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Don’t Forget to Spring Forward! Daylight Saving Time 2012 Begins Tonight

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Tonight, while most of us are sleeping, time will spring forward.

At 2 a.m. Sunday morning, daylight saving time begins, moving our clocks ahead one hour and costing us an hour of sleep.

Daylight saving time has changed in the past few years. Though we used to spring forward on the first Sunday in April and fall back on last Sunday in October, Congress changed the date several years ago, adding more daylight saving time to the calendar. This year, it will run from March 11 until Nov. 4.

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Golf for Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament the Classic Club

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Story and Photos by Pat Krause

The Second Annual Golf for Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament is hosted by actor Patrick Warburton. Golf was held at the Classic Club on Saturday and Sunday, March 3rd and 4th. Awards were given to the golfers that participated on Sunday.

There was a pairings party and Jam Session on Friday night. The parties were held at J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Ballroom. Shakti Warriors sponsored the Jam Session. Celebrity Icons, Alice Cooper, Robbie Krieger from the Doors, Tommy Thayer from KISS, Steve Cropper from Blues Brothers fame, and drummers Danny Seraphine from Chicago and Adrian Young from No Doubt put on one fabulous Jam Session for over 400 guests. Host Patrick Warburton announced the golf pairings for the event.

Saturday was another party hosted by John O’Hurley with Red Carpet appearances by David Spade and Luke Perry. A Comedy Show included artists, Larry Joe Campbell, Gregg Fitzsimmons, Ron Pearson, Bernadette Pauley & Impressionist Mike Wilson. Sunday was the Awards Banquet.

This event raised over $310,000 for St. Jude’s Research Hospital. $70,000 more than last year. Patrick Warburton thanked all participants for their generosity. This years event was presented by Palm Desert Division of High Tower. Parents never pay for services for their children at St. Judes Hospital. Cancer patients were given only a 20% chance for survival years ago and with all the research done at St. Jude’s there is now more than an 80% survival rate.

Other celebrities were Check Marin, Oliver Hudson,Sam Page, Richard Karn, Wyatt Russell, Robert Hays, Bruce McGill plus many others. Oliver Hudson’s Group was the winning team.

Desert Christian Academy raises $250,000 for scholarships

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By Cara Van Dijk

Bermuda Dunes, CA– “America’s Mayor,” Rudy Giuliani and the hometown heroes among us were honored Saturday night at Desert Christian Academy’s 22nd Annual Auction Gala: “A Heroes’ Welcome.” The fundraising event was generously underwritten by the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, which also contributed a matching grant of $50,000. The auction raised $250,000 for Desert Christian Academy’s tuition assistance program.

 Nearly 500 people attended the event as the 2008 Presidential Candidate helped honor several community members for their contributions in our area. Lisa Houston, president and CEO of FIND Food Bank, Aurora Wilson, director of community resources at the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), and Jennifer Johnson, a 2009 graduate of Desert Christian Academy and now on the LPGA tour, were recognized as hometown heroes. Each of the recipients was presented with a $2,000 gift toward their chosen organization: FIND Food Bank, Roy’s Resource Center and the Wounded Warrior Project, respectfully. Johnson is an advocate for the Wounded Warrior Project, which assists injured servicemen and women.

You are producing people who give back,” Mayor Giuliani remarked about the faith-based school during his keynote address. “The real way to measure heroism is how much you give back.”

“America’s Mayor,” Rudy Giuliani & Congress woman Mary Bono-Mack

Mayor Giuliani spoke of the brave men and women who responded to the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The crowd applauded law enforcement, fire and other first responders attending. Veterans and active duty military were also recognized. Elected officials, including Rep.Mary Bono Mack, who introduced Mayor Giuliani, were thanked for their public service. Elected officials attending included Coachella Mayor Eduardo Garcia, Desert Hot Springs Mayor Yvonne Parks and Desert Hot Springs Councilman Scott Matas, Indio Mayor Glenn Miller and Indio City Councilwoman Lupe Ramos Watson, La Quinta Mayor Don Adolph and La Quinta City Councilwoman Kristy Franklin, Palm Desert Councilwoman Jan Harnik and Rancho Mirage Councilman Scott Hines.

It was truly a one-of-a-kind experience to unite our elected heroes and community servants who dedicate so much of their lives for the betterment of others,” said Dave Fulton, Desert Christian Academy’s founder and head of school. The auction was preceded by a VIP reception for elected officials to meet Mayor Giuliani.

 Doctors and teachers in the audience were also thanked for their public service. Desert Christian Academy acknowledged several local teachers representing all three public school districts in the Coachella Valley as well as their own fantastic faculty and staff.

 Desert Christian Academy’s Tuition Assistance Program allows students from all economic backgrounds the opportunity to attend the Faith-based, Christ-centered institution that builds exceptional students of great character. Desert Christian Academy, located in Bermuda Dunes, California, is home to nearly 500 students from toddlers to 12th grade, and is the leading college preparatory school in the Coachella Valley.

Frank Sinatra Celebrity Golf Tournament

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Story and Photos by Pat Krause

The Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament is celebrating its 24th year. Franks Little Party in the Desert has grown each year. The golf was held at Eagle Falls Golf Course in Indio. The pairings party. Friday night party and the Big Black Tie Gala were all held in the Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Spa Casino.

Nearly 50 celebrities arrived on Thursday to register for the golf tournament. A pairings party was held Thursday evening with entertainment by Margo Rey. Ron White made a suprise visit to perform for the guests.

The first 18 holes of golf was played on Friday morning after a continental breakfast. A dinner was served on Friday night with Frank’s favorite foods. There was a Live and Silent auction. There were vendors selling items each day at Franks Place area. Iconic actor Dick Van Dyke brought his Vantastix to perform on Friday night. The second round of Golf started with a shotgun start on Saturday morning.

The Black Tie Gala started with a VIP reception party for participants and a cocktail party for other guests. Golf awards were given after dinner was served. Barbara Sinatra spoke to the guests and thanked them for all their support for the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. All proceeds go the Charity and they have raised more money each year to keep the center going as it is a non-profit charity.

The famous Paul Anka performed after dinner. What a show he put on. He started his show by coming to the stage thru the guests at the tables. He brought his own band and introduced them at the end of the show. Paul came down into the audience and walked around greeting fans. He even got on top of a table to sing to the crowd. He asked the audience to stand and sing along with him a couple times. He took a cell phone and sang to a person on the other end and took a camera and shot a photo with a young woman. He had the audience in his hands the whole
performance.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation is the title sponsor for the event, Founders Bill and Tani Austin were unable to attend as they were in another country helping people hear again.

The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center was started by Barbara and Frank years ago. They service emotionally, sexually and physically abused children. No one is ever turned away because they are unable to pay. On Sunday Barbara held an open house for guests to tour the center and see what they do to help the children.

Sinatra’s Golf Tournament Ladies Luncheon

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Story and Photos by Pat Krause

The Sinatra Invitational Golf tournament always provides entertainment for the Ladies of the Golfers. A luncheon was held at Fantasy Springs Resort spa Casino Special Events Center. Tables filled the ballroom with beautiful flower centerpieces. A grand lunch was served.

Chair, Nelda Linsk, hosted the Fashion show. Models wore outfits and gowns by designer, Ali Rahimi for Mon Atelier. A runway was set up that went out into the ballroom for all the guests to see, Models wore sporty outfits, day and evening attire. There was even a wedding gown at the Finale. You could hear the ooohs and aaaahs as the gowns were shown.

Vendors were set up in the lobby area filled with clothes, jewelry, purses and Furs for purchase. Proceeds from those sales went to the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. This is one event all the ladies enjoy. women wear Hats and dress up for the day. Its ladies day out while the men play golf.

The Fourth Annual Broken Glass Awards Gala

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Story and Photos by Pat Krause

The Fourth Annual Broken Glass Awards Gala was held at the Agua Caliente Resort Spa Casino Show Ballroom on March 2nd. The event was hosted by the Palm Springs Women in Film and Television. Several honorees are chosen from the Film and Television industry and women that have made contributions to the entertainment field.

The nominees this year were Actress Raquel Welch who was unable to attend due to a family illness. Guests were disappointed she was not able to attend. Actress Shirley Jones who was the mother on televisions The Partridge Family. Director of Kung Fu Panda 2, Jennifer Lu Nelson was also nominated. Two nominees are local women, Barbara Keller who is the Co-chair for the Steve Chase Gala plus other philanthropic gifts and Kim Waltrip of Kim and Jim Productions. Kim has made several movies recently like Outrun, Expecting Mary and A Thousand Cuts that showed at this years Palm Springs Film Festival.

A red Carpet was put down for all the guests to walk on going to the cocktail reception and dinner. Pattie Daly Caruso was on hand to interview guests as they arrived. Several Celebrities of note walked the Red carpet and answered questions for Television crews. Donna Mills and Gena Rowlands were a couple of women actresses that attended. There is a Gena Rowland Award in her honor. Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack and Leonard Maltin plus the honorees also walked the Red Carpet for fans and photographers.