“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.” Douglas Wood As we prepare to enter the holiday season, we have plenty of reasons to be thankful. First and foremost, if you are reading this… you’re alive!!! Robert Louis Stevenson said, “The man who…

“In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” – Marianne Williamson Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you are fully aware that this is election season. This is the time where we can remind ourselves…

With our amazing views, spacious floor plans, and great value with our home prices, one would say that the housing market here in our city is prime for great deals. We haven’t spoken to a realtor in a while, but I caught up with one of our local realtors, Natasha Howard. The question was simple,…

I am a realist. Although I operate with a high sense of optimism, I am a realist. It has been said that some of us see the city of Desert Hot Springs through rose colored glasses, and that we are ignorant to the things that are not so pleasant about our city. That cannot be…

As previously stated, our students have returned to school. However, due to COVID protocols, they have returned to school virtually. Virtual learning has proven to be a challenge, and from the responses we have received, everyone is adjusting. I recently reached out to our District Superintindent for additional perspective: “As we begin the year in…

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”- Nelson Mandela Happy new school year Desert Hot Springs! As we prepare to launch the school year this Wednesday, many of us have become inundated with questions concerning our uncertain, yet immediate future. Because of COVID-19 and all of the safety…

“A Pessimist Sees The Difficulty In Every Opportunity; An Optimist Sees The Opportunity In Every Difficulty.” – Winston Churchill          Unless you have been sitting under a rock, you have become overwhelmed with news concerning COVID and its current outbreak leading to an astronomical increase in infections in several states. Here in California, we are once…

As the 2nd semester of the school year got underway, I’m sure most of our educators were beginning to set plans for the summer. Vacations, completing ‘to do’ lists, and rest were more than likely prioritized. Fast forward to March, and COVID19 became the dominant thought, causing many of them to scrap lesson plans and…

“The most essential factor is persistence – the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.”JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY A story of resilience. One that will be remembered for the ages and will be written about for future generations to appreciate it. In my lifetime, I’ve…

As we shift gears and begin to prepare for the return of some normalcy, it can’t be understated enough that for some normal may never return. For some the opportunity to take part in once-in-a-lifetime events has been taken away. Our graduation plans, especially for our high school students have unfortunately become casualties to unintended…

Fear and anxiety spreading like wildfire. Uncertainty concerning employment causing many to fall into varied states of depression. Protests and uprisings amidst a political divide. People are hurting….What can we do? For starters, remain compassionate. Many are one decision away from having all of their resources depleted. The emergency shutdown of businesses in our nation…

From ’91-96, I lived here in DHS for the final year of middle school and a majority of my High School Years. I was one of many students who were transported via public transportion from our city to Raymond Cree Middle and Palm Springs High. I may be dating myself, but my school years as…

Opening day across the Nation has been postponed. COVID-19 has impacted nearly every area of our lives, and even our National past time has taken a blow. With Major League spring ball season at a standstill, our own local Little League program is also influx. Little League baseball has been a fixture in our community…

Admittedly, this edition is a few days late. Several times I began typing and several times what I typed, I deleted. A week ago, our website received anonymous note asking if I would address COVID-19 and the outpouring of fear and concern that has swept throughout our city. With the increasing numbers of those affected…

Desert Hot Springs Celebrates Black History Month! As you drive into the city across gene Autry from the freeway, you will notice a distinct lighting pattern across the palm trees. Thanks to our city staff, our trees have been adorned with red, yellow, and green lighting to commemorate Black History Month. Black History Month is…

DHS High should be celebrated! Not only because it’s a great school, but because of the innovative approaches that Principal Cota and her staff employ daily. Over the course of the last year I have witnessed academic excellence, school pride, and exemplary professionalism from students and staff. However, I have now become aware of some…

He stood for equality, he marched for peace, he died sharing the vision of a day that he knew he would never see in his lifetime…Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a true hero. This weekend as hundreds of thousands of people marched and celebrated his legacy worldwide, you were able to catch a glimpse…

“Awesome!”, “The best ever!”, “Thank you City of DHS!” These were a few of the comments from members of our community that attended our annual Holiday Parade. As you can see from the pictures, not only was the parade was a huge success, but it served as an opportunity to show all that we are…

Imagine a program that aims to help young girls achieve all they can in life, one that meets them right where they are and is committed to ‘rescuing their potential’. That program does exist, it is called The Ophelia Project. After years of operating on campuses throughout the Valley, the program will officially launch through…

Youth sports are a staple in every growing city. The notion that we must keep our youth busy year round is one that is well received nationwide. Here in DHS, our Junior All American Football and Cheer program has proven to be a successful model of consistency for our youth, but has also served as…

Principal Arseo Meet principal Arseo! She has been served as principal at Bella Vista since the school opened in January of 2014. (She previously served as the principal at Edward Wenzlaff for two years.) She has a passion for Bella Vista, one that is evident every time you see her walk through the halls and…

Donna Lee, affectionately known as simply Donna in our community has been a vibrant voice in support of all that is good with Desert Hot Springs. From starting the Desert Hot Springs Neighborhood Group on Facebook which now boasts over 11,000 members and leading community breakfasts to seemingly being in multiple places at one time,…

A while back, we presented Diversity DHS to some of you in an effort to highlight the many things they do to Advance DHS. This week I was able to catch up with Sam Messler, the groups co-founder and dicussed their growth and plans for the immediate future. Groups like Diversity DHS are part of…

A Historical Society (sometimes referred to as a preservation society) is an organization that aims to preserve, collect, research, and interpret historical information or items related to (in this case) a city’s history. These society’s play an integral role in protecting and preserving records while interpreting and presenting things of the past to the general…

Pastor, volunteer, philanthropist, lover of people…. Bruce Montgomery is a Desert Hot Springs Hero. Many of us have seen him and his camera at events throughout the city, and have followed his amazing eye as some of his snapshots have been posted on various social media accounts. The quiet and sometimes unassuming, soft spoken man…

Four years ago a young man beaming with intelligence stepped foot on the grounds of Desert Hot Springs High. After becoming a local celebrity for winning the Riverside County Middle School Spelling Bee, Tre Terry set his sights on greater things. To have watched him mature from the shy and unassuming freshman he was 4…

Ask anyone in Hollywood and they will tell you that the Emmy Award is an award of prestige. An Emmy Award (Emmy), is an award that acknowledges excellence in the television industry. This award is coveted by many, and bestowed upon few. Now I know you may be asking the question, “What in the world…

A few weeks ago, I sat down with Principal Cota of Desert Hot Springs High School. Not only did she impress me, but based off of the responses I have received, she has impressed many of you. We are extremely fortunate to have what I believe to be the most innovative principal here in the…

As promised last week, we have a part 2 to our “DHS Speak Up” column. Over the last few weeks I have used various outlets to ask locals why they love our city. Realizing that they could live anywhere else in the valley, I believe that their reason for choosing DHS is a story worth…

What a beautiful time to be in DHS!!! The summer season is coming to a close, our version of Friday Night Lights will kickoff soon as our Golden Eagle Football team will soon take the field, and of course our beautiful view hiking trails will be prime for enjoyment. This week I asked a simple…

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote concerning our two MMA world champions Shaniyah Carlson and Andrea Frisque. These are the two homegrown young ladies who took their talents to Rome, Italy and competed on the world stage. As previously mentioned, we are proud to say that the world champ (Shaniyah) resides in DHS! Additionally, the…

Homelessness numbers are in the rise throughout the state of California. It has been well documented that varying factors such as drug abuse and cost of living issues have and will continue to impact those without shelter. Many analysts have forecasted that the numbers will continue to rise, and although our numbers here in the…

Good morning readers! This week I have quite the story for you! A story about a young man who chose DHS High after researching every high school n the west valley. This young man/s name is Saigo Iniguez. This week I was able to catch up with he and his mother Mika and let’s just say…

Many may not realize but with an estimated 449 million followers worldwide, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is often referred to as the world’s fastest growing sport. Founded in 2012 ,the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and the World MMA Association (WMMAA) merged together to  bring a governing body to the sport and quickly formed into one of…

I really appreciate hearing from you! The response last week from our opening, “I Chose DHS” segment was so great that this week I have another one! A while back (In January), I was able to speak with Danny Holt, the accomplished classical musician who launched a series of classical music concerts here in DHS…

