La Quinta Cove

Old Town was the site for La Quinta’s first “Preparedness Party” to make citizens more aware of resources and preparations needed in case of a major disaster.  Floods, power outage, earthquake, chemical spill….it COULD happen.   In addition to incident vehicles from IID, fire department, and police, our local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) demonstrated techniques to assist in the neighborhoods should the need arise.  Here’s a look:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh3579TA8Gk

All’s well at the Civic Center Park, with a diminished duck population contributing to the cleanliness and tranquility of the park. There is still evidence that the public is feeding the ducks.  The Orange County Registerreports that dozens of dead or dying duck have been found in area ponds and lakes, apparent victims of botulism poisoning.  It states that bread thrown into lakes provide nutrients for botulism to grow! We love out ducks, so let’s protect them from disease and obesity!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwBIAnWPLk8

Are you a military veteran?  Know a vet?  Is your name inscribed on the monument in the Civic Center park?  If not, march right up and add your name to your fellow soldiers, sailors, marines, and coast guards.  Deadline is Friday, September 30.  For all the info, call Community Services at 777-7090.  Honoring of new names will be on November 11, Veterans Day.

Although it didn’t quite get off the ground last week, the City does have an automated phone system that can dial up residents (who have registered) to relay news in case of a community-wide emergency.  Many of us had working phones, even without electricity.  If you have cable phone service, you had no phones, since the cable depends on electrical power.  Verizon users had wireless and land line phones if they were connected directly to the wall (remote phones didn’t work, but could be unplugged and a hand set plugged in that place).  Since not all emergencies involve power outages (chemical spills, fire, flood, missing persons, contamination, etc.)  in the next emergency many of you might have phone service.

The City Emergency Services Department will send out what information is available at the time….. no one has a crystal ball in these cases, but some information will be helpful, for example, the location and hours of cooling centers or shelters, radio stations that will broadcast information, estimated duration of the emergency, and public protective actions that might be taken.

To sign up, go to http://www.la-quinta.org/Index.aspx?page=444  and follow the directions.  If you’re already signed up, try to log in, if not, just fill in the info.  Your cell phone can also be listed.  Although it says “Account Creation: Optional” you actually do need to create an account to get into the system.  This could be a valuable tool in getting information under stressful circumstances, so give it a TRY!

Where were YOU when the lights went out?  When they went on??????

OK, it wasn’t the BIG ONE, but it was a nice practice exercise.  Candles but no matches?  Flashlights with no batteries?  Cell phone and chargers but no cables to connect the two?  Land lines not working because plugged in to remote phones? Battery radios with no stations giving news?

I got my best information from a friend in Seattle…… Yikes!

I had the occasion to drive through LQ several times during the outage, and I was impressed with the civility of our drivers:  stopping at signals even there were no flashing lights; yielding the right of way; driving slowly; City workers out working; neighbors checking on neighbors;  friends making arrangements for the 80-somethings to bunk out in PD or some other spot with A/C, all the earmarks of a community ready to pull together in an emergency.  Ain’t we wonderful??

BEFORE YOU FORGET, make a list of what needs to be done with your family to survive THE REALLY BIG ONE.  This was a great reminder that we need to get organized.  Organize your neighborhood?  Call Paul Hess, Emergency Services Coordinator at 777-7061 for all the info you need!

Sharon Snow, at the LQ Library, introduces this new space especially for middle and high school students.  It’s a great resource for research or for pleasure reading.  Turn your volume up a tad, after all, it’s a LIBRARY:

Trying to stay fit  in the summer heat?  The coolest spot to keep those muscles rippling is right on our doorsteps.  Have you joined the new Fitness Center yet? 

Not only is it handy, it’s AFFORDABLE!  Only $50!  No, not $50 a MONTH, it’s $50 for a whole YEAR!  Can’t beat that.  Your $50 enrolllment gets you the use of all the wonderful equipment, plus training of the correct use of the machines by the friendly and knowledgeable staff.  If you want programs or a trainer, you can chip in a few more bucks.  Check it out, down in the Community Center, across from the Muesum.

BTW, it’s a great place to meet your friends, and to meet NEW ones!

It will be hard to top the hugely popular “Jurassic Encounter”, however, Museum Manager, Johanna Wickman is already unpacking items for the California Pioneers” exhibit that begins in September.  Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CovePotato#p/a/u/0/U8UuJswThFg

Mike Davis introduces “La Q-Scape” fountains at the new fitness center. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8QxOHxjuGA

The grand opening was jammed with residents who were anxious to view the state-of-the art Italian equipment in the beautiful facility shared by Desert Recreation District and the City of La Quinta.  Hours of operation are M-F 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10-2:00 and closed on Sunday.  Bring your Fitness Center card or purchase one by bringing a photo ID and proof of residence.  You can use the equipment on your own (supervised by Desert Rec staff) or purchase a “Wellness Key” which will entitle you to an evaluation and supervision by a trainer who will design a program just for you to monitor with your program “key”.  The key will track your activities and monitor your progress.  Come on down to the Community Center and get all the info….and see the beautiful fountains.

Yes, a new bridge will be built across the Whitewater Channel at Adams Street, starting SOON.  Here’s Tim Jonasson, City Engineer/Director of Public Works, to give you the big picture:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjuTshRe360