tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24730228776017784462024-03-13T22:37:27.251-07:00The Desert Dawg BlawgScorching hot content from The Desert Dawg Blawg!Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-79063143813755109272010-02-05T17:37:00.001-08:002010-02-05T19:43:39.424-08:00Modernism Week Showcases Palm Springs’ Architectural Wow Factor<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal">By Morgan Craft</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGFm2-pII/AAAAAAAAAXs/VxtzlWmvIWk/s1600-h/Modernism+Week+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGFm2-pII/AAAAAAAAAXs/VxtzlWmvIWk/s320/Modernism+Week+Logo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ever wanted to swing into the chic desert abodes of Frank Sinatra, Liz Taylor and Steve McQueen? How about reliving the fight scene in the James Bond thriller “Diamonds are Forever”? Then slip on those vintage slacks and take in the desert’s coolest international architecture gathering.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGIfGcIeI/AAAAAAAAAX0/T6ug-ApoZn8/s1600-h/Elrod+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGIfGcIeI/AAAAAAAAAX0/T6ug-ApoZn8/s320/Elrod+House.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p> The Elrod House, seen in "Diamonds Are Forever"</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Palm Springs Modernism Week, the only event of its kind in the country, has become one of the desert’s main events, and with over 40 stylish and educational events around the city, this year’s 5th annual week is expected to be bigger than ever. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2010/02/modernism-week-showcases-palm-springs.html">(Click to read more...)</a><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGd2GrviI/AAAAAAAAAYU/Gu0iCsd3WSU/s1600-h/point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGd2GrviI/AAAAAAAAAYU/Gu0iCsd3WSU/s320/point.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p> The Buchan/Rook House in Palm Springs</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">Modernism aficionados from around the globe will be arriving in large numbers to join locals for the fun-filled 10-day celebration which pays homage to the ideals and perennial retro grooviness of mid-century modern design, architecture and culture. From the 12<sup>th</sup> to the 21<sup>st</sup>, architecture, design and style devotees will fan out across the town for cocktail parties, home tours, a fashion event, vintage car show, lectures, films, and a modernism show at the Palm Springs Convention Center on the 13<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup>. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Now in its 9th year, the Palm Springs Modernism Show has become one of the country’s premier marketplaces for national and international modernist decorative and fine arts</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="color: black;">Palm Springs</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="color: black;"> has become increasingly regarded for its unmatched collection of midcentury modern architecture, and along with a passionate preservation movement has maintained, and preserved, many of these iconic structures. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The Palm Springs Art Museum began hosting its popular annual architecture symposium and home tour in 1999 which helped spark the appreciation for Palm Springs' architecture. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The Museum’s efforts to shine a light on the city’s renowned midcentury modern architects generated interest in the city’s astonishing concentration of mid-century architecture. </span><span style="color: black;">The town is widely acknowledged as one of the premier architectural locations in the country, which has become a growing draw for architecture lovers worldwide with its new “mod Tourism” niche.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGcaNuHBI/AAAAAAAAAYM/Al_OuR_Ff64/s1600-h/SinatraHouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGcaNuHBI/AAAAAAAAAYM/Al_OuR_Ff64/s320/SinatraHouse.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p> The Sinatra House in Twin Palms</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">“The City of Palm Springs is proud to welcome modernism aficionados to enjoy our cache of midcentury modern architecture which is among the world’s largest,” said Mayor Steve Pougnet. “This is one of the many characteristics that create our unique Palm Springs tourism experience.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Special events this year focus on the architecture of iconic midcentury modern architects Albert Frey and William Kreisel. Frey, whose star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars is set to be unveiled on Friday the 12th at 2pm, at 300 South Palm Canyon Drive, is the designer of midcentury icons Frey House II, Palm Springs City Hall, Tramway Station and numerous other significant structures. Tours of Frey House II, the iconic home he designed for himself in the rocks above town will be taking place regularly. A just-released film highlighting the work of William Kreisel, famous as the architect of the Palm Springs “Alexander” homes, will be shown at the Camelot Theater on Sunday the 14th at 7:30pm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGVKb1dcI/AAAAAAAAAYE/9uFMB_MyWhs/s1600-h/Frey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGVKb1dcI/AAAAAAAAAYE/9uFMB_MyWhs/s320/Frey2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"><o:p> The Frey II House in Palm Springs</o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Other events will focus on the work of architects Richard Neutra, Rem Koolhaus and John Lautner, with still another on famous modernism photographer Julius Schulman.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">A gala benefit taking place at the rarely-seen estate of cooler-than-cool actor Steve McQueen is set for Saturday the 13th, and as is a “retro martini party” on Friday the 19th at Lautner’s famous Elrod house, made famous in James Bond’s “Diamonds Are Forever”. The Palm Springs Preservation foundation will also be offering tours of Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms estate, on Thursday the 18th, from 10:30 to 2pm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGKBelGtI/AAAAAAAAAX8/0EBY7jvyS9o/s1600-h/diamonds_are_forever_xlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGKBelGtI/AAAAAAAAAX8/0EBY7jvyS9o/s320/diamonds_are_forever_xlg.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGerEkz-I/AAAAAAAAAYc/9hvEKdEzek0/s1600-h/Elrod4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2zGerEkz-I/AAAAAAAAAYc/9hvEKdEzek0/s320/Elrod4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Events fill up early, so make sure to visit the <a href="http://psmodcom.org/">psmodcom.org</a> website for information. </span><span style="color: black;">Updates to the event schedule and tickets for Modernism Week 2010 can be purchased at <a href="http://modernismweek.com/">modernismweek.com</a>.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The event is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, California Preservation Foundation, Palm Springs Art Museum, and the Palm Springs Modern Committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-8467699171455536812010-02-03T17:33:00.000-08:002010-02-03T21:43:30.028-08:00Head to Idyllwild for A Unique Mountain Arts & Culinary Getaway<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Morgan Craft</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of the reasons we desert dwellers extol the virtue of living in our arid environment are the many choices we have to get away from it. Idyllwild has always fit the bill, and it’s only getting better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2ojDDvStoI/AAAAAAAAAXk/DO2HmG4vYCE/s1600-h/Town.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S2ojDDvStoI/AAAAAAAAAXk/DO2HmG4vYCE/s320/Town.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With its many art galleries and the <b>Idyllwild Arts Center</b> (<a href="http://www.idyllwildarts.org/">www.idyllwildarts.org</a>), this funky mountain hamlet has been named as one of the top 100 small art towns in America. The town hosts regular art and musical events like Jazz in the Pines, numerous Art Walks and festivals, and Idyllwild's Adult Arts Center attracts adult students, drawn by its diverse offerings in contemporary arts, theatre, and creative writing.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Park in the small town square, and most of the town’s offerings are within walking distance. Idyllwild tried for decades to cash in on a Swiss Village theme, and much of the downtown architecture reflects this. And while there’s a dearth of touristy knickknacks and high-calorie temptation, a new generation of hip, enlightened businesses has taken root. The community now offers yoga, pilates, an organic market, watsu (floating) massage, spiritual and meditation retreats, and of course, thousands of acres of contemplative wilderness. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2010/02/head-to-idyllwild-for-unique-mountain.html">(Click to read on...)</a><br />
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<a name='more'></a>Art and artists play a big part in the uniqueness of Idyllwild. While the town boasts well over a hundred resident artists, there are about a dozen galleries that show their collective work. Painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, carving, mixed media – you name it, and there is an artist in town creating it. A good listing of galleries and artists can be found at the <b>Art Alliance of Idyllwild</b> website (<a href="http://www.artinidyllwild.com/">www.artinidyllwild.com</a>). A favorite is the work of photographer Frank Bryunbroek (<a href="http://www.omdphotos.com/">www.omdphotos.com</a>), whose portraits of rescued dogs are regal, heart-wrenching and captivating. He has his own space, the <b>Oh My Dog Gallery</b>, at 54425 North Circle Drive.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Two Babes in the Woods</b> at 55750 South Circle Drive is a gallery and working art studio of an artist collective that features an array of original landscapes, wildlife and figurative paintings in oil and acrylic, and also features rare books and antiques. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For other-than-art shopping the serene <b>Merkaba </b>(<a href="http://www.merkabaonline.com/">www.merkabaonline.com</a>), at 54245 North Circle Drive #C-3, has an amazing collection of hand-crafted organic teas and herb blends, candles, chimes and prayer flags. They’ll make a personal blend from the 59 various teas on the shelves, as well as natural, organic and kosher herbs.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Himalayan Treasures</b> is a tiny space with amazing photography, jewelry, and trinkets of Nepal at 54200 N Circle Drive, and on the other side of the town square at <b>Everitt's Minerals & Gallery</b>, lapidary artists and metal smiths Larry and Janet Everitt meld together nature's gems and minerals into beautiful jewelry, and their collection of raw and polished minerals is fascinating. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Once your appetite awakens, the best place for lunch is the funky local favorite, <b>Café Aroma</b> (<a href="http://www.cafearoma.org/">www.cafearoma.org</a>), just half a mile up the hill from town at 54750 North Circle Drive. They host regular artists and live music, in addition to a surprisingly good menu and wine list. The wonderful, recently-opened <b>Mountain Restaurant</b> at 26290 Highway 243 (<a href="http://www.themountainrestaurant.com/">www.themountainrestaurant.com</a>) is the absolute “must-go” dinner pick. With a Cordon-bleu trained chef, and locally-sourced organic, gourmet food, it’s been getting rave reviews.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If nature is your calling, the <b>Ernie Maxwell Trail</b> is a perfect setting for a leisurely family hike, even in the snow. The trail descends very gently from Humber Park, Idyllwild’s gateway to Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness, passing through a wonderful dense forest of pines. There are great views of both Tahquitz and Suicide rocks from the trail.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For the chanting and meditation crowd (which includes me), the <b>Idyllwild Dharma Center</b> is a lovely, sparse oasis in the woods just outside town. They host regular retreats, workshops and dharma talks (<a href="http://www.rinpoche.com/centers/kml.html">www.rinpoche.com/centers/kml.html</a>). And the <b>Yokoji Zen Mountain Center </b>a little farther south does the same (<a href="http://www.zmc.org/">www.zmc.org</a>). They’re both great-energy places worth a visit.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Idyllwild has a multitude of motels, inns, B&B’s, small retreats, and vacation rentals, with many accessible online. A couple of regular favorites are <b>Silver Pines Lodge</b> (<a href="http://www.silverpineslodge.com/">www.silverpineslodge.com</a>), <b>Lodge at Pine Cove</b> (<a href="http://www.thelodgeatpinecove.com/">www.thelodgeatpinecove.com</a>), and <b>Quiet Creek Inn</b> (<a href="http://www.quietcreekinn.com/">www.quietcreekinn.com</a>). Go on up, stay a night, and enjoy why you live in the desert.</div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-89204443759330790462010-01-28T14:17:00.001-08:002010-01-28T14:34:19.122-08:00Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Looks to the Future<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">From <st1:city w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:city> to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state>:<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mayor Steve Pougnet Looks to the Future<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interview by Morgan Craft</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:city w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:city> mayor Steve Pougnet is in the thick of things here in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Elected to the Palm Springs City Council in 2003, he eventually won the Mayor’s seat in 2007 with over 70 percent of the vote, and now serves in leadership positions on numerous commissions and boards throughout the region.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pougnet is the Chairman of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), Chairman of the Energy & Water Conservation Subcommittee, as well as Vice-Chairman of the CVAG Energy and Environment Committee. He’s also Vice Chairman of Sunline Transit Agency, a Board Member of the Palm Springs Desert Resort Convention and Visitors Authority, and a member of the Riverside County Transportation Commission. </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And he’s running for Congress this year, against an entrenched incumbent in a historically conservative district. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">I</st1:placetype></st1:place> sat down with the Mayor to discuss the city, the region, and his race for Congress. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2010/01/palm-springs-mayor-steve-pougnet-looks.html">(Click to read on...)</a></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DVS: Much has been made of stimulus money reaching the valley. Give us your view.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: The new <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">COD</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Green</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Technology</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> was partially funded by stimulus funds. There are new police across the valley, and local Pell Grant programs have been helped. In March, City Manager David Ready and I went to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state></st1:place> to uncover the formula for getting stimulus money, and we asked for money for specific things. Most important for the city was funding the new control tower at the airport, which we hoped might happen through the FAA’s program, but were told then that it would not. We then went to the Air Traffic Control people who have control over airport capital projects and learned that it would be funded. Lots of people are taking credit for the control tower, but it was actually in the 2010 capital budget, so it was coming anyway. And nobody is talking about the fact that stimulus funds are going to be used to help fund the project.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(We did, and according to the FAA’s Western Region office, ARRA funds in fact are going to be used in the control tower project. The exact amount depends on the bids that come in.)</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last March when we went looking for money, most of it was earmarked for infrastructure projects. I also went there as a representative of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, and eventually, RCTC received $41 million for the valley i-10 projects. And since the bids for those projects are coming in less, it’s going to allow us to start the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Indian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place> upgrade in September using stimulus funds. We had some easement issues with the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Indian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place> project but those have been resolved.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: The budget is issue number one. We’ve eliminated $12 million out of last year’s budget with a reduction plan that didn’t include cuts to police and fire, plus early retirement and furlough programs, and 10 percent budget cuts in all departments. This will remain the number one issue as long as <st1:city w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:city> can’t figure out their financial situation; it will impact every municipality in the state of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place> when they keep gas taxes or take redevelopment funds that are ours. It’s just not right.</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clearly downtown is still an issue, and how and when it’s going to be redeveloped. What Wessman’s project actually looks like, the density, the height, will still be a major issue going forward. You have people in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:city></st1:place> who want nothing and others who desperately want to see it moving forward. We removed all the hurdles for Wessman, and approved the general plan; the Town and Country issue has been resolved and the Modernism Committee isn’t going to sue. So now we’re working directly with him on moving it forward. We’re in a position that no other city council has been in with regard to development of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Market</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Plaza</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and there’s nothing that should be stopping this project. We are in a 120-day period of drafting the development agreement which outlines what the city will do and where his proformas are at and can he do the project within an agreed-upon timeline. So, we’ll know in the next couple of months exactly what’s going to happen in terms of timeline and funding for the project, and hopefully we’ll agree on all those terms. We meet every month.</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The third issue is economic development and how this city is going to grow and what that looks like. There’s no doubt that the bulk of growth and the population has moved east and that dictates where companies want to locate. We all know a Whole Foods would do great here, and three years ago they said they were coming, but then their corporate decided against it. The economic recovery and realities of where things have shifted to will remain an issue.</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DVS: What’s the status of COD West, the new college in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city>?</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: We are in the final stages of acquiring the 115 acres for the campus. We met with COD president Jerry Patton last week and they have shown me the master plan which we will unveil at the State of the City address on February 9<sup>th</sup>. I can tell you that it will be the most sustainable, renewable campus in the state, if not the country. Some very creative and interesting things will be happening there, and they hope to have students by the end of 2013, early 2013 at the latest. They have $29 million in bond money that’s moving the project, and are putting additional funds to the project which I will also announce on February 9<sup>th</sup>. We meet on a weekly basis and there’s a huge commitment of effort toward the project with their staff.</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DVS: There’s an ongoing issue of broken windmills in the San Gorgonio Pass. Where do you stand?</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: It’s a huge issue. Windmills are great and they produce energy, but they break, and when that happens there are safety issues, and when they leak fluids into the ground that’s also an issue. We have an issue with a large out-of-state operator, and I think that the city needs to take a hard line with the operators, and the owners of the land that hold the leases, because they’re hazards. It’s unfortunate that operators are getting subsidies and tax breaks and not maintaining these things, and we’re going to be very aggressive in going after them to ensure the highest and best use for the city. These are very long leases we’re talking about, and with technology advancing so rapidly, having 25 year-old inefficient windmills out there makes no sense. The city is looking to do business with companies that are willing to adapt to change and make sure the equipment is legal, safe, and works. We’ll use every bit of legal means we have to ensure that things are operating safely in the city of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:city></st1:place>. If not, they should move on.</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DVS: How do you feel about the progress of your highly-publicized Sustainability initiative?</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: We’re beginning to hit our stride with the program. It’s been a year since it was adopted. Step number 20 of the plan was hiring the Sustainability Manager, who’s in place and doing a great job. The school district has implemented an excellent sustainability program operation-wide, and so has the health care district with their landscaping. We put in irrigation smart timers from the DWA in test homes in each of our 17 neighborhoods as a pilot project, and in all those sites water consumption is down 46%. We’re working on a rebate program for those $179 items because the cost savings is incredible. The city process doesn’t move as fast as I’d like it to, but we’ve gone through the process of redesigning the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Tahquitz</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place> medians, which is going to be a very visible sustainable addition to the city. We have money in the Sustainable Recycling fund for the project and it will move forward.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have an ecotourism task force which is doing great projects, and the city’s trails and trailheads are a focus, which hasn’t ever happened. We have a clean tech renewable energy task force which is also doing great work. Assembly Bill 811, which Palm Desert helped moved forward, and which makes solar affordable, is a great project, but it’s difficult to move forward without funding, and there’s very few municipalities in the state right now that can afford to do that. Along with the National League if Cities we’re looking for funding to make that happen. Until we find the source of money for those rebates to run with your taxes, it’s going to be hard to do it. Every city should be able to take advantage of that program.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I would love to have some sort of turf buyback program like has been introduced in other cities, and to work with Desert Water Agency on such an effort. There’s a number of developments and HOA’s that have gotten smart and are already doing it and saving themselves a lot of money, like the Biltmore’s phase 3, and their savings and sales are through the roof. The DWA has been very helpful in doing water audits for these HOA’s and showing them how to save lots of money.</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DVS: What’s the update on your Congressional bid?</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: Since I announced we’ve raised almost $600 thousand, and my challenger does have more cash on hand since she started the race with $350K from her last campaign. Minus that, I’ve almost matched her dollar for dollar in the second and third quarters, which is pretty good for a challenger in a difficult economy. I’m raising much of my money within the district which is important because it’s where the votes are. And now we’re raising additional money nationwide. I’ll be in DC, Philly, and <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state> for fundraisers next week, and we’ve had successful fundraisers in LA, <st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city> and <st1:place w:st="on">La Jolla</st1:place> recently. Much of my challenger’s money comes from back east, and we calculate she’s only raised 12 percent within the district, as opposed to my forty eight.</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DVS: How do you differentiate yourself from your challenger?</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: The main difference between us I feel is leadership. I expect to be judged on what I’ve accomplished for the city of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:city></st1:place>, an experience she’s never had, running the business of a city. If we had moved nowhere during my council and mayor tenures, then I wouldn’t feel as confident as I do about running. I’ve done everything I said I was going to do. When in congress you have to look at how much money you’re bringing back to the district, and we rank second to the last in the state right now. And how much legislation you’ve offered for the district. In 11 or 12 years, she’s offered virtually none. </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All politics is local, and I’m in touch with the local issues, down to a municipal scale. She spends very little of her time here, and much back east. This is one of the largest districts in the country, and you simply cannot cover it all effectively by being back east, as an entrenched <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state></st1:place> politician. Real, local leadership skills are what are going to help you get down to business and make the deals that are going to make things happen for the district. I want to make life better for the people who live here. It’s no secret that since I announced she’s been spending more time here. To me the reaction is too little too late.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I would have voted for the Recovery Act, which she didn’t, but I would have made sure more immediate job creation was included. The Republicans created this mess and don’t want to be a part of any of the solutions. History has taught us that spending was the solution to get out of the hole we found ourselves in. The opposition frames the entire stimulus as wasteful and pick out any inefficiency they find to refute the whole program. Sure, there were some things that shouldn’t have been funded, but in terms of monetary policy it was absolutely necessary. You have to put money into the system. Am I concerned about deficits? Of course I am. I have 2 young children. I’m a Democrat, but with this city’s money I’ve been very conservative. I’ve had budgets to manage, which my opponent never has. </span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">No one has “political capital,” because they represent every voter in the district, not just the ones that voted for them. When I won with 70% of the vote it was because I was able to bring people together and represent them effectively at the same time.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve been spending a lot of time across the district, in Murietta, San Jacinto and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Hemet</st1:city></st1:place>, and the communities have received me very well. Plus, I’m on the Riverside County Transportation Commission and have been involved in planning for the entire county. I have a trip scheduled to Blythe soon. It’s a huge district, with half of it in the expensive LA media market, and no one has ever marketed themselves effectively to that part of the district. I will be. We have an active fundraising apparatus over there, and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Moreno</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> is historically Democratic-voting, a commuter city where many people vote by mail, so there’s huge opportunities there. The Latino vote is between 30-30% of this district now, and we’re going to be reaching out and talking to them about the issues that concern them and getting people to register to vote.</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DVS: What are the status and your view on Prop 8, the Right to Marry?</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: It didn’t do well in the district, but better in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>. It’s in litigation now and an issue for the courts. Look, I married 118 couples, and I’m sure sometime during my campaign they will use that as a wedge issue. But when you see the love in those people’s eyes as I did, no one in their right mind could see anything but that they love each other. A lot of money goes into the effort against it, but the part that bothers me the most is when children are used as a weapon in the fight. And now that I have children I find that very offensive. Half the married couples in this country get divorced, so don’t talk to me about couples who have children with parents who unconditionally love them – straight or gay. But this is how democracy works and now it’s an issue of litigation, and eventually there will be a vote in favor. Without the courts, blacks and whites wouldn’t be able to marry in this country. Having a job, and taking care of and protecting your family are the most important things in their lives. The people who will pick this up and make it an issue in the congressional race, well they would never have voted for me anyway. But my family and my children and the love we have are no different than any other family. </span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DVS: What national issues do you think you’d focus on in Congress?</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: I come from a health care family, and it’s still going to be an issue. My father was a doctor and my mother a nurse, and Christopher has a nursing degree and MBA and works in the pharmaceutical industry. Sen. Boxer chairs that committee, among others, and can help produce a lot of money for this district. My job in DC will be to lead for this district, and the only way you do that is to learn. There are many caucuses and committees that I can be a part of, and groups to network with that didn’t vote for me. I’m excited about that.</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DVS: What don’t people know about you?</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAYOR: I love chocolate way too much, hence the jar on my desk. And I love exercise. I’ve run 14 marathons and an Iron Man. There’s no better way to feel you can attack the host of issues before you than with a clear head and sharp mind from exercise. And politics is a passion for me. Ask my friends from years ago and they’ll say they knew this was going to be my course. If I serve one term and don’t do my job and improve our standing federally, I don’t want to be asked back. I’ve always worked hard and I’m passionate about what I’m trying to do, which is help make better lives for people here, and that’ll be no different when I go to Washington.</span><br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-20769792566188568642010-01-25T14:52:00.001-08:002010-01-25T14:52:56.920-08:00Chef Jimmy Schmidt Brings His Artistry to Morgan’s in La Quinta<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="Street" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="address" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Chef Jimmy Schmidt Brings His Artistry to Morgan’s in La Quinta<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">By Morgan Craft<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">When we heard that chef Jimmy Schmidt had relocated to the La Quinta Resort to open a new restaurant there in an old space, we gave it a week and headed down valley. Schmidt had left the Classic Club’s Rattlesnake after its demise (losing the Hope Classic obviously didn’t help), and was offered the operation set to open in La Quinta’s old Azul space.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The dining room and lounge has been given a thorough remodel, and is much warmer and richer than its predecessor, as we were ushered to a cozy table next to the Spanish tile fireplace, which was uncovered in the remodel. The cathedral-like room feels like a combination of <st1:city w:st="on">Mission</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Santa Fe</st1:place></st1:city> styles. The fireplace is fronted by a wooden bread-carving station, where the restaurant’s homemade artisan breads are on display, four kinds each day. As we’re early, Chef Schmidt stops by to chat, and as we look over the menu, he eagerly fields questions about his food and culinary philosophy.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S14gc_nj_SI/AAAAAAAAAWE/TBRDrwb0A4M/s1600-h/Dining_Room_504_F3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S14gc_nj_SI/AAAAAAAAAWE/TBRDrwb0A4M/s320/Dining_Room_504_F3.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I take the food and the operation very seriously, so you don’t have to,” he says. “The room is very comfortable and relaxed, and the menu is simple, but a lot of planning and effort goes into what we do here.”<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">He makes a point of informing us that wherever he can he sources local product. Artichokes (which are on the menu), local herbs, citrus, lettuce, grapes, figs, peppers, even dairy from over the hill in Anza – and the seasonal list goes on. Fish are wild-caught – often from native tribes with fishing rights – and the meats are antibiotic and hormone-free, sourced from a <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nebraska</st1:place></st1:state> coop that the chef has been doing business for twenty-five years. He’s the only chef in the valley they do business with.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">“We are increasingly capable of getting excellent product, and often direct from the farms here,” he says proudly, “and it is often more ripe and fresh that what ends up going to the larger market in LA and to the distributors. Sometimes these guys are pulling up right to the back door in their pickup trucks. You should have seen the local figs I just had.”<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">He also works with local 4-H clubs to promote education and often gets herbs and produce from them. “It’s kind of a competition among the parents to see whose kids can raise the better produce that makes it onto the menu. It’s bragging rights when they come in to eat with their friends,” he adds.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S14gkXAr-HI/AAAAAAAAAWM/e4d8EOl8gEY/s1600-h/Chef+Schmidt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S14gkXAr-HI/AAAAAAAAAWM/e4d8EOl8gEY/s320/Chef+Schmidt.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We set into the bread basket and spread the artisanal <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vermont</st1:place></st1:state> butter that’s so rich it borders on cheese until our first course of soup and oysters arrive. The fennel puree with shaved fennel and chive oil is among the best soups my wife (who’s a soup snob) has ever had. It’s so rich we’re amazed that it’s dairy-free. Oysters are ingeniously topped with an apple and cucumber mignonette with cider vinegar, allowing me to truly taste the sweet Malpeque mollusks.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Next, there are soft local baby artichokes, quartered, lightly breaded and barely fried with a sweet chipotle aioli. A hearts of romaine salad uses lettuce that’s so sweet it barely needs a dressing, which is why the light garlic-Meyer lemon vinaigrette works perfectly.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We’re going big, so our main course does too. There’s sliced roasted duck breast with grilled foie gras and shaved apple salad. The duck is perfectly balanced by the tart apple and salty, rich liver. And a petite Angus filet has been cooked at a high enough temperature that it’s charred on the outside, and running with juices in its middle. Perfectly done, and accompanied by a sea-salt dusted russet potato and sweet, homemade sour cream.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S14grh6Q_0I/AAAAAAAAAWU/F4F1J9xsmyk/s1600-h/Lounge_436_F3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S14grh6Q_0I/AAAAAAAAAWU/F4F1J9xsmyk/s320/Lounge_436_F3.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s a straightforward menu, caringly stewarded by a passionate chef. The servers are knowledgeable and engaging, and as our evening winds down the room fills with an energetic hum. If you’re a foodie who seeks out quality and ambience, Morgan’s and Chef Schmidt should be first on your itinerary.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Morgan’s at the La Quinta Resort and Club<o:p></o:p></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">49499 Eisenhower Drive</st1:address></st1:street>, La Quinta, (760) 564-7600<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Hours: </b>Dinner, 5:30 to 10 p.m. nightly.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bar, 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday-Thursday,<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">open until 1:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Entertainment, 7 to 11 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.<br />
</div><br />
Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-77027761316578012302010-01-22T08:41:00.001-08:002010-01-22T08:41:05.234-08:00America Owns the Internet<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="country-region" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Of the 100 most visited websites in the world as tracked by Netcraft.com, all but six are owned by American companies or their European subsidiaries. Google and its offshoots account for 15 of the top 20, and with 46 among the top 100. The great majority of the top sites are in English, and other than one Russian site (#99), the French sports sites L’Equipe (#94) and French newspaper Le Monde (#79), all non-English language sites are individual offshoots of either Google, Facebook, Yahoo, MySpace, Microsoft, Newscorp or Ebay. The BBC’s site (# 26), is the lone English-language standout.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">With Murdoch’s NewsCorp headquartered in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region></st1:place>, it’s the only non-American player in the game, though its main web presence is based primarily on American companies it acquired. <br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-56848199169993314162010-01-20T16:57:00.000-08:002010-01-20T16:57:16.245-08:00Palm Springs Hotels Get National Honors<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">PALM SPRINGS - A national travel website unveiled its list of top hotels around the world, and named a handful on Palm Springs-area hotels as tops.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">TripAdvisor.com came out with the list, which was voted on by its users. They say it recognizes the best hotels, and was based on millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Palm Springs' Old Ranch Inn was ranked the third best bargain in the United States and ninth in the entire world. It was also ranked fourth best in service in the nation.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Century Palm Springs was ranked ninth best service in the United States and the second best relaxation/spa in the nation.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">San Giuliano Hotel was the fifth most romantic.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Andreas Hotel and Spa was the best place to relax in the nati</span>on, and the ninth best in the world.Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-82503367043131445722010-01-18T12:50:00.001-08:002010-01-18T12:53:06.302-08:00Where’s My Stimulus?<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><b><span style="font-size: small;"><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="address" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="Street" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:p></o:p>Where’s My Stimulus?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Entering the Labyrinthine World of Recovery Act Funds Tracking</span></b><style>
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p>By Morgan Craft</span> <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just under one year ago today, Congress passed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, (ARRA). <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state> has to date received $8,180,536,434 of the $18,534,842,086 in Federal Recovery Act stimulus funds it has been awarded. While much of the money remains in the pipeline, debate rages, not only over whether the Act itself was a good idea, but whether those federal funds are actually reaching the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Interpretation of the information may be determined on whether or not you support the government bailout, or your belief that the stimulus will make a difference. For regular folk, tracking the information and getting answers can be a challenge, and many of the people you ask will send you to federal, state, and county and city websites for verification. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2010/01/wheres-my-stimulus.html">(Click to read more...)</a><br />
<a name='more'></a>With so many billions in funds available so quickly, verification of worthy projects has caused a backlog in the approval process. Governments at all level are wary of fraud and misrepresentation. Vice President Biden has been tasked with overseeing the funds’ distribution and to watch for fraud. In this monumental task he’s being assisted by former Secret Service fraud investigator Earl Devaney, who heads up the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To ensure the stimulus dollars get to their destinations, the California Assembly formed the Stimulus, Economic Recovery and Jobs Task Force (SERJ), to work with local governments on developing strategies to implement ARRA in the state. <st1:city w:st="on">Indio</st1:city>’s own Assembly member V. Manuel Perez of the 80<sup>th</sup> District heads the task force, the body responsible for allocation of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>'s share of the $787 billion federal stimulus package.<b> </b>Rob Field, Assistant County Executive Officer, was designated as the Riverside County Economic Recovery Funds Stimulus Officer, and his office will be tracking all the Recovery Act funding coming to all County departments and agencies.<o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Governor Schwarzenegger also created the California Office of Inspector General to oversee that the more than $50 billion in federal stimulus dollars is spent wisely and well. Inspector General Laura Chick says that, “My mission is to DETER, DETECT and DISCLOSE any fraud, waste and abuse of these precious dollars. Every cent should be used for the purpose the monies were intended…revving up our economy, creating jobs and public benefits that endure.” <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">45<sup>th</sup> District Congresswoman Mary Bono-Mack, who voted against the bill, publicly stated in November that, “residents of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> are still waiting to see the results – and jobs – we so desperately need. Even after borrowing a trillion dollars from future generations and putting our nation into even greater debt by this so-called ‘stimulus’, we’re still not seeing the jobs that were promised. <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state> must stop its out-of-control spending and be held accountable to the American people. At this rate of government spending, it would take over a billion dollars to create 100 jobs – this clearly reveals the inefficiency of government largesse.” It is her assertion that only 16 jobs have been created by the legislation in her district, at $8 million cost to the taxpayers per job.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That assertion doesn’t take into account the teaching and public safety jobs either saved or created by the stimulus here in the desert. The <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city>, Coachella and Desert Sands unified school districts received a total of $32 million to save 40 jobs and support their programs. Desert <st1:city w:st="on">Hot Springs</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Indio</st1:city>, <st1:placename w:st="on">Cathedral</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype>, and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city> are receiving over $4 million specifically to hire 50 more public safety officers.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In addition, the improvement projects slated for several i-10 interchanges is expected generate up to 600 jobs, with the first of those projects, at Ramon Road/Bob Hope Drive set to begin in February.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Its supporters say that the Act wasn’t meant solely as a jobs creator, but also supports programs for the needy and unemployed.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">According to Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, “the Recovery Act is already at work providing essential financial relief for families and businesses here in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place>, creating and saving jobs, and fueling technology and infrastructure investments that will be the foundation of our economic recovery.”<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The California Recovery Act Website states that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> has received or will be receiving $449.84 million for 214 projects and programs in the county. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">San Bernardino</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> has been granted $682 million for 284 projects, though few will be in the high desert communities. In <st1:city w:st="on">Riverside</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on">San Bernardino</st1:city> counties at large and the <st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Morongo</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Basin</st1:placetype></st1:place>, these include*:<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b><u>Riverside</u></b></st1:placename><b><u> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></u></b></st1:place> – $449.84 million for 214 projects<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:city></st1:place> - $20.59 million for 10 projects<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Palm</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Desert</st1:placetype></st1:place> - $54K for 2 projects<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indio</st1:place></st1:city> - $1.57 million for 2 projects<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thermal - $10.86 million for 3 projects (Coachella Valley Unified)<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">La Quinta - $180,700 for 1 project<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Desert <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Hot Springs</st1:city></st1:place> – $640K for 4 projects<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thousand Palms - $4.71 million (Sun Line)<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cathedral</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> $1.51 million for 2 projects<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><u>Education: <o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> total– $267 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Desert</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Sands</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Unified</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School District</st1:placetype></st1:place> – $12 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Unified</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School District</st1:placetype></st1:place> – $10 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Unified</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School District</st1:placetype></st1:place> - $10 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><u>Transportation:<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> total– $71 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Interchange Reconstruction on I-10 at <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Gene Autry Trail/Palm Drive</st1:address></st1:street><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">$6,553,780 granted, $4,574,000 received<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Interchange Reconstruction on I-10 at Ramon/Bob Hope <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">$34.9 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">SunLine Transit Agency - $4,714,391<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><u>Housing and Related:<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> total– $26 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Desert Highlands Associates - $4 million (For Capital investment in qualified Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects)<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">City of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city> - $360K (retrofit of a City-owned building with energy efficient interior lighting and HVAC)<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">City of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Palm</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Desert</st1:placetype></st1:place> - $92K (Homeless and Food Distribution Programs)<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><u>Labor and Unemployment:<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> total - $22 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><u>Public Safety:<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> total - $19 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">City of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city> - $1.7 million (COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP))<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indio</st1:place></st1:city> - $1 million (COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP))<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cathedral</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> - $840K (COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP))<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Desert <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hot Springs</st1:place></st1:city> - $500K (COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP))<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Shelter from the Storm - $22K<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><u>Energy:<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> total - $19 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">La Quinta - $180,700 for Energy Efficiency Retrofit Measures for Municipal Buildings<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><u>Water & Environment:<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> - $40 million<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b><u>San Bernardino</u></b></st1:placename><b><u> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></u></b></st1:place> - $682 million for 284 projects<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Yucca</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> - $37K for 1 project<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Joshua Tree - $27K for 1 project<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Twentynine Palms - $20.4 million for 13 projects (Includes Military base projects)<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">*(As of 12/31/09)<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sources: <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Federal: www.recovery.gov<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">State: www.recovery.ca.gov<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">California Inspector General: www.inspectorgeneral.ca.gov<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">County: www.rivcorecovery.com<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I-10 Improvement Projects Website: www.i10cvcprojects.com/<br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-5911238594105088792010-01-11T06:54:00.000-08:002010-01-11T06:56:27.459-08:00Zero Footprint Organic Farm Comes to the DesertNew “Vertical Farm” Plans to Revolutionize How Food is Grown<br />
By Morgan Craft<br />
The developers of a new farm in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains near Palm Springs have a big plan; nothing less than revolutionizing the way food is farmed in America. Joint Effort Farms (JEF) is a group of collective farming businessmen who plan to remake the American hydroponic and organic farming industry by setting an example of how efficient, self-sustained farming can be brought first into our local market. The forward-thinking project’s aim is high turnover production from a small area with a radically-reduced carbon footprint, while providing work and leadership experience for a planned local collective. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2010/01/zero-footprint-organic-farm-comes-to.html"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">(Click here to read more...</span></a><br />
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</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0s4HSa2mGI/AAAAAAAAAU8/s0eZuJBzVqs/s1600-h/JEF2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0s4HSa2mGI/AAAAAAAAAU8/s0eZuJBzVqs/s320/JEF2.jpg" /><a name='more'></a></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The farm will combine cutting edge, hydroponic farming technology and efficient, high-density production facilities. According to founder William Woolsencroft, “Joint Effort Farms is committed to the improvement of taste, quality and nutritional value in organic vegetables, and changing how food is farmed in America. Plus, our company will provide education, experience and research in the hydroponic field to other potential growers.” </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0s32YQZCLI/AAAAAAAAAUM/S459LR49IKA/s1600-h/veggiegrow_oct_10__2007_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0s32YQZCLI/AAAAAAAAAUM/S459LR49IKA/s320/veggiegrow_oct_10__2007_005.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Hydroponics is the growing of high-quality vegetables in high-tech, multi-span greenhouses. The produce is grown in special trays with a medium used to support the root system. The plants are automatically fed nutrients through irrigation systems, and are grown in the best suitable growing conditions, allowing each plant to produce the maximum fruit possible.<br />
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</div>This project will consist of two combined technologies from the leading company in the field of high efficient hydroponics, Valcent Products. JEF will install a Valcent Verticrop Greenhouse hydroponics system for herb and vegetable growth, which will be illuminated by LED lighting powered y solar panels to reduce energy costs. They also plan to erect a Vertical Algae Technology (VAT) curtain grow system for biodiesel fuel production. The “joint effort “will supply vegetables for national and local markets via satellite locations, and fuel for the alternative fuels market.<br />
The system is designed to grow vegetables and other foods much more efficiently and with greater nutritional value than in agricultural field conditions, producing approximately 20 times the normal production volume for field crops per square foot.<br />
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</div>The entire growing system requires 5% of the normal water requirements for field crops, does not use herbicides or pesticides, and offers significant operational and capital cost savings over traditional field agriculture.<br />
The VertiCrop system grows plants in a suspended tray system moving on an overhead conveyor system. The system is designed to provide maximum sunlight and precisely correct nutrients to each plant. Ultraviolet light and filter systems exclude the need for herbicides and pesticides, and sophisticated control systems gain optimum growth performance through the correct misting of nutrients, the accurate balancing of PH, and the delivery of the correct amount of heat, light, and water.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0s7cz5556I/AAAAAAAAAV8/5F7Dh7T2frM/s1600-h/Algae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0s7cz5556I/AAAAAAAAAV8/5F7Dh7T2frM/s320/Algae.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>The system is designed to operate in compact areas, and will utilize all available renewable energy sources, such as solar photovoltaic (PV), wind and biofuel, creating only a very small carbon footprint. These cost reduction factors help provide a self-sustained garden which produces quality organic products in a disease-free, cost effective manner – which JEF hopes to show to anyone who has an interest.<br />
Algae will be grown out in open field hanging production curtains and irrigated via overhead units, using the run-off water and byproducts as fertilizer for food crops. This fertilizer is highly effective and provides all the requirements the food stocks will need to grow. The Algae will be processed into biodiesel and sold by the gallon to collective members and local agricultural businesses.<br />
The new company will concentrate on the production of tomatoes, specialty peppers and cucumbers in greenhouse “tunnels”, plus live gourmet herbs and fresh cut flowers in the solar greenhouses. JEF plans to distribute to retailers, restaurants, farmer’s markets and through collectives all across Southern California, and the first crop is scheduled for February.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0s6_TLZbrI/AAAAAAAAAVk/Yrvu-aSPkFw/s1600-h/Algae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0s6_TLZbrI/AAAAAAAAAVk/Yrvu-aSPkFw/s320/Algae.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>According to Woolsencroft, “Rapidly increasing food costs continue to cause drastic reductions in the availability and nutritional values of the foods we consume. Our high density vertical growth system offers a technological solution to the desire for high quality organic produce grown using significantly fewer resources. It’s a system that can be implemented virtually anywhere, reducing the burden of food transportation costs caused by the skyrocketing price of oil. And the vegetables are the best you’ve ever tasted.”<br />
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We’ll keep you posted on their progress.Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-49150592573252616682010-01-07T14:05:00.001-08:002010-01-07T14:15:26.194-08:00The Organic Desert Architecture of Ken Kellogg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZX8lrRD7I/AAAAAAAAATc/bs-WklAeSrA/s1600-h/DoolittleHouse3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZX8lrRD7I/AAAAAAAAATc/bs-WklAeSrA/s320/DoolittleHouse3.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Morgan Miles Craft</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">South of US Highway 62, in the scrublands bordering Joshua Tree National Park, a knoll of sun-baked boulders rises a hundred feet high. On its opposite flank, shielded from the asphalt tendril of civilization and facing the sentient rock formations of the park, a semi-concave structure of layered concrete crouches largely camouflaged among the boulders, as if in wait. That this is someone’s home seems less significant than that it is actually <i>there</i>. Obviously intelligent in design, it also appears to have evolved from, or perhaps collapsed into, its setting—an outcropping of preternatural elegance… or the vertebral remnants of a prehistoric beast. It is, literally and symbolically, the pinnacle of organic architecture. And it is the brainchild of one Kendrick Bangs Kellogg.</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2010/01/organic-desert-architecture-of-ken.html">(Click here to read on...)</a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;">The concept for the High Desert Home, as Kellogg calls his creation with ironic aridity, was inspired by the works and words of Frank Lloyd Wright. “</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">So here I stand before you… declaring organic architecture to be the modern ideal,” said Wright in 1939. “(It is) the teaching so much needed if we are to see the whole of life, and to now serve the whole of life, holding no traditions essential to the great TRADITION.” This grand declaration—the springboard for an architectural movement founded on patterns and materials inherent in the natural world—turned on the notion that nature could do no wrong. Postulated </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Wright: “(In)</span><span style="font-size: small;"> an organic architecture, that is to say an architecture based upon organic ideals, bad design would be unthinkable.”</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZYCGkvNjI/AAAAAAAAATs/rX6a7Mww7sU/s1600-h/04470006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZYCGkvNjI/AAAAAAAAATs/rX6a7Mww7sU/s320/04470006.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a student at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Colorado</st1:placename></st1:place> in the 1950s, Kellogg happened upon a photo of Wright’s 1937 residential masterpiece, Fallingwater. “This was my third school,” recalls the San Diego native, “and only at that moment did I become aware of architecture that was a compliment to the natural world, in harmony with it.” Soon afterward Kellogg attended a lecture by Wright at the famed architect’s Taliesin West institute in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was the career impetus he needed.</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Becoming licensed in 1964, Kellogg set out determined to fulfill, and even further, Wright’s organic architecture precept. A beach boy by birth, his forward designs caught the attention of surfer-turned restaurateur Buzzy Bent, founder of the upscale Chart House restaurant chain. Bent also was a proponent of organic architecture, having worked previously with Wright protégé Frederick Liebhardt, and he and Kellogg clicked. </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kellogg’s organic approach would become the chain’s signature building style for years to come. His first project was the company’s new Santa Barbara restaurant, which became a model for all future Chart House designs. Locations in Aspen, Sun Valley, Maui and Redondo Beach followed. Then, in 1977, he was commissioned to create a Chart House for a unique property dominated by a rocky hillock along Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZXpE6jKoI/AAAAAAAAATM/TRkhbNTGur4/s1600-h/CharthouseTodayLR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZXpE6jKoI/AAAAAAAAATM/TRkhbNTGur4/s320/CharthouseTodayLR.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thirty years later, Kellogg returned to the eatery—then known as Haleiva Joe’s—to discuss how he arrived at its boulder-hugging, drift-like contours. “I emulated the rolling effect of sand dunes and buried the structure in the ground, using rock from right here in the interior and exterior walls,” he says, explaining his solution to the dual challenge of harmonizing with the property’s existing features and meeting the city’s then-13-foot building height limit. “I love working in the Desert, utilizing the stone and natural foliage. You have to imagine how a structure will develop naturally on the site; it’s the nature of things that inspires, not the copying of nature.”</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZZJOvBckI/AAAAAAAAAUE/77h_zpqjyZU/s1600-h/Ken+Kellog+Charthouse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZZJOvBckI/AAAAAAAAAUE/77h_zpqjyZU/s320/Ken+Kellog+Charthouse2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p> Architect Ken Kellogg at his Rancho Mirage Charthouse building</o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The restaurant building has received numerous plaudits, including the Palm Springs Modernism Committee’s 2003 Preservation Award and the 1994 Vintage Pinot Noir Award for energy-efficient design. The building, in fact—capped with a four-inch insulating layer of polyurethane foam—incorporated energy-conserving elements before there were standards. “Green is what I’ve been doing all along,” Kellogg says. “It’s in the spirit of organic architecture.”</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two decades after his Rancho Mirage achievement, that spirit moved Kellogg up Highway 62 to a new endeavor that would become the High Desert Home. The project was commissioned by a pair of artists who embraced Kellogg’s design concepts and already owned the rugged hillside site. “They were just seeing what I would come up with and were totally involved in the process,” he says. One of the artist-owners actually made a model from the architect’s drawings that allowed everyone to visualize and analyze the structure’s aesthetics three-dimensionally prior to construction.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZXWnyuOoI/AAAAAAAAAS8/3Z0koxkWJnw/s1600-h/Photo+Alan+Weintraub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZXWnyuOoI/AAAAAAAAAS8/3Z0koxkWJnw/s320/Photo+Alan+Weintraub.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Certainly there was a lot to consider. Designed for thermal energy gains, the residence is at once surreally contemporary and (with apologies to the kitschy landmark dinosaur buildings just off I-10 in Cabazon) suggestive of a giant bleached, prostrate ribcage from the Jurassic Period. The intriguing effect is accomplished by 26 curved “wings” of concrete—some spanning 50 feet—anchored in cantilevered concrete platforms. These elements, separated by expanses of glass, are spaced generously to allow for any movement caused by the area’s innate seismicity; the San Andreas Fault is a scant 15 miles away. (The structure is reinforced 30 percent beyond California’s highest earthquake standards.)</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“The civil engineer couldn’t fathom all the calculations from my drawings,” notes Kellogg almost proudly, “so I had to derive the proper formulas myself. Dirt-devil science, I called it!” The concrete slab and frame structure were poured first, with the curving concrete surfaces formed in plaster and then washed smooth and covered in urethane. With random shapes, curved walls and ceilings, and finishing details in metal, glass and native stone, the structure is a symphony of textures that, combined with the natural light admitted by irregular clerestories, creates the drama of a cathedral. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZYEeJHb9I/AAAAAAAAAT0/HNl_m6-y5gA/s1600-h/Artist%27s+Table+Construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0ZYEeJHb9I/AAAAAAAAAT0/HNl_m6-y5gA/s320/Artist%27s+Table+Construction.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The home’s startling, museum-quality interior woodwork and metal fixtures were crafted by artist and metalworker John Voggeren, with much of it conceived and fabricated on-site. Doors, latches, sinks and toilets became objets d’art in their own right, sculpted and formed to carry the theme of their given environment. “John is precise, an absolute artist, but I took him to his limit on this one,” says Kellogg. “Most people wouldn’t have gone in the way-out directions we went, but the owners almost never stopped us.”</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This especially is true of the home’s custom furnishings, such as the flowing metal artist’s table on the main floor. “John couldn’t figure out how to finish it at the end, so I suggested continuing it and connecting it to the ceiling. We cast it right in place.” The living quarters are all on the brighter upper level, with semi-circular bedrooms about 20 feet in diameter.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“There are no rules in organic architecture—it develops a new style every time you employ it,” says Kellogg, adding that he believes the High Desert Home, like Wright’s Fallingwater, one day will serve as a public architectural exhibit and perhaps even a new welcoming center for Joshua Tree National Park. “It is the reinterpretation of nature’s principles to create forms in harmony with the landscape, rather than on top of it.”</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What does he think the future of organic architecture holds? “You tell me,” he says. “Pick a site and let’s see what happens.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Images: Morgan Craft and A. Weintraub) </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For more information on the life, career and works of Ken Kellogg, visit www.kendrickbangskellogg.com.</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-41462875485729820452010-01-05T08:29:00.000-08:002010-01-05T08:36:38.501-08:00California Water Crisis Ratchets Up<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>The Colorado River Water Dance: Too Many Straws in a Dwindling Glass</b><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Morgan Craft</span><br />
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The Colorado River provides water to millions of users in seven western states, and Mexico. With millions of people relying on the river for drinking water in the United States, and over 3.5 million acres of farmland in production in its drainage basin, the Colorado River is the single most important natural resource in the Southwest. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0NnwuUJR6I/AAAAAAAAASk/DJ05cnG5tSQ/s1600-h/CRBmapLees.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0NnwuUJR6I/AAAAAAAAASk/DJ05cnG5tSQ/s320/CRBmapLees.gif" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Colorado Basin (click on image to view larger)</span><br />
</div>In 1922, the seven western states that represent the Colorado River Compact (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California) signed an agreement to divide water from the river. At that time, Las Vegas was a whistle stop, and Phoenix had a population of 50,000. Today, greater Phoenix is home to over 4 million people, with Las Vegas nearing 2 million, and the large sucking sound heard from the river before it trickles into Mexico is the thirsty 24 million souls that live in Southern California today. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2010/01/california-water-crisis-ratchets-up.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(click to read on...)</span></a><br />
<a name='more'></a>The formula for dividing the river’s water was based on an expected flow of 16.8 million acre-feet (MAF) per year. 15 million was divided equally between the Upper Basin states (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico), and Lower Basin (Arizona, Nevada and California), with 1.5 MAF left over for Mexico by treaty. Of the 7.5 MAF available to the Lower Basin, California, which wielded significantly more power than its two Lower Basin neighbors at the time it was divvied up, was allotted 4.4 MAF of the precious resource. The Colorado River, which had regularly flowed all the way to the Gulf of Mexico up until 1956, ceased to do so. It had all been spoken for.<br />
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Of California’s 4.4 MAF allotment, Imperial County farmers, already well-established by that time, succeeded in claiming 3.1 MAF via the All-American Canal, making the farmers there California's largest consumer of Colorado River water. Of the water the Imperial Irrigation District transports over its 3000 miles of canals, approximately 97 percent is used for agricultural purposes. The roughly 400 farmers use almost 70 percent of the state's entire share. The Metropolitan Water District, with its 26 Southern California member agencies, and which serves over 18 million people, fell last in line after Imperial County and the Coachella Valley. Arid San Diego, with its 3.2 million residents, was at the far end of MWD’s system. Neighboring states regularly have proven that California overuses its entitlement, prompting multiple legal challenges.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0Nn-J3jc4I/AAAAAAAAASs/ujE4yrZKOyY/s1600-h/SaltonSea_20040108_2050_250m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0Nn-J3jc4I/AAAAAAAAASs/ujE4yrZKOyY/s320/SaltonSea_20040108_2050_250m.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(click on image to view larger)</span><br />
</div>These allotments were calculated as a result of an extremely wet decade preceding the agreement, when average river flows were measured at 16.8 MAF, yet further studies revealed a historical long-term flow of only 13.5 MAF. There is not enough water in the river, on average, to fulfill all of the legal entitlements. Eleven years of drought haven’t helped, with the 2000-2004 drought being the most severe multi-year drought on record, with an average annual flow of 9.6 MAF. <br />
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Lake Powell, on the Utah-Arizona border, essentially the reservoir for the Upper Basin, is currently at 60% of normal level – down nearly 72 feet. The Compact mandates that the Upper Basin states, via Lake Powell, provide a minimum annual flow of 8.23 MAF to the Lower basin, causing a multi-year overdraft of the lake. Lake Mead, the Lower Basin’s main reservoir, held back by Hoover Dam, is at 46% capacity, down 188 feet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0NoBSORbAI/AAAAAAAAAS0/9DCk2x7Cquc/s1600-h/hoover-dam-lake-mead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/S0NoBSORbAI/AAAAAAAAAS0/9DCk2x7Cquc/s320/hoover-dam-lake-mead.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Mead, just above Hoover Dam, is at 46% of capacity</span><br />
</div>Faced by an ongoing drought, increased demand due to ballooning development and multiple challenges to its prolonged overuse of Colorado River water by neighboring states, the long term outlook for water in California has undeniably become a huge concern.<br />
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In 2003, the main water service agencies in California, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID), Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA), and Metropolitan Water District (MWD), along with California and the federal government, signed the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA), meant to clearly define the state’s use of Colorado River water for the next 35-75 years, and to keep it within its 4.4 MAF limit. Also contained in the agreement were measures to rehabilitate the Salton Sea.<br />
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The complicated 13-part, multi-agency agreement essentially creates a series of valuable water transfers from Imperial Irrigation District, the state’s senior water rights holder, to MWD, CVWD, and SDCWA, totaling billions of dollars. Most of this water is to be made available to the thirsty coastal cities as a result of water efficiency projects, canal modernization, conservation, and “water marketing”, or transfers of agricultural water, the largest in US history. The $321 million concrete lining of the All-American and Coachella canals, funded by the state, SDCWA and MWD, which saves an estimated 132,700 acre feet of water each year (that’s over 31 billion gallons), and IID’s plan to pay Imperial Valley famers to let their fertile fields go fallow (called conservation), are just some of the measures. <br />
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Of the billions in “water marketing” revenue to be recouped by the Imperial Irrigation District, $133 million was earmarked for Salton Sea restoration. Because water conservation and decreasing the amount of irrigated farmland would reduce the typical agricultural runoff that historically flows into the sea, the federal government demanded a plan to keep the water flowing. IID, whose water to its farms was the main source of the sea’s replenishment, demanded that it not be solely responsible for the solution and its costs. As its part of the agreement, the state agreed to pick up the rest of the tab, whatever that would become. The costs for restoration of the sea have been estimated at up to $2 billion.<br />
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Back in 2003, then Interior Secretary Gale Norton proudly stated that “With this agreement, conflict on the river is stilled.” Recent developments prove this to be an overly optimistic assessment.<br />
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On December 13th, Sacramento Superior Judge Roland Candee ruled that it was unconstitutional for the state to agree to what was deemed an open-ended contract to cover environmental mitigation costs for the Salton Sea, “an unconditional contractual obligation,” which could plunge California further into debt. To the degree that all aspects of the QSA are intertwined, the ruling, although tentative, would nullify the entire agreement. The California State constitution prohibits such large expenditures without a defined appropriation, meaning, no one had given any thought to how the state would come up with its share, particularly given the budget woes it currently is facing. <br />
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The QSA is part of a larger federal agreement that affects all the other states in the region. If California’s only plan to deal with the Colorado River water issue unravels, it could have a ripple effect across the entire West. Judge Candee began hearing arguments challenging his ruling on December 17th, and has given no clue as to when he might make his ruling final, though the inevitable quagmire of countless appeals could keep it in limbo for years.<br />
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For the moment, at least, you can keep your lawn green, and that Olympic-sized pool full right to the top.<br />
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Sources: US Geological Survey, Western Water Assessment, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior, Metropolitan Water District, Imperial Irrigation District, State of California Resources Agency <br />
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</div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-66463432262911565102009-12-30T09:58:00.000-08:002009-12-30T10:02:16.730-08:00Circumnavigating the Salton Sea (While it's still there)<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A day trip around this man made bathtub is a trip through a unique version of the American dream.</b></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Morgan Craft </span><b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuO_loaQLI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ZE22NFcO6Os/s1600-h/ElRanchoSign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuO_loaQLI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ZE22NFcO6Os/s200/ElRanchoSign.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuSAc4WphI/AAAAAAAAARs/dGtah_PahWM/s1600-h/Salton+Sea1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuSAc4WphI/AAAAAAAAARs/dGtah_PahWM/s320/Salton+Sea1.JPG" /></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anybody who spends time in the desert knows about the <st1:place w:st="on"><b>Salton Sea</b></st1:place>. Many have even made the drive to stare from its eerily beautiful shoreline. To really know the thing, however, a complete circumnavigation is the way to go about it. And it’s a great day trip, with a truly offbeat set of sights and experiences to be had along the way. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/circumnavigating-salton-sea-while-its.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Read on...Click here!)</span></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sure, it smells funky. And yes, sometimes thousands of its fish die off all at once. It’s going to take billions to fix it, if that actually ever happens. Oh, and one of the most polluted waterways in the country, the New River, flows into its southern end, a gift from Mexico.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuM9PjikQI/AAAAAAAAAQM/kIKFC-4cY98/s1600-h/SaltonSea2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuM9PjikQI/AAAAAAAAAQM/kIKFC-4cY98/s320/SaltonSea2.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuSOkuisOI/AAAAAAAAAR0/TLhbM_oOPfg/s1600-h/SaltonSea7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuSOkuisOI/AAAAAAAAAR0/TLhbM_oOPfg/s200/SaltonSea7.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heading east on Highway 111 takes you through the date and citrus groves of <st1:city w:st="on">Mecca</st1:city>, until they open up to the vista of the Salton Sea’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">North</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Shore</st1:placetype></st1:place>. In the tiny seaside community, the <b>North Shore Yacht Club</b>, a 50-year-old structure designed by Albert Frey, sits rotting on the shore. Dubbed “the glamour capital of the <st1:place w:st="on">Salton Sea</st1:place>”, the club boasted among its visitors the Marx Brothers, Jerry Lewis, and the Beach Boys. It was slated for demolition until the local community organized to win its preservation. A $3.5 million renovation will have it housing a community center, museum and visitor’s center.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With a strategic location on the <b>Pacific Flyway</b>, the Salton Sea is a major stopover, habitat and nesting ground for over 400 species of birds, some of which travel as far as Alaska and the tip of South America. Lines of them glide lazily just above the water, the Santa Rosa Mountains hazy on the far shore, and an army of white pelicans lay claim to the marina’s jetty, while a pair of kayakers keeps them company. The sea looks larger from the east side, stretching south beyond the curve of the horizon. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuMctAAd9I/AAAAAAAAAQE/zNtkEuhinDo/s1600-h/Birds1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuMctAAd9I/AAAAAAAAAQE/zNtkEuhinDo/s320/Birds1.JPG" /></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The<b> <st1:placename w:st="on">Salton Sea</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype> Recreation</b> <b>Area</b> occupies eighteen miles of the shoreline beyond <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">North</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Shore</st1:placetype></st1:place>, offering shaded picnic tables, a boat launch and RV hookups. Waterfowl of every type wade along the shoreline, and some people actually swim in the water, which is 25% saltier than the ocean.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the sign for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b>Bombay</b></st1:placename><b> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></b></st1:place>, a right turn takes you into this dusty, hardscrabble community, holdouts of the Salton Sea Dream, where golf carts are the preferred transportation. A levee keeps the sea at bay, and on its other side, decaying carcasses of mobile homes line the shore, reclaimed by salt and sun and weather. A single establishment services the community, and a <st1:place w:st="on">Salton Sea</st1:place> trip is not complete without time spent with the upbeat locals at the <b>Ski Inn</b>. The patty melts made on the griddle here are reputable enough that the Food Network’s <b>Anthony Bourdain</b> made it a stop during an episode of his show, “No Reservations.”</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuP7fsGmPI/AAAAAAAAARM/DZeh5GcmCPg/s1600-h/Ski+Inn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuP7fsGmPI/AAAAAAAAARM/DZeh5GcmCPg/s320/Ski+Inn.JPG" /></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The<b> Wister Unit of the Imperial Wildlife Area, </b>ten miles beyond <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bombay</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></st1:place>, is another prime birding location, and its 4200 acres of marshes and wetlands host many of the Sea’s 400 species. The ranger at the gate will direct you to the best spots based on the time of day and season.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tiny town of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b>Niland</b></st1:place></st1:city> is the gateway to the “other desert”. Five miles to the east of town, a burst of color peeks over the horizon. Round a curve, and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b>Salvation</b></st1:placename><b> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountain </st1:placetype></b></st1:place></span><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><style>
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</style><span style="font-size: small;">spreads before you, fifty feet in height and a hundred yards long. Leonard Knight has been painting his colorful biblical messages on the hill since 1985, and thousands of visitors have made their way to this remote spot, far from just about everywhere. He cheerily gives tours to anyone who wants one, despite his difficulty hearing. It’s better just to let him tell his story anyway. Ever since Sean Penn filmed parts of his film <b>Into the Wild</b> here, things have apparently picked up. “Twice as many people come here now,” he says with a smile, “and they all love it. It’s all about love. That’s what it (his mountain) says.”</span> <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPVPPWtVI/AAAAAAAAAQs/EFPmoOSp7CI/s1600-h/Salvation4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPVPPWtVI/AAAAAAAAAQs/EFPmoOSp7CI/s320/Salvation4.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPJ-abuMI/AAAAAAAAAQk/QI9qfhowlUA/s1600-h/Salvation2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPJ-abuMI/AAAAAAAAAQk/QI9qfhowlUA/s200/Salvation2.JPG" /></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just behind <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Salvation</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:place>, a unique social experiment is taking place, one which also figured prominently in Into the Wild. On the site of an abandoned WWII Marine installation, a squatter’s city has taken hold, and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b>Slab</b></st1:placename><b> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></b></st1:place> is now an institution. The “Slabbers”, as they call themselves, are a ragtag collection of misfits, utopians, outcasts, escapees, idealists, off-roaders and winter birds. Structures of every type and comfort level house about five hundred far-flung souls. There’s no water or electricity, but a semblance of society remains, with an impromptu café, a church, and regular musical performances. It’s like Burning Man 365 days a year. For an interesting experience, seek out the <b>Oasis Café</b> and hear the color of the local conversation. One particularly colorful fellow offers that “at night, this becomes a whole ‘nother place, man. Sometimes it’s wild, sometimes it’s freaky, but it’s always cool.” I bet. Just don’t take pictures of these folks – they may not like it.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPqhaNI9I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/797zAyMUQp8/s1600-h/SlabCompoundAdjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPqhaNI9I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/797zAyMUQp8/s200/SlabCompoundAdjusted.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPerC-Z4I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/d4bYCe4u4X8/s1600-h/SlabCart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPerC-Z4I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/d4bYCe4u4X8/s200/SlabCart.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuQHuzS1KI/AAAAAAAAARU/8pn3qVWyL2s/s1600-h/Slab3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuQHuzS1KI/AAAAAAAAARU/8pn3qVWyL2s/s200/Slab3.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuQikJxArI/AAAAAAAAARk/8iq_htOLJiY/s1600-h/Slab5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuQikJxArI/AAAAAAAAARk/8iq_htOLJiY/s200/Slab5.JPG" /></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <b>San Andreas Fault</b> emerges from the earth’s crust at the south end of the <st1:place w:st="on">Salton Sea</st1:place>, and evidence of this can be experienced firsthand, at the corner of Davis and Schrimpf roads, just south of Niland. <b>Mud volcanoes</b>, or “mud pots”, dot the crusty dirt landscape, about twenty in all. Viscous ooze, smelling of sulphur, bubbles and sputters from the six foot mounds, evidence that tectonic activity is allowing heated gases to escape the earth. Further evidence of geologic activity is the numerous geothermal energy plants in the area, capturing superheated steam and converting it to electricity.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPzEHOkhI/AAAAAAAAARE/od3To0j60OY/s1600-h/VolcanosAdjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuPzEHOkhI/AAAAAAAAARE/od3To0j60OY/s320/VolcanosAdjusted.jpg" /></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The road to the <b>Sonny Bono National Wildlife</b> <b>Refuge</b> takes you across fertile farmland, care of water from the Colorado River and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">All</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">American</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canal</st1:placetype></st1:place>. You’re in the heart of the nation’s winter breadbasket. At the visitor’s center, volunteers will pinpoint the best locations on any given day to spot osprey, herons, burrowing owls, egrets, terns, loons, blue footed boobies, Canadian geese, Sand hill cranes, and a host of others. The Red Hill Marina and Unit 1 sections offer a multitude of ripe opportunities.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuO4SdRxRI/AAAAAAAAAQU/v58X2cjckmM/s1600-h/SaltonSea4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuO4SdRxRI/AAAAAAAAAQU/v58X2cjckmM/s320/SaltonSea4.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuTWehKeiI/AAAAAAAAASE/hOEuwufVv1Y/s1600-h/SaltonSea8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzuTWehKeiI/AAAAAAAAASE/hOEuwufVv1Y/s320/SaltonSea8.JPG" /></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the way back north on highway 86, the purple folds of the <b>Borrego Badlands</b> fill the view to the west. At <b>Salton City</b>, pull off for a cold road soda at <b>Captain Jim’s</b>. The locals there will hear your story, and fill you full of theirs. One lovely, leathery regular clues visitors to this lonely corner of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place> in on the locals’ secret. “You have to be half baked already to live in the desert,” she says, “but when you get out this far, you’re fully cooked.” Amen.</span><br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-15219283447726208102009-12-26T12:54:00.000-08:002009-12-26T12:58:37.614-08:00California's Solar Land Rush Intensifies<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Race is on to Land Solar Projects across Eastern Riverside and San Bernardino Counties</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">by Morgan Craft <br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Interior Secretary Ken Salalzar’s recent visit to the Coachella Valley put national focus on the proposed mass development of solar energy in eastern Riverside and San Bernardino counties. “We have set aside 1,000 square miles of public lands in 24 Solar Energy Study Areas that the Department and BLM are evaluating for solar energy development across the West,” Salazar said. “If developed, these tracts could generate nearly 100,000 megawatts of solar electricity.” </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzYv_8XvjGI/AAAAAAAAAP8/A-aDO4Cy0_w/s1600-h/Solar+Study+Areas+Cropped+LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzYv_8XvjGI/AAAAAAAAAP8/A-aDO4Cy0_w/s640/Solar+Study+Areas+Cropped+LR.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> To highlight the point, the Interior Department has opened a California Renewable Energy Coordination Office (RECO), right in Palm Springs. “These offices in California, along with our renewable permitting teams in six other western states, will help to swiftly complete application reviews on the most ready-to-go and environmentally appropriate solar, wind, and geothermal projects on U.S. public lands,” says Salazar. The streamlined review and approval process would take one year, instead of the usual three to four years.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The Green Technology Institute calls the Southern California desert the “Saudi Arabia of green power,” and advocates all who believe in green energy to participate in “California’s green gold rush” taking place right here, right now. Riding the wave of the State Bill 107 mandate that requires 33% of our state’s electricity to be produced using renewable sources by 2020, utilities and solar power developers are wanting to know where they can build, and how soon. There’s a huge motivator: projects that are able to break ground by December 1, 2010, qualify for a portion of $15 billion in Recovery Act money that has been earmarked for alternative energy development. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/californias-solar-land-rush-intensifies.html">(Click to read full story)</a><br />
</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"> The Bureau of Land Management reports applications for 75 separate projects in its California Desert District alone, and in the last year has seen a 78% rise in the number of applications nationwide, up to 223. Nearly half are in California. A total of 2.3 million acres of BLM land is under consideration. Some prime parcels, those nearest to transmission lines, are seeing multiple bids, with hungry developers waiting in the wings for other companies to fail. Though now on the “fast tack”, the path to producing energy is long, and fraught with expensive hurdles and state and federal reviews.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> And the military is getting into the game, with Clark Energy Group and Acciona Solar Power planning to build 500 megawatts of photovoltaic and solar thermal power projects on 14,000 acres at Fort Irwin, to reduce their energy purchases, and then sell the excess electricity to utilities. The process to get it built would have significantly fewer hurdles.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Beginning in 2010, Tessera Solar hopes to break ground on two of the world’s largest solar plants – both in the Southern California desert. The Calico Solar One (which will funnel power to So. Cal Edison from near US 40) and Imperial Valley Solar Two (for PG&E San Diego) projects will each utilize 64,000 individual panels, and together produce 1740 megawatts of electricity, on 8200 and 6500 acres of land. That’s 10 and 12 square miles, respectively. Tessera predicts it will produce electricity to the grid with these projects in the second quarter of 2011.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Brightsource Energy is proposing 3 separate solar concentrating thermal power plants to be built on nearly 6 square miles near Ivanpah, just west of the Nevada border, which will produce 440 megawatts. They project adding their megawatts to the hungry grid by 2012. The project still awaits permit approvals from the state Energy Commission and the federal Bureau of Land Management, and is being vehemently contested by environmentalists. Another Brightsource project, Broadwell, located on lands between Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve, was scuttled in September, largely due to strong local opposition and the efforts of Senator Diane Feinstein, who is proposing the land be designated as a national preserve.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> With the state and federal government mandates to develop large-scale alternative energy, and with prime BLM tracts on the solar developers’ radar, huge swaths of land directly to our east are hungrily being eyed for a slew of projects. Ironically, a significant portion of the BLM land under consideration was a gift from the Wildlands Conservancy, which donated to BLM old railroad-owned land it purchased, totaling 240,000 acres, in the desert corridor running from Barstow to Arizona. The BLM claims it never promised to conserve the land, that it was donated for “public use”, and that only 8 percent of the donated land is under consideration. That land is now some of the most valuable solar development land on earth, the BLM says, and solar is now high on the list of desirable public uses.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Salazar and Interior have identified two significant Solar Energy Study Areas on public land in eastern Riverside and San Bernardino counties. One, dubbed Riverside East, begins at Desert Center, in the Chuckwalla Valley and along Interstate 10 to Blythe, and another at Iron Mountain, along Route 62 east of Twentynine Palms. According to Basin and Range Watch, a desert-based watchdog group, a total of twenty-one separate applications have been filed for solar energy projects within the study areas that would cover 349 square miles.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> While it seems expedient to place these massive solar arrays in the sparsely-populated eastern deserts of California, not everyone is embracing the prospect. Strong opposition to the proposed projects is coming from community groups, watchdog organizations, and environmentalists. Donna Charpied, a well-known local activist who was instrumental in the fight to keep the abandoned Kaiser Steel mine turned into a landfill, and who has a farm in the Chuckwalla Valley, calls it “nothing less than a misguided energy policy being fueled by industry and ‘envirocrats’.” </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The Center for Biological Diversity proposes utilizing instead the over 200,000 acres of “degraded” private and public land in the region that would be better suited to large-scale solar development, with less environmental impact. Ileene Anderson, a biologist with the Center says, “There are tens of thousands of acres of already-disturbed lands in the California desert that are much closer to cities and towns that would make far more sense for this kind of project. While rapidly transitioning to renewable energy is essential, we need not sacrifice public lands and rare species to do so.”</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It should be noted that both the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council have publicly supported the development of large scale solar, though these positions have caused some in their organizations to break ranks. Detractors, like the Alliance for Responsible Energy Policy, based in Joshua Tree, argue that much of our solar needs could be met by making rooftop solar more accessible. Rooftop generation and installations on previously developed land are much less destructive than utility-scale, long distance energy projects which create permanent environmental losses, they claim. </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> According to AREP director Jim Harvey, “Salazar is misguided in his push to expand the 19th century model of remote generation and the vulnerable transmission lines needed to move the power into population centers. As a nation, we should instead be focusing on renewable energy generation at its point of use. Democratizing energy generation to finally include home and business owners is the key to fast, clean, and inexpensive renewable energy supplies. Salazar and this administration are simply catering to the Big Energy lobby at the expense of consumers and property owners.”</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> To that end, California in 2006 adopted the Million Solar Roofs initiative, with the goal of making rooftop and small-scale solar affordable. Its goal is one million new solar installations in the state by 2017. Last year, the legislature passed AB 1451, which renews an existing exclusion from property taxes for the value of solar energy systems, as well as AB 811, which allows homeowners to finance the installation of renewable energy through low-interest loans that would be repaid as an item on the property owner's property tax bill. </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> In November, Governor Schwarzenegger signed bills AB 920 and SB 32, which provide further incentives for residential and industrial rooftop solar, by allowing them to be paid for unused energy going back into the grid. Leasing rooftop solar systems is also gaining steam, with some systems available for only $100 a month. </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The effect of these initiatives and industry trends have yet to be felt on a large scale, however, as roofs in the sunny desert remain conspicuously uncovered. Furthermore, supporters of large-array solar say that it will take decades to install the number of rooftop-based systems necessary to make a significant impact, and 2020 looms on the horizon.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> With development of renewable energy sources a prime objective of our nation, our state, and our communities, finding the balance between hundreds of square miles of solar arrays, maintaining the pristine desert environment, and how to be part of the solution is now going to be a fast-moving story.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pending Solar Company Applications:</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Iron Mountain Study Area (76,211 total acres/119 square miles):</span><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leopold Companies (43,985 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Boulevard Associates (709 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ewindfarm, Inc. (two projects - 12,960 acres and 18,557 acres)</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Riverside East Study Area (147,456 total acres/230 square miles):</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Solar Millenium (3,691 acres, 3,101 acres, and 8,626 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Optisolar (First Solar) (14,742 acres and 7,237 acres) </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Genesis - McCoy (7,753 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chuckwalla (4,091 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">NextEra Genesis (4,436 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Altera (8,703 acres and 6,618 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">enXco (2,065 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">enXco - Ford Dry Lake (15,921 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">enXco - Ford Dry Lake (20,604 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">enXco 1 (1,051 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Solel - McCoy (8,589 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Solel - Desert Lily (7,384 acres)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bullfrog - Maria Vista (22,844 acres)</span><br />
</div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-16368354851334015382009-12-26T08:52:00.000-08:002009-12-26T08:54:45.677-08:00A Different Kind of Rooftop Solar Shingle<a href="http://www.jetsongreen.com/2009/12/sun-energy-solar-tile-solar-shingle.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+jetson_green+%28Jetson+Green%29">A Different Kind of Rooftop Solar Shingle</a><br />
<br />
A company out of Grass Valley, California – <a href="http://www.sunenergyengco.com/" target="_blank">Sun Energy Engineering Co.</a> – has developed a low-profile solar shingle, or <a href="http://www.sunenergyengco.com/" target="_blank">Sun Energy Shingle</a>, to be used instead of roofing shingles or over existing shingles. It’s available in custom colors, too, depending on what kind of look you’re trying to get on the rooftop.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzEkcB7AAoI/AAAAAAAAAPk/LUtg1dCu_2g/s1600-h/6a00d8341c67ce53ef0120a770de9d970b-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzEkcB7AAoI/AAAAAAAAAPk/LUtg1dCu_2g/s320/6a00d8341c67ce53ef0120a770de9d970b-800wi.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzEkdV9Dy3I/AAAAAAAAAPs/KSic2MKq5yY/s1600-h/6a00d8341c67ce53ef01287673e8d9970c-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzEkdV9Dy3I/AAAAAAAAAPs/KSic2MKq5yY/s320/6a00d8341c67ce53ef01287673e8d9970c-800wi.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-66243913359171619092009-12-22T12:30:00.000-08:002009-12-22T12:30:48.554-08:00The Palm Springs Dining Scene Springs to Life<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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</div><h2><span style="font-size: small;">The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:city></st1:place> dining scene springs to life</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzEq34c1aJI/AAAAAAAAAP0/oi0IwS-Hgvs/s1600-h/PSMorgans_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzEq34c1aJI/AAAAAAAAAP0/oi0IwS-Hgvs/s320/PSMorgans_lg.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The New Morgan's at La Quinta Resort <br />
</div><h2><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2><span style="font-size: small;">Dining in the desert is usually a crapshoot--menus are as dusty as the landscape, never wavering or changing. But with a recent spate of renovations, plus new chefs using seasonal, local and organic ingredients, things are starting to look up.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">With its mod style and young, friendly staff, <b>Cheeky's</b> is the locals' new breakfast favorite. The menu changes daily at the whim of the chef, so you might find dishes like maple-sausage hash with sweet potatoes, parsnips and a perfectly poached egg ($9), and buttermilk pancakes studded with fresh corn and blueberries ($9). Get the "bacon flight" to taste all of the house-seasoned strips (cinnamon, jalapeño, maple and herbs). <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><i>622 N. Palm Canyon Dr.</i></st1:address></st1:street><i>, 760-327-7595 or <a href="http://www.cheekysps.com/" target="_blank" title="Cheeky's">cheekysps.com</a></i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For a swank lunch, sit poolside at the Riviera Resort's <b>Circa 59</b>. New executive chef Bradley Manchester tosses pappardelle with roasted beets and their greens ($13); brown-butter vinaigrette adds surprising richness to shaved <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Brussels</st1:place></st1:city> sprout and fennel salad ($9); and the short-rib panini with pickled onions ($14) is hearty enough for two. <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><i>1600 N. Indian Canyon Dr.</i></st1:address></st1:street><i>; 760-327-8311 or <a href="http://www.psriviera.com/riviera_dining.aspx" target="_blank" title="Circa 59 at the Riviera">psriviera.com</a></i><o:p></o:p> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Even if you're not staying at the sprawling La Quinta Resort, the just-opened <b>Morgan's</b> (pictured) is a reason to visit. The room has rustic desert elegance, with seasonal dishes to match, like creamy roasted fennel soup with apple and bacon ($8), steaks with grilled, plump porcini mushrooms ($32), and roasted <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Santa Barbara</st1:place></st1:city><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><i>49499 Eisenhower Dr.</i></st1:address></st1:street><i>, La Quinta; 760-564-4111 or <a href="http://www.laquintaresort.com/" target="_blank" title="La Quinta Resort">laquintaresort.com</a></i><o:p></o:p></span> spiny lobster with herb butter ($36). <br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Ace Hotel's<b> Amigo Room</b> could just as easily be in Los Feliz as in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city>. In addition to fresh-fruit cocktails and craft beers, the menu in the bar (and at <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><b>Kings Highway</b></st1:address></st1:street>, the former Denny's across the hall) features addictive truffle popcorn ($5), vegetable potpie with a flaky crust ($8), and locally raised rib-eye steak with herb relish ($29). <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><i>701 E. Palm Canyon Dr.</i></st1:address></st1:street><i>; 760-325-9900 or <a href="http://www.acehotel.com/palmsprings?gclid=CIPM9L3_554CFcItpAodFiLqIQ" target="_blank" title="Ace Hotel">acehotel.com</a></i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>From: <a href="http://tastingtable.com/la/index.htm">Tasting Table Los Angeles</a><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-20339713457655416622009-12-21T19:16:00.000-08:002009-12-21T19:17:47.545-08:00New Desert Monuments Proposed by California Sen. Feinstein<b>Senator Feinstein Introduces Legislation to Balance Conservation, Recreation and Renewable Energy Development in the Mojave Desert</b> - Measure would designate new desert conservation lands; streamline and improve permitting process for large-scale wind and solar development on suitable desert lands; and enhance recreational opportunities.<br />
<br />
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the author of the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, today introduced a comprehensive bill to designate new lands in the Mojave Desert for conservation, enhance recreational opportunities, and streamline and improve the federal permitting process to advance large-scale wind and solar development on suitable lands. The carefully crafted legislation, titled the California Desert Protection Act of 2010, is the product of discussions with key stakeholders in Southern California. (Click on image to enlarge)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzA5kj9E0RI/AAAAAAAAAPc/3N1vOJ1xzJU/s1600-h/FeinsteinMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SzA5kj9E0RI/AAAAAAAAAPc/3N1vOJ1xzJU/s400/FeinsteinMap.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-desert-monuments-proposed-by.html">(Click here to read full article)</a><br />
<a name='more'></a>The bill builds upon the legacy of the 1994 California Desert Protection Act – sponsored by Senator Feinstein – which protected more than 7 million acres of pristine desert in Southern California, and established Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve. <br />
“I strongly believe that conservation, renewable energy development and recreation can and must co-exist in the California Desert,” Senator Feinstein said. “This legislation strikes a careful balance between these sometimes competing concerns.”<br />
“Earlier this year, I learned that Bureau of Land Management had accepted numerous applications to build vast solar and wind energy projects on former railroad lands previously owned by the Catellus Corporation that had been donated to the federal government or acquired with taxpayer funds for conservation. <br />
I believe the development of these new cleaner energy sources is vital to addressing climate change, yet we must be careful about selecting where these facilities are located.<br />
Approximately $45 million of private donations, including a $5 million land discount from Catellus, and $18 million in federal Land and Water Conservation funds were spent to purchase these lands, with the intent of conserving them in perpetuity. <br />
We have an obligation to honor our commitment to conserve these lands – and I believe we can still accomplish that goal while also fulfilling California’s commitment to develop a clean energy portfolio. There are many places in the California desert where development and employment are essential and appropriate. But there are also places that future generations will thank us for setting aside.<br />
Over the course of the past year, we have worked painstakingly to ensure that this legislation balances the needs of all stakeholders. This bill, if enacted, will have a positive and enduring impact on the landscape of the Southern California desert, and I hope it will stand as a model for how to balance renewable energy development and conservation. I would urge my colleagues in the Senate and the House to support this legislation, so that we can get it enacted as quickly as possible.”Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-5200192672696771762009-12-19T11:49:00.000-08:002009-12-19T11:50:51.323-08:00Do You Know Where Your Trash Goes, Coachella Valley?<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="Street" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="country-region" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="address" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whither our trash, Desert Dwellers?</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SysFRMV1Z6I/AAAAAAAAAPE/DUD28WuVz-g/s1600-h/landfill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SysFRMV1Z6I/AAAAAAAAAPE/DUD28WuVz-g/s400/landfill.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The average <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> citizen produces around 4.4 pounds of trash each day. From April through June of this year, the cities of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> sent 112,734,000 pounds of waste into landfills. And that’s not counting recycling. Very few people know where all that waste actually ends up. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/do-you-know-where-your-trash-goes.html">(Click to read on...)</a></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><span style="font-size: small;">Waste collected in the <st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> is transported to two main transfer stations, one, in Coachella, and another at Edom Hill, just north of I-10, in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cathedral</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> area. The transfer stations exist so that the smaller collection trucks you see collecting in your neighborhoods can transport this waste to a local facility and continue collection efficiently. The waste these trucks offload at the transfer stations is reloaded into larger transport trucks before heading to a landfill elsewhere in the county. Edom Hill was itself the valley’s primary landfill, until it reached capacity in 2004.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since there are currently no active landfills operating in <st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype>, all waste transported from the two area transfer stations is then hauled to active landfills elsewhere in western <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place>. <st1:placename w:st="on">Lambs</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype>, in <st1:city w:st="on">Beaumont</st1:city>, Badlands, in the <st1:placename w:st="on">Moreno</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype>, and El Sobrante, in <st1:city w:st="on">Corona</st1:city>, are the 3 primary landfills that accept <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Riverside</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> trash. In the case of <st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype>, most of the waste is transported to <st1:place w:st="on">Badlands</st1:place> for burial, with Lamb’s Canyon taking the rest. These active landfills in are projected to continue operation for at least another 10 to 25 years, according to the county. After that, things will surely get interesting, especially as LA’s remaining landfills reach capacity, and the <st1:place w:st="on">Inland Empire</st1:place> continues to sprawl.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SysFTsO7bSI/AAAAAAAAAPM/NjlQBUDJEjw/s1600-h/Badlands+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SysFTsO7bSI/AAAAAAAAAPM/NjlQBUDJEjw/s320/Badlands+Map.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SysFVp4ylxI/AAAAAAAAAPU/bCpEhuILFMc/s1600-h/Lamb+Canyon+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SysFVp4ylxI/AAAAAAAAAPU/bCpEhuILFMc/s320/Lamb+Canyon+Map.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hazadous waste and hazardous household goods require specific handling, and each county landfill, along with a number of valley cities, has developed procedures to mitigate this, mainly through recycling and where necessary, incineration. Consumer electronics and appliances in particular have increased significantly in volume in the last decade, and are now prohibited in county landfills.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recyclables collected in the <st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> are transported to western <st1:city w:st="on">Riverside</st1:city>, at El Sobrante in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Corona</st1:place></st1:city> for processing. All this material is separated, bundled, and then shipped to LA ports where it ultimately will be recycled within Asian markets. Although some material may be recycled within the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>, over 80% of our recycled material is shipped overseas, using a whole lot of fossil fuel. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Burrtec <b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Coachella Transfer Station </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">87-011A <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Landfill Rd.</st1:address></st1:street>, Coachella</span></b></span> <br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Phone (760) 863-4094</span></b><br />
8 am to 5:00 pm Mon-Fri Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm; closed Sundays</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Burrtec <b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Edom Hill Transfer Station</span></b><br />
