TheStandard_Vol10_Issue3.pdf

MARCH 2022 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3 THESTANDARDPS.COM @THESTANDARDPS

HEALTH TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE IT DAP HEALTH NEW VISION FOR “THE CHASE” THE SKINNY ON BODY LIFT SURGERY TOM ANGORA’S PERSONAL JOURNEY WELLNESS 8 WAYS TO IMPROVE HEART HEALTH

CONTENTS VOLUME 10, ISSUE 3 MARCH 2022 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3 THESTANDARDPS.COM @THESTANDARDPS

theStandardPS.com HEALTH TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE IT DAP HEALTH NEW VISION FOR “THE CHASE” THE SKINNY ON BODY LIFT SURGERY TOM ANGORA’S PERSONAL JOURNEY WELLNESS 8 WAYS TO IMPROVE HEART HEALTH

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ALONE RELEASES ODE TO HIS TRANS SIBLINGS

MUSIC

PAGES 41-42

Volume 10 Issue 3 COVER DAP HEALTH A NEW VISION FEATURE THE SKINNY ON BODY LIFT SURGERY TOM ANGORA TELLS HIS STORY BOOK REVIEW THE CATEGORY IS… HISTORY OF BALLROOM

FEATURE PALM CANYON THEATRE GETTING MAJOR SUPPORT PSP FOCUS LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL CHILDERS HONORED BY CVREP NUTRITION HEALTHY EATING FROM THE SEA MUSIC ALONE RELEASES ODE TO HIS TRANS SIBLINGS MARCH 2022 3

•We are the owners and the managers making it easy for you •We’re for guests who are looking for elegance, privacy, and peace & quiet •We offer all the little extras that make a vacation home special •All homes are pet-friendly, Non-smoking, WiFi enabled and have Smart TVs

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COMMENTARY

The Standard Magazine 400 N Sunrise Way #263 Palm Springs CA 92262 760.831.4869 NINO EILETS Publisher LUCIANO McNULTY Editor MAYA KALABIC Art Director PHOTOGRAPHER David A. Lee CONTRIBUTORS

Jeff Dorta, Steven Henke, John Stein, Barry Dayton, Dr. Heather Shenkman, Jeff Hocker, Jason Salerno, Tim O’Bayley Stacy Holmes, Jack Bunting, Greg Stillwell, Dann Foley, Lee Lynch, Jill Langham & Terri Schlichenmeyer

www.thestandardps.com EDITORIAL CREDITS : BrandPoint, Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation, Project Publicity, MSN, Reuters, NBC News & Artsy The Standard Magazine is published monthly. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of the Standard or its staff, advertisers or readers with exception of editorials.

Publication of the name or photograph of any person, business or organization in articles or advertising in the Standard is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person, business or organization. The Standard disclaims any responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Advertising rates are subject to change without notice. The Standard reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any advertisement for any reason including, but not limited to poor taste. It is the policy of The Standard that we only publish letters to the editor that are signed by the author and verifiable by phone number. We can reserve the right of anonymity upon request. The letters need to be original, in good taste and free of libel as well as edited for clarity and grammar. Letters are subject to editing by The Standard that also reserves the right to decline print. Please forward your letters to: info@thestandardps.com The views expressed is not necessarily those of The Standard. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. No portion of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed consent of

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the publisher.

COVER

GALA LIKE NEVER BEFORE! DAP HEALTH ANNOUNCES NEW VISION FOR ‘THE CHASE’

BY STEVEN HENKE Dap Health announces the 2022 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards ‘The Chase’ returns as an all in-person event on April 9, outdoors, at the Palm Springs Convention Center. DAP Health is making it safer to come together for this yearly tradition, timing it for some of the season’s most ideal evening weather.

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LAURI KIBBY

KEVIN BASS

To buy tickets for The Chase or learn more about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, go to www.dapthealth.org/thechase

and exciting” explains DAP Health CEO, David Brinkman. “We’re going to be mission-centric with our program this year, sharing vital information about our plans for the future of health care.”

Co-chairs Kevin Bass, Lauri Kibby, and Scott Nevins are leading a reinvention of the evening promising that “We’re going to gala like never before.”

This year’s honorees will reflect the community of volunteers and donors that supported DAP Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Los Angles events company JJLA has been tagged to lead that reinvention focusing on an evening filled with entertainment and experiential activations around the outdoor floorplan.

“JJLA is thrilled to work with DAP Health in bringing back the acclaimed Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards in an exciting and reimagined new way as ‘The Chase’. Guests will be welcomed to a lively cocktail and hors d’oeuvres experience with special photo opportunities before being seated in a multi-stage setting for the awards program. The evening will feature legendary performers and exciting up-and-coming talent sure to leave guests excited and thrilled to be back celebrating at one of the desert community’s most iconic events.” says Jeff Consoletti, JJLA Founder, Principal & CEO. Headline entertainment and the evening’s host will be announced shortly.

Beginning at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m. the evening will fund the ongoing mission of DAP Health (formerly Desert AIDS Project) and introduce attendees to the organizations’ Vision Forward plan to expand its campus to serve more than 25,000 individuals.

THE NEED IS GREAT Most view and experience the Coachella Valley as a sublime oasis. But for many, that pristine picture is far from reality. Our neighbors—people of color, people living with HIV/AIDS, people living in poverty, and trans individuals, many of whom have yet found their way to DAP Health—wrestle daily here with pain, sadness, and desperation.

Because a community can only be as strong as its weakest member—as healthy as its sickest—it is crucial that we join forces so that barriers to health and wellness are abolished.

After all, is it not the duty of those standing tall to lift up those who have fallen?

HOW DAP HEALTH IS POISED TO HELP

“The evening will be fashionable and glamorous as attendees have come to expect, but we want the entire experience to feel new

Founded in 1984 by a group of community volunteers in the

MARCH 2022 7

COVER face of the AIDS crisis, DAP Health is an internationally renowned humanitarian healthcare organization. In 2013, the non-profit expanded its scope to care for all marginalized people, regardless of HIV status.

Our goal is to improve the overall health of our entire community—especially the disenfranchised—by providing culturally competent, quality primary and preventative health care and social services on one campus. These include infectious disease care, dentistry, and programs related to mental health, substance use recovery, and sexual wellness.

The expertise, infrastructure, reputation, and donor base atop which DAP Health’s considerable success stands was bolstered by our more recent involvement providing for all those devastated in countless ways by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to 38 years of caring for people directly and indirectly affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other public health emergencies, we have the physical and intellectual resources, the desire, and—most importantly—the imagination to effect even greater positive change in our beloved Coachella Valley community and beyond.

The next epidemic has not yet been named. Just as DAP Health met HIV, HEP C, STIs, and COVID head-on, its team of infectious disease specialists stands ready to protect our community’s health and well-being. With 53% of our community not knowing their HIV status because they have never been tested, our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic and caring for individuals living with HIV will never waver.

DAP HEALTH RISES TO MEET CORE CHALLENGES TODAY: Comprehensive health care access remains uneven. It’s estimated that 46% of our community lives below the federal poverty level.

In communities of color, communities living in poverty, and in the LGBTQIA+ community, DAP Health is removing barriers to care to build a healthier tomorrow.

The mental health crisis requires an intervention. DAP Health is doubling its capacity to deliver life-saving access to psychologists, therapists, and psychiatrists. We know mental health is health, but too many individuals experience shame in asking for the care they need and face challenges when they need it most.

Addiction is a serious problem that requires a therapeutic

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SCOTT NEVINS

solution. Substance use affects the individual and the family that loves them. DAP Health’s patient-centered model of care combines primary care, mental health, outpatient care, and traditional 12step support groups that meet individuals where they are.

Housing is health care. The housing and rental market have made shelter unaffordable for too many hard-working individuals.

Some 2,300 of our neighbors experience homelessness on any given night. DAP Health is adding 61 additional affordable housing units to its campus, increasing its housing capacity by 75%.

DAP Health has earned a national reputation as a one-of-a-kind advocacy-based health care organization. With an 11,000-squaremile service area – roughly the size of the state of Massachusetts – some clients travel from as far away as Blythe on the Arizona border, as well as from the cities, towns, and rural areas of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties.

DAP serves over 10,000 patients today. By 2025, we will serve 25,000 in our expanded medical, dental, and mental health clinics while bringing our total of on-campus housing units to 141. Every month, over 100 new patients walk through the doors of DAP Health seeking quality and comprehensive health care. Because of YOU, those doors are always open.

TRADITION MEETS HEALTH CARE ACCESS For 28 years, The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards ‘The Chase’ has raised millions of dollars for direct patient services at DAP Health while honoring Humanitarians from all corners of the globe. They are people who radiate compassion – who seem to have been born for a higher purpose. Their ex­ample reminds us that everyone can make a positive difference in the lives of others. Since our very beginning, over 36 years ago, DAP Health has listened to the community we serve and taken its lead in solving tomorrow’s challenges. This year’s honorees share DAP Health’s vision of health equity and justice. They are people who have led and continue to inspire others.

With over 15,000 people in need of medical care in our region, DAP Health needs your help today to expand our services.

First organized by and named for famed interior designer Steve Chase — also a DAP Health donor, volunteer, and board member — ‘The Chase’ is a highlight of the desert community’s social season!

Just a few of the honorees, award presenters, and entertainers in the past years have included Ann-Margret, Annette Bloch, Diahann Carroll, Carol Channing, Kristin Chenoweth, Joan Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Queen Latifah, Andy Linsky, Wynonna Judd, George Hamilton, Tom Hanks, Senator Ted Kennedy, Patti LaBelle, Angela Lansbury, Judith Light, Shirley MacLaine, Bob Mackie, Barry Manilow, Harold Matzner, Liza Minnelli, Prof. Luc Montagnier, Megan Mullally, Pauley Perrette, Debbie Reynolds, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Dionne Warwick Your presence at the 28th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, be­ yond supporting our honorees, also signals your continued support for DAP Health’s patients and clients. Attendees are humanitarians helping remove roadblocks to access for quality care and supportive services that allow our patients, who are your neighbors and friends, to live their fullest poten­tial.

OUR SPONSORS PRODUCING: Eisenhower Health MAJOR: Steven Anders/The Elizabeth Firth Wade Endowment, Kevin Bass & Brent Bloesser / Jim Burba & Bob Hayes, Desert Care Network, The Desert Sun \ Local IQ, NBC Palm Springs, Steve Tobin & Johnny Krupa and The Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation SUPPORTING: Acqua California Bistro & Lulu California Bistro, Diageo, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Scott Nevins & Philip Hodges, Walgreens

MARCH 2022 9

COVER

BENEFACTOR: Revive Wellness PATRON: Desert Insurance Solutions, Reaction Marketing & Promotions Inc MEDIA: CV Independent, Gay Desert Guide, Palm Springs Life, PromoHomo.TV, The Hollywood Times, The Standard Magazine IF YOU GO What: The Chase Date: Saturday, April 9, 2022 Location: Palm Springs Convention Center Time: 5:00pm- 10pm

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ABOUT DAP HEALTH DAP Health is an advocacy-based health center in Palm Springs, CA serving over 10,000 patients, offering medical and mental healthcare, STI testing and treatment, dentistry, pharmacy, and lab services. A variety of wraparound services enable patients to experience optimal health, including social services, support groups, alternative therapies, and other wellness services. Excellent HIV care is provided by the largest team of specialized clinicians in the area.

DAP Health opened one of California’s first COVID clinics and hotlines to offer screening, testing, and treatment. DAP Health is also

working to address social determinants of health that are causing negative health outcomes during this pandemic, like food and housing insecurity, joblessness, isolation, and access to ongoing healthcare.

DAP Health’s sexual health clinic offers judgment-free STI testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and HCV testing. DAP Health has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating for the twelfth consecutive year – landing DAP Health in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that DAP Health exceeds industry standards in terms of financial health, accountability, and transparency.

Visit www.daphealth.org to learn more.

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Free STI Testing & Treatment Free PrEP & PEP Services

DAPHealth.org

Sexual Health Free From Judgment 12 THESTANDARDPS.COM

Right. Here.

The men’s health services you want, where you want them.

When it comes to high quality health care, Eisenhower is here for you — now with five great health centers in the Palm Springs area, and an enhanced focus on services that meet the unique health needs of men.

• Primary Care and Eisenhower 365 • HIV Care

• Medical Specialties (Available at South Palm Canyon) ~ Eisenhower Desert Cardiology Center

• Eisenhower Desert Orthopedic Center

~ Gastroenterology

• Imaging and Lab Services

~ Infusion

• Urgent Care

~ Neurology

• Psychology

~ Oncology

• Psychiatry

~ Pain Management

Learn more at PSHealth.EisenhowerHealth.org or call 760-773-1460.

Eisenhower Health Center at Sunrise, 151 S. Sunrise Way Eisenhower Health Center at Rimrock, 4791 E. Palm Canyon Drive Eisenhower Health Center at Plaza del Sol, 1555-C S. Palm Canyon Drive Eisenhower Health Center at South Palm Canyon, 415 S. Palm Canyon Drive Eisenhower Primary Care at North Palm Canyon, 1401 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 202

MARCH 2022 13

FEATURE

THE SKINNY ON BODY LIFT SURGERY FROM A BROADWAY PRODUCER WHO EXPERIENCED IT

BY JASON SALERNO

BEFORE

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6 HOURS AFTER SURGERY

“I don’t have a memory of not struggling with my weight,” reflects Tom D’Angora, the prolific theatre producer behind such productions as Naked Boys Singing!, playing now in New York City and Las Vegas. “It has been a constant battle since I was a young kid. I spent my entire youth morbidly obese. At one point, I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds.”

Looking at him now, it is hard to believe. At 40-years-old, Tom is trimmer, healthier, and more muscular than ever before. His tremendous weight loss won praise from family and friends, as well as his legions of fans in the theatre industry, but all of that changed when Tom decided, as a special gift to himself, to give himself a full body lift.

“I posted about my decision online and the negativity was swift and severe,” he explains. “So many of the comments were about how dangerous the procedure was and how narcissistic I must be to even consider pursuing such a drastic operation.”

Body lift surgery is a procedure used to remove the excess, sagging skin many people are left with after massive weight loss.

It is a specialized subset of cosmetic surgery and very expensive.

Recovery times are long, and it is important that patients choose an experienced cosmetic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

The results are long lasting for those who maintain the weight loss and the rewards are a more youthful, natural appearance and a significant improvement in comfort and self-confidence that can last a lifetime. Tom D’Angora explains more.

How did you lose the weight?

Tom D’Angora: I started off using a weight loss drug called Saxenda, which was very helpful to kick off my weight loss. At the same time, I started Weight Watchers, a great way to get back into portion control and better food choices. I also began light workouts. Four weeks later I kicked it into high gear. I began intense workouts four to six times a week with a very strict low-calorie diet of lean proteins and high fiber foods. I became obsessive with tracking my macros. I lost over 100 lbs. in the first year and around 175 total so far.

Have you reached your goal weight?

Tom D’Angora: I’m very proud of my current weight and the fact that I have kept it off through the pandemic, but I do not know that I have hit my body goals yet. I want to be leaner, stronger. I’m still working on packing on more muscle.

How are you keeping the weight off?

Tom D’Angora: It’s all about eating well and working out. I’ve learned fad diets do not work; lifestyle changes do. I’m blessed to have found a local gym that I love and that inspires me. I have also developed this random talent where I can recreate almost any dish and cut out 75% of the calories, while maintaining the flavor and

TODAY

integrity of the meal! You should taste my low-cal shrimp scampi!

How confident are you that you will be able to maintain these habits?

Tom D’Angora: We never know what life is going to throw at us. Circumstances change from day to day and when they do, our eating habits and bodies change as well. There are very few people who have struggled with weight loss who haven’t “fallen off the proverbial horse.” Even if you fall 500 times, I say, just keep trying. It probably took me eighty tries to finally get to this point and I can say that I’m the most optimistic I have ever been about maintaining it.

Why did you go public with your plastic surgery?

Tom D’Angora: To inform and inspire others in my situation.

Is there a stigma attached to plastic surgery?

Tom D’Angora: Without a doubt, but I have refused to buy into it or allow it anywhere near me. Listen, I not only needed my surgery, but I also earned it. For years, I’ve not been able to wear the proper pants size, and after weight loss, I still couldn’t because of the excess skin that hurt both emotionally and physically. I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish, and I don’t want to hide it. As the great Samantha Jones said in season 5 of Sex and the City: “People

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FEATURE shouldn’t have to hide in the shadows because they’ve had cosmetic surgery, which society nearly demands of them.”

What about the dangers?

Tom D’Angora: I had so much anxiety going into surgery, but it turned out the unknown was far worse than the surgery itself. A big reason why I’m speaking out is that I want others to know that as long as they find a reputable, licensed, and experienced surgeon, they should go into the operating room with confidence and peace of mind. I’m not endorsing any doctor or facility. No one is paying me to say this.

How do you feel today?

Tom D’Angora: I feel amazing. Like I can achieve anything I set my mind to! I feel younger at 43 than I did at 37. I feel so strong, and I have the energy level I did in my 20s.

What can you do now that you couldn’t do when you were heavier?

Tom D’Angora: I sleep better. I go on long walks. I can wear clothes! I sit comfortably in a theatre seat. I’m truly the happiest I’ve been in years.

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How has your weight loss impacted your relationship with your partner?

Tom D’Angora: We have been together twenty years, and he loves me the same no matter what I weigh, which is equal parts frustrating and sweet.

What is your advice to others who are considering plastic surgery?

Tom D’Angora: Everyone’s journey is different. The very best advice I can give from my personal forty-year battle is to never compare your journey and results with anyone else’s. Try to love the body you have, because it’s one of the only things on this planet that is truly yours. I’ve yet to fully take that advice and apply it to my own journey, but I’m working on it and I’m making progress. The bottom line is that I’ve accepted the fact that my body will forever be a work in progress. I’m ok with as long as I continue to do the work and make progress.

Follow Tom D’Angora on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tomdangora/

Help us evaluate a new approach to HIV treatment

with the DYNAMIC (research) study.

If you recently learned that you are living with HIV, joining a clinical research study may be one option for you to consider.

You may qualify for the DYNAMIC study if: • You are at least 18 years old.

• You have been diagnosed with HIV. • You have not started treatment for HIV. There are other requirements you will need to meet. The study doctor will review these with you.

The DYNAMIC study is testing an investigational medication in combination with an approved HIV medication. By joining a study like DYNAMIC, you can help move HIV research forward.

Participation is voluntary. If you join this study, you can change your mind and leave at any time. It is always best to discuss a research study with your doctor first so he or she can help you decide if the study may be right for you.

Investigational medications and studyrelated tests and procedures will be provided at no cost.

To learn more, visit dynamichivstudy.com or call:

DAP Health Greg Jackson 760-992-0445

GSK212483_DYNAMIC_Print Ad_V1.0_15Jul2021_US_ENG

MARCH 2022 17

Just for the health of it Shop. Donate. Care.

Support the community you want to create. Every purchase funds comprehensive care at DAP Health.

Dr. Christopher Foltz, Infectious Disease Physician, holds the Turquoise Pineapple Lamp.

Find yourself at revivalsstores.com 18 THESTANDARDPS.COM

BOOK REVIEW

ALWAYS OVERBOOKED

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER You love Bette Davis.

Always have, always will. Ever since Madonna vowed that she did, too, you’ve voiced your passion while you Vogued, white-gloved hands splayed, slap the floor, frame, pose, pose, pose. It’s not All About Eve this time; it’s all about you when you dance like that. And in the new book “And the Category Is...” by Ricky Tucker, you know where you do it.

The culture known as Ballroom is a little hard to define.

It’s not a single song, although you can’t have Ballroom without music. It’s not one specific place; you can attend Ballroom classes in many places and dance wherever there’s a Ball. Ballroom is “a freedom, a fearlessness... in deconstructing and reinventing oneself in front of a crowd...” And it’s “a thriving arts-based culture founded over a century ago by LGBTQ African American and Latinx people of Harlem.”

“In so many ways, house-Ballroom culture is... the invisible creating visibility for themselves,” says Tucker.

In his eyes, Ballroom is “smart, innovative, loving, and funny...” At its very basic, it’s pageantry, masquerade, and glitz, and awards are given in various categories that exhibit “realness.” Hand-movements are graded, as are spins, dips, and the way one walks; what you wear is as important as how you dance. And yes, taking a Ballroom class is better than making a fool of yourself and bringing shame to your House. That, by the way, could be a literal home led by a house mother or father and a multi-membered, created family for anyone who might need one.

Ballroom gives trans and gay people a safe place to be themselves and maybe win a trophy for it. It also offers Black dancers a chance to unite “under one cause: freedom” and to display “a powerful performative act of defiance” toward rich, straight, white cis people – even though there are many cis people who are Ballroom fans...

There are two ways of approaching “And the Category Is...”: one, if you’re a Ballroom follower or participant. Another, if you’re not.

Aficionados of Ballroom will devour every page of this personal memoir-mixed-with-cultural-history. They’ll love author Ricky Tucker’s breathlessly-told tale of finding Ballroom, and himself in it; his experiences in learning how to dance properly; and the sense of insider that he lends overall. Readers will also enjoy Tucker’s extensive interviews with LGBTQ BIPOC: Ballroom members, legends, organizers, activists, house parents, his own “fathers,” and other performers. There, and in his analysis of the interviews, we see how defying racism is a large part of the essence of Ballroom, how

HIV activism fits in, and how Ballroom has been appropriated for wider audiences.

On the other side of the dance floor, if you’re not into Ballroom, this book will take some getting used-to. Tucker jumps in with both feet and very little preamble to prepare readers unfamiliar with Ballroom culture. Stick around; you’ll get it eventually if you have patience.

If you don’t, then fasten those seatbelts. Reading “And the Category Is...” will make for a bumpy night..

“And the Category Is... Inside New York’s Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community” by Ricky Tucker c.2021, Beacon Press. $25.95 248 pages

MARCH 2022 19

Please apply on-line at https://familyhospicecare.com/Career | 760-674-3344

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HEALTHTIP DOHC PROVIDES EASY ACCESS FOR INFUSION THERAPY

BY BARRY DAYTON

Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC) offers monoclonal infusion therapy and oral antiviral treatments for recently diagnosed COVID-19 positive patients who have mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms and are at risk of worsening conditions. As detailed in a recent New York Times article entitled “When My Mom Got COVID, I Went Searching for Pfizer’s Pills”, the reporter understood the urgency of accessing the treatment for her 73-year-old mother as quickly as possible.

Those meeting eligibility requirements are invited to schedule an appointment at the DOHC Palm Springs Immediate Care at 275 N. El Cielo Road, Suite D-402 by calling 760-969-5888. All insurances are accepted, and you don’t have to be a DOHC member to receive

these medications. Whether infusion or oral, these treatments are for the recently diagnosed.

You may be eligible if …

You received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis but don’t need to be hospitalized and have recently had the onset of symptoms – within the last five days for oral antivirals or are within 10 days of symptoms onset for infusion therapy. If you have one or more of these medical comorbidities, you may also be eligible for oral antiviral treatment with Paxlovid and/or Molnupiravir or monoclonal antibody infusion therapy with Sotrovimab:

MARCH 2022 21

HEALTHTIP · you are 65+. ·

are overweight with a Body Mass Index of 25+.

·

have chronic kidney or lung disease.

·

have Diabetes Type 1 or Type 2.

·

have a weakened immune system or are currently receiving immunosuppressive treatment.

·

have cardiovascular disease/hypertension.

· have sickle cell disease. ·

are living with neurodevelopmental disorder.

·

have medical-related technological dependence.

·

or are pregnant.

Other conditions determined by your medical provider may also make you eligible.

Two years into the pandemic, DOHC is as committed as ever “We have worked hard to provide COVID-19 vaccine and treatment options for our patients and others in our service area of the Coachella Valley and the high-desert communities of Riverside and San Bernardino counties since the pandemic became a part of our collective reality,” said Marc Hoffing, MD, MPH and DOHC Medical Director. “A good working relationship with Riverside County allowed DOHC to be one of only four sites in Riverside County offering a range of therapies, like these antivirals and monoclonal antibodies. “ Lindsey Valenzuela, PharmD and AVP of Population Health Integration at DOHC added, “As one of the only local non-pharmacy sites, we offer COVID-19 therapy to our entire community, not just our members. We review each positive case to evaluate which therapies are appropriate given the patient’s medications, kidney function, ability to adhere to oral drug therapy versus a one-time IV treatment, and our availability of the appropriate drug.”

From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic appearing in the U.S., Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC) has been following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to make sure that it was ensuring the health and safety of its patients/ members and the larger community. “Back in March of 2020, as the

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Delta variant became known to us all, we set up a COVID-19 triage and treatment tent in the parking lot of our main campus in Palm Springs,” said Hoffing. “That was soon followed by a second tent at our Indio location. As soon as COVID vaccines became available, we opened vaccination centers in Palm Springs, Indio, and Yucca Valley, so that we were providing easy access for everyone who wanted a vaccine. As of now, we have given nearly 85,000 COVID vaccines and more than 15,000 flu vaccines. Our vaccine centers continue to be busy on a daily basis, with many people now getting boosters as ongoing protection against other variants like Omicron.”

With variants like Omicron bringing higher COVID-19 positivity rates, the demand for the treatment drugs sometimes exceeds available supply. “Our providers, nurses, and pharmacists are working together to prioritize the needs of those in our community who are seeking care,” Hoffing added. “Our clinical teams can triage patients by assessing those needing immediate treatment by us, as opposed to those who can safely weather their illness at home, and those who really need to be seen at the hospital.”

ABOUT DESERT OASIS HEALTHCARE Formed in 1981 as one of the first medical groups in the desert communities of southern California, Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC) continues to advance with changes in the healthcare market. DOHC provides primary and immediate care, home health, palliative care, clinical research studies and other services to more than 60,000 members/patients living in the greater Coachella Valley and the Morongo Basin of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The multidisciplinary and comprehensive care programs of DOHC are committed to educating individuals on preventive health care in their daily lives, reflected in the DOHC motto, “Your Health. Your Life. Our Passion.” For more information, visit www.mydohc.com.

MARCH 2022 23

FEATURE

CAST MEMBERS AND CREATIVE TEAM OF “FRASIER” UNITE TO SUPPORT PALM SPRINGS’ HISTORIC PLAZA THEATRE

BY TIM O’BAYLEY

Fundraising event unites former cast members and creative team for a fun look back on the making of the long-running show’s historic pilot episode.

Acclaimed television producers David Lee and Peter Casey and celebrated actors David Hyde Pierce and Peri Gilpin will participate in a special fundraising event called Team Frasier Reunites to Save the Plaza Theatre. The cast and creative team of the well-loved television show “Frasier” will take the stage at the historic theater for a fun look back at the making of the pilot episode of the highly acclaimed and long-running television series on Saturday, March 19 at 1 PM. Tickets are $125. Following the event, there will be a VIP “Meet the Creators” catered champagne reception on the

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theatre’s stage from 3-4 pm. The reception is a separate ticketed event priced at $50. For more information or to purchase tickets go to SaveThePlazaTheatrePS.com.

The event is a fundraiser in support of the restoration of the Plaza Theatre, originally opened in 1936 and currently in need of refurbishment. David Lee, Frasier’s executive producer and co-creator, recently pledged $5 million for the restoration of the theater. A board of directors of movers and shakers has taken this effort to heart and is reaching out to preservationists, theatre aficionados, and civic-minded individuals and organizations in search of financial support to raise the rest of the $10 million required for the restoration.

PERI GILPIN

DAVID HYDE PIERCE

DAVID LEE

“We are absolutely thrilled that David and the others connected to the show have offered this exciting event,” said Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation president J.R. Roberts. “David’s donation jump started the theatre’s fundraising campaign, and he has now graciously offered this special look back at a show we all loved.

We also thank the cast and production crew for also lending their support to this important project.”

provide essential infrastructure repairs, installation of new theatrical equipment, and structural improvements to ensure that the building meets today’s fire prevention and American Disabilities Act mandates.

This historic theatre has played an impressive role in Palm Springs much like the Radio City Music Hall has in New York. When the restoration is complete, the Plaza Theatre will be poised to continue to provide the city and its visitors with top notch entertainment for years to come.

David Lee will lead the audience through a compelling special insider’s step-by-step retrospective about the making of the pilot of Frasier, which ran on NBC for eleven seasons, from 1993 to 2004. The 264 episodes of the series are still aired worldwide today. Following this, cast members David Hyde Pierce (Niles) and Peri Gilpin (Roz) and Co-Creator Peter Casey will join Lee in answering questions from the audience. The event will run approximately 2 hours.

In addition to attending this event, there are many ways in which the public may play a significant role in the Plaza Theatre restoration, including becoming a Founder, securing a Naming Opportunity, or donating. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information or to donate to support preservation and restoration, contact Foundation Chairman J.R. Roberts at 760-218-6330 or visit SaveThePlazaTheatrePS.com.

About the Plaza Theatre Restoration Project The City of Palm Springs recently launched a campaign to raise capital to fully restore one of its most iconic buildings – the historic Plaza Theatre. Originally built in 1938, it was used for film premieres and screenings, nationally broadcast radio theatre programs, and other performances. In its later years, the theater was home to the long running “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.”

Over the decades, the building has deteriorated, so the City of Palm Springs has initiated a capital campaign to restore the beloved structure to its former glory.

The comprehensive restoration and rehabilitation plan will

Background/About the Theatre: Seminal Palm Springs architect Harry Williams designed the theatre in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The theatre opened in 1936 with the premiere of the George Cukor film, “Camille,” with its legendary star, Greta Garbo, who allegedly slipped into the back of the theatre after the lights went down. Garbo’s co-star in the film, Robert Taylor, attended with Barbara Stanwyck.

Over the years, the theatre was the venue for memorable performances by entertainment giants Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Performers Jack Benny, Bob Hope, and The Edgar Bergen

MARCH 2022 25

FEATURE and Charlie McCarthy Show broadcast live radio shows from the Plaza, bringing national attention to Palm Springs. It also was one of the most popular movie theatres in the growing Palm Springs community and was the venue for a number of motion picture world premieres, including “My Fair Lady” and “Music Man.” In the late 1980s Sonny Bono created the Palm Springs International Film Festival at the Plaza Theatre. In 1991, a vaudevilletype revue called “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies” launched and ran there for 23 years. The long-running show brought international exposure to the theatre and in many ways helped revitalize downtown Palm Springs.

Establishment of Historic Protection The Plaza Theatre was declared a Class 1 Historic Site in 1991.

This designation prohibits any structural changes that do not adhere to the original design. The theatre is in dire need of repair and restoration and the City of Palm Springs is committed to bringing it back to its original luster as the heart of the City.

For more info contact Foundation Chairman J.R. Roberts at 760218-6330 or visit www.SaveThePlazaTheatrePS.com

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MARCH 2022 27

FITNESS

GETTING BACK ON TRACK

BY JILL LANGHAM

I hope you had a Happy Valentines Day and if in Palm Springs, enjoyed Modernism Week and attended IBC, which I sadly had to miss. I am traveling for the first time in many months to visit friends in New Orleans; family on the West Coast of Florida and my Circuit Brothers in Ft. Lauderdale and South Beach, where we plan to dance the nights away.

I’m so excited to be back on the Dance Floor and am hopeful to return to Palm Springs in early March, healthier and happier than I have been in over a year! Please wish me luck.

This months focus is on Health.

I’m very sure that we all have our own definition of health, but I wondered what definition the World Health Organization, or WHO, had given the word. I found at least six of them listed but it’s simplest one is as follows:

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“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

I like to think of Health as being a balance between my Body, Mind and Spirit as I can relate to those terms better. Imagine, if you will, a pyramid with one of those words at each one of its corners and an equal sign between each side making it a perfect equilateral triangle. If one of the entities falls short of it’s job, the equal sign disappears, and a state of unhealthiness will ensue.

When thinking about COVID and all the various hypotheses that have been thrown at us over the last two years, I wondered if the simplest explanation was that we had become imbalanced in one or more of the aforementioned entities.

Current articles are still trying to claim that those of us who contracted COVID had low Vitamin D levels. In my case that’s 100% incorrect since I have a record of my level from a blood test drawn

a short time before I contracted COVID. As a matter of fact, it was far from low, but instead was in the upper range of normal and I’m certain I am not alone in that finding. So, I chose to look elsewhere and began looking at my spiritual and mental stated of health.

I have mentioned that I felt that my spiritual or as they refer to it in the above definition, social well-being side, had not been in balance with my Body and Mind for many months prior to getting sick.

How about you? If you contracted COVID, can you look back to ask yourself if your Body, Mind and Spirit were in balance? You might be surprised to realize that they were not and like me were vulnerable to getting ill.

I did not have any of the classic symptoms that defined COVID. I did not have fevers nor breathing problems. Instead, I had the headache and body aches; the lack of taste and smell, but the most significant symptom was the inability to get out of bed. I had no energy!

It was as if a force greater than myself was directing me to be still and to rest and sleep for hours at end. I had no choice but to lay there and remain quiet. Every time I tried to get up, I was quickly put back down. This went on for close to 96 hours! This was the most sleep that I have had in years as I normally sleep 5 hours a night and have done so for over 45 years.

My focus on my own Health has changed as a result of being ill.

I have attempted to respect what my body was trying to show me and now get at least 6-1/2 to 7 hours most nights. I don’t go out as much as I used to and when I do, I tend to go home earlier.

I changed my workout habits as well, working out more frequently and doing more cardio. My eating habits, which I’m happy to say have been quite good over the last 22 years, are even better now as I am conscious of eating more fruits and vegetables. My appetite is not what it used to be, so I tend to eat less than I had been but am not sure if this is a result of COVID or the scary A-word, aging!

What changes have you made since COVID became part of our daily existence?

Stay well, be kind to yourself and others and see you next month as we get ready to hopefully take off our masks and enjoy, Dinah, Coachella, Stagecoach, and the return of White Party sans Jeffrey Sanker.

XOXO Jill Your Dancing Queen

MARCH 2022 29

PSP FOCUS

>> PALM SPRINGS GETAWAY TAKES AUDIENCES ON A NOSTALGIC ROMP

BY CARA VAN DIJK

Palm Canyon Theatre is excited to announce… the world premiere of the original musical: Palm Springs Getaway. Palm Springs Getaway is a nostalgic romp through the popular oasis featuring glimpses of history, icons and the celebrities who made the city famous. With a collection of well-known and original songs, the show transports audiences from the early desert landscape to the vibrant and inclusive community people know and love today – and every decade in between.

The show begins in Los Angeles in the 1930s, where the protagonists realize they need a “getaway” as they try to escape some mobsters set on revenge. Prompted by a poster advertising Palm Springs as the “Playground of the Stars,” Junior (Lou Galvan) and Harry (Ben Reece) set off on a time-jumping adventure reminiscent of the lighthearted, screwball comedy films of the 1930s and 40s.

The duo finds themselves entangled with a mysterious fortuneteller (Mary Ewing) who guides them on a field trip through the ages.

The fast-paced farce is filled with physical comedy and campy energy, with bits of Palm Springs history and lore sprinkled throughout. Distinct music, performed by a four-piece band, and era-specific dance styles, plus historic projections, usher audiences down memory lane. A company of 30 local talents, ranging in age from seven to 80+, transform from one iconic character to the next showcasing not only decades past, but the magic that remains in Palm Springs today.

Palm Springs Getaway runs now through March 13. Show times are 7 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $32-$36. Student tickets are available for $15 with a valid ID. Proceeds from this preview production with benefit the theatre’s education programs. PCT is following current city, county, and state covid-19 regulations for live performances.

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or other information, call the PCT Box Office at (760) 323-5123 or order online: www.

PalmCanyonTheatre.org The Palm Canyon Theatre is located at 538 North Palm Canyon Drive, at the corner of Alejo Road and Palm Canyon Drive. Box Office hours are currently Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

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MARCH 2022 31

PSP FOCUS

>> CVREP TO HONOR ICONIC & LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL CHILDERS AT LUMINARY LUNCHEON

BY JEFF HOCKER

Coachella Valley Repertory Theater (CVRep) is proud to announce that iconic and legendary photographer Michael Childers will be honored at the Luminary Luncheon, an exclusive entertainment and fundraising experience, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at 12:00 N with a special sponsor reception at 11:15 AM at the beautiful Westin Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage. Childers has captured through his lens, some of the most renowned portraits of Hollywood and music icons and produced numerous awardwinning films. For 16 years, he’s had the biggest hit in the Coachella Valley with sold out performances of One Night Only. This year’s production at the McCallum Theatre will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2022, and will benefit the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center.

From his photographic work at Sir Laurence Olivier’s National Theater in London, to 200+ magazine covers including, among others, Vogue, GQ, Dance, Esquire, and Elle, to being a founding photographer for Andy Warhol’s Interview and After Dark magazines managing to capture an inner vibrancy and rare portrayal of all his subjects. In typical Michael Childers fashion, he has gathered together his long-time celebrity friends to share anecdotes about his life photographing the most prolific highprofile actors, musicians, artists, and authors.

Announcing the luncheon will be renowned voice-over artist Gary Shaw.

Peter Daut, Weekday Anchor and Reporter at KESQ-TV will interview his friend Michael to get a glimpse inside his extraordinary world, who truly is a living

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legend, with a scope of artistic work realized by very few others.

Bob Mackie is an internationally known American fashion designer and costumier, best known for his dressing of entertainment icons such as Cher and the Sonny & Cher Show, Ann-Margret, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Diahann Carroll, Mitzi Gaynor, and Carol Channing. Bob has won nine Emmy® Awards, three Academy® Award nominations, and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. He received a 2019 Tony® Award, Drama Desk® Award, and Outer Critics Circle® Award for his work on The Cher Show.

Greg Gorman is known for his stark, honest portraits of the most famous and infamous faces from the worlds of entertainment, art, sports, and music. Over the years, Greg has been acknowledged for his contribution to the world of photography, most recently being recognized by The Professional Photographers of America (Lifetime Achievement Award in Portraiture) as well as The Lucie Awards for Portraiture.

His charitable works by such organizations as The Elton John Aids Foundation, The Oscar de La Hoya Foundation and Paws LA to name but a few of the many charities he supports.

David Zippel is a lyricist and director.

His lyrics have won him the Tony® Award, two Academy® Award nominations, two Grammy® Award nominations, and three Golden Globe® Award nominations. His songs appear on over twenty-five million

PSP FOCUS

CDs around the world and have been recorded by many iconic singers including: Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Mel Torme, Ricky Martin, Cleo Laine, Barbara Cook and Nancy LaMott.

Zippel’s current hit is Andrew Loyd Weber’s Cinderella playing now through May 2022 at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in the West End of London. He is also known for writing the songs to Disney’s Hercules (1997) and Mulan (1998) with Alan Menken and Mathew Wilder.

Ann Hampton Callaway with Todd Schroeder as music director will treat guests to a special two song musical performance and Ann will share stories about her long-time friend. Callaway is one of the leading champions of the great American Songbook, having made her mark as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer.

Voted recently by Broadwayworld.com as “Performer of the Year.”

Her unique singing style that blends jazz and traditional pop, making her a mainstay in concert halls, theaters, and jazz clubs as well as in the recording studio, on television, and in film. She is best known for writing and singing the theme song to the hit TV series The Nanny. Callaway received a Tony® Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Swing!, a Theatre World Award for “Outstanding Broadway Debut,” is a Platinum award selling songwriter with seven Barbra Streisand cuts and in 2013 with the “The Streisand Songbook,” won

two Broadway World Awards and the MAC Award for Show of the Year.

David Crotty, Photographer, Getty Images will immortalize the Luminary Luncheon. Past Luminary Luncheon honorees have included: Bob Mackie, Lindsay Wagner, Ruta Lee, Carol Channing, Peter Marshall, and Margaret O’Brien.

CVRep Luminary Luncheon Honoring Michael Childers will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at 12:00 N with a special sponsor reception at 11:15 AM at the Westin Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage. Individual tickets are $125, $1,250 for table of 10 and table sponsorships are $2,500 Gold and $5,000 Platinum.

This event is sure to be a sell out, so purchase your tickets now at 760-296-2966 ext. 115, or https://cvrep.org/luminaryevent-with-michael-childers-5/ Michael Childers work is represented by Melissa Morgan Fine Art at 73660 El Paseo in Palm Desert, www.MelissaMorganFineArt.com CVRep is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational, dramatic, and musical theatre organization whose mission is to present thought-provoking, innovative theater of substance, and outreach programs that enrich enhance and impact the quality of life for residents and visitors in the Coachella Valley.

To purchase tickets for upcoming events, visit www.CVRep.org.

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PSP FOCUS

>> THE PALM SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFERS FREE TRIBUTE BAND CONCERTS

From February through July 2022, the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, working in collaboration with James Elliott Entertainment, will host a series of free, monthly tribute band concerts at the new Palm Springs Downtown Park.

The tribute band performances will be held on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. Only acts who look, sound, and perform like the real thing will be featured.

The last concert was held on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, with the performance of Blonde Ambition – A Madonna tribute. A journey through Madonna’s illustrious career from the early 80’s into the 90’s and beyond. Capturing the iconic look, sound, and distinctive style of Madonna for the last four years. Other tribute groups scheduled to appear include those devoted to the music of Elton John, Tina Turner, Fleetwood Mac, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

assistance of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism as well as Visit Greater Palm Springs. If the initial set of shows proves successful, the series may continue throughout the summer and year-round.

“Our city now has the perfect outdoor venue in which to host a concert series like this,’ says Chamber CEO Nona Watson, adding that all current COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed. “Our goal is to bring visitors and residents from throughout the Coachella Valley to downtown Palm Springs during the middle of the week so as to provide a boost to our local bars, restaurants, and retail businesses. We also believe these special events will increase hotel room nights thanks to those attending weekend conventions and events extending their stays.”

Dates and links to the tribute band websites can be found on the Chamber’s website at pschamber.org.

BROTHERS OF THE DESERT EVENT

The concert series is FREE and open to everyone. Bring your beach chairs and blankets and enjoy live entertainment in our beautiful new downtown park.

Co-producer James Elliott Entertainment has more than 20 years of experience in the music industry. His company books acts at several casinos, and currently provides tribute bands to the Lake Arrowhead Concert Series.

Sponsors of this series are the City of Palm Springs, Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, PS Resorts, and Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels. To market the entire affair, the Chamber will enlist the

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Brothers Got Talent returns on Saturday, March 12th with our first live event in several months. Six BOD members will share the most meaningful stories of their lives. The program starts at 7:30 pm with cocktails and Kiki in the upstairs lounge at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Storytelling producer Larry Dean Harris will host and introduce BOD members Patrick Pierre, Lorenzo Taylor, Stuart Huggins, Yvans Jourdain, Anye Elite, and Stephan Scoggins. They will share carefully crafted true stories of love, loss, heritage, coming out, and more. This event is free, but tickets are required due to limited space. More info at the link below. https://www.brothersofthedesert.org/

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WELLNESS

TOP 8 WAYS TO IMPROVE HEART HEALTH

BY DR. HEATHER SHENKMAN

Most of us know that maintaining optimal heart health is essential to living a long, healthy life. Yet still, in the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death, and we are not putting adequate attention toward prevention.

Fortunately, cardiologists, heart health experts, and new research have made it easier to take care of our health by providing simple guidelines on how to maintain optimal heart health even as we age.

Renowned Interventional Cardiologist and author Dr. Heather Shenkman emphasizes the importance of “making small, easy adjustments to your daily lifestyle that add up to transformative health benefits.”

1) GO FOR DAILY WALKS Yes, just going on one walk a day is enough exercise to do your body good. Considering how busy our lives can be, it can be challenging to engage in intense workouts every day.

But thankfully, according to cardiologists and health experts, a moderate, quick 15-minute walk around the neighborhood is enough to contribute to a healthy heart and body as a whole.

“Benefits of a quick walk around the neighborhood are enormous,” said Metabolic Health & Vitality Specialist Tafiq Akhir. “The advantages go far beyond heart health; they include improved mood, reduced back pain, lower risk of blood clots, ease joint discomfort and so on.”

2) GET ENOUGH SLEEP You likely already know how important sleep is for our overall health, but it’s also crucial to leading a heart-healthy lifestyle in particular. Poor sleep can negatively affect our cardiovascular health by interrupting our body’s natural recovery processes, causing changes in the blood vessels, slowing metabolism, and putting stress on our immune system.

3) STAY HYDRATED Drinking enough water isn’t just necessary when we’re thirsty, or when it’s hot outside. Dehydration can negatively impact our cardiovascular system by reducing the amount of blood circulating throughout our body. Keeping our bodies hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles allowing them to work more efficiently.

“I usually recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces to stay hydrated,” says Registered Dietician Lauren Cornell.

4) LIMIT YOUR SALT INTAKE The American Heart Association recommends no more than

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2,300 milligrams a day, but ideally, daily sodium consumption should be limited under 1,500 milligrams. This is much less than the amount most Americans consume; an average of over 3,400 milligrams each day. By reducing your daily salt intake, you can lower your blood pressure significantly. An easy strategy is to increase your potassium intake, which lessens the effect of salt. Include potassium-rich foods like fish, fruits and vegetables in your diet to balance your salt intake.

5) CUT OUT FRIED FOODS While eating fried foods can be appealing to our taste buds, it can also be a complete heart health destroyer. According to a new study, eating fried food is tied to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The greatest way to avoid these harmful effects is to reduce - or even eliminate - our intake of fried foods.

6) CONSUME PROBIOTICS Those who consume probiotic foods such as yogurt or who take probiotic supplements have been shown to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Fortifying and increasing your digestive capacity with probiotic-rich foods and supplements will help maintain great heart and whole body health, plus it will provide the essential nutrients you need to receive from your food.

7) EAT MORE BEETROOT The benefits of beetroot come from its ability to raise nitric oxide levels in the body. Nitric oxide is a natural chemical produced by the body to widen arteries. The production of nitric oxide in the body can help lower blood pressure, promote healthy circulation, and give you better overall energy and heart health. Nitric oxide synthesis begins to slow as a part of normal aging, which is why many people turn to beetroot supplements to maintain healthy nitric oxide levels.

8) TAKE A SUPPLEMENT RICH IN FIBER AND ESSENTIAL VITAMINS It can easily become overwhelming to ensure optimal heart health with the many requirements expected of us. That’s why adding a supplement that contains vitamins specifically designed for heart health can be the most effective way to promote heart and brain health, maintain appropriate weight levels, and encourage healthy circulation.

“In my practice, I combine healthy eating and exercise with an integrative approach to health by recommending CardioFitMD daily superfoods to my patients,” Shenkman explains. “It has all the vitamins and minerals, pre- and probiotics, nitric oxide, and fiber we are most deficient in, in one great-tasting daily drink.”

MARCH 2022 37

EAT. DRINK. GIVE. T H U R S DAY A P R I L 28 DININGOUTFORLIFE.COM/PALMSPRINGS

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NUTRITION

A FOCUS ON FISH

BY STACY HOLMES

When it comes to heart health, lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise make a huge impact. As one of the most important organs in the body, keeping your heart in tip-top shape is essential.

Luckily, according to registered dietitian Bianca Tamburello, foods that support a healthy heart are also great for overall wellness.

Here’s how you can make simple changes to swerve your diet in a heart-healthy direction by eating more fish.

Fatty fish is best for heart health Fatty fish, including salmon and tuna, are among the best foods for heart health. In fact, an analysis from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), looked at over 20 studies and found that eating one to two 3-oz servings of fatty fish per week decreases the risk of dying from heart disease by 36%. Why fatty fish? Tamburello explains, “Fatty fish are rich in omega-3s or good fats that may help improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels and even prevent clogging of the arteries. All these factors help decrease heart disease risk.” For the most omega-3’s per serving, look for farmed salmon from Chile. Farmed salmon tends to be higher in omega-3 fats than other types of salmon.

pressure on wild fisheries and oceans. Preserving the health of our oceans is an immediate concern as projections show that natural fisheries may be depleted as early as 2056.

How to eat 2-3 servings of seafood per week Eat heart healthy and reach your seafood goals with these simple tips. * Frozen is a great option and convenient for busy weeknight meals

Most Americans don’t eat enough fish * Make a simple salmon sheet pan meal A surprising majority of Americans do not meet the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines recommendation to eat seafood, including fatty fish, at least two times per week. Tamburello says “Eating fish is linked to a lower risk of heart attacks and stroke. This means that falling short of weekly seafood goals is a missed opportunity for diet variety and overall wellness, particularly heart health.” Selecting and preparing fish may be intimidating and can be another barrier to eat seafood more frequently. Let’s talk about how to confidently choose heart-healthy fish like salmon.

* Try a fish taco recipe * Make a big batch of cioppino, a delicious fish stew, on a weekend and freeze portions * Pair sushi grade fish with brown rice and cucumber for a simple poke-inspired bowl (no cooking!) * Enjoy smoked salmon on whole wheat toast for breakfast

Feel good about farmed fish Look for farmed salmon from Chile. Not only is it high in hearthealthy omega-3 fats but it’s also sustainably raised and naturally low in mercury. According to a 2021 sustainability report released

by Seafood Watch-Monterey Bay Aquarium, Chile produces more yellow rated “good alternative” salmon than any other country in the world. Choosing farmed fish, raised via aquaculture, also relieves

If you currently eat seafood just a few times a month, start with a more realistic goal of one time per week and slowly work your way to two to three times per week, says Tamburello. Small diet changes over time can make all the difference for heart and overall health.

For more information about salmon and nutrition, recipes, and The Chilean Salmon Cooking Academy visit chileansalmon.org.

