Local athletes demonstrated their football skills at the Town of Yucca Valley NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition on Saturday, September 22nd at the Yucca Valley Community Center. The competition was free and open to boys and girls ages 6-15. Scores for each event were calculated based on distance and accuracy; the three event scores combined to create a final composite score which determined the overall winner in each division.
Winners in the boys’ competition included Teagan Lesko in the 6/7 year old division with a score of 52’5”. Abel Lopez won the 10-11 year old division with a score of 30’9”. Cameron Roberts won the 12/13 year old division with a score of 227’11” and Grey Tatu scored a 108’10” in the 14-15 year old division.
The girl’s competition saw Ashley Lechner winning in the 8/9 year old division with a score of 15’9”, Raelene Lopez won the 10-11 year old division with a score of 100’11”, and Tyler Hinks got the win in the 12-13 division with a score of 188’11”.
These local champions advance to the Sectional Competition to be held at Banning High School in Banning, California on November 4th. Champions at this level will have their scores compared to other Sectional winners from their respective age groups. The top four first-place winners in each division among all Sectional winners will advance to the Team Championship Competition hosted by the San Diego Chargers.
Every year more than three million youngsters nationwide compete in the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick Program. PPK offers boys and girls the opportunity to compete against their peers in punting, passing, and kicking contests in Local, Sectional, Team Championship, and National Final levels.
For more information about the PPK program visit nflppk.com. More information about local youth sports activities and events is available from the Town of Yucca Valley Community Services Department at 369-7211.
Palm Springs, CA, October 4, 2012… Oktoberfest Palm Springs VIP Lounge will feature a stellar line-up of Celebrity Chef demonstrations from Adam Gertler, Next Food Network Star finalist and Chris Mitchum, Executive Chef, Hyatt Regency Indian Wells along with food tastings. Also included are the vocal styling of cabaret singers Darci Daniels and Bonnie Gilgallon, top DJ Andy T direct from the clubs of San Francisco and many more surprises.
Ticket price for the VIP experience is only $50 and includes general admission into Oktoberfest Palm Springs, 6 tasting tickets, VIP Lounge in/out privileges, live entertainment throughout the day and a souvenir glass.
Chris Mitchum
Adam Gertler is known for his regular appearances on the Food Network performing his culinary expertise on Kid in a Candy Store, The Best Thing I Ever Made, Gertler’s Sausage, Food Network Star: After Party and a finalist on the Next Food Network Star. As Executive Chef of the newly re-named Hyatt Regency Indian Wells,Chris Mitchum elevates the consumer’s taste buds to new heights at Lantana.
Stars of both stage and screen Darci Daniels and Bonnie Gilgallon are regular vocalists at the valley’s top jazz clubs. As part of the company of Script2Stage2Screen, they will be seen in productions for the 2012-2013 season.
Oktoberfest Palm Springs is a unique European-style festival showcasing more than 40 food, beer and wine tasting booths on October 13 from Noon-6:00p.m. Live entertainment on 2 stages will include polka jazz, modern and DJ music to fit everyone’s taste.
Purchase tickets or book your room now for special hotel rates at the Riviera Palm Springs or the ACE Hotel and Swim Club at www.OktoberfestPalmSprings.com
This inaugural event will benefit CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Les Dames d’Escoffier (Providing scholarships for female chefs) and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Bonnie Gilgallon
Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, California the festival will be held at the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way in the park adjacent to the 26-foot tall “Forever Marilyn” statue. Spectacular views, ease to all of the shops, restaurants and night clubs of downtown. Free parking!
Oktoberfest Palm Springs is proud of the support by the following companies and individuals:
City of Palm Springs, Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, Costco Wholesale, Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Crispin Apple Cider, Spa Resort Casino, Crown Printers, Classic Party Rentals, KMIR 6 and KPSE TV 13, US. Foods, Palm Springs Life, Desert Entertainer, Travelhost, KOLA 99.9, KCET, 7×7 Magazine, R&R Broadcasting, Desert Star Weekly, Ace Hotel and Swim Club, Riviera Palm Springs, Bar One Catering, Zelda’s Nightclub, Scott Robertson (New Leaf Catering).
For more information or to become a sponsor and/or vendor, contact Jeff Hocker at the Oktoberfest Palm Springs production office at 760-320-5272 orinfo@oktoberfestpalmsprings.com.
LAPD Chief Beck’s proposal around LAPD’s participation in the Secure Communities (S-Comm) program is small, practical, and much needed.
Los Angeles – Today, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck announced a new approach to how the Los Angeles Police Department would be honoring Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s (ICE) holds in light of Governor Jerry Brown’s veto of the Trust Act.
The following is a statement from Angelica Salas, Executive Director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA):
“Chief Beck’s response to the strong and mounting criticism of S-comm is welcomed, but much more work needs to be done. “
“S-Comm has proven to be a seriously flawed dragnet that promotes racial profiling. Far from targeting the “worst of the worst”, S-Comm catches anyone who happens to fit into ICE’s defined ‘priorities’. Nearly seven in ten of those deported did not fall into ICE’s most serious categories. Shamefully, it is local and state police departments that have been relegated to do ICE’s dirty work. S-Comm damages the trust of the community which is a key element to fight crime, protect victims, witnesses and the overall safety of the communities we live in.”
“Chief Beck’s response while delayed, is a small but significant step forward because it recognizes that S-Comm is an unfair burden on the City of Los Angeles and seeks to rebuild trust among immigrant communities.”
With stories of every stripe and subject being produced for the musical stage these days, one shouldn’t have to ask “How can they make a musical out of the injustice of interning native-born American citizens into forced relocation camps during WW II?” Fair question. The answer is: before you complain or dismiss the effort, go see this powerful and cathartic musical, which is beautifully staged, with triple-threat actors, who sing, who dance, and who also touch the heart.
“Allegiance” is a new American musical inspired by the true-life family experience of actor George Takei (Mr. Sulu of “Star Trek” fame). Takei, along with his parents and other family members were removed from their Salinas farm in 1942 and were placed in a government internment camp in Heart Mountain, Wyoming.
Lea Salonga as Kei Kimura and George Takei as Ojii-san. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
Following the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, fear and paranoia of all varieties were rampant in the country. Many American-born and naturalized citizens of Asian decent, and those of Japanese ancestry in particular, from Seattle to San Diego, came under suspicion as people who might give aid and comfort to the enemy. The government’s remedy to the situation was to remove more than 120,000 citizens from their homes and businesses and place them in “protective custody for their safety” – but far away from the West Coast – in relocation camps ranging all over the country. Granted it was a traumatic time for the country, but never the less, it was still a shameful act. And its impact is still being felt by some today.
Set against this historical tableau, Takei, in collaboration with Jay Kuo, who wrote the music and lyrics, and Marc Acito, Jay Juo, and Lorenzo Thione, who wrote the libretto, have fashioned a compelling and poignant story and how it effects an American family before, during and after the war.
“Allegiance”, deftly directed by Canadian Stafford Arima, is somewhat of a memory piece, and as such, is softer and less strident in tone around the edges of its core story than earlier plays that have used racial profiling and social injustice as themes. Arima is involved, not only as its director he brings a personal and emotional perspective to the production. Arima’s father, two aunts and an uncle also were interned, but in British Columbia, Canada during WW II.
Lea Salonga as Kei Kimura, Telly Leung as Sammy Kimura, George Takei as Ojii-san and Paul Nakauchi as Tatsuo Kimura.~Photo by Henry DiRocco.
The story revolves around the Kimura family of Salinas, California. Life in the San Joaquin Valley of California in 1941 was no different for the Kimura family on their small artichoke farm than for those of their friend’s with small farms, than for any other group of hard-working Californians. Then, on December 7th everyone’s world changed. “Allegiance”, is an American story of country, of family, and of culture set to music, ranging from stirring to reflective and illuminates how those changes affected a great many people in war-time America.
What is gratifying for me at least, is to see actors of Asian descent filling 80% of the roles as called for in the script; with Anglo’s filling only Anglo roles. The cast may not all be Japanese-Americans – Lea Salonga of “Miss Saigon” fame, is Filipino, but is of Asian descent, and her beautiful soprano voice hasn’t diminished a wit in the twenty years since winning her Tony as Kim, in “Miss Saigon”. All of the principal actors, at some point in the production are required to speak Japanese (Tim Dang, artistic director of East West Players of Los Angeles, take note and check out this show).
Michael K. Lee as Frankie Suzuki and Lea Salonga as Kei Kimura. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
As one of the three central characters in the musical: Salonga as Kei Kimura, Telly Leung as young Sammy, and George Takei as Ojii-san and as the older Sammy, do most of the heavy dramatic lifting, and sing with energy and passion. Even Septuagenarian Takei can carry a tune and sell a song and also understands how to inject humor into a somewhat somber script. Also, there is strong support from Michael K. Lee as Frankie, a camp resister and activist, who falls in love with Kei, to Allie Trimm as Hannah Campbell, an early love interest for young Sammy, and Paul Nakauchi, as the stoic and principled family patriarch Tatsuo Kimura, and Paolo Montalban as the Japanese American activist Mike Masaoka, promoter of the famous and heroic Japanese American fighting unit known as the “442 Battalion”, and Washington D.C.’s link to the Japanese American community.
The Old Globe has few equals when it comes to using its state-of-the-art technical arsenal to enrich a production. Director Arima has enlisted a clever creative team to maximize the input and impact of his team led by Donyale Werle as Scenic Designer, Howell Binkley, Lighting Designer, Jonathan Deans Sound Designer, and just the right amount of projection designs by Darrel Maloney.
Lynne Shankel’s music supervision, arrangements, and orchestration are key in making this uplifting and insightful production come brilliantly and musically alive. Musical Director Laura Bergquist and Lynne Shankel make a most formidable music team indeed.
“Allegiance” performs on the Donald and Darlene Shiley stage through October 21, 2012.
US President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney sparred over federal regulations restricting Wall Street and US financial institutions during the presidential candidates’ debut debate.
After months of campaigning, the two candidates went head-to-head at the University of Denver on Wednesday night (US time) in the first of three televised debates in the run-up to the November 6 election.
The opponents didn’t throw verbal punches at each other, instead choosing to focus on facts and figures in an attempt to win over swinging voters, with issues such as tax, healthcare and the role of government at the forefront.
Romney, on the offensive, opened the debate by highlighting the country’s weak economic growth and 8.1 percent unemployment figure, which has left Obama exposed as he attempts to win a second stint in the White House.
“Now I’m concerned that we’re on the path that’s just been unsuccessful. The president has a view very similar to the one he had when he ran for office four years ago, that spending more, taxing more, regulating more, if you will, trickle-down government would work. That’s not the right answer for America,” Romney said.
Obama responded by suggesting that if Romney were elected, he would bring $5.4 trillion (4.18 trillion euros) in tax cuts that Obama claimed would be geared towards America’s wealthy.
The president put Romney on the defensive with his plan to overhaul the country’s tax system, adding that Romney hadn’t been clear about which tax system loopholes he promised to close.
Romney, Obama said, was trying to promote a similar series of tax cuts to those for which former President George W. Bush legislated in 2001 and 2003.
“We ended up moving from surpluses to deficits and it all culminated with the worst recession since the Great Depression,” Obama said.
Women pose for photos near a homeless man during New York Fashion week this month.
At Columbia University, which is located just blocks from Harlem in Manhattan’s West Side, wealth and poverty are closer together than they are in many places in New York City. This is where American economist and 2001 Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz works as a professor. The Gary, Indiana native has spent years examining social inequality. His first personal experience with the issue came when, as a young boy, he asked why his nanny wasn’t caring for her own children. Later, as the World Bank’s chief economist, he studied the phenomenon on a global level. In June, he published a book on the topic entitled “The Price of Inequality: How Today’s Divided Society Endangers Our Future,” which has just been released in German as well. In a SPIEGEL interview, Stiglitz discusses how wealth disparity is dividing America and how Europe can best overcome the euro crisis.
Local athletes demonstrated their football skills at the Town of Yucca Valley NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition on Saturday, September 22nd at the Yucca Valley Community Center. The competition was free and open to boys and girls ages 6-15. Scores for each event were calculated based on distance and accuracy; the three event scores combined to create a final composite score which determined the overall winner in each division.