<st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">70-100 Edom Hill Rd.</span></b></st1:address></st1:street><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cathedral</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></b></span> <br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Phone (760) 340-2113</span></b> for hours, fees and types of materials accepted. </span><br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-8747443717442277562009-12-16T06:53:00.000-08:002009-12-18T07:14:09.956-08:00Saved From Certain Death, Now They're Models<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Photographer Frank Bruynbroek captures amazingly regal portraits of four-legged beauties. But you may not see these at the kennel club – all of Bruynbroek’s subjects are rescued from shelters where they would certainly have been euthanized.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyqOpiOJtmI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/2f8NdgHEPME/s1600-h/Aja-Stuart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyqOpiOJtmI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/2f8NdgHEPME/s320/Aja-Stuart.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">“Being a dog photographer is not a profession I chose -- it chose me. Out of the devastation and grief after the loss of my dog Rosalie came a vision to help more than one dog at a time, and I made myself a promise to use my talents to contribute to the welfare of animals. In order to give them a voice I began working on a book of portraits of rescued dogs. The overwhelming feedback of my first exhibit in Los Angeles gave me a new pair of eyes and showed me that it needed to be my main focus. Now it's all I do, and I have a gallery of portraits of rescued dogs located in beautiful Idyllwild.” <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyjzjcOut4I/AAAAAAAAAOA/BCWmvYV-or0/s1600-h/Little-Dude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyjzjcOut4I/AAAAAAAAAOA/BCWmvYV-or0/s400/Little-Dude.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">“With my art I am trying to create awareness about the unbearable killing in this country of 6 million unwanted pets every year. By buying pets we keep perpetuating the problem. We all need to spay, neuter, and adopt pets. We have to be the change we want to see.”<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyqOxZMZIOI/AAAAAAAAAOY/yFx4KYT8Xsk/s1600-h/Sinbad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyqOxZMZIOI/AAAAAAAAAOY/yFx4KYT8Xsk/s320/Sinbad.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The desert region is home to a number of humane, no-kill shelters and spay/neuter facilities that need your help. Give a little extra cash or volunteer at these worthy organizations:<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Humane Society of the Desert, Orphan Pet Oasis</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">17825 North Indian Avenue</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">North Palm Springs, CA 92258</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(760) 329-0203 - Fax (760) 329-7944</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Indio Animal Control</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">45-355 Van Buren Street</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Indio, CA 92201 </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(760) 559-1511</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Animal Samaritans, SPCA</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">72307 Ramon Road</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thousand Palms, CA 92276</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(760) 343-3477</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morongo Basin Humane Society</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">4646 Sun View Road</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joshua Tree, CA 92252 </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(760)366-3786</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Pet Rescue Center</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">80-126 Highway 111, Suite 2</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Indio, CA 92201</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(760) 775-6691</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Frank Bruynbroek’s Photography can be seen at 54-425 North Circle Drive in Idyllwild. His rescue dog calendars can be ordered from <a href="http://www.fbsite.com/">www.fbsite.com</a>.<br />
</div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-466052380584465752009-12-15T06:16:00.000-08:002009-12-15T09:16:00.204-08:00Farm Cooperative Delivers Organic Produce to the Desert<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Imagine this: Once a week, a box of fresh, organic and locally grown produce and herbs arrives here in the desert, with your name on it. All year long. Sound like a fantasy? The dream has come true with the Inland Empire CSA. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyeZWm1fp0I/AAAAAAAAANo/XAIMozmpBCI/s1600-h/CSA+Produce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyeZWm1fp0I/AAAAAAAAANo/XAIMozmpBCI/s320/CSA+Produce.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p>Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm or farms and a community of supporters that provides a direct link between the production and consumption of food. Consumers help to cover a farm's yearly operating budget by pledging (purchasing) a portion of the season's harvest. CSA members make a commitment to support the farms throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower. The pledge helps to pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment, maintenance, and labor. In return, the farms provide a healthy supply of seasonal fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs throughout the growing season. Becoming a member creates a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it. </span><br />
<a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/farm-cooperative-delivers-organic.html"><span style="font-size: small;">(Click to Read on...)</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This mutually supportive relationship between local farmers, growers and community members helps create an economically stable farm operation in which members are assured the highest quality organic produce. In return, farmers and growers are guaranteed a reliable market for a diverse selection of crops.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The nation's best farmland is being lost to commercial and residential development at an accelerating rate. Additionally, the fundamental restructuring of the national and global economy has combined to make farming and local food production in the U.S. an increasingly difficult task. Community Supported Agriculture represents a viable alternative to the prevailing situation and the long-distance relationship most of us have with the food we eat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">CSA’s reflect an innovative and resourceful strategy to connect local farmers with local consumers; develop a regional food supply and strong local economy; maintain a sense of community; encourage land stewardship; and honor the knowledge and experience of growers and producers working with small to medium-sized farms. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The CSA is a unique model of local agriculture that has developed from many different influences. More than 30 years ago in Japan, a group of women concerned about the increase in food imports and the corresponding decrease in the farming population initiated a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farms. This arrangement, called "teikei" in Japanese, translates to "putting the farmers' face on food." A similar community farming approach has been successful in Europe. A variation of this concept traveled from Europe to the U.S. via the biodynamic community, where the method was adapted locally and given the name "Community Supported Agriculture". There are now over 1000 CSA farms across the US and Canada.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyeZ8JT2iFI/AAAAAAAAANw/aTaBmHmpTVc/s1600-h/veggiebox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyeZ8JT2iFI/AAAAAAAAANw/aTaBmHmpTVc/s320/veggiebox.jpg" /></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Inland Empire CSA (<a href="http://www.inlandempirecsa.com/">www.inlandempirecsa.com</a>) has been offering its produce to the Inland Empire for two years, and has now expanded the opportunity to the Coachella Valley, with pickup locations at the Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and La Quinta weekly Certified Farmer’s Markets. During the summer season, from June to September, when the farmer’s markets aren’t operating, produce can be picked up at the Palm Springs Stroke Recovery Center on Alejo Road. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Produce comes from a<b> </b>combination of two farms, Sage Mountain Farm (<a href="http://www.sagemountainfarm.com/">www.SageMountainFarm.com</a>) and De Luz Farms and Nursery (<cite><span style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.deluzfarms.com/">www.deluzfarms.com</a>)</span></cite>, each with their own different growing climates and products. This gives the CSA a much better selection all year round. A pledge commits buyers to weekly or bi-weekly pickups, at about $30 per week, and the CSA provides a list of seasonally available products to choose from. Start planning those feasts now.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-77269885819593911322009-12-13T12:36:00.000-08:002009-12-13T15:30:19.310-08:00Cadiz Valley desert water-storage plan renewed | PE.com<a href="http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_pipeline29.2142af4.html">Cadiz Valley desert water-storage plan renewed | San Bernardino County | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California</a>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-47776298001116969922009-12-13T09:11:00.000-08:002009-12-15T09:17:36.591-08:00November Real Estate Numbers Show Little Change<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Desert Area Home Prices Up Slightly in November, But Sales Drop</b></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Trends at a Glance</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyUcl7gO3KI/AAAAAAAAANQ/DMigDP7Nv-o/s1600-h/REGraph1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyUcl7gO3KI/AAAAAAAAANQ/DMigDP7Nv-o/s400/REGraph1.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> According to the Desert Real Estate Report, the median price for single-family, re-sale homes rose 14.5% from October. Year-over-year, the median price was down 3.8%. This is the lowest year-over-year decline since December 2007. The average price for homes was up 6.7% year-over-year. This is also the first time that has happened since December 2007. It points to increased activity in the move-up market, $500 to $1MM, and the upper end market of $1MM plus. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/november-real-estate-numbers-show.html">(Click to read on..)</a><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"> After a strong October, driven in part by the first-time home buyers tax credit, which was set to expire October 31, sales fell in November: down 10.6% from October. Year-over-year, home sales were up 21.8%. With the extension and expansion of the home-buyers tax credit, we expect sales to pick up and for the first quarter to be very strong. Year-to-date, home sales are up 25.2%.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The median price for the under $500,000 segment of the market rose 1.7% from October. This segment constituted 84% of sales last month compared to 87.6% of total sales in October. By contrast, the $500,000 to $1,000,000 segment of the market was 12.3% of sales. The median price was up 5.1% month-over month. The million dollar-plus market was 3.7% of total sales in November compared to only 1.2% of total sales in October. The median price for this segment of the market was off 12% month over month. The condo market, which is highly seasonal and mostly located within country clubs, saw sales rise 51.6% year-over-year. The median price for condos was off 11% compared to last November.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Breaking the market down, the ratio for homes in the under $500,000 market was 97.8%. The ratio for the $500,000 to $999,999 market was 93.2%. The ratio for the over $1,000,000 market was 89.3%.Days on market for homes rose eight days to 87. Days on market for condos dropped thirteen day to 108 days.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The following tables illustrate the median price, average price and the number of units sold for residential re-sale single family homes and condos in the entire Coachella Valley.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Click on the graph to enlarge it...) </span><br />
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</div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-28028915012630815942009-12-12T18:06:00.001-08:002009-12-15T14:23:43.168-08:00The Grooviest Hotel Bars in the Desert, Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRDlTqxBcI/AAAAAAAAALw/mQM6c2QIwwk/s1600-h/Courtesy+of+Marriott+Hotels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRDlTqxBcI/AAAAAAAAALw/mQM6c2QIwwk/s200/Courtesy+of+Marriott+Hotels.jpg" /></a></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>From Sleek Motifs to Designer Aperitifs, the Desert’s Resort Lounge Scene Has Never Been More Spirited<o:p></o:p></i></b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">By Morgan Craft</span></span><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city> hotels are distinctly not like Vegas, and we like it that way. The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Coachella</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place> resorts are more laid back and quietly sophisticated, but they still cater to the hipster LA crowd. Those of us who live here make it a habit to go to only the grooviest hotel bars in town, so here’s the best bets whether you’re a local or coming in for the weekend.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Our Desert communities have been home to many legendary hotel bar haunts, and even through real estate turnovers and renovations they retained their spirit and allure. At the famous Racquet Club, four barstools still have “Reserved” plaques for Clark Gable, Charles Farrell, William Powell and Spencer Tracy. Numerous celebrities were known to have cooled off with a libation or several at the La Quinta Resort. And the recently reopened Colony Palms Hotel was once a private speakeasy and brothel owned by Purple Gang mobster Al Wertheimer. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/grooviest-hotel-bars-in-desert-baby.html">(Click to read on...)</a></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p><b><i>La Quinta<o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>TOP OF THE PLAZA<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>La Quinta Resort & Club<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyREugPeE2I/AAAAAAAAAMA/WK4P0Ur8b6I/s1600-h/LaQuintaResortPlaza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyREugPeE2I/AAAAAAAAAMA/WK4P0Ur8b6I/s200/LaQuintaResortPlaza.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A twilight margarita at the La Quinta Resort is a Desert must-do. This 1926-vintage property is a small rancho unto itself, and the clientele comes for its exclusive ambience, spectacular vistas and warm appeal. The Top of the Plaza bar, with its calming fountain and stream, looks out across the grounds and quaint courtyard shops—all set before a dramatic backdrop of magenta peaks. Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Katherine Hepburn, Eddie Cantor and Greta Garbo once luxuriated in this atmosphere. Weekends feature live music, and there’s always a full menu to enjoy.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><a href="http://www.laquintaresort.com/">www.laquintaresort.com</a><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Indian Wells<o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE VINEYARD LOUNGE<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Miramonte Resort & Spa</b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Less visible and bustling than the neighboring resorts across Highway 111, the Miramonte offers a decidedly more discreet and chic environment. The bar here, called The Vineyard Lounge, is bright during the day and intimate at night. Wines by the glass are featured on the heavily <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state> wine list, and gracious bartenders offer ready suggestions. Thursday nights draw the locals for tapas and flamenco guitar—and the flavor and fun really flows.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><a href="http://www.miramonteresort.com/">www.miramonteresort.com</a><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b><i>Palm</i></b></st1:placename><b><i> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Desert</st1:placetype></i></b></st1:place><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE LOBBY BAR<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRENROx2qI/AAAAAAAAAL4/pavc9BTm3yQ/s1600-h/Marriott1crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRENROx2qI/AAAAAAAAAL4/pavc9BTm3yQ/s200/Marriott1crop.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A towering indoor oasis greets all who enter this sprawling resort. Descending into the bar area, one is treated to sweeping vistas of the grounds through four stories of glass. Parrots and macaws call, and gondolas glide lazily around a huge lake—departing from a dock inside the lobby. It is a refuge that beckons visitors and encourages travelers, golfers and conventioneers to commingle. The Lobby Bar staff is pleasant and knowledgeable, and a beautiful sushi bar graces the lounge’s south wall. There’s even a Starbucks onsite for that emergency frappuccino.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><a href="http://www.desertspringsresort.com/">www.desertspringsresort.com</a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Rancho Mirage<o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>R BAR<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa</b></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRJpzULJiI/AAAAAAAAAMg/EGxWURD4KWQ/s1600-h/R-bar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRJpzULJiI/AAAAAAAAAMg/EGxWURD4KWQ/s200/R-bar2.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rancho <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Las Palmas</st1:place></st1:city> underwent a major transformation in 2007, and wisely, it redesigned and reincarnated its lobby lounge first. R Bar has lots of leather and rich wood, and it is surrounded by ultra-tall, South Beach-style white booths. While The River’s retail and entertainment charms shimmer across the road, R Bar retains its quiet class in a beautifully-reborn resort. Locals are finding their way in after a round of golf, and the 450 remodeled rooms attract a whole new crowd. There’s a savory appetizer list and great wines by the glass, presented by a staff that serves guests and walk-ins with equal enthusiasm.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><a href="http://www.rancholaspalmas.com/">www.rancholaspalmas.com</a><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b><i>Palm Springs</i></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE PURPLE PALM<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Colony Palms Hotel<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This elegant Downtown gathering spot compliments its host property’s beautiful pool. With an indoor-outdoor layout that encourages conversation and conviviality, this is a true hotel bar—an easy place to slip into any night of the week—where one can encounter locals, LA escapees, businesspeople and travelers. Ask Ivan at the bar for his best margarita, then settle in and watch the well-heeled parade, or dine at the bar from the restaurant’s menu. Watching a desert sunset over the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">San Jacinto</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountains</st1:placetype></st1:place> from here is perfection.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><a href="http://www.colonypalms.com/">www.colonypalms.com</a><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b><i>Palm Springs</i></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MINI-BAR<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Parker <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRKZTR2-nI/AAAAAAAAAM4/eiy5B8GlNNg/s1600-h/ParkerMiniBarFPO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRKZTR2-nI/AAAAAAAAAM4/eiy5B8GlNNg/s200/ParkerMiniBarFPO.