La Quinta Cove

• Fire Battalion Chief Pete Blakemore chats about LQ services http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYS6xOBetEs
• Little dancers from La Quinta Dance beginners ballet class http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBN7008sPTw
• Singers from Franklin School  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2P0WAMx5Ho

La Quinta Cove Neighborhood Association members interviewed 48 residents at the picnic on Saturday and asked these questions:

1. Did you use your grey recycle bin last Thursday?  Yes = 46   No = 2
2. How large should LQ be (LQ now has about 42,000 residents)?   Under 50,000 = 32 respondents;       50-100,000 = 21     100-150,000 = 1    No limit = 3
3. What things do you like best about LQ?      See list below
4. What improvements are needed in LQ?     See list below

What we like (number refers to number of respondents):                                         

          48 =Views, Parks/Trails                       

          45 = Small town atmosphere                             

          43 = Peacefulness & library        

          42 = Well-run city                     

          40 = Safety (police and fire)                          

          39 = Friendliness                                

          38 = Schools                                                                   

          37 = Museum                                                                  

          36 = Clean air                                                                 

          33 = Organizations/volunteerism

          28 = Dark skies                                                     

          25 = Close to my work                                           

          23 = Social mix     

Needs improvement:

          19 = Traffic

          15 = Undergrounding utilities

          12 = Small lots & run-down properties

 8 = Street lights

          7 = Code enforcement (1 = need to work with homeowners)

          4 = Safety & not enough activities

3 = Traffic signals (1 = too many)

2 = Noise (car radios) & local taxes

& not enough diversity

One each = Pool, more small kid activities, more bus service, landscaping on Eisenhower, snow birds, entrance to Desert Club Estates

Plenty of performers and community organizations attracted large crowds on Saturday morning at the La Quinta Park (across from the high school).  The following links take you to

• After school dance class from Franklin School http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctW9LcjMxho
• La Quinta CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zcWya47F30
• La Quinta Citizens on Patrol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEdlBc5Ga84

The Budweiser Clydesdale horses put on quite a display at Old Town on Friday (not Saturday, as misspoken in the video).  They were on their way to The Stagecoach and then back to the Meniffee area for R&R. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvl6W8A-ryI

Lots of citizens dropped in on the General Plan workshop on April 21.   Residents had face time with staffers and focused on various elements of the Plan.  If you missed it, you can go online art www.lq2035.org and read an overview of the process.  Here’s Andy Mogensen, Pricipal Planner, with some info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH_EhTexZcM

Bob Keeran, of the Coachella Water District, made a very interesting presentation to the Nature Walkers last Saturday morning as a part of the Nature Walks series.  Here’s a portion of his talk, discussing the flood control issues that confronted the Valley:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OOGOonMreM

One more Nature Walk left for next month, May 15, “The History of La Quinta Cove.”

The Desert Oasis (ukelele) Strummers entertained at the Library last Thursday.  This lively program was sponsored by The Friends of La Quinta Library as a public service.  Here’s a sample of their offerings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvPx64EBs0Y

La Quinta Museum debuts “A Stitch in Time” with a reception on Friday, April 16, from 5-7:00 p.m.  On exhibit will be examples of various quilt designs with actual quilters to talk about their art.  See a 1920s tobacco felt quilt, a 1940s applique design, log cabin design, Sun Bonnet Sue, and many more, along with antique sewing tools.

Those palo verdes are amazing right now, all over town.  The wild flowers in the Preserve can come and go quickly, so take a stroll along the Trail or the new path on the east side of the Preserve before they disappear.  These were taken the week of April 5th.

The April 10 LQ Historical tour included a stop at Salvation Mountain, an amazing bit of folk art out in the desert just east of Niland.  Leonard Knight has devoted 37 years to constructing his tribute to salvation.  Here’s a little bit of his handiwork: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4YhopHlTEM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCOucxFKI_M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4YhopHlTEM