Animal Samaritans is proud to report the rescue of 1,561 dogs and cats from our Desert’s local public animal shelters over the course of the year. While all the dogs and cats were adoptable, some required a little extra attention, like time socializing with foster parents, or medical care to repair the harm done from injury and neglect.

In just the last two weeks we rescued a loving little terrier with a lame leg, and a four-month old puppy with head trama.  Thanks to your donations to our Adoption Alliance program, our doctors were able to perform surgery on the dogs and give them a second chance at life.

Last week we also sent another German shepherd to our rescue partners in Michigan.

During the first two weeks of December, four litters of unwanted puppies were brought into local public shelters.  Sadly, we couldn’t save them all.

This is a reminder to spay & neuter our pets; if you have friends or neighbors who have unfixed pets and you would like to nudge them spay & neuter their animals, buy them Critter Cash from Animal Samaritans, which they can use for veterinary services–same as cash–at our clinic.

Holiday Hours

Animal Samaritans’ animal shelter and veterinary clinic will close at 12 noon on Tuesday, December 24, and remain closed through Christmas Day, December 25.  We will also be closed on Tuesday, January 1.

Lightnin’  Strikes Plaza Theatre Stage Starting January 8

Palm Springs, California (December 19, 2012) Lou Christie’s chart topping, multi-million selling career as a songwriter, recording artist, and performer started in a two-track studio in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, his rural hometown near Pittsburgh. His first million-selling song, “The Gypsy Cried,” transformed a local choirboy, Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, into Lou Christie—national teen idol, while still a teenager himself! No longer a teenager, but still a three-octave musical phenomena, he makes his Follies’ debut January 8 through March 9.

“Two Faces Have I” was Christie’s next big hit featuring his stratospheric falsetto. Then, his #1 multi-million selling “Lightnin’ Strikes,” forever embedded him into America’s musical consciousness. His chart-topping success continued with two more million selling hits, “Rhapsody In The Rain” and “I’m Gonna Make You Mine.” Rhapsody’s success was fueled by the fact that it was the first song banned on the radio due to its suggestive lyrics.

Lou Christie was more than just your average teen idol: He was one of the 1960’s first singer-songwriters. Together with his eccentric collaborator, Twyla Herbert, Christie co-wrote nearly all of his songs. Herbert, nearly 30 years his senior, was a classically trained musician, so it was the perfect partnership since Christie had no formal musical training.

Highlights from Christie’s performing career include appearances on Dick Clark’s Caravan Of Stars, sharing 72 consecutive one-nighters with Diana Ross and the Supremes, and a command performance for Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family.

Elton John, John Lennon and Madonna are among the music legends upon whom Christie has had major influence. Elton John played piano for Christie during Christie’s ‘London Period’ in the early 70’s, and recorded the Christie/Herbert-penned song, “She Sold Me Magic.” John Lennon repeatedly pointed out in his interviews, “Lou Christie was one of my influences.” And Madonna even thanked Christie in the liner notes of her ten-million-selling “Immaculate Collection” LP.

From teen idol to Rock ‘n’ Roll legend “Lightnin’” Lou Christie strikes again, and again, and again, but this time for Follies Fans as he makes his long-awaited debut upon the Follies’ stage.

About The fabulous Palm Springs Follies:

During its 22 seasons, The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies has been seen by nearly three million patrons, and celebrates the music and dance of Mid-Century America with a cast ranging in age from 54 to 83 years “young.” The show features lavish, Broadway-caliber production numbers, and plays five days a week from November through late-May. In 1997, it was the subject of an Oscar-nominated short documentary entitled Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. The show is housed in downtown Palm Springs’ historic Plaza Theatre, a charming, neon-encrusted old movie house, which is an attraction itself. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at (760) 327-0225 or online at www.psfollies.com.

Desert Hot Springs has a new City-Attorney, his name is Steve Quintanilla with the Law Firm of Green, de Bortnowsky & Quintanilla. The cost to the citizens about $420,000 a year, if all goes well. It breaks down to $35,000 per month flat rate for General City Attorney services including Code Enforcement. In case of litigations, the hourly rate would be from $190 for the top-man, $90 for the Law Clerks.

Mr. Quintanilla was introduced at the Dec. 18th 2012 City Council meeting, and was approved by  all five City Council members.

Statement by Steve Quintanilla:

 “I am honored and feel very privileged to be appointed as Desert Hot Springs’ city attorney. This is sort of a homecoming for me and my firm since we served as city attorney for eight  years before. There have been many changes in Desert Hot Springs over the years and those changes have been very positive from my perspective.

 Although there may be challenges in the future, like with many other communities during this downturn in the economy, I am looking forward to working with the City Council and the City Manager and his staff on helping meet those challenges with the skills and expertise I have to offer. I promise this city council, the city manager and his staff and the residents and businesses owners in the City that I will do my upmost to serve the City the best I can.”

Mr. Quintanilla (54) is a partner in the law firm of Green, de Bortnowsky & Quintanilla, LLP which maintains offices in the Los Angeles area and in the city of Rancho Mirage.

Mr. Quintanilla specializes in public agency law and he currently serves as City Attorney for the City of Rancho Mirage, Deputy City Attorney for the City of Cathedral City, and General Counsel for the Rancho Mirage Housing Authority and Rancho Mirage Successor Agency, Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, Palm Springs and Orange County Cemetery Districts and the Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District which serves the communities of Thermal, Mecca and Oasis. Mr. Quintanilla is also well known for the extensive volunteer work he has provided and continues to provide to numerous non profits throughout the Coachella Valley. He currently serves as Pro Bono Legal Counsel for the Rancho Mirage Public Library Foundation and serves as a Board Member of the Regional Access Project Foundation and ACT for MS (Multiple Sclerosis) boards.

Mr. Quintanilla’s educational background includes a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law, an M.A. in Urban Planning from the UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and a B.A. in Environmental Policy from the UCLA Geography Department from which he  graduated magna cum laude and with numerous other academic honors.

As frenzied doomsayers around the world prepare for the apocalypse on December, 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin put his trust in science, saying at a yearly Q&A that the earth won’t end for another 4.5 billion years, when the sun goes out.

“It will all end in 4.5 billion years, the reaction will stop and the Sun will turn into a White Dwarf… I don’t believe the world will end this year,” President Putin said during the press conference.

Putin, known for enjoying large open-format discussions, held his traditional end-of-year Q&A with more than 1,000 journalists on Thursday. In a wide-ranging, four-hour discussion, the Russian president touched on topics both serious and silly, like Syria and the so-called Mayan apocalypse.

Below are some of Putin’s most noteworthy quotes from the event: