it’s supposed to be.”
Bowlers rave about the difference Curtis has made in their game.
“Fred will watch me throw the ball and then drill it in a manner that enhances the way I roll it,” said Brawley resident Patsy Robinson, president of the Imperial Valley chapter of the U.S. Bowling Congress (USBC), which oversees the local bowling leagues. “He has an eye to where he can help each bowler, and
he is very skilled at what he does.”
Mickey Dale, of Imperial and a league bowler, agreed. “Fred is very knowledgeable, not just in drilling the balls but as an instructor.”
Dale added that when one of the bowlers Curtis coached does well, “it means as much to him as anything.”
Inside Curtis’ pro shop is as much a science lab and workstation as a storefront.
Ask him what makes a high-quality bowling ball different from a standard ball, and he brings out a dissected one.
Where a standard bowling ball is plastic or a polyurethane all the way to its core, a higher quality ball has a weighted inner core with varying designs that guide the ball’s spin.
“It’s like the weighted engine of the ball,” Curtis said.
Bowlers have to consider the inner core design when selecting a bowling ball. Additionally, most high-quality bowling balls do not have pre-drilled finger holes. Those are drilled into a ball as part of the customization process, at which Curtis excels.
“Bowling is all about the angles and the math,” said Curtis, who at one time was a high school math teacher in Mexicali. “Everything that is involved
with bowling is my passion.”
Curtis has been a bowler since he was 7 years old, when his father, an avid bowler, introduced him to the sport on his birthday. From that moment, he fell in love with the sport, and he played with his father every weekend as he grew up in El Monte.
That love for the sport continued when he moved to the Valley at age 12.
When the former Brunswick Zone bowling facility opened in 2006, in the location now occupied by PlayZone, Curtis served as general manager. He was involved in helping to design the facility’s bowling lanes.
Over the years, he also became a USBC-certified bowling instructor.
For the last 20 years, he owned Leo’s Pro Shop stores in both Yuma and El Centro, but today, he has scaled back to just the El Centro store. He now divides his time between operating the pro shop, including his customization work, and coaching bowlers of all ages.
That coaching has included one of his two sons, Michael Curtis, 28, who has become a professional bowler.
“It’s an honor to help others and see them fall in love with the sport,” Curtis said.
Fred Curtis, owner of Leo's Pro Shop, takes measurement for gripping finger holes on a bowling ball. -Photo by Joselito N. Villero
civic life. The building served as a venue for trials and the location of county administrative offices. It became a cornerstone of the county’s identity, and its pictures are still frequently used to signify Imperial County.
The courthouse has faced its share of challenges, including natural disasters common in California. A few strong earthquakes over the years caused significant damage, but the building’s robust construction and the county’s dedication to its preservation ensured it remained operational. Repairs and reinforcements balanced historic preservation with modern functionality, allowing the courthouse to continue serving the community.
In recent years, the courthouse has adapted to technological advancements and increased demands while retaining its original character. This blend of preservation and progress ensures its continued relevance as a judicial and cultural hub.
On Nov. 21, 2024, the Imperial County Courthouse celebrated its 100th anniversary, which honored its rich history and diverse community. The celebration featured mariachi performances, folklórico dancers, and a historical presentation by Judge Christopher J. Plourd.
The event underscored the courthouse’s role as more than just a structure: it is a living monument to the visionaries who built it, the legal professionals who work within it, and the community members it serves.
Donna Hampton went to work for the IID shortly after she graduated from Central Union High School in 1964 and joined Stadler’s department shortly after Dippy Duck came along in 1966.
persons: one from electric shock, another (a) drowning victim. We knew we were on the right track!”
Hampton introduced Dippy to local schools beginning in the Spring of 1967
Hampton remembers she would through the drop noted, “Look at
Hampton remembers she would tell students that IID workers who witnessed the duck going through the drop noted, “Look at that dippy duck.” She added, “The water guys enjoyed saying that.”
Once Gay’s mascot idea was accepted, Dippy’s story “went from the drop to the studio,” Hampton said, thanks to the work of Stadler, a New York native. She noted the “idea was there, but there was no mascot image and no dialogue.”
Hampton said that without an image to show, “Stadler was quite
creative in talking to members of the (IID) board,” as he sought funding for the initiative. She noted that some of the board members were conservative farmers and might have been skeptical about adopting a mascot and funding the program. Ultimately, the Dippy Duck concept was assigned to Jack Brady Productions in Hollywood.
the Dippy Duck cartoon to one group of children when a little girl approached her shyly and said, ‘I liked that very much. Thank you, Mrs. Duck.”
Brady was a former public relations executive who, according to his 2004 Los Angeles Times obituary, wrote, directed, and produced documentary films about alternative energy sources for Los Angeles-area utilities, including the Metropolitan Water District, Southern California Edison, and the Port of Los Angeles. Brady’s work, initially a film strip cartoon with music and presentation equipment, was contained in a suitcase that Hampton and later Linda Sanchez took to school presentations.
