desertSTARW E E K L Y August 2, 2013 Vol. 7 No. 31

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US POSTAGE PAIDDesert Hot Springs, CA

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Al

Dog Death Camp Woman ArraignedBy Jackie Gladfe l ter

DevereauxINDIO – Mary Bernadette

Schwenn, 64, pleaded not guilty to 30 charges relating to animal cruelty at the Larson Justice Center on Monday, July 29. She remains in jail in lieu of a $55,000 bail, but if she does make bail, the court ordered Schwenn to not have contact with any animals.

Shelley Rizzotti, an attorney for Animal Protectorates who appeared at the arraignment, said it was time to end Schwenn’s cycle of animal cruelty that has extended back to 1990s.

These recent charges allege that Schwenn willfully subjected her pack of Queensland Heeler dogs and puppies to needless suffering where many of those dogs died.

The Riverside Distr ict Attorney’s Office filed 10 felony charges of animal cruelty and 20 misdemeanor charges of not providing proper care for animals. Those charges stem from a month long investigation into the poor living conditions on Schwenn’s property in Sky Valley.

“Bernadette Schwenn is an animal abuser,” Rizzotti said.

“She has a history of abusing animals that spans at least two to three decades. We believe she’s responsible for the deaths of thousands of animals.”

Animal advocate and writer for the Desert Star Weekly Kitty Pallesen said she witnessed animals suffering in the extreme heat on Schwenn’s property with no food or water. She rescued a few dogs out from that death camp, and made phone calls every day trying to get help to rescue more dogs.

INDIO - West Nile virus (WNV) has been making its appearance across the northwest portion of the Salton Sea in higher numbers.

A sample of mosquitoes collected in a trap near Madison Street and 46th Avenue, tested positive for WNV.

This is the second mosquito sample to test positive in the Coachella Valley this year. The mosquitoes were collected on July 18 and test results came back July 25 from the Center for Vectorborne Diseases at UC Davis.

The Valley saw the first

evidence of WNV for 2013 earlier this month when a trap for mosquitoes and two sentinel chickens near the Salton Sea tested positive for the virus.

Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District staff are intensifying mosquito surveillance and larval control in the areas where infected mosquitoes were trapped in an effort to reduce their numbers and interrupt further disease transmission.

Statewide in 2013, WNV has been detected in 31 counties, including two confirmed human

cases, 291 dead birds, 555 mosquito samples, 27 sentinel chickens and four squirrels.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535 according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Lemon eucalyptus oil should not be used on children under three years of age.

Dawn and dusk are peak

biting times for many mosquitoes, so consider rescheduling outdoor activities during that time.

Wear long-sleeves, long pant and socks when outdoors to help keep mosquitoes away from skin.

Mosquito-Proof your home. by installing or repairing screens.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places for mosquitoes to breed by draining/discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools. Change water in birdbaths and pet bowls weekly.

WNV is transmitted to humans and animals, including sentinel chickens, through the

bite of an infected mosquito. Most individuals infected

with WNV will not experience any illness. Others will have mild symptoms, such as fever, headache and body aches. However, young children, the elderly or individuals with lowered immune systems are at greater risk of experiencing more severe symptoms when infected.

Call (760) 342-8287 or (888) 343-9399 to report mosquito problems and report neglected pools or standing water where mosquitoes breed.

Go to www.cvmvcd.org to obtain more information and submit service requests.

Continues on Page 2

Sensei with his pupils on the road to Black Belt story on page 4.

Arraignment of Mary Bernadette Schwenn for animal cruelty charges. Photo courtesy of Christy Shilling

Second positive testing locally

Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile

Indian Wells

La QuintaPalm Desert

August 2, 2013 www.desertstarweekly.com 2 DesertSTAR

PALM DESERT – Three nursing students from Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus have been awarded with the 2013-2014 Palm Desert-Indian Wells Women’s Club scholarship.

Johanna Cullip of Rancho Mirage, Marzena Richardson of Palm Springs and Amanda Wilson of Joshua Tree, recognized for

their dedication and determination to give back to their communities, were honored by the Palm Desert-Indian Wells Women’s Club, which was first organized in 1949.

Cullip returned to college in 2009, after the economy turned upside down and she lost her two businesses. She had a thriving ballroom and Latin dance instructor/

choreographer business as well as a fashion jewelry business, but says these were luxury items that were last on people’s lists of things to buy at the time. After one year of searching for a new job, and a year of stress-related ill health, she decided to go back to school to become a nurse.

Richardson is originally from

Poland. She came to the United States about 10 years ago as a high school exchange student. It was supposed to be a one year experience, but says it turned out to be her life experience.

Richardson says the thing she would like to do most is help people and become a nurse. English is her second language and because of this, she says she has to work much harder to achieve her goals and become a valuable part of her community.

Wilson is the first in her family to attend a university for a bachelor’s degree. She currently works as a licensed vocational nurse for a skilled nursing facility in Joshua Tree and plans to graduate from the Palm Desert Campus in 2015 and start working as a registered nurse. She also plans to continue her education by obtaining her master’s degree in community health nursing.

For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the campus’s Office of Public Affairs at (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107 or msinger@csusb.edu.

THOUSAND PALMS - This August, Animal Samaritans will offer two free mini-Critter Camps for children residing in Oasis and Mecca. The first mini-Critter Camp will be held on Aug. 12 and 13 from 9:30am – 1:30pm at the Mountain View Estates, where families from the infamously impoverished Duroville Trailer Park were relocated after the park was shut down in late June.

Animal Samaritans will put on a second, three day mini-Critter Camp for children residing in Mecca to be held Aug. 19 - 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mecca County Health Clinic. Both camps are limited to children ages 5 to 11.

Animal Samaritans’ bi-lingual Humane Education staff, Diana Martinez and Carla Rodriguez, and several volunteers will provide kids with a hands-on, interactive encounter with reptiles (snakes

and lizards), rodents (guinea pigs and rats), and certified therapy dogs from the organization’s popular Animal Assisted Therapy Program. Animal Samaritans will provide lunch for the children, as well as materials for building animal-themed arts and crafts. In addition to handling live animals, creating art projects, and playing games, campers learn the basic tenants for responsible pet ownership and respect for all living creatures.

The organizations’ week-long Summer Camps immediately filled to capacity. Parental evaluations have been glowing.

Parents residing in the communities of Mecca and Oasis who are interested in sending their youngsters to a free summer mini-Critter Camp are encouraged to contact Diana Martinez at Animal Samaritans: 760-601-3761. Space is limited to 25 children per camp.

Nursing students at the Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus

Free Summer Critter Camp

Nursing Students Scholarship palm desert

A Patriotic Evening at the McCallum Theatre on

Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. Box Office opens at 5:30 p.m. The concert is free but tickets are limited. No early tickets will be released. The auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m. Beverages

available from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. For more information, go to palmdesertsistercities.com.

Safe house of the Desert will hold a Community Day on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 7 a.m.

to noon. They are building a two-room school using all

green technology materials. For more information, call 760-

567-9421 or email mbattin@operationsafehouse.org.

Desert Samaritans for Seniors Places Shelter Animals

with seniors and provides food, basic vet bills and

transportation. If you would like to help both seniors and shelter animals or donate call 760-837-9066 or go to www.

desertsamaritans.org.

“Hot Flashes with Divas Divine” starring Deborah

Wheeler-Ure & Joanne Lapointe, a live musical

cabaret with Rob Woyshner on piano, Sunday, Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. The Arthur Newman Theater

at the Joslyn Center is located at 73750 Catalina Way. $10

cash only tickets available. For information, call 760-325-2731.

la QUINta Teachers Appreciation

Breakfast Saturday, Aug. 3 from 9 to 11 a.m. has room for

10 vendors and a maximum of 100 teachers. For more

information, call 760-564-6623. Mayors Cup Gulf Challenge Friday, Sept. 27 after Dark at the La Quinta Country Club

for a 9-hole scramble followed by a party at 4 p.m. For more

information, call 760-564-3199 or go to lachamber.com.

INdIOCity of Indio Encourages Expedient Resolution Indio residents rely on local TV

programming to provide news and entertainment. The KMIR 6 and KPSE My13 channels are removed from the Time

Warner Cable lineup. The City of Indio supports the availability of all programming that serve and benefit Indio residents. Give your support and voice

your concerns to KMIR 6 and KPSE My13 at 760-568-3636, or Time Warner Cable at 760-

340-2225. 18th Annual Valley Wide

Employment Expo on Wednesday Sept. 18 from

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Riverside County Fairgrounds, Fullenwider Auditorium, 46-350 Arabia St. For information, go

to desertjobexpo.com.

Compiled by Clarissa Ayala

“I was trying to help the dogs but the situation up there was out of control,” Pallesen said. “There were so many dogs that needed help, and more were being born all the time.”

“Schwenn is an animal hoarder to the ‘nth’ degree. I don’t think she has the capacity to care for any animals. She has no empathy and no capacity to realize her treatment of these animals is torture,” Rizzotti said after the arraignment.

Pallesen first brought attention to the Dog Death Camp on Apr. 14 when she got a call from a concerned neighbor saying the dogs needed help at Schwenn’s property in Sky Valley.

After Pal lesen alerted authorit ies, Schwenn was arrested on Monday, July 1 for one misdemeanor charge of not providing the proper care of an animal after a local veterinarian had to euthanise one of her female dogs because of a severe uterine infection.

After the District Attorney’s Office filed the additional 30 charges on July 24, Riverside County Animal Control rescued 10 dogs on a raid the next morning, July 25. Those dogs are now in protective custody in a county shelter, but Pallesen still feels for the puppies that couldn’t be saved.

“I heard them crying every day. I listened to them die,” Pallesen said.

“I was trying to get people to help, but nobody came. The last day I walked up there. I thought animal control was coming. I didn’t hear any puppies crying. I thought maybe they had come and got the puppies. No. I got up there and they were all dead. All dead,” Pallesen said in tears.

If convicted, Schwenn could be sentenced to probation or up to nine years in prison. Her next court appearance is Aug. 1st for a bail review.

Dog DEATh CAmp WomAn ARRAignEDContinued from Page 1

Photo courtesy of 2013 The Animal Profectorates

Kids play with Python at Animal Samaritans Critter Camp.

All advertising in the Desert Star Weekly newspaper subject to current rate card.

The newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order.

The entire contents of the Desert Star Weekly newspaper © 2013. All rights reserved.

www.desertstarweekly.com

W E E K L Y

desertSTAR

publisherRichard M. Perry

MANAGiNG eDiTOrMAx LIEBERMANN

eDiTOr-iN-chiefJACKIE GLADFELTER

DEVEREAUx

Office MANAGerMINDy WITSIEPE

ADverTisiNG AccOuNT represeNTATives

ABEL LUJANSHERRI CLARKE

ArT DirecTOr Dina Rivera

cONTribuTOrs Art Kunkin, Pamela Price,

Robert Kinsler, Janice Gough, Theda Kleinhans Reichman,

Kevin Powell, Risa D’Angeles, Kitty Pallesen, Paula Terifaj DVM

phOTOGrAphers Pat Krause

Bruce MontgomeryJackie Gladfelter Devereaux

AssOciATe publisherArlette Capel

iNTerN Sabrina Pinkney and Clarissa Ayala

Desert Star Weekly66538 Eighth Street, Desert Hot

Springs, CA 92240760-671-6604

INDIO, CA – Grammy Award-winning bands Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys will join forces with Alejandro Escovedo to bring their eclectic musical flavor to Fantasy Springs. On Saturday, August 10th the musicians will join forces and showcase their distinctive Latin sounds.

Los Lobos’ debut album was called Just Another Band from East L.A., but in their nearly four decade long career, they’ve repeatedly disproven that title—Los Lobos isn’t “just another” anything. Highly recognized for their hit single “La Bamba”, Los Lobos have released 19 albums, received 3 Grammy Awards and numerous nominations. In 2012 the group celebrated the 20th anniversary of their landmark album, Kiko, with a re-release of the album including bonus tracks, a live DVD and the original album. Next year Los Lobos will celebrate 40 years together, a rare example of longevity in a volatile music world that stresses style over substance.

Los Lonely Boys, the Texican rock’n’roll trio of brothers Henry, JoJo and Ringo Garza, have achieved multi-platinum album sales, a Grammy Award for

their monster hit “Heaven,” and widespread acclaim. Touring behind their most recent release Rockpango, they were named by Billboard as one of the top Adult Contemporary artists of all time.

A prolific and influential musician, Alejandro Escovedo surfaced as a guitarist for The Nuns on San Francisco’s no-holds-barred

punk scene centered around the Mabuhay Gardens in North Beach; in the band Rank & File he helped unite the disparate worlds of punk and country in the 1980s; and after he moved back to Austin, the True Believers combined all manner of Americana music in a harbinger of what was to come in Alejandro’s solo career which began in 1992

with the album Gravity. His latest album, the critically acclaimed Big Station, was released in June 2012.