MARCH 2022 39

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MUSIC

ALONE RELEASES ODE TO HIS TRANS SIBLINGS

BY JOHN STEIN

ALONE - EVERYTHING PRESS SHOT MIKE KIODO

“Everything”, the debut single from the gender-bending Queer artist ALONE, pays homage to the shiny, brassy days of Motown while also serving as an affirming ode to the Transgender community. “I want my siblings to know that they are blessed, loved and perfect just the way they are,” says the artist who’s own lewk blends disco-rock camp fierceness with svelte Hollywood glamour silhouettes. ALONE wrote, composed, and arranged the soulful RnB Pop track, and topped “Everything” off with soaring falsetto vocals brimming with joy fitting for a true anthem. “It is meant to be a bright and feel-good reminder that you already have everything you need to be happy and thrive,” he explains. We spoke with ALONE from his Manhattan home.

The video for “Everything” is spectacular! What did you have to do to prepare for the shoot?

ALONE: Oh my God, as the producer, director, stylist, art director, casting director and performer, I had so much to prepare but thankfully I also had enough amazing, generous, and talented people around me to help bring it all together.

The video has an all Trans and Gender Non-Conforming cast.

ALONE: They are all people I love, admire and respect

very much. They inspire me with their beauty, talent, courage, and resilience. They all deserve to be celebrated and shine. I wanted Trans and Queer kids out there to see that they have a future and that there are others like them living in their truth and thriving.

It is an important message for Trans and non-binary youth to hear!

ALONE: With so many voices around telling them that who they are is wrong or bad, I wanted to put a voice out there that lets them know they don’t need to conform to any label or external factors for validation. Who they are is a blessing.

I love the lyric, “Opulence is a state of mind”. What is an example of something small that makes you feel grand?

ALONE: Riding my bike to the beach and diving into the ocean.

Yass! I love the Sylvester reference in the song.

Why is Sylvester someone all LGBTQ+ youth should know?

ALONE: Sylvester was an icon: a Queer icon, a style icon, a music icon. He represents a peak in the development of Queer culture, reached just before the onset of the AIDS pandemic that

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MUSIC

wiped out so many of our brilliant fore parents. Sylvester is Queer history and Black history and should be known for their contribution to Queer representation in the music industry.

ALONE: My father’s high school bible. He died at war when I was three years old and having an item that he carried with him for so long helps me to connect with his memory.

What superhero do you most identify with?

ALONE: Grace Jones — I identify more with real people doing extraordinary things while inspiring others to be extraordinary themselves. She dared push the boundaries of gender, fashion and art while always appearing strong and in control. Her image always came off as superhuman to me. She is also aging so gracefully which is definitely a superpower these days.

Sweet! What is the most beloved item in your boudoir? (Don’t you just love the word boudoir?)

ALONE: Love it! My black and gold Prince tambourine that I got at his “Welcome 2 America” tour at Madison Square Garden. Prince is one of my greatest inspirations and I love playing the tambourine.

What makes you smile?

ALONE: Looking at my dog, Jazz, as he runs free at the park.

He’s a rescue and has saved me just as much as I saved him. Seeing him feeling happy and safe fills me with joy and gratitude.

What makes you angry?

ALONE: Dishonesty. I can handle any truth but lies insult my intelligence.

Can we do some fun questions?

ALONE: Of course!

Your house is on fire. What one possession would you save?

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You can travel back in time. Where would you go, and what would you get up to?

ALONE: 1980, Paradise Garage! I would dance my ass off and get schooled. That was the cradle of dance club culture as we know it.

You’ve been given 24 hours to live. How do you spend your last day?

ALONE: With all my friends over, playing a vinyl DJ set they will remember for the rest of their lives.

ALONE’s “Everything” is available now on Apple Music, Spotify, and all digital platforms. Visit his website and follow ALONE on Instagram @ TogethALONE.

MUSIC

JORDANA ANNOUNCES DEBUT STUDIO ALBUM

BY JACLYN ULMAN

JORDANA / PHOTO CREDIT POONAH GHANA

Twenty-one-year-old artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Jordana announces her sophomore record and official studio debut today. Co-produced by Cameron Hale and Jordana (who also performed every instrument on the record), Face The Wall will be out on May 20th via Grand Jury. With perseverance and self-discovery at its core, Face The Wall glistens as it finds Jordana coming to terms with everything, big and small, from pandemic isolation and depression to breakups to veganism to how her complicated relationship with faith is what ultimately led her to music despite that faith being at odds with her sexuality and own belief system. “The album title has a few meanings

to me,” she explains. “Mostly, it’s about not giving up. The wall can be anything in your way. The album is a sort of reminder to myself that I have to face those things, and I can’t take the easy route and turn around.” The result is her most confident and kaleidoscopic work to date.

To celebrate the album announcement, Jordana shares the record’s lead single. The impossibly catchy “Catch My Drift” chronicles the dissolution of a blossoming romance. It starts with a watery guitar riff comparable to the Cure, but by the time the bridge hits, Jordana transports the listener back to Warped Tour circa 2006, where pop-punk

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MUSIC reigned, and the air filled with snide dismissals of former lovers. “This song is about going back and forth with your feelings for someone when they make you question whether they are even reciprocated,” Jordana explains. “The song is about realizing you shouldn’t be emotionally dependent on anybody, and that it’s just a waste of energy.”

Jordana is fresh off of an entirely sold-out tour with TV Girl, her collaborators on 2021’s acclaimed Summer’s Over EP. Now Jordana announces that she will bring Face The Wall on tour this Spring for a series of headline shows and a support tour with Wallows.

realized it just wasn’t me. I had to face that fact.”

But carving her path -- being who she wasn’t in order to find out who she actually was -- is part of what Face The Wall (“and life!”

Jordana points out) is all about. “I don’t know if I would have found the violin if I didn’t have that church part of my upbringing,”

Jordana’s mission is simple: keep trying to be her, even when it’s hard. So, it’s no surprise perseverance and self-discovery are central themes on the upcoming record Face The Wall, out May 20th on Grand Jury.

While the lyrics on Face the Wall seem to be hellbent on selfbetterment, the instrumentation and production proves that Jordana’s talent is big enough to buoy her nascent career. Though her earliest songs were self-produced, she unearths new possibilities in collaboration and working alongside friends on this album made the experience of mining these ideas a little less lonely. “My work ethic has gotten so much better, and I’m grateful for that,” she says, acknowledging that sometimes you need someone else to help spark inspiration.

“It can be something as simple as realizing I wanted to go vegan, or that it didn’t matter that I liked both girls and boys. Or it could be something as complex as God,” she says moving into a conversation about the Maryland church her family attended as a child. “It was a big part of my upbringing. I really tried to reconcile that with my identity as I started to mature, but I got older and

That resolution, to seek out the slivers of light in the dimmest corridors, makes Face the Wall a triumphant album, one Jordana considers the apex of her career thus far. “It’s hard to even think that I could write something better than this in the future, it feels like my best work,” she says, a bit nervously, then pauses for what feels like a full minute. “But I’ll figure it out. Even if it’s hard.”

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DATE

EVENT

2022 EVENTS

Mar 2

Palm Springs Dance Project: The Anniversary

Mar 3—6

La Quinta Arts Celebration

Mar 5

Mini Gay Days Anaheim

Mar 5

Tejano Music Festival

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Mar 26

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EVENING UNDER THE STARS FIRST LADIES OF DISCO

Saturday, April 30, 2022 The O’Donnell Golf Club, Palm Springs 5:30 Cocktails – 7:30 Dinner & Awards

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Geoff Kors & James Williamson – Gloria Greene Inspiration Award

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Patti Grundhofer – Community Impact Award

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Aubrey Serfling – Community Leadership Award

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