The launch of Dippy Duck from its original concept into the icon it is today is the result of the work of many people in those early years. IID Executive Secretary Helen French helped coordinate many aspects of the program.
presentations.
schools
Within a few years, 18,000 kindergarten through grade six students at 40 schools were being introduced to Dippy Duck in 132 separate presentations annually, according to an article in the 1973 IID, “Here’s The Scoop” newsletter. Coincidentally, perhaps in tribute to Stadler, Brady’s version of Dippy had a Brooklyn accent, Hampton said.
Jamie Hartshorn, during her time in the public information office, recalls writing a Dippy Duck song to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". "It conveyed the program's main message: “Dippy Duck says stay away—canals are not a place to play.” Sanchez picked up where Hampton left off and took Dippy’s canal safety message into the 21st Century. Sanchez said the safety program was extremely welcome in the schools. “I don’t ever remember going to a school and getting turned down. We had a wonderful relationship with them.”
She did say there were some bumps in the road. Such as when a trip to De Anza School, during a hot day, was disrupted when all of the Dippy Duck Coloring Book crayons melted. “That was a big flop.”
A June 1968 edition of the IID employee newsletter relates how the duck image connected with students. “Here’s the Scoop” states that Hampton “had just finished showing
The IID’s public information office leads the program and contracts with the Imperial-based communications firm, Conveyor Group, to bring Dippy into the schools. And most recently, a new dimension has been added to the mascot: electrical safety.
But the lasting impact of Dippy
Duck has been to save lives.
This year, 21,000 kindergarten through sixth-grade students in 46 schools will see the program in 168 presentations. Additionally, Dippy will visit 30 community and educational events, Senior Public Affairs Coordinator Stella Jimenez told the IID board in April. Dippy Duck, along with the
undergrounding of IID canals near populated areas, has made drownings in local canals a rarity today.
Sanchez, who was 8 years old when the two 13-year-olds lost their lives in the Holtville-area canal, vividly remembers that incident. Hampton, Hartshorn, Sanchez, and all the current IID employees and
contractors working with the program still share a commitment to make sure such tragedies never happen again.
Next year, Dippy will celebrate 60 years of service—a quirky duck with a serious mission, whose legacy is written not just in brochures or coloring books, but in the lives that have been quietly, powerfully, saved.
Flores opened his own graphics and printing business in Brawley—Ted’s Signs and Graphics.
That was when Flores began working for the Mid-Winter Fair, first as an assistant to Lamat and then as the lead designer after Lamat's retirement. His talent was quickly recognized across the state. Over time, his work has extended to fairs in Glenn, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Plumas, Modoc, Lassen, Alameda counties, and even the Del Mar fair in San Diego County. He also created displays over a seven-year period for various counties that were featured at the Sacramento State Fair.
During that time, his two oldest children, Michael and Cindy Flores, traveled with him to help with those displays. Flores is gratified that both Michael and Cindy have pursued careers in the arts.
Michael owns a graphics company in San Diego, the Graphic Group, and Cindy is director for sales and exhibits for an Atlanta, Georgia-based company, Shepard Exposition Services. It organizes commercial displays and exhibits nationwide.
would have him create posters, for example, for the Brawley football team, for display in the gym.
After high school, Flores continued to study art and graphic design at IVC. He was also quite skilled in woodworking. He eventually was hired by a friend, Tull Heath, to work for C-R Printers in Brawley. The company’s owner, Randy Heath, Tull’s father, wasn’t convinced about hiring Flores.
“I proved myself to him when he found that I loved to do woodworking, which he loved as well,” Flores said.
Later, Flores opened Plaza Printers in Brawley with Lupe Navarro, and Lupe’s wife, Bonnie. Eventually,
Flores’ three younger children have all developed successful careers in other fields. Kassandra Flores is a correctional officer at Calipatria State Prison; Ericka Flores is working on a nurse practitioner degree at San Diego State University, and his youngest, Teodoro Flores, is a firefighter with the Calexico Fire Department.
“I always tried to teach my kids to excel in whatever they do,” Flores said. “That has been a main focus of my life. That was what my father and mother did with us when they were struggling to survive.”
Today, Flores is primarily retired, but his work for the local fair continues. “I don’t mind coming in early or staying late because I love what I’m doing,” he said. “It’s a challenge every year, but it is so gratifying.”
Fair Chief Executive Officer Alan Phillips said Flores’ work is essential to the fair, and it meant a great deal to see him honored this year.
“Ted is an amazing human being who would do anything for you,” Phillips said. “Artistically, he is amazing with the ideas he comes up with and how he takes those ideas from paper and makes them a reality, whether painting or building something.
“Over the years, he’s built rivers and lakes, and he has been so important in conveying our themes to the community,” Phillips added.
Flores said he is ready to design the display for next year’s fair. “All I need is a theme, and I’ll be ready to roll.”
From Left: Alan Phillips and Cherisse Alford recognize Ted Flores for his service to the fair. - Photo courtesy of the California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta
assured when all links in the food chain are interconnected, taking preventive measures at each step.
“Food safety is a shared responsibility, and CDFA remains committed to enhanced produce safety efforts for Californians and beyond through active collaboration and engagement with regulatory, academia, and agricultural industries,” the website stated.
The Arizona longitudinal study determined that airborne dust from a large feedlot was potentially a factor in the contamination of the irrigation water.
Trimm said that, in addition to CDFA, the working group includes USDA, LGMA, Western Growers Association, and agricultural organizations.
That is what takes IVVGA’s Trimm behind the scenes as part of a collaborative working group organized by CDFA following the 2024 release of a multi-year study by the University of Arizona and partner agencies into the cause of a 2018 E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce grown in southwestern Arizona.
“We work on how to make sure what happened in Arizona doesn’t affect us,” she said. “The state has been an incredible partner in this process,” she said.
The working group meets by Zoom every few weeks to consider potential points of concern and the effectiveness of food safety protections already in place. E. coli is associated with animal waste,
so large cattle feeding operations, sheep, and composting are all on the working group’s agenda, Trimm said.
Trimm said in January that she organized a trip to the Valley for the group’s researchers, which included a tour of Mesquite Cattle Feeders located east of Brawley.
“They were impressed,” she said. “They all were incredibly surprised at how clean everything was.”
Meanwhile, the working group continues to meet and dig deep into the food safety culture that permeates Imperial County agriculture.
“We are now creating a toolbox of protocols and practices to protect Valley produce and consumers,” Trimm said.
said Sara Griffen, executive director of the Imperial Valley Food Bank. “She proves time and time again that art is a powerful way to tell a story.”
With a goal in mind, Alvarez began storyboarding her vision.
“My first idea was a coloring book, but quickly decided I wanted a picture book for loved ones to read with a child,” she said. “For the grant application, I created a 500-word book based on my memories.”
In 2023, she was one of 60 artists in San Diego and Imperial counties to receive a portion of a $2.6 million grant from Far South/Border North, a California Creative Corps arts program, led by the city of San Diego and implemented through a regional collaborative. Issues covered by the grants include such public health topics as stopping the spread of COVID-19 and associated diseases, health disparities, water and energy conservation, climate change mitigation, civic engagement, and social justice and community engagement.
After receiving the grant, Alvarez went to work educating herself about the writing and illustration process necessary to self-publish a book through Amazon.
“I took a MasterClass in writing
children’s books and began learning to create digital art that would look like my own oil paintings,” Alvarez said. “It took a lot of practice, but by the end of the process, I was able to create digital images of my grandmother, children, and grandchildren that looked like I had painted them.”
The result of her passion is the soonto-be-published book “Edmund and the Puzzle of Nana’s Memories.” The story follows 10-year-old Edmund, who lives with his parents and, the “heart and soul of the family,” his grandmother Nana.
Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, Edmund spends more time with Nana and discovers she is facing new health challenges of her own. Through the time spent together, the little boy discovers how he and his family can learn important steps to support and comfort Nana with love, patience, and understanding.
“This book was written with the hope of bringing
children and the elderly together. Empowering the child in us all, as we face the challenges of life,” said Alvarez Alvarez’s daughter, Celeste, can attest to the importance of this book and the message it delivers.
“Alzheimer’s disease is heartwrenching for adults and children, but if there are honest conversations and feelings shared, everyone can pitch in to get through it,” she said. “My mom was able to create something of beauty on these pages that will remind you that you can’t go through life alone and family is everything.”
Alvarez’s mom, Nicolasa M. Silva, succumbed to her illness this spring at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband and is survived by her five children, along with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who continue to celebrate her life and legacy.
“My mother was a woman who selflessly supported her husband, and protected, guided, and cared for her five children from daybreak to nightfall,” said Alvarez. “She provided a foundation for our family based on support, love, and the knowledge that we all have endless opportunities for greater possibilities. I am forever grateful to her and my father, Manlio L. Silva.”
Elsa Alvarez and her dog Sacha at work in her studio. - Photos by Joselito N. Villero
anyone else I know,” Julie Dunn, president of the Desert Quilters, said. “She is a disciplined maker and keeps meticulous records of the hundreds of quilts she has made.”
Though Berg no longer operates a quilt shop, she continues to contribute to the local quilting community by teaching workshops with the local guild, the Desert Quilters of Imperial Valley.
“Elaine has made so many quilts and has experience with different techniques; she is an excellent resource for sharing tips on some of the challenging techniques,” said Dunn.
Decades of quilt production have yielded 719 completed quilts, hundreds of which Berg uses to decorate her house. Layers of quilts hang on racks, and some are displayed on dowels as wall hangings. Some of her quilts are displayed in groups inspired by common patterns and color schemes. Other quilts are gifted to family and friends, with some quilts traveling as far as Canada.
“I’ve got such a fabric stash, so I will use a pattern over and over again,” said Berg. “There’s so much diversity and texture in the fabric that even when you use the same cloth, it is never going to be the same quilt twice.”
Berg approaches quilting like a mathematical equation. To her, a classic quilt pattern needs a different fabric solution.
The hundreds of blocks she sews for her quilts are pulled from classic patterns like Log Cabin, Ohio Star, and Drunkard’s Path from the quilter’s “bible,”— Judy Hopkin’s “501 RotaryCut Block Quilts” (2008). She also draws patterns for the quilts she makes from contemporary quilting magazines.
“There’s so many new designs coming out, with younger designers pulling inspiration from the old patterns and changing them a little and using new fabrics,” said Berg.
Continuing to teach quilting is not only a way to stay up to date with the latest trends, but is also a lifeline for interacting with other quilters.
“In the guild, we all tap into each other’s knowledge and share easier or interesting ways to complete different techniques,” Dunn said. “Even though we are learning and working our quilts, we also benefit from socializing on a regular basis.”
For Berg, her quilts are nestled alongside her other favorite things, including the childhood doll for which she made her first quilt, decorative family heirlooms, and a prized possession— her grandmother’s sewing machine.
Berg has no intention of slowing her quilting.
“I'll probably be like my grandmother—she died at her sewing machine,” Berg said.
Elaine Berg's grandmother's sewing machine - Photo by Sue Gay
Nation al Stress FINDING BALANCE FOR A HEALTHY
ince 1992, April has marked National Stress Awareness Month, and in recognition of the month, Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) wants to remind Imperial Valley
residents that self-care is critical to managing stress, but if anyone needs additional support, ICBHS is here to help. Congress designated April as National Stress Awareness Month to bring heightened
awareness about the impacts of stress on people’s everyday lives, and to highlight how to keep stress from becoming a prolonged lifestyle that can cause both mental and physical health concerns.
Awareness Month BALANCE IS ESSENTIAL HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Eufemio Anaya, Behavioral Health Supervising Therapist in ICBHS’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program, said it is important for people to pay attention to how they are feeling, and to take steps to help themselves throughout the day when stress builds. Such steps can be as simple as taking a break, breathing or going for a walk.
“We can get used to stress and normalize it, which is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle,” Anaya said. “We want to be aware and recognize when we are getting stressed and take steps to manage it.”
To cope with stress, it can be helpful to understand the physiological components. Stress results when the body’s sympathetic nervous system, which controls the response to perceived dangers, is activated. The result is not necessarily negative as the sympathetic nervous system helps keep the mind alert. However, that reaction needs to be balanced with the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body relax. The two systems can be complementary when balanced, but when not in balance, that’s when stress can become prolonged and generate health issues.
SIGNS STRESS IS BECOMING HARMFUL:
Interferes with sleep
Leads to irritability
Impacts relationships
Makes it di cult to complete tasks
Causes prolonged muscle tension and headaches
Triggers restlessness and nervousness that doesn’t stop
Transitions into a sense of anxiety and depression
WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS
Get a proper amount of sleep
Make time for exercise or other enjoyable activities
Eat a well-balanced diet
Learn new skills
Maintain social connections
Practice mindfulness
Part of stress comes from focusing on catastrophic thoughts about what will happen in the future, also known as focusing on “what if” thoughts.
Anaya said learning coping skills, like those associated with mindfulness, can help move away from a focus on negative thoughts.
“It’s a practice that can rewire your brain to manage stress and anxiety,” he said.
focus on breathing through the diaphragm, which helps engage the parasympathetic nervous system and allows the body to relax.
Another mindfulness method is a meditative practice of focusing on the present rather than the future. This can be done by observing your surroundings (engaging your senses), describing something, like what you are feeling, and through participating in an activity.
Anaya added it essential that when taking these steps that they be done in a way where you do not judge yourself, where you place your focus on one activity at a time rather than multi-tasking, and that you do an activity that you know will be e ective for you.
As an example, one might gain benefit from progressive muscle relaxation where you tense up and then relax one muscle at a time from your toes to your head. If you know that practice works for you, focus on that one method and do so without judging yourself.
“You want to incorporate strategies that can help you balance stress in your daily life caused by certain challenges you may face,” Anaya said.
One way to practice mindfulness is to
For anyone in need of additional support, contact ICBHS at (442)-2651525 or 1-800-817-5292. To receive more information regarding behavioral health services, visit the department’s website at www.bhs.imperialcounty.org.