Tickets for the 8PM Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys and Alejandro Escovedo performance go on sale Friday, April 5th for $79, $59, $39 at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, via telephone (800) 827-2946 or online at www.FantasySpringsResort.com.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino provides an oasis in the desert, featuring 30 “Best of Gaming” awards from Casino Player magazine. Offering 2,000 of the hottest slots, world-class table games, entertainment, hotel, dining and golf at Eagle Falls, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino stands to meet and exceed the needs of its guests and the community. Fantasy Springs is a privately operated business of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. For more information, call toll free 800.827.2946 or visit www.FantasySpringsResort.com. Follow Fantasy Springs on Facebook and on Twitter @fantasysprings.

An Evening Of Musical Brotherhood At Fantasy Springs with Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys and Alejandro Escovedo

PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICEFICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT .The following person is (are) doing business as: 1a.MAKE ME UP 3055 GREG CIRCLE PALM SPRINGS CA 92262 Riverside County. Full name of registrant(s): 2a.NATHALIE- -PROBST 3055 GREG CIRCLE PALM SPRINGS CA 92262 This business is conducted by: INDIVIDUAL. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious name(s) listed above. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime.) Signed: NATHALIE PROBST. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 7/31/2013. LARRY W. WARD, Signed by: V. BOYZO-SAUCEDO I-2013-02064 Note: THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATE-MENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTI-TIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (see Section 14411, et seq., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Run date 7/31, 8/7, 8/14 and 8/21/13 DSW 13-30331FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT .The following person is (are) doing business as: 1a.SALAS ELECTRIC 31255 AVENIDA DEL PADRE CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234 Riverside County. Full name of registrant(s): 2a.JORGE- -SALAS 31255 AVENIDA DEL PADRE CATHE-DRAL CITY CA 92234 This business is conducted by: INDIVIDUAL. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious name(s) listed above. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime.) Signed: JORGE SALAS. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 7/26/2013. LARRY W. WARD, Signed by: V. BOYZO-SAUCEDO I-2013-02029 Note: THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATE-MENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTI-TIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (see Section 14411, et seq., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Run date 7/31, 8/7, 8/14 and 8/21/13 DSW 13-30326FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT .The following person is (are) doing business as: 1a.RELIABLE CARE 66900 IRONWOOD DR. #304 DESERT HOT SPRINGS CA 92240 Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 1162 CATHEDRAL CITY CA 92235 Riverside County. Full name of registrant(s): 2a.CLAUDIA MARGOT QUINTERO 66900 IRONWOOD DR. #304 DESERT HOT SPRINGS CA 92240 This business is conducted by: INDIVIDUAL. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious name(s) listed above. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime.) Signed: CLAUDIA MARGOT QUINTERO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 7/16/2013. LARRY W. WARD, Signed by: J. MENDOZA I-2013-01932 Note: THIS FICTI-TIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FIL-ING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTI-TIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (see Section 14411, et seq., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Run date 7/31, 8/7, 8/14 and 8/21/13 DSW 13-30321NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF DIANA DERYCZ-KESSLER Case Number PSP1300522 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors,

contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: PETRO DERYCZ. A Petition for Probate has been filed by: DIANA DERYCZ-KESSLER in the Superior Court of California, County of: RIVERSIDE. The Petition for Probate requests that: DIANA DERYCZ-KESSLER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition does not request authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 09/19/2013 Time: 8:45AM. Dept.: 2.Location: 46200 Oasis Street Indio, CA 92201. If you object to the granting of the peti-tion, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within four months from the date of first issuance of letters as provided in Probate Code section 9100. The time for filing claims will not expire before four months from the hearing date noticed above. You may examine the file kept by the court If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE- 154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: DIANA DERYCZ-KESSLER 10960 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE 1050 LOS ANGELES, CA 90024 (310) 331-8484. Run date 8/2, 8/9 and 8/16/2013. DSW 13-30328

legals page 3August 2, 2013

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PALM DESERT - Universal Martial Arts Center Palm Desert will be celebrating 21 years this August and because of that milestone celebration they are offering real training for real people through new monthly workshops, in addition to their regular class schedule.

Unlike other martial arts centers, they focus on the art of self-defense as opposed to the sports side of the martial arts.

For anyone interested in learning real life self-defense skills with no experience necessary, there are several new monthly workshops offered in Women’s Self-Defense, Bully Proof Kids, and Law Enforcement, currently open

for registration.“The monthly self-defense

workshops we offer are a great way to try our center while gaining self-defense training,” said owner Sensei Mark Johnson. The next Women’s Self Defense and the Bully Proof Kids Workshops are scheduled for Aug. 17 and Sept. 21.

“We like to encourage our new high school graduates in the community to try a class before heading off to college. Learning some basic defenses may help give the parents some peace of mind when sending their teens away to college, by providing their teens with a way to handle a dangerous situation,” said Johnson.

Universal Martial Arts Center Palm Desert focuses on a variety of specialties including Krav Maga, Karate, fitness and personal training. Krav Maga, “Contact Combat” in Hebrew, is one of the most effective self-defense systems in the world. It was originally developed for the Israeli Military and later adjusted so that it would supply solutions to ordinary men, women and children who might face an aggressive encounter.

Krav Maga is based on natural and instinctive movements and focuses on simultaneous defense and counter attack.

Karate Students are taught the traditional style of Shorin-Ryu which originated in Okinawa,

Japan. It focuses on direct movements and solid structure to deliver powerful defenses and strikes. Students and are not solely taught self-defense, but also respect, discipline, focus and dedication.

Universal Martial Arts Center Palm Desert is located at 41625 Eclectic Way, Suite F1 in Palm Desert, CA. For more information, visit www.universalmartialartspd.com or call 760-568-0649.

INDIO - During the regular school year, there’s an after school program offered called Junior Historians targeted at grades 3-5 students. It is conducted at the Coachella Valley Museum in 4-6 week segments starting in the fall from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The aim is to acquaint children with the unique history and early personalities of the Coachella Valley.

“Unfortunately, most of this information is not covered in the

3rd and 4th grade California Social Studies texts,” said Maureen Boren, a docent at the Coachella Valley History Museum. “All of the information is provided from our archives as well as the work of the chief author of this curriculum, Dr. Priscilla Porter.

“Students learn to recount the history of the Coachella Valley, including the explorers who have visited here, the newcomers who have settled here, and the people

who continue to come here. Students trace their community’s development including how individuals and families have contributed to its founding and growth, and how the community has changed over time, drawing on maps, photographs, advertisements, and other primary sources,” Boren said.

Students will examine the impact of the coming of the railroad and the impact of new industries

such as agriculture and tourism. The unit concludes with a Living History Museum where students portray historical figures from the history of the Coachella Valley. The session starts with an extensive study of the Cahuilla Indian culture and continues to the present with the impact of tourism.

Field trips are free and t ransportat ion has been underwritten by many of the Rotary Clubs in each city. The field trips cover the Cahuilla Indian people, early agriculture, the Salton Sea, a historic personality (this year it was Dr. Carreon), the railroad, early life in the desert, including farm and household implements, a black smith shop and the 1909 Indio Schoolhouse.

While in the schoolhouse, students participate in a reenactment taking the role of children who studied in the school in 1909. “It is a very hands on experience where children must help the teacher with various jobs such as pumping water and ringing the school bell and doing handwriting exercises on slates,” Boren said.

During the summer, the CVHM provides a program for children grades 2 through 6. There are four sessions, each one week long from

noon to 2 p.m. The museum has also

conducted art classes for many years, “young at Art.” Area artists conduct classes for primary age children up to age 12. Children explore sculpture, drawing, painting and ceramics.

Classes are conducted in the morning and are concurrent with the Junior Historian dates during the summer. Tuition is $40 per week and scholarships are available.

Each year, the museum holds a Heritage Festival with demonstrations of early skills, crafts, music, dances and family histories of early settlers. Special activities and crafts representing the various cultures of early settlers (Cahuilla, Mexican, Black, Japanese, Armenian, and European) are available for children. Junior Historians will be portraying important early personalities from our history. The event is free and open to the public. It will be held on March 29, 2014.

The Coachella Valley History Museum is located at 82616 Miles Avenue in Indio. Go to www.coachellavalleymuseum.org for more information or call (760) 342-6651.

Universal Martial Arts Center

Junior Historian Program

Palm Desert Empowers the Community

Students at the Universal Martial Arts Center in Palm Desert learning a new Kata.

Junior Black Belt having fun sparring with Sensei at the Universal Martial Arts Center in Palm Desert.