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entering the Parker is an adventure in of itself. On the 13-acre former site of Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch and Merv Griffin’s Givenchy Resort and Spa, the Jonathan Adler-designed hotel is fun, ’70s-era swank—and quite cozy. Just beyond the understated reception area is the tiny Mini-Bar, a six-seat mirrored retreat with a single bartender and a long list of home-grown libations. Locals also dip into the loungy Mr. Parker’s and snag a seat at the dark walnut bar to watch the weekend scene in the dining room. Or take your group and sit in the groovy lounge, with its circular fire pit and deep couches. On balmy nights, adjourn just outside to a settee under the stars (you may see one or two walk by as well).</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><a href="http://www.theparkerpalmsprings.com/">www.theparkerpalmsprings.com</a><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b><i>Palm Springs</i></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>CITRON BAR<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Viceroy <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRKQUWL0-I/AAAAAAAAAMw/ME1CO81CElA/s1600-h/ViceroyBar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRKQUWL0-I/AAAAAAAAAMw/ME1CO81CElA/s200/ViceroyBar.JPG" /></a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Owner-designer Kelly Wearstler imbued the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city> outpost of her growing hotel empire with chic style. And the hotel’s Citron Bar—with its new lounge annex— adheres to the Viceroy model. Clean and bright, yet intimate, the bar and lounge are perfect for refreshing aperitifs, signature martinis and good conversation. Perching on a couch with a whimsically-named beverage in the lounge bungalow is like enjoying a private cabana. Expect to see stray LA hipsters (many of whom also hang out at Viceroy Santa Monica) and local scenesters dressed as if they’re hitting the Sunset Strip.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><a href="http://www.viceroypalmsprings.com/">www.viceroypalmsprings.com</a><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b><i>Palm Springs</i></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SIDE BAR<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:state w:st="on"><b>Riviera</b></st1:state><b> <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palm Springs</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This small lounge just off the hotel’s Circa 59 steakhouse was designed for intimacy. There are dark nooks to hide in, and a single mixologist cooking up specialty cocktails and classics with groovy tunes. An outside deck overlooks the resort’s sexy pool, and at night, fire pits cast a sensuous glow around the grounds. There's a house DJ spinning loungy beats every weekend, and with the hotel's other drinking outposts, the Bikini and Starlite bars, you can bar-hop right on property.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.psriviera.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>www.psriviera.com</i></b></span></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b><i>Palm Springs</i></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE AMIGO ROOM<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRLk8_VKeI/AAAAAAAAANI/4n5yOY-2oxU/s1600-h/AmigoRoom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyRLk8_VKeI/AAAAAAAAANI/4n5yOY-2oxU/s200/AmigoRoom2.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ace Hotel Palm Springs<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Probably the coolest bar in town, particularly for the hipster crowd. Deep booths and low light combine with dark walls for a cave-like feel. The bartenders use ingredients made from scratch, with a number of totally unique offerings. The pool has a great scene and the Ace often hosts musical and social events for tourists and locals alike. Weekends are often good for celebrity sighting – those that ever leave their rooms.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><a href="http://www.acehotel.com/palmsprings">www.acehotel.com/palmsprings</a><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-79175066807067293942009-12-12T17:02:00.000-08:002009-12-15T14:24:42.460-08:00Endangered Bighorn Sheep Operation in San Jacinto Mountains<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">by Morgan Craft<br />
For five years, I’ve been scouring the San Jacinto Mountains behind my Palm Springs home with high-powered binoculars hoping to catch a glimpse of our famous cliff-dwelling neighbors, the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. This week, the Department of Fish and Game, which monitors the dwindling herd, brought them to me.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> The chop-chop of a helicopter here usually means the search is on for a lost hiker on the notorious Skyline trail. This one, however, was clearly ferrying a four-legged passenger. A short hike into Tacheva Canyon revealed a well-coordinated capture operation of sheep brought down from the towering cliffs above by the chopper, which are loaded into a pickup and brought to the examination site.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Six adult bighorn sheep were captured from the helicopter, using a net-gun, and then fitted with radio-collars. They were then examined by a veterinarian, health tested, collared and released at the site, or flown back to their place of capture. The capture was part of an on-going, long-term research project and was conducted by the California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and nonprofit Bighorn Institute, whose biologists have been monitoring the bighorn sheep in the San Jacinto Mountains since 1992.<a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/endangered-bighorn-sheep-operation.html"> (Click to read on...)</a><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQ93Yp-hYI/AAAAAAAAALI/mu5zSYdVM-s/s1600-h/Copter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQ93Yp-hYI/AAAAAAAAALI/mu5zSYdVM-s/s400/Copter.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> An array of threats confronts this small herd, from predators (mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and golden eagles), parasites and disease, drought, automobile collisions, habitat loss, and poisonous plants introduced by urbanization. Constant monitoring, by air, on foot and by radio tracking, allows the agencies charged with protecting the sheep to keep track of their movements. The sophisticated radio collars include “mortality monitoring”, which will alert their watchers if a ram or ewe has died or been killed.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> The capture operation, one of many that take place throughout the Bighorn habitat in the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains National Monument, provides for the fitting of the radio collars and medical examinations by veterinarians, assisted by members of the Bighorn Institute. It’s the threat to these animals that was the impetus to create the monument in 2000. Under a shade tent in the canyon I come across a large female, its eyes covered by a green mask, being restrained by a stout volunteer. “This one’s not pregnant,” the attending veterinarian says, completing her examination. A large ram, with horns as big as my biceps, lies nearby, as its radio collar is checked.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyM7awv4oeI/AAAAAAAAAKI/2UowM-2Y9bw/s1600-h/Vets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyM7awv4oeI/AAAAAAAAAKI/2UowM-2Y9bw/s320/Vets.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> It’s serious and sensitive work, and these people are clearly experts, dedicated to the task.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQ-TKDgS4I/AAAAAAAAALY/59DXuER1PPE/s1600-h/Bighorn+Sheep+Peninsular+Range+Map+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQ-TKDgS4I/AAAAAAAAALY/59DXuER1PPE/s320/Bighorn+Sheep+Peninsular+Range+Map+copy.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> The Tacheva Canyon subgroup of Peninsular Bighorn Sheep numbers less than 30, which cling to life in the rocky crags above Palm Springs. They’ve been listed under the California State Endangered Species Act since 1971, and in 1998 were listed federally under the US Endangered Species Act, bringing greater resources to bear in maintaining the herd and promoting its survival. Biologist and Associate Director of the Bighorn Institute Aimee Boyd stresses that “in 2002, there were just four female bighorn here, but today there are fourteen. Intensive monitoring is critical to help the wildlife agencies properly manage this endangered species, which is why it’s necessary for us to be able to track the population.”<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> And why this operation is so important. While a multitude of threats remain, the outlook for this small herd is guardedly hopeful. Though the females now number fourteen, to be removed from the endangered list there must be twenty-five in the subgroup, and this group is the smallest in the entire study area. In 2002, the Institute started focusing on captive breeding and augmentation efforts on this particular subgroup, in addition to their regular monitoring. Recovery is now underway, primarily due to the Institute’s efforts, with the goal of ultimately having the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep removed from the endangered list. <br />
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</div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-52026651397342231182009-12-12T15:08:00.000-08:002009-12-15T14:24:57.254-08:00Do You Know Where Your Water Comes From, Coachella Valley?<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">by Morgan Craft<br />
In a 2007 survey by the California Department of Water Resources, eighty percent of respondents in Southern California believed that their water comes from area wells, despite the fact that the region imports more water than any other place in the world.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Coachella Valley averages only three inches of rainfall each year, yet we boast more golf courses per square mile that anyplace else in the country. Retail centers, home developments and hotels boast lakes and rivers, and green grass grows wherever you cast an eye. Water supports a $500 million agriculture industry in the valley, with over 60,000 acres under cultivation. Despite the economic downturn, the valley is projected to increase to six hundred thousand residents by 2020, or 75,000 additional households, and water access and usage is going to be an increasingly difficult issue. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/do-you-know-where-your-water-comes-from.html">(Click to read on...)</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Water management is necessarily a huge task here in the desert. Valleywide, our water is managed by four main entities: the Desert Water Agency (DWA), the Mission Springs Water District, the Imperial Irrigation District, and the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD). And our water is cheap: some communities in LA County pay up to three times as much for water as we do.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We in the Coachella Valley actually do have a huge well beneath us, but we’re using far more water than is naturally put back in by seasonal runoff. The region’s principal water source, the Coachella Valley Aquifer, extends from Whitewater in the northwest to the Salton Sea in the southeast. All drinking and other domestic water comes from the aquifer. Due primarily to an ongoing drought and a ballooning population, water experts say that our well is in an extended period of overdraft. A 2003/04 CVWD engineering report concluded that the Whitewater River sub-basin is overdrawn at a rate of 70,132 acre-feet, or nearly 23 billion gallons, per year.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To counter this overdraft, the Coachella Valley imports water via three methods: The Colorado River Aqueduct, The Coachella Canal via the All-American Canal, and transferred rights to San Joaquin Delta/State Water Project water from the Metropolitan Water District in LA. To resolve the absence of direct service to the Palm Springs area from the Delta (there’s no direct link), the Desert Water Agency trades its State Water Project water allotment with the Metropolitan Water District for its Colorado River allotment, which is delivered to recharge basins located near Windy Point, and by Highway 62 at Indian Avenue for Desert Hot Springs. Since 1973, Colorado River Aqueduct water has been used to supplement natural replenishment in the valley’s west end, up to 330,000 acre feet per year. In drought years, the allotment is sometimes zero.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New Facility to Recharge Coachella Aquifer in La Quinta<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQiCgaL7-I/AAAAAAAAALA/QseXyLkS1P0/s1600-h/Pond3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQiCgaL7-I/AAAAAAAAALA/QseXyLkS1P0/s400/Pond3.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQh7pW9wyI/AAAAAAAAAK4/aItgjCinECY/s1600-h/Pond2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQh7pW9wyI/AAAAAAAAAK4/aItgjCinECY/s400/Pond2.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In October, the CVWD dedicated a new strategic aquifer recharge facility, in south La Quinta. The overdraft of groundwater has been significantly higher on the east end of the valley primarily due to rapid development and the ongoing agricultural operations there, and this new facility is meant to help counter that by returning the amount of water used by 40,000 households each year into the earth. According to the CVWD, and assuming the Colorado River tap stays flowing, in 30 years the groundwater level in the eastern Coachella Valley could be an estimated 25-105 feet higher than it currently registers.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">State Senator John Benoit (R – Bermuda Dunes), addressing the opening of the Levy Groundwater Recharge Facility said, “This is a strategically key asset as we move forward in a state increasingly challenged by water – an issue which should be important to all of us.”<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The new facility uses Colorado River water delivered to the valley via the 123-mile Coachella Canal to Lake Cahuilla in La Quinta. From Lake Cahuilla the water continues by gravity flow through an existing irrigation pipeline to two 422,000-gallon reservoirs at the Levy Facility's pump station. Water is then pumped up to 39 percolation basins, spread over 163 acres on land CVWD purchased from the Torres-Martinez tribe.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tom Kirk, Director of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, says “It’s a key element in guaranteeing the water supply of the Coachella Valley for future generations.”<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Coachella Valley Water Agencies:<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">CVWD (<a href="http://www.cvwd.org/">www.cvwd.org</a>): Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Thousand Palms, Parts of Cathedral City<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">DWA (<a href="http://www.dwa.org/">www.dwa.org</a>): Palm Springs, parts of Cathedral City, Whitewater, North Palm Springs<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">MSWD (<a href="http://www.mswd.org/">www.mswd.org</a>): Desert Hot Springs<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">IID (<a href="http://www.iid.org/">www.iid.org</a>): La Quinta, Indio, Mecca, Coachella, Thermal, Sky Valley, Bermuda Dunes<br />
</div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-43790602108181627822009-12-12T15:03:00.000-08:002009-12-12T17:00:55.864-08:00New Process to Extract Valuable Lithium from Salton Sea Geothermal Plants<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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<b>Inhabitat </b>reports that as the world moves to cleaner energy, demand for Lithium has been steadily increasing. The element has widespread application in batteries and is widely used in consumer products and electric cars. Since the demand for Lithium is likely to only go up in the future, as the number of electric cars and gadgets steadily increases, there is a scare about insufficient sources, which may not even last very long into the future. Moreover, the conventional process of sourcing lithium is very water intensive, and that of course isn’t a good thing. The situation though, may be quite different with the new process developed by Simbol Mining.<br />
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Simbol intends to source lithium from water extracted for geothermal energy. The water is mostly discarded, but a lot of sources may have lithium rich water, and Simbol intends to use the same to produce the element. The company has planned a pilot project for <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state>’s lithium-rich underground <st1:place w:st="on">Salton Sea</st1:place>. It is already used for geothermal energy, and nearly a ton of lithium could be extracted from the water every month. <br />
Heat from the water greatly helps the process, making it less water intensive. If all goes well, Simbol has big plans that include supplying nearly a quarter of the world’s demand of Lithium Carbonate within the decade.<br />
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Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473022877601778446.post-36797309137643934132009-12-12T14:57:00.000-08:002009-12-15T09:21:51.045-08:00Big Geothermal Plan for the Salton Sea<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has signed a lease for exploring geothermal potential on 2950 acres in Imperial County near the Salton Sea as part of meeting its state-mandated deadline to produce 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It is offering to lease the land for 5 years of exploration and study at $295,000 annually - representing $100 per acre per year - while it determines the feasibility of geothermal production there.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The Salton Sea lies directly above the southern end of the San Andreas Fault, and super-heated steam lies just below its surface. Already, six existing geothermal plants there produce enough electricity for 220,000 homes. <a href="http://thedesertdawgblawg.blogspot.com/2009/12/big-geothermal-plan-for-salton-sea.html">(Click to read on...)</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> LADWP is the largest municipal utility in the US, and its membership consists of eleven cities and an irrigation district that supply electricity to most of Southern California, including the numerous municipal utilities.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> In addition, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved the lease of 3,322 acres of public land also near the Salton Sea for possible geothermal energy projects.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQfapZ2bsI/AAAAAAAAAKw/QbIYz0JqkCY/s1600-h/SaltonSea5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_99x-Y_O0eOg/SyQfapZ2bsI/AAAAAAAAAKw/QbIYz0JqkCY/s400/SaltonSea5.JPG" /></a></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Two Nevada-based companies, Western Geothermal Partners, and Ormat Nevada Inc., will be allowed to explore the possibility of developing geothermal energy projects on public lands. If completed, the projects could produce up to 100 megawatts, enough to power 5,000 homes.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Plans are also underway for expanded transmission capacity across the region, with a 120-mile transmission line from the Imperial Valley to San Diego. The DWP hopes to link the geothermal plants in the Salton Sea area to Los Angeles via its recently-approved Devers 2 – Palo Verde transmission line running adjacent to existing transmission lines along I-10.</span><br />
</div>Morgan Miles Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834348189132766792noreply@blogger.com0