desert local news april 25, 2011 issue

Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 1Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 1

The BIG 4, Anthrax, M egadeth, Slayer and M etal l ic a played at a one t ime only concer t in I ndio at the Empire Polo Club on Apri l 23rd. Pa g e s 1 4 - 1 9

T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG 4Photo by Pat Krause

Apri l 25, 2011

Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 2 Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011

Nature of fers many beaut i ful gi f ts and wonders to explore, and parents can help get k ids outs ide to discover them when they step away f rom the te levis ion or computer screen. Here are a few fun ways to encourage your chi ldren to explore nature.

A growing trend

As more Amer icans are discover ing ever y year, gardening is a great way to enjoy nature. K ids wi l l enjoy star t ing plants f rom seed or pick ing out star ter plants at the nurser y and watching them grow and develop. Even a smal l container garden on a balcony or pat io can y ie ld tomatoes for sa lsa , f lowers for an ent i re season or strawberr ies galore. Cook up your favor i te rec ipes with home grown ingredients and donate any excess produce to local food banks.

For the more adventurous gardener, help your k ids plant a “ver t ica l garden.” I n the st y le of famed French ar t ist and botanist Patr ick B lanc, grow your f lowers and vegetables in a fun new way. Tr y f i l l ing a canvas hanging shoe organizer with a l ight-weight pott ing mix and f i l l ing each pocket with one of your favor i te plants. Have fun us ing tomatoes, bel l peppers, mar igolds, s t rawberr ies, v inca v ines or impat iens. Poke a dra inage hole in each pocket and hang the ent i re organizer on your back fence or balcony. Water dai ly, and in just a few weeks you wi l l be enjoying your own l iv ing ar t p iece.

Find a local communit y garden or gardening co - op and volunteer with your fami ly to help with weeding, water ing, p lant ing or har vest ing.

Nature’s bount y

Yard waste? Not when you can

Ear th-fr iendly craf ts and ac tivit ies

By Staff

Continues on Page 6-7

Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 3Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 3

Wind is our friend!

Congratulations

Photo by Bruce M ontgomer y

American Cancer Society ’s Desert Spir i t XXl l was held at the Palm Spr ings Convent ion Center on Apr i l 13th. Diane Neiderman , wi fe of renown author Andrew Neiderman.

was given the “Celebrat ion of L i fe” award.

Diane is a 2 time survivor having beaten colon and liver cancer. Over

250 guests attended this Premier Food and Entertainment Gala.

CongratulationsCongratulations

Sk ylar Ger ing and Emily Neiderman sel l bal loons for

the event . ~Photo Pat K rause


Asks for Diplomacy in

Libya

By M ichael S anto

S t. Peter ’s Square was packed with pi lgr ims, tour ists and celebrants as the Pope and the

church marked the Cathol ic Church’s most joyous day of the year, Easter Sunday. Chr ist ians global ly recal l Jesus’ resurrec t ion on Easter Sunday. This year, Easter fe l l on the same day in the Or thodox and Roman Cathol ic church calendars. Addit ional ly, Easter Sunday 2011 fe l l on the same day as the anniversar y of the Armenian Genocide.

The ful l tex t of the Pope’s Easter Sunday 2011 message can

be found at the Vat ican R adio’s website.

I n par t , the Pope focused on the many disasters and conf l ic ts across the globe. Not only did he address the M iddle East , he noted the recent Sendai Ear thquake in Japan and the I vor y Coast , as wel l . I n an excerpt , Pope Benedic t X VI sa id :

“M ay the splendour of Chr ist reach the peoples of the M iddle East , so that the l ight of peace and of human dignit y may overcome the dark ness of d iv is ion, hate and v iolence. I n the current conf l ic t in L ibya, may diplomac y

and dia logue take the place of arms and may those who suffer as a result of the conf l ic t be given access to humanitar ian a id. I n the countr ies of nor thern Afr ica and the M iddle East , may a l l c i t izens, especia l ly young people, work to promote the common good and to bui ld a societ y where pover t y is defeated and ever y pol i t ica l choice is inspired by respec t for the human person. May help come from al l s ides to those f leeing conf l ic t and to refugees f rom var ious Afr ican countr ies who have been obl iged to leave a l l that i s dear to them; may people of good wi l l open their hear ts to welcome them,

Pope Benedict XVI’s Easter Sunday 2011

Message

Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 5

so that the press ing needs of so many brothers and s isters wi l l be met with a concer ted response in a spir i t of sol idar i t y ; and may our words of comfor t and appreciat ion reach a l l those who make such generous ef for ts and of fer an exemplar y witness in this regard.

“May peaceful coexistence be restored among the peoples of I vor y Coast , where there is an urgent need to t read the path of reconci l iat ion and pardon, in order to heal the deep wounds caused by the recent v iolence. May Japan f ind consolat ion and hope as i t faces the dramatic

consequences of the recent ear thquake, a long with other countr ies that in recent months have been tested by natural d isasters which have sown pain and anguish.”

Whi le the scene in Rome was one of many gather ing for Easter Sunday in worship, th ings were not the same ever y where. I n Bei j ing, pol ice blocked any f rom attending Easter ser v ices. For one, Shouwang Church’s senior pastor J in Tianming is current ly under house arrest and told CNN: “More pol ice have come to stand watch in f ront of my door in ant ic ipat ion of Easter. I ’ve spoken to several

of my fe l low worshippers who attempted to attend our planned ser vice this morning, but some were detained. But we wi l l not change our plans. We wi l l not change our decis ion to worship as this i s a matter of fa i th ,”

Shouwang Church had planned an outdoor ser v ice, and planning had gone on for months. At the proposed s i te for the ser v ice, law enforcement sealed of f the area , and kept watch over any passersby.


re -use and repurpose. Find the beaut y in what nature provides by creat ing new uses for things that would other wise be considered waste. Large st icks make great garden stakes for plants that need a l i t t le ex tra suppor t , l ike tomatoes. Smal ler st icks can be wr i t ten on or car ved into (by an adult ) for an inexpensive way to label p lants in the garden or pots.

How about us ing leaves for gi f t tags or place cards? K ids wi l l love wr i t ing names on the leaves with a l i t t le paint and a f ine -t ipped brush or metal l ic pen. Then, s imply punch a hole in one end and t ie with a decorat ive piece of raf f ia or r ibbon for a personal ized touch to any gi f t or p lace sett ing. Flowers f rom your pots or garden don’t have to fade away - they can be eas i ly dr ied for use in homemade potpourr i , candles or soap.

G ive a worm a job

Many of us k now that compost ing is a great way to reuse what M other Nature has given us. Even a smal l compost bin wi l l f i l l up quick ly with k i tchen scraps and yard waste. This waste can be used produce a nice compost mix for nex t year ’s garden - especia l ly i f you add some red worms to the compost bin . Worms are nature’s l i t t le composters. They make compost ing more fun, interest ing and ef f ic ient by break ing down organic matter into nutr ient-r ich vermicast a l lowing your fami ly to compost k i tchen scraps eas i ly, and reduce the amount of garbage produced each year. Red worms can be purchased inexpensively f rom many garden centers or onl ine out lets . A smal l b in wi l l require about 2 pounds of red worms to get the job done.

The ar t of rec ycl ing

Rec ycl ing is a great way to reduce waste. I t ’s l ike ly you a l ready have a rec ycl ing bin nex t to the garbage can. Chances are, however, that your k ids do not see those rec yclables as ar t - i t i s t ime to change their minds.

Continued from Page 2


Reusing and rec ycl ing ever yday objec ts not only reduces waste but , with a l i t t le imaginat ion, can a lso provide hours of creat ive fun. Make something together that wi l l br ing years of enjoyment to your home or landscape.

Make a bott le t ree to enhance the garden or balcony. S ince the invent ion of bott les, people have found ways to use them as decorat ions. Used as a way to explore the beaut y of g lass or ward of f (or attrac t ) spir i ts , bott le t rees have been “planted” across the planet in var ious forms for thousands of years. To bui ld your own bott le t ree, col lec t color ful g lass bott les f rom your rec ycl ing bin or f rom fr iends, fami ly or even local restaurants. For a “ t ree” form, use steel re -bar, s turdy wire, wood, fa l len l imbs or dying trees. S imply remove labels f rom bott les and wash out . Then, hang the bott les f rom your form - use your bott le t ree purely as a decorat ion or as a n ice suppor t for v ine - l ike plants such as morning glor y or tomatoes.

Preser ving nature in photos

A digita l camera may not seem l ike a device to get your k ids outs ide, but they can be acquired quite inexpensively and are a great tool with which to v iew nature and animals. Go on walks in the yard, neighborhood, a local park or zoo and c l ick away. Zoom in or change the angle of the camera for new perspec t ives. By s imply changing the way that we look at things l ike f lowers, animals, t rees and even bugs, cameras provide an up - c lose and personal v iew of the wor ld that you would not other wise get to see.

Use your photos for great screen savers on the computer, make photo col lages or pr int them out for uniquely fantast ic ar t works to f rame. Any way you use them, you wi l l have preser ved a l i t t le piece of nature and wi l l have great memories for years to come.

Once you and your k ids star t explor ing nature together, you wi l l d iscover hours of fun for the ent i re fami ly. Mother Nature may more to of fer than you real ized.

Cour tesy of ARA

Photo by Bruce M ontgomer y


Sk ylar Ger ing and Emily Neiderman sel l bal loons

Photo by Pat K rause


AntioxidantMaximizingTips fromOz:

• Consistent eating: Eating snacksor mini-meals every 2-3 hourswill keep you satiated and helpyou avoid binging on unhealthyquick-grab options. Keepantioxidant-filled snacks withyou, like dried cranberries,blueberries and nuts likepistachios.

• Avoid bloating: It’s important tohydrate properly. Cut out alcoholand soda, and concentrate onwater. Give your water a boost ofpower by adding a little lemon ortry unsweetened iced green tea –both chock full of antioxidants.

• Experiment with newcombinations and flavors:Different herbs, like oregano,basil, curry or Cayenne peppercan add a completely new flavorto a dish without adding extracalories. These, and other spices,also contain healthy antioxidantsthat boost overall wellness.

• Clean out your kitchen: If youwant to start eating healthy, takesome time to purge your pantry.Remove processed foods, refinedsugars and white carbohydrates.This change will help youeliminate temptation and stay ontrack to healthy eating habits.

• Eliminate empty calories: Avoidfoods that don’t have any healthbenefits. For example, trade outunhealthy croutons on your saladfor antioxidant-rich pistachios,or pass on the butter and tryhummus, a chickpea-based garlicspread. You don’t have tosacrifice flavor for health!

The Proofis in the ResearchResearch on The only Green Nut

has shown that pistachios:• Raise the level of antioxidants in

your blood, reducing the risk ofheart disease by lowering thelevel of oxidized-LDL (bad)cholesterol. Antioxidants aremolecules found in some foodsthat may help fight off heartdisease and cancer.

• May help lower your body’sresponse to everyday stresses,such as high blood pressure. Inaddition, the cracking of theshells can sometimes feeltherapeutic.

• Are associated with a better overalldiet. Adults age 19 years and olderwho eat nuts such as pistachiosregularly are found to haveimproved nutrient intakes andlower prevalence of health risks.

• When eaten with some highcarbohydrate meals, may resultin a lower than expected bloodsugar level – an important factorin diabetes prevention.

ECESAntioxidants are nutrition

powerhouses that help fightchronic disease. Incorporatingantioxidants into your diet canhelp you feel all around healthier.Renowned celebrity nutritionistDr. Oz Garcia offers some simpletips on how to pack your dietwith nutrient-rich foods.

Dr. Garcia is the best-sellingauthor of three books: TheBalance, Look and Feel FabulousForever, and Redesigning 50: TheNo-Plastic-Surgery Guide to 21st-Century Age Defiance(HarperCollins) and has been thenutrition advisor to stars such asHilary Swank, Kim Cattrall, HeidiKlum and many others.

Recipes courtesy ofWestern Pistachio Association.

For more information andhealthy recipes visit

TheGreenNut.org

A N T I O X I D A N T R E C I P E S

GO GREEN

Greek Chicken And Chickpea SaladWith Tomato Vinaigrette

Prep Time: 25 mins • Cook Time: 0 mins • Total Time: 25 minsServes: 6

VINAIGRETTE: 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar 1 clove garlic, crushed 3/4 tsp Greek seasoning 1/4 cup tomato juice 1/4 tsp salt (optional) 1/4 cup olive oil

SALAD1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1/2 cup shredded carrots 1/3 cup sliced radishes 1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions 1/3 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup pitted kalamata (or other) olives 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese 3 tbsp chopped pistachios 3 cups spring mix

TO MAKE THE VINAIGRETTE:• Whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, Greek

seasoning, tomato juice, and salt, if using, until wellblended. Whisk in the oil until emulsified. Set aside.

TO MAKE THE SALAD:• Lightly mash the chickpeas in a medium bowl with a

fork. • Add the chicken, parsley, carrots, radishes, scallions,

tomatoes, olives, cheese, and pistachios. Drizzle with halfof the vinaigrette and toss to coat well.

• Place the spring mix on a serving plate. Top with the chickpeamixture. Pass the remaining dressing for diners to use as desired.

Nutritional Information (per serving, based on 6 servings): Calories 270,Carbohydrates 13g, Fat 16g, Saturated Fat 3g, Protein 20g, Cholesterol47mg, Dietary Fiber 4g, Sodium 326mg, Sugar 3g

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2007 Rodale

Asparagus Spinach PistachioPesto Pasta

Prep Time: 15 mins • Cook Time: 10 mins • Total Time: 25 minsServes: 4

1 lb asparagus, steamed1/4 cup pistachios1/4 cup spinach1 clove garlic1/4 cup parmesan cheese2 tbsp olive oil1 tsp lemon juice1 package of whole wheat pasta

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When ready,add asparagus and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from thewater and shock in a bowl of ice water. Drain and thenplace on a cutting board. Slice off the tips and set aside.Roughly chop the rest.

• Add a cup of the chopped asparagus to a food processoralong with the spinach, garlic, 2 tablespoons of thepistachios, parmesan cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, and apinch of salt. Blend until it is a paste; this is your pesto.

• Add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook accordingto the directions on the box. Save a 1/4 cup of the pastawater. Drain the pasta when done, and return to the stillhot pot. Add 1 cup of the pesto and half of the pastawater. Stir well. If it is too dry, add some more water.

• Chop the remaining pistachios. Serve the pasta andgarnish with the pistachios, and more grated parmesancheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutritional Information (per serving, based on 4 servings): Calories 153,Carbohydrates 7g, Fat 12g, Saturated Fat 2g, Protein 4g, Cholesterol 4mg,Dietary Fiber 3g, Sodium 69mg Courtesy of Livestrong.com.

Cherry-Pistachio Biscotti Prep Time: 28 mins • Cook Time: 47 mins • Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins

Makes: approx. 4 dozen2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup butter 2 tbsp 50/50 butter blend spread 1/2 tsp almond extract 2 large eggs 2/3 cup pistachios, chopped 1/2 cup dried tart cherries or cherry-flavor

sweetened dried cranberries • Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with foil. • Whisk flours, baking powder and salt in bowl. • Beat sugar, butter spread and almond extract in medium

bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until combined.Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in dry ingredients in thirds.Add pistachios and cherries and beat to combine.

• Form into 2 slightly flat 10" x 2 1/2" logs. Put on pan andbake 35 minutes. Remove from oven. Cover with moisttowel and let stand 10 minutes. Cut crosswise into 1/3"-thick slices. Lay cut side down on ungreased bakingsheets. Bake 12 minutes, turning once.

Nutritional Information (per serving, one cookie): Calories 66,Carbohydrates 10g, Fat 2g, Saturated Fat 1g, Protein 1g, Cholesterol 11mg,Dietary Fiber 1g, Sodium 32mg, Sugar 4g

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2007 Rodale


H o s t r e s t a u ra t e u r Pa u l B r u g g e r m a n s, J a c k i e Le e H o u s t o n , s e a t e d, a n d J i m H o u s t o n

P h o t o b y Pa t K ra u s e


Stor y and Photos by Pat K rause

American Cancer Societ y ’s Deser t Spir i t XXl l was held at the Palm Spr ings Convent ion Center on Apr i l 13th. Diane Neiderman , wi fe of renown author Andrew Neiderman. was given the “Celebrat ion of L i fe” award. Diane is a 2 t ime sur vivor having beaten colon and l iver cancer. O ver 250 guests attended this Premier Food and Enter ta inment G ala .

E ight local restaurants provided entrees of meats and seafood’s , sa lads, soups and del ic ious desser ts . E ight tables were set up with the chefs par t icular specia l t ies where attendees could choose their favor i te foods in buffet st y le. Tables were adorned with f lowers and var ious dr inks at several stat ions were furnished.

A s i lent auc t ion was held dur ing the cocktai l hour with a l ive auc t ion held later in the program. Enter ta inment was provided by Johnny M eza. Bal loons were sold with pr izes ins ide total ing more than the value of the sold bal loon and were popped at the end of the program.

Dr. M egan Foster and Dr. Scott Ger ing were co - chairs of the event . Host Restaurateur Paul Bruggemans introduced the par t ic ipat ing restaurants, Le Val laur is , Bel latr ix , E l M irasol Cocino Mexicana, K aiser Restaurant Group, Paci f ica Seafood Restaurant , Spencers Restaurant , Sul l ivans Steak house and Wal ly ’s Deser t Tur t le.

Amer ican Cancer Societ y makes a di f ference by helping people stay wel l , get wel l , f inding cures and f ight ing back to defeat cancer. O ver 1000 were helped this year in the Coachel la Val ley thru suppor t , t ranspor tat ion , lodging and help on the road to recover y for both men and women.

“Celebration of Life”

Americ an Cancer S o ciet y award

R, Stephen Browning Vice Pres. of Amer ican Cancer Societ y and Sandy Smith Direc tor of Operat ions of AMC

Dr. Megan Foster and Dr. Scott Ger ing

R amiro Zerneno, Hec tor Trejo, Les l ie Lombino -R idge and Amber to Carreon f rom Spencers Restaurant

Mar ines Cpl . David Smith, . Sgt M ichael R ia lmo and Cpl . Dirk Freeman


Renown photographer to the Hol ly wood Stars, M ichael Chi lders was honored with a M ichael Chi lders Day onApr i l 13th at the Palm Deser t Publ ic L ibrar y. This was the opening recept ion of Chi lders’ exhibit ion, “Author Author ” with about 40 of h is photographic por tra i ts of Authors, screenwriters , p lay wr ights and celebr i t ies.

The Recept ion and Presentat ion of awards was open to the publ ic . The L ibrar y was ful l of h is f r iends and admirers ofhis work . Guests l ined the room, some seated and others standing a l l around the centra l area of the l ibrar y.

R ancho M irage Mayor R ichard K ite presented M ichael with a proclamation honor ing his day.

Frank Jones of Palm Spr ings L i fe M agazine presented him with a photo col lage for h is contr ibut ions to the Magazine and a l l of Coachel la Val ley. M r. Jones spoke about his re lat ionship with M r. Chi lders and how he comes with an entourage of many staf f just for a photo shoot . O ther speakers inc luded David Br yan ,L ibrar y Direc tor and Russ Russel l f rom Union Bank .

M r. Chi lders or iginal photographs wi l l be on display at the R ancho M irage Publ ic L ibrar y unt i l June 30th. This i s a great oppor tunit y to see fantast ic photographic por tra i ts of legends l ike R ay Bradbur y, Tennessee Wi l l iams, Chr istopher R ice and other great Icons in l i terature.

Stor y and Photos by Pat Krause

Photo grapher to the Holly wo o d Stars, was honored

M ichael Childers

Mayor R ichard K ite and L ibrar y Direc tor David Br yant


M ichael Chi lders and David Br yant , L ibrar y Direc tor ~Photos by Pat K rause

M ichael Chi lders at presentat ion of proclamation

Frank Jones with photo col lage for M ichael Chi lders.

Russ Russel l , M ichael Chi lders and Author David Lee


T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG 4


The BIG 4 , Anthrax , Megadeth, S layer and Metal l ica played at a one t ime only concer t in I ndio at the Empire Polo Club on Apr i l 23rd. These 4 icons of metal music h istor y decided to make one per formance in the US. Goldenvoice brought them here the week af ter Coachel la Fest and the week before Stagecoach. The grounds were set up and I ndio was prepared for another round of t raf f ic congest ion. Photo by Pat K rause


Anthrax band memb ers

T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG 4M

etal

lica

band

mem

bers

~Ph

otos

Pat

Kra

use


The BIG 4 , Anthrax , M egadeth, S layer and Metal l ica played at a one t ime only concer t in I ndio at the Empire Polo Club on Apr i l 23rd. These 4 icons of metal music h istor y decided to make one per formance in the US. Goldenvoice brought them here the week af ter Coachel la Fest and the week before Stagecoach. The grounds were set up and I ndio was prepared for another round of t raf f ic congest ion.

This concer t was attended by only a few thousand less than the other concer ts . Approximately 50 to 55 thousand people of a l l ages came to hear these 4 great Metal bands. Fathers brought sons and husbands took wives and chi ldren to hear what they heard 20 and 30 years ago. Metal fans came from al l over the US just for this once in a l i fet ime concer t . The crowd was amazingly a lot of young

people that are star t ing another generat ion of metal music fans.

Many who grew up with this k ind of music had f lashbacks of their youth. O thers wanted the younger generat ion to hear and be par t of th is fantast ic t ype of music. They can understand the genius of the music ians and their ex traordinar y ta lents. I heard people just stand and say WOW af ter a solo per formance on the guitars . This concer t i s considered “H istor ic ” as the Metal l ica Frontman stated.

These 4 bands are st i l l in the forefront in metal music with a couple nominated for grammy last year. This k ind of ta lent is eternal and captures the interest of a l l generat ions. A lot of the music played dur ing the evening were some of the bands greatest h i ts over the years. “Sweat ing Bul l i ts”, “Caught in a Mosh”, “Die,Die,Die”,

“Peace Sel ls” and “Madhouse” were a few of the songs played.

One son told his father to look for h im as he would be wear ing a black tee shir t . H is father looked around only to f ind that most of the people wore black tee shir ts with the names of the bands on the f ront . People were s inging a long as they k new the lyr ics and some stayed on the s idel ines to dance or just sway to the music. Where ever you stood you could see a sea of arms in the a i r for the music.

Lets hope the Big 4 wi l l decide to come back to the Val ley and make this a year ly event . The weather was great and the crowds were ver y respec tful . A few arrests but only minor ones and most people were home by midnight for Easter the fol lowing day. A wel l run concer t by Goldenvoice and MSO.

Stor y and Photos by Pat Krause

M egadeth lead singer


Photos by M ark Ostrom

Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 Desert LocaL News © apriL 25, 2011 19Photos by M ark Ostrom

T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG T h e B IG 44444T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG T h e B IG 4T h e B IG 4


A n i c k - f r e e s o l u t i o n t o s e r ve

b a c k ya r d b i r d s t h e ‘ca n d y ’ t h e y ’r e

c ra v i n g - d r i e d m e a l wo r m s

Warm months are crucia l for back yard birds. Before your feathered f r iends show up, make sure a l l feeders, baths and houses are in good repair and c lean. Then, th ink about the menu.

I f you a l ready ser ve a seed brand that ’s not washed or coated with chemicals or mineral o i l , and doesn’t inc lude cheap f i l ler seeds, you’re on the r ight t rack . Add in some succulent suet and you have the mak ings of a d ining dream for back yard birds. Now push i t over the top by adding dr ied mealworms

H igh in protein , fat and potass ium, mealworms help birds maintain energy. They ’re favor i tes for species l ike bluebirds, f l ickers, woodpeckers, nuthatches, s isk ins and chick adees.

I n the past , i t was di f f icult for b i rd fans to provide a supply of mealworms. But f reeze -dr ied var iet ies, l ike Cole’s Dr ied M ealworms have made i t easy to ser ve this nutr i t ious much-loved opt ion throughout the spr ing and summer. Freeze -dr ied mealworms provide a l l the nutr i t ional benef i ts of f resh ones and are easy to store and ser ve. I t ’s a lso a great way to ser ve birds something they love without you having to endure the “ick fac tor ” of l ive mealworms.

There are a var iet y of feeders speci f ica l ly made for ser v ing mealworms, you can a lso blend them in with your seed mixes. E i ther way, the birds wi l l benef i t f rom the nutr i t ional value of these high protein t reats and you’ l l sat is fy their craving, keeping them coming back for more. For more information on top qual i t y seed, suet and mealworms v is i t w w w.coleswi ldbird.com.

Cour tesy ARA content

By Staff


LITTLE DOGS,BIG PERSONALITIESGet to know your small breed dog with the help of The Nutro Company

� � � �

Most pet owners will tell you their pet is a

big part of their family, no matter their size or

breed. But any small breed dog owner will

emphatically agree there is something special

about having a small breed pup. More and

more pet parents are choosing small breed

dogs, which have been gaining in popularity

over recent years. In fact, the toy and small

dog population experienced the fastest dog

population growth with an increase of 8

million to 28 million dogs since 2001. One in

every four dogs is a small breed. It isn’t hard

to see why – they are cute, adaptable and

excellent companions. They even have a

longer life expectancy than large breed dogs,

on average living 1.5 times longer than bigger

furry friends.

While there are many similarities among all

dogs, big or small, it is important to know that

small dogs do have specific health concerns

and nutritional needs that differ from those of

large breeds. For example, small dogs have

small jaws and a greater volume of teeth in

their mouths. As a result, they are at higher

risk for periodontal disease, with prevalence

rates between 60 and 80 percent.

“Small dogs have the tendency to be finicky

eaters, and because nutrition is so important

to a dog’s life span and quality of life, it’s

crucial to choose the right food for your small

dog. Look for a food that is specifically

designed for small breed dogs to help meet

your dog’s distinctive needs in order to help

them reach their full potential,” said

veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker.

The Nutro Company has done just that by

launching NATURAL CHOICE Small Breed

dog food, which has a unique kibble shape

that is naturally designed to reduce plaque

and tartar for healthy gums. In addition, its

DNAdvantage Blend Formula is packed with a

special blend of antioxidants to support your

small breed dog’s immune system for a long

and healthy life.

In order to learn more about NATURAL

CHOICE Small Breed formula, please visit

www.knowyoursmallbreed.com, and check out

Facebook.com/NutroProducts for the “Small

Breed Showdown,” in which

users can submit photos of

their small pups, compare

them to dogs in the same

category and challenge other

dogs to see how their dog

ranks.

