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Palm Desert, CA – In planned fashion today by the RYLC, Ashley-Anne Hobbins –Palm Desert Rotarian, COD Rotaract President and RYLC Chair met Sunday with Sergio Parra –CSUSB Palm Desert Rotaract President and RYLC Co-Chair to discuss next steps and planning in developing their youth initiatives for Coachella Valley. Ashley-Anne Hobbins developed the initiatives last summer while gaining support from Rotary District Governors, Rudy Westervelt and Chehab Elawar and Rotaract HQ. The project is considered a ‘lighthouse youth initiative’ for building Rotary Youth and general Rotary club development. ‘We expect our project to be one that Rotary International can emulate in other localities, states and regions’ says Palm Desert Rotarian Ashley-Anne. The CV Youth Leadership Council is made up of College of the Desert and CSUSB Rotaract Presidents and Vice Presidents, as well as Presidents from each desert Interact clubs. The project’s Next steps includes formalizing the online CV Rotary Youth Network -getting an online social media presence, reaching out to CV Rotary Clubs to assemble current youth advisors from each club and their Interact clubs in middle and high schools. This RYN project places valley Interact Presidents and Vice Presidents across the Coachella valley together into an interactive network. The project’s Rotary Youth Congress made up of Rotaractor and Interactor Presidents and Vice Presidents, their teacher and Rotary club advisors. The annual Congress event will take place where Rotary Youth and advisors will celebrate Rotary and Rotary Youth and more. They will work, communicate, plan projects together, build joint efforts to fund raise, to help enhance the Rotary Youth Brand, Rotary Clubs, and especially help build visibility and Rotary membership throughout the valley. ‘We can likely expect projects such as this three part Rotary Youth initiative to be the future of Rotary efforts in ‘Service Above Self’, a pathway to sustainable membership and club development’ says RYLC projects advisor Ben Hobbins. The RYLC is assembling Coachella Valley Interact Club Presidents and Vice Presidents. Each serves as a ‘junior member’ on the Rotary Youth Leadership Council, chaired by ‘senior members’, officers of collegiate Rotaract Clubs. RYLC will organize the 1st Annual Rotary Youth Congress this spring at a time TBD. The RYLC effort is being led by the project founder and chair Ashley-Anne Hobbins and CSUSB co-chair Sergio Parra in collaboration with membership of their clubs and their project advisor. ‘this is definitely a project for the ages’ states Cody Frank, Vice President Rotaract College of the Desert. ‘As Rotarians, we can expect the fruits of our efforts to bring light to the good things Rotary does every day in our communities, regions, our nation and around the world!’ says Ashley-Anne. ‘I am so happy to help develop Rotary and Rotary International youth efforts. Our cutting edge project will help lead the way’. Visit our website Visit for vacation rental jomes in the Coachella Valley.. Luxury homes in PALM DESERT Palm Desert offers homes in various architectural styles, custom builds, and even raw land to build your one-of-a-kind dream home. If you want to know more about what’s available to buy in Palm Desert, check out these luxury listings currently on the market with virtual showings. Homes for sale around the Palm Desert Area

When I first heard about plans for the CV Link, a bike path traversing 50 miles between Palm Springs and Coachella, I was thrilled. Imagine being able to bike in the scenic outdoors instead of going to the gym for your daily exercise. Imagine being able to share the beauty of the desert with your guests. Imagine younger generations choosing to bike instead of drive a car – because they can do it safely. As a resident of Thunderbird Heights, I’m concerned that Rancho Mirage residents might lose out on this vision because our City Hall is engaged in a vitriolic fight against the CV link. I’ve attended meetings and tried to understand where Mayor Dana Hobart is coming from. But where he sees inconvenience, I see an opportunity. There will be a multitude of residents who will enjoy this path and the addition of something new and spectacular will bring even more tourists to our valley. Mayor Hobart has said he is trying to preserve the integrity of the developments on Highway 111, but take a look at the businesses along Highway 111, whose empty parking lots indicate they could benefit from additional customers. Some potential re-landscaping and minor changes along the Thunderbird communities and Whitewater River seem well worth it for those results. Our city’s leadership doesn’t seem to be representing people like me, who will want to buy property next to a bike path that offers them easy access to glide onto the path right from their home. Some of the issues that Mayor Hobart is raising are valid concerns. I only wish he was raising these issues from a place of support and not opposition.  Instead of drawing a line in the sand and dividing us further, I would like to see our mayor, with all his experience and intelligence, refocus his energy and help the Coachella Valley Association of Governments figure out a way to make the CV link a reality. The demographic of the Coachella Valley is changing rapidly. Riverside County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. With growth comes change. We are no longer only a community of retirees and vacationers. We are a diverse community, and we’re seeing more and more of our children – who have grown up here – decide to stay here to live, work and raise their families. We don’t need obstructionists who will fight change; we need people who will work together to plan for those changes. As we age, we think not only of ourselves but the next generations. When we age with integrity, we exhibit a willingness to invest in the next generation – a willingness to risk, explore, produce and be open to change. Rancho Mirage City Hall has yet to embrace this change. They’ve taken our city out of the project – but maybe they’ll change course. There’s still time. And since the tourists don’t get a vote, it’s up to us residents to embrace change when we cast our votes for the April 12 election. Let’s not be shortsighted and stunt our growth potential by resisting forward momentum. Visit for vacation rental jomes in the Coachella Valley.. Luxury homes in PALM DESERT Palm Desert offers homes in various architectural styles, custom builds, and even raw land to build your one-of-a-kind dream home. If you want to know more about what’s available to buy in Palm Desert, check out these luxury listings currently on the market with virtual showings. Homes for sale around the Palm Desert Area

Palm Desert, CA – Community Relations: In  February,  the  Community  Relations  department  acquired  six  new  Partners  and  60 renewal  Partnerships.  Community Relations  department  has  431  investing  Partners,  72 Complimentary/Reciprocal  Partners  and  1519  active-basic  Partners  for  a total  of  2022 businesses.Desert Region: Year-to-Date 39 Complimentary/Reciprocal Partners (Chambers of Commerce, CVB’s and Visitor Centers) and 472 Partners from the Desert Region of California are complimentary basic active for a total of 511 businesses. Sales and Marketing Recap:  The Community Relations sales team generated 414 sales calls; consisting of one-on-one meetings, site visits, phone conversations, and group events.  Visitors Center statistics: 617 walk-ins from 7 countries (Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States).  The CVB had a Meet & See at The Palm House Restaurant.  67 Partners and Chamber members were in attendance. Attended the following CVB Partner Mixers and Events: Rancho Mirage Chamber’s Rammy Awards at Mission Hills Country Club, Wedding Warriors Mixer at Johannes, Desert Hot Springs Chamber ribbon-cutting/block party at BurkeMedia, La Quinta State of the City Luncheon at La Quinta Country Club, Palm Springs Chamber’s Palm Springs’ City Guide unveiling at LuLu California Bistro, Rancho Mirage Chamber Mixer at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, Palm Springs Chamber ribbon-cutting at Dead or Alive Bar, Palm Springs Chamber/PSHA/DBA Luncheon on Homelessness at the Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs, and the Coachella Chamber Mixer at Woodhaven Country Club

Palm Desert,CA – Millions of California birds will be among the beneficiaries of three new national monuments created by executive order today. At the request of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Pres. Barack Obama carved out three areas totaling approximate 1.8 million acres for monument status, linking the San Bernardino National Forest to Joshua Tree National Park, and wrapping around the Mojave National Preserve to the Nevada border. “Some areas are too important to develop, and these areas of the California desert – home to more than 250 species of birds – are among them,” said president and CEO of the National Audubon Society David Yarnold. “Since Congress won’t act to protect this natural treasure, it’s up to President Obama to keep safe the places these birds call home.” Six years ago, Feinstein introduced the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act, which would designate these three areas as national monuments. But recently, as her legislation became mired in Congress, she reportedly asked Obama to use his power under the Antiquities Act to designate the three desert monuments, bypassing Congress. “California’s deserts are natural treasure right alongside our beaches and mountains, full of remarkable vistas, birds and other wildlife,” said Audubon California Executive Director Brigid McCormack. “These desert habitats are worth fighting for – and I want to thank Sen. Feinstein for her tireless advocacy on behalf of California deserts, and the President for recognizing that they need to be protected.” Visit for vacation rental jomes in the Coachella Valley.. Luxury homes in PALM DESERT Palm Desert offers homes in various architectural styles, custom builds, and even raw land to build your one-of-a-kind dream home. If you want to know more about what’s available to buy in Palm Desert, check out these luxury listings currently on the market with virtual showings. Homes for sale around the Palm Desert Area

For beginning birders there is often identification confusion brought about by differences between juvenal and adult plumages of some species. A classic example is the White-crowned Sparrow, where novice birders can see wintering flocks containing birds with the striking black-and-white striped crowns of adults, accompanied by young birds with duller, brown and tan stripes on the crowns. Similarly, Black-crowned Night-Herons have juvenal plumages that may lead novices to think they are looking at two different species (see photos). The Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) occurs on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. It breeds across the entire United States, in all but the driest habitats. Some populations migrate, or at least disperse short distances, but birds nesting in California are mostly sedentary. In those populations in the U.S. that migrate, many simply move farther south in the U.S., while others winter as far south as Mexico and Central America. In southern California, Black-crowned Night-Herons are known (or suspected) to nest at localities such as the Salton Sea, many sites along the coast, Lake Mathews, Lake Norconian, San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Mojave Narrows, and the Prado Basin. The species nests in colonies that can number as high as 500 pairs, but in southern California it is not unusual to find nesting sites that have only a few pairs. Nests are most often in trees, but can be in large shrubs or marsh vegetation. The majority of nests are at heights of 20 to 40 feet, but some can be only a few feet from the ground. Like most herons, the nests are platforms of sticks. Clutch sizes vary from 1 to 6 eggs per nest, with most studies showing averages of 3 to 4. Eggs have a smooth, matte finish, and are greenish-blue. Both sexes incubate the eggs, which hatch in about 23 days. Following hatching, the young leave the nest after about 30 days, but cannot fly. Rather, they move through vegetation on foot. At about six weeks of age they are able to fly, and then begin to accompany adults to feeding areas. Most food is aquatic, such as fish, crayfish, clams, mussels, squid, and aquatic insects, but they also take terrestrial prey such as snakes, lizards, small mammals, and birds. As their name implies, they feed from early evening hours to morning. Even during winter the Black-crowned Night-Heron exhibits colonial habits. It is common during Christmas Bird Counts in our area to find day-roosting birds in groups. In the area that I count for the Salton Sea North CBC there is an area surrounding ponds at a hunting club that routinely contains from 50 to 100 roosting Black-crowned Night-Herons. Visit for vacation rental jomes in the Coachella Valley.. Luxury homes in PALM DESERT Palm Desert offers homes in various architectural styles, custom builds, and even raw land to build your one-of-a-kind dream home. If you want to know more about what’s available to buy in Palm Desert, check out these luxury listings currently on the market with virtual showings. Homes for sale around the Palm Desert Area