Try INDOOR SPORTS! 

Check out the City website for adult sports at the Boys and Girls Club (on 50th and Park) www.la-quinta.org.

Adult basketball, Open Gym Basketball, indoor volleyball, and the Fitness Center.  When the kids aren’t there, the adults can play.  Check the hours and activities.

The La Quinta Ice Garden Skating Rink opened recently and sure is a cool spot.  Located behind “Radio Active” just off Highway 111 (79-430 Hwy 111 to be exact).  Oupen  daily except Wednesdays with many varied activities, such as private parties, hockey and skating lessons, summer camp, goalie clinic, etc.  Rent your skates, special prices for teen/adults, military,  seniors, group rate, etc. Fund for the whole family.   Check out www.myspace.com/lqicegarden or phone 777-7211.

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La Quinta’s newest non-profit is hosting students this summer.  Take a look at the Desert Sun article and stop by Old Town and see this unique studio.  Classes, artwork for display, working local artists in this open studio.  The website: http://www.oldtownartisanstudio.org/ or call 777-1444.

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090709/NEWS01/907080364/1141/YOURTOWN06/Studio+sparks+kids++creativity

Cove students of Mrs. Healey have a terrific “found art” exhibit in the reception area of City Hall.  There are 26 works of art created by my (now former) fifth grade students.  They will be on display until mid August.

Mrs. Healey (a Cove resident herself) writes:
The pieces are unique in that they are made from recycled school paper towel dispensers. These stainless steel dispensers were destined for a landfill, so I asked to have them before they were disposed. They were replaced by the (battery operated) hand sensored dispensers (a district wide-project). 

One class focus this spring was “Media Influences the Public”.   Students learned about the types of media, where folks get their news, and how the public has been influenced throughout history. 

Fast forward…the show, which is titled “Think Outside the Box, Ideas for a Better Planet” came about.  The assignment was to choose a topic (we brainstormed a bunch) which you feel strongly, and research it.   There was writing connected to it, and an oral presentation as well.  Once the students handed in a summary, and a drawing, they were given a box.  The idea was sell your idea through your art.  INFLUENCE the public that views your art piece. And what they did with them, was amazing!  Students chose a variety of topics from social issues to environmental concerns.  Some took on controversial subjects, some are painfully personal,  and others are just plain amusing. Now it’s out for the public to see.

  I encourage you to see for yourself.

CBS 2 came to take some video for their “Eye on the Desert” show for the 6:45 p.m broadcast Wednesday evening.  They will also upload it to their website.  Everyone can see the video soon at www.kpsplocal2.com .

Former Motown promoter and David Geffen vice president talks about Michael Jackson

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Nothing to Lose——by Lee Child

Jack Reacher is a former Marine M.P who is a drifter, traveling from Maine to California for no particular reason, in no particular hurry. He finds himself at the outskirts of Despair, Colorado, having passed through Hope, which is 17 miles behind him. He travels light, with only a toothbrush and an ATM card, buying clothing from thrift shops when his become soiled, occasionally staying in cheap motels, but often washing in gas station restrooms and sleeping under the stars. He seeks out a restaurant for a cup of coffee. The waitress ignores him. He waits. For quite awhile as other patrons eat. Nobody seems to notice him. Finally a car pulls up outside the restaurant and four men emerge, moving into the restaurant and to his side. He speaks to them, stating he needs no company with his breakfast. They tell him that he’s not going to get any breakfast. He’s not welcome here. They don’t like strangers in this town. Reacher could have just returned to the highway and walked the 17 miles back to Hope, eaten there and taken another route west, but he didn’t like being pushed around so he refused to leave. This led to his arrest and subsequent conviction for vagrancy. He was escorted to the edge of town and told not to return or he would be incarcerated.

As Reacher walked on the highway away from town, he was picked up by a police officer from Hope, who gave him a ride and some advice. She explained that she’d come this way to save him another long walk and to warn him that strangers were not welcome in Despair. He should take another route. Questions posed to her regarding the reasons for such treatment met with unsatisfactory responses and his curiosity was piqued.

It seemed that Despair was a company town. Everybody who lived there worked for the same man, who owned a recycling plant and most of the real estate and the businesses in the town. It was a closed society; visitors were unwelcome, but why? What was so interesting about recycling? Being Reacher, he decided not to go the other way, but to investigate what was going on. The sheriff from Hope let herself get more involved than she should have as he attempted to solve the mystery.

It’s easy to get involved. I did. I found the book to be well written and a good mystery.

The top of the Cove is sporting the new street signs.  They are prominently placed (right on the corners) to be easily visible.  If you don’t have them yet, they are coming soon…

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The CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Volunteer Coordinator was awarded the “President’s Volunteer Service Award” at the recent volunteer meeting.  Paula Deal received a certificate and an official White House letter signed by President Obama, honoring her for expertise and her many hours of service to the community.  Way to go, Paula!

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No time to linger when confronted with a dangerous presence on the street.  Yikes