Images courtesy of Nutro.

Did you know? There are a lot of advantages to having a small dog.Here are just a few things you can do with your smallpup that you couldn’t do as easily with a big dog.• Live in a small apartment without feeling cramped. Small

dogs are a great choice for city dwellers or anyone tight onspace.

• Go shopping with them. Whether or not they fit in yourshopping bag, small dogs are allowed more often to enterstores and restaurants because of their small stature.

• Dress them up. Their smaller bodies make them moreprone to the shivers when outside in cold weather, so givethem some style with a cute sweater, jacket or even rainboots.

• Vacation together. Many airlines allow small dogs (up to acertain weight limit) to fly with you, as long as they are inan approved carrying case.

• Give them a hug. Because small dogs usually don’t weighmuch, it’s easier to pick them up for a big hug, which thedog and pet parent equally enjoy.

1. Yorkshire Terrier2. Poodle (Toy) 3. Shih Tzu4. Chihuahua5. Pomeranian6. Pug7. Maltese8. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel9. Havanese 10. Miniature Pinscher1 According to the American Kennel Club 2009 Dog Registration Statistics

Top TenSmallBreedDogs1


The average Amer ican wi l l hold 11 jobs bet ween the ages of 18 and 42, according to the Bureau of Labor Stat ist ics (2010) . When you star t a new job, you probably remember to pack your personal i tems and update your contac t information, but did you consider what to do with your 401(k) held at your previous

employer? I t ’s easy to leave behind.

A recent Merr i l l Edge sur vey found that near ly hal f (46 percent) of mass af f luent Amer icans plan to re ly sole ly or heavi ly on ret i rement plans of fered by their employer for their ret i rement savings, such as a 401(k) or 403(b) . This makes i t more impor tant than ever to keep track of your ret i rement savings.Having accounts in more than

one place can make keeping tabs more di f f icult . Rol l ing over your balances into one account helps to ensure you can proper ly t rack and manage your savings to help you pursue your ret i rement goals . When i t ’s s impler to monitor your investments, you can make changes as needed.

“One of the biggest chal lenges fac ing Amer icans today is p lanning for their ret i rement,” says Dean Athanasia , mass af f luent and smal l business execut ive at Bank of Amer ica . “Many people expec t to ret i re later than they had planned a year ago. Rol l ing over o ld 401(k)s i s one smal l s tep consumers can take to help make managing their ret i rement savings eas ier and their ret i rement goals more atta inable.”

Rol l ing over your old 401(k)s i sn’t as compl icated as you might think . Merr i l l Edge, of fer ing a wide array of investment solut ions f rom Merr i l l Lynch and access to the bank ing ser v ices of Bank of Amer ica a l l in one place, has a three step process to help you keep things s imple :

1. Lo c ate your accounts: Col lec t statements and account numbers for a l l your 401(k)s . I f you’re miss ing any account information, ca l l your former employers or benef i ts providers for the information you need.

2. Consider your options: Review al l of the rol lover opt ions avai lable to you. There may be many opt ions for ret i rement invest ing and saving, so consider

Steps for c atching up with old 401(k)sBy Staff


the length of t ime you plan to invest and the level of r i sk that ’s comfor table for you. You can use a ret i rement calculator, l ike the Ret i rement Evaluator avai lable on merr i l ledge.com, to help you see where you stand today and help you determine whether you’re on track to meet your ret i rement goals .

3. Cho ose your investments: Final ly, decide how you’d l ike to invest . IRAs t ypical ly of fer more invest ing opt ions than 401(k)s to help you reach your ret i rement goals . Many onl ine tools , such as the Asset Al locator avai lable on merr i l ledge.com, can help you make investment decis ions. Or, consult your f inancia l ser v ices provider to help you make investment choices for your unique s i tuat ion.

Consol idat ing 401(k)s into a s ingle IRA account can make i t eas ier for you to t rack and manage your ret i rement assets now, as wel l as when you star t to withdraw funds in ret i rement. The process doesn’t have to be over whelming i f you remember a few s imple steps - col lec t your account information, evaluate the choices avai lable to you, and selec t a rol l over solut ion that i s appropr iate for you.

For more information on rol l ing over 401(k)s and ret i rement strategies v is i t merr i l ledge.com or speak with a Financia l Solut ions Advisor at the Merr i l l Edge Advisor y center at

(888) MER-EDGE (888-637-3343) .

I nvest ing in secur i t ies involves r isks. Neither Merr i l l Edge nor i ts associates provide tax , accounting or legal advice. You should review any planned f inancia l t ransac t ions or ar rangements that may have tax , accounting or legal impl icat ions with your personal profess ional advisers. Withdrawals are subjec t to ordinar y income tax . I n addit ion, a 10 percent addit ional federal tax may apply to withdrawals taken pr ior to age 59 1/2 .

I nvestment produc ts :

* Are not FDIC insured

* Are not bank guaranteed

* May lose value

Merr i l l Edge is the market ing name for t wo businesses : Merr i l l Edge Advisor y Center, which of fers team-based advice and guidance brokerage ser v ices ; and a se l f - di rec ted onl ine invest ing plat form. Both are made avai lable through Merr i l l Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith I ncorporated (MLPF&S) .

MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, member S IPC and a whol ly owned subsidiar y of Bank of Amer ica Corporat ion.

Bank ing produc ts are provided by Bank of Amer ica , N. A . and af f i l iated banks, members FDIC and whol ly owned subsidiar ies of Bank of Amer ica Corporat ion.

Steps for c atching up with old 401(k)s


You bought the dress, the shoes and the specia l accessor ies. Now the big day is over and you’re lef t with yet another br idesmaid ’s dress c lutter ing the back of your c loset . No matter how many br ides have told you that you’ l l tota l ly be able to wear that dress again . . . you’ve never worn that dress again . Hal loween doesn’t count .

But wouldn’t i t be nice i f you could? What i f i t wasn’t just another few hundred dol lars down the drain? Design exper ts say go ahead and take those dresses out of the c loset and introduce them into your wardrobe.

Step one: “ Take a look at the overal l s i lhouette of the dress and say, ‘ What changes can I make that st i l l keep the s i lhouette? ’” says Rosal ind Grenfel l , academic direc tor for fashion design and fashion reta i l management at The Ar t I nst i tute of Colorado.

Nex t , i f that dress is f loor length, i t ’s t ime to cut i t down to s ize. “Shor ten the sk i r t to a mini ,” suggests Zoya Nudelman, fashion design instruc tor at The I l l inois I nst i tute of Ar t - Chicago. And whi le you’re at i t , Nudelman says you may as wel l remove any ex traneous bows.

Now that you have a l l that ex tra mater ia l lef t over af ter hemming your dress, i t ’s t ime to use i t . “Make i t asymmetr ical , add a shoulder to a strapless dress,” recommends Mar ina Saba, fashion design instruc tor at The Ar t I nst i tute of Houston. You can a lso add beaded spaghett i s t raps to

a strapless dress to change the look says Nudelman.

But you don’t have to have a ta i lor on reta iner in order to make your br idesmaid ’s dress not look l ike a br idesmaid ’s dress anymore, especia l ly i f i t ’s a l ready cocktai l length to begin with . “Re -accessor ize,” says Grenfel l . “Put a shawl with i t , change the shoes or put a cardigan with i t for a more casual look .” Nudelman also suggests chunk y jewelr y.

S ince most br ides pick the same dress for a l l of their br idesmaids even though the ladies usual ly a l l come in di f ferent s izes, make sure the changes you are mak ing are enhancing your best features and that the new look wi l l complement you and f i t your personal i t y, adds Saba.

And speak ing of br ides, your dresses can get a once over, too. “Some br ides make their wedding dresses into cocktai l dresses and wear them out on their f i rst anniversar y,” says Grenfel l .

Saba says i f br ides do go that route, they should choose a ta i lor careful ly. “Make sure that you can reta in some of the specia l ef fec ts of the dress whi le st i l l gett ing more use out of i t .”

Nudelman ack nowledges most br ides are too afra id to ruin the dress and choose to preser ve i t .

To learn about The Ar t I nst i tutes v is i t , w w w.ar t inst i tutes.edu/nz.

Bridesmaid’s dresses are not just for weddings anymore


Desert Local NewsPublisher

DesertLocalNews.comADVERTISEMENT

[email protected]

EditorialsJust the Fact’s Max

Nancy MorganCONTRIBUTORS:

Jack LyonsDavid Mikelberg

Pat KrauseDr. Lisa Robyn Lawrence

Dr. Allen LawrenceBruce Montgomery

PHOTOGRAPHERSBruce Montgomery

Pat KrauseMark Ostrom

Catherine Jardine Mark Osborn

SPECIAL EDITORLeslie Andrews

Bridesmaid’s dresses are not just for weddings anymore

desert local news april 25, 2011 issue

Documents

concer t

ver t ica

b lanc

ing ar t p iece

s t rawberr ies

jesus resurrec t ion

star t ing plants f

ing tomatoes