New feature! As we grow, we are beginning to find better ways to advance DHS with you. Our newest endeavor is to introduce to you a new segment entitled, “I Chose DHS!” It’s no secret that our city is comprised of thousands who love our diverse community. However, I have discovered that although we have…

Our youth are not only our future, but they’re our present. Here in DHS we encourage, promote, and celebrate those who champion causes to encourage and pour into our kids. Hope Scott is one of the leaders of the SPH Creative Arts Club. This program is one of a few that go above and beyond…

As noted in previous publications, we believe that some of the finest schools in the valley are right here in Desert Hot Springs. I have had the honor of interacting on a majority of our campuses and it’s amazing to see educators who not only love to teach, but love the communities they teach in.…

“I really want people to interact with my art. It brings me joy when people take photos or post comments about it. I love hearing that it brings a smile to their face. ” – Stephanie Buriel Drive around Desert Hot Springs and you never know what you’ll see! There was a time years ago where…

(Pictured above: a few familiar faces from DHS seated with my wife and I) Recently here in the Coachella Valley, BRAAF (Building Resilience in African American Families) hosted their annual Juneteenth Celebration. This event is the annual celebratory of the culmination of their Afrocentric Youth & Family Rites of Passage Program (ROP), a program that…

“The many experiences you had in school and in your community have stretched your mind to its current dimensions, but it is only the beginning. Whether you continue with formal education or not, you are not done learning. So as you go out into the world, take chances, travel, read, be open to other people,…

I have been involved with Palm Springs Unified School District for over 5 years and I have seen firsthand that Desert Hot Springs has some of the finest teachers district wide. Mr. Doug Randa brings energy and passion to his students at Bella Vista Elementary school every day. Watching him around campus and even on…

“I love DHS because I live here this is my home. There are a lot of wonderful people doing all kinds of things in love to serve our community daily, it’s amazing! I see it everywhere I go …” Desert Hot Springs is a city full of diversity! I challenge you to find another city…

The Desert Hot Springs Women’s club is yet another astounding organization here in Desert Hot Springs. The women in this club exemplify class, grace, service, and a commitment to influence DHS!!!  According to Mrs. Van Beveran they have a mission to, “Enrich Desert Hot Springs through scholarships, friendship, community service, [and] social welfare.” enhancing the…

“We serve to educate, celebrate, and promote the health and wellness of the LGBTQ+ community of Desert Hot Springs through outreach, events, and overall inclusion, while honoring and commemorating the history of the Gay Rights Movement. Our main project is to raise funds and organize the annual Desert Hot Springs Pride Festival and provide financial…

A few weeks ago I spotlighted Southern Fried, our new food truck business and amazing things have transpired since then. I happen to drive by nightly during my commute home, and from Palm Drive you can see the lines of people waiting to get their hands on delicious food (I have been there several times…

Meet Amber Gascoigne, Principal Rotary Big Hearts Principal of the Year “I love DHS because we are a community working hard to do better for our youth. I’d always “heard” about DHS and was terrified when I came to work up here. The truth is the families and community members are some of the kindest…

A native of DHS!!! So many leave their hometown , why did you stay? I graduated from Desert Hot Springs High School in 2005. I actually had plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona in the fall of that year, so I was totally planning to ditch my hometown, at least during the weekdays for a…

“Believe in the goodness of thyself, as well as others” Located at 64680 Pierson Blvd., our local Elk’s lodge has proven to become yet another group of community oriented people who aim to make a huge impact here in Desert Hot Springs. In speaking with exalted ruler Kathy Gavin (title not intended to intimidate… it…

If you haven’t seen it, here it is! A few days ago, Advancing DHS landed on the front page of the Desert Sun! While we recognize the publicity as an honor, we also recognize it as a challenge due to the fact that many feel as if our vision is too grand. In addition to…

Southern Fried Brings Soul Food to DHS! ” I want to bring other food trucks with different concepts so that we can have options and people can come out have good food and good conversation…”- Jamie Townsend Southern Fried is a new and welcomed addition to our Desert Hot Springs family of small businesses. One…

Community News Bruce Craven, Author “I have worked in the education field and the writing field for most of my adult life. I teach a popular graduate, business school course called “Leadership Through Fiction”. This book developed from that class. The show “Game of Thrones” is an environment where leadership can be the difference between…

Here we are again with the second look at our local Rotary Club! As noticed last week, “Service above self” is not merely a slogan, but it’s become a lifestyle with this club. After looking at the elementary school EarlyAct club last week, this week we will discuss their high school effort: InterAct. Interact clubs…

DHS ROTARY-ADVANCES DHS! Part 1 Many may not realize that Rotary is a world leader in humanitarian service. They are comprised of a diverse global network of community, business, and professional leaders who have accepted the call to address “relevant social causes, change lives, and build goodwill and peace at home and abroad.” With over…

Let’s get back to spotlighting some residents. I love doing this because it gives you the opportunity to hear directly from people who call DHS home. This week, we spotlight Mr. Dirk Voss. Dirk is literally one of the friendliest people in the city, and I’ll add that he has the “cool” factor. You an…

JEFF BOWMAN Some refer to him as the watchdog (based off of years of serving our board at Mission Springs Water), others call him Mr. Bowman, and many simply know him as Jeff. Regardless of which one you use, it can be said that you would be hard pressed to find anyone more passionate about…

Desert Hot Springs High School Welcome to Excellence        One of the many highlights in DHS just happens to be our high school. From our blossoming athletics department, to our award winning marching band, wonderful educators, and our brilliant students (last year’s valedictorian and salutatorian both had GPA’s over 4.2!!!) More than the aforementioned, being a…

A Reigning Beauty Queen Destined for the BIG Stage, Right Here in DHS!!! Vasti Gabriella is on the fast track to the big stage. I have personally witnessed her hard work and dedication to her fitness goals, and we should celebrate the fact that she is a part of our city! Not only is she…

Advancing DHS Lydia Kremer Meet Lydia Kremer, a relatively new addition to our wonderful city. Lydia has an extensive background in public relations and freelance writing. Her features can be seen in publications such as the Desert Sun, VisitEurope, Los Angeles Confidential, Palm Springs Life, and Sunset Magazine. We are honored to have such a…

Scott Saban, One of our Coaching Heroes In Desert Hot Springs we take pride in our student athletes! We are home to some of the valley’s finest, and that’s only made possible through quality coaching. Scott Saban happens to be one of those coaches. How much of an impact is he making? His reach begins…

Windmill Market Home of the Best Date Shakes in the Valley! Established in 2003, Windmill Market has been a staple for tourists and local residents for nearly 16 years. Known for having the “best date shakes in the valley”, the establishment has transformed far beyond a place to retrieve a refreshing drink. It is now…

Advancing DHS Honors the Life and Legacy of Dr. King August 28, 1963 was the date. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of the most powerful speeches of our lifetime. His, “I Have a Dream”, although 50 years old, still stands as a template of diversity that we should all lead and live by.…

Danny Holt Pianist Pianist Danny Holt has been called, “phenomenal” by the late music critic Alan Rich and has performed around the globe. His most notable performance venues are amongst the best in the world. Having performed at Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl, he has clearly established himself as a…

Wishing you a Joyous Holiday Season!!! This holiday season joy, love, and unity were evident all throughout out city! Several organizations and residents hosted various events that made impacts in the live’s of children and families throughout DHS! Today, we celebrate a few endeavors with pride and celebrate our city!!! (Pictured above: one of our…

Meet Greta Carter! Greta Carter is the founder of High Road Consulting Group. She is a highly accomplished executive and according to High Road’s website she began her executive career, “…in traditional business with a 15-year stint in the highly regulated world of banking, Greta successfully launched multiple start-up businesses and managed projects with budgets…

Meet Mr. Jerame McDaniel Upon meeting him, you’ll quickly discover that he is as genuine as they come. He’s the owner of McDaniel Family Roadside Assistance, and loves meeting new people within our city. Why do you LOVE Desert Hot Springs? “I love the city of Desert Hot Springs because of the people. If anyone…

DHS CARES!!!! We are thankful to have so many organizations who believe in sharing! Today was beautiful!!! We witnessed God’s Kitchen, Word of Life, Palm Springs Ridaz, and DHS Rotary’s Interact Club unite with dozens of volunteers to serve a homestyle Thanksgiving meal to the less fortunate!!! Several families were blessed with turkeys and others…

A Resident’s Perspective: Breanna Sewell From the Eyes of one of our Residents…. Every so often I like to speak to individuals within our city concerning the things that they see. I have come to learn that these types of conversations are not only insightful, but they help spread awareness about the many great things…

Desert Hot Springs is Leading the Way in Cultivation with Canndescent HERE WE GROW!!! Canndescent has hit Desert Hot Springs by storm! They are quickly positioning themselves as one of the largest employers (over 100 employees) within our city. Not your typical cannabis company; their website gives us a little insight into their mission. “…

The California Teacher of the Year is in Desert Hot Springs! Nestled against the mountains amongst our many scenic views lies Painted Hills Middle School. The school is home to nearly 1000 middle school students, and boasts a rare jewel of an instructor. Dr. Brian McDaniel is the reigning 2018 California Teacher of the Year…

Part 2 of our Exclusive with Chief Mondary (Pictured above: Chief Mondary handing out certificates to our youth for exceptional behavior) We opened last week discussing Chief Mondary’s experience and his impact here in DHS. Now obviously our city is becoming one of the fastest growing in the region; although he can’t take the credit…

Look around our city and many will notice the growth! Rather it be the new businesses, the new homes under construction, or even the road improvements, it’s easy to see that Desert Hot Springs is trending upward! It is obvious that our city staff has done a remarkable job with implementing policies that have infused…

A new feature! We are now hitting the streets interviewing residents of our beautiful city! The purpose? To show you at an intimate level how those that live here feel about our City. Video interviews coming soon!!!!! The first is Bobbi Horton, one of our city’s long time residents, a business owner, and the woman…

What a Grand Opening! Soroptimist House of Hope, right here in Desert Hot Springs endeavors to help women “establish and maintain sober and healthy lives.” They recently held a grand opening with the Greater Coachella Chamber of Commerce and the welcome I received from all the staff was top notch. I’ve lived here a majority…

The Champ is HERE!!! The champ is here! Eduardo Contreras shocked the valley last year when he became the league champion. Representing Desert Hot Springs High with pride, Eduardo is now a senior, and is eager to defend his title. A few months back I was able to catch up with him to discuss his…

VFW POST 1534 The VFW Post 1534 is located minutes from Desert Hot Springs. Just six miles south of our City located at 1 Clubhouse Drive on the historic B Bar H Ranch, the VFW has become a staple among residents. Driving directions to this well-kept secret from Desert Hot Springs take Palm Drive south…

Angel View In a growing city, employment opportunities are always in demand. Many may not realize that with 12 residential homes, a daily intake facility, a thrift store, and a clearance center, that Angel View is our city’s largest employer. Patricia Myers serves as the communications manager and was extremely eager to give me a…

Quick Quack Car Wash!!! “Headquartered in Roseville, California, Quick Quack Car Wash now owns and operates over 50 locations in Utah, Texas, California, Arizona and Colorado.” This statement is currently on the Quick Quack website, but there is a new addition….a brand new location in DHS!!!! Today’s grand opening was awesome! From Mayor Scott Matas’…

LILAC Aims to Change Lives! LiLaC (Literacy, Language and Cultural Centers) is a 501(c) 3 community benefit organization. Based in Desert Hot Springs, California, LiLaC is an evidenced-based home visitation program for families with young children, whose second language is English. Our mission is to build meaningful relationships with English Language Learner (ELL) families, with…

God’s Kitchen Hunger hurts. It denies dignity and can impair ability to achieve. We seek to provide life-sustaining meals and other resources to those in need. We work with other nonprofits to improve their (the less fortunate) quality of life. We provide and supplement food to those in need. Our mission is based on extending…

Let’s SHINE Bright! Did you know that our Golden Eagle dance team recently made history? Led by instructor Phoenix Henderson, our dance team known as “the crew” placed second in the Medium Hip Hop category at the state championship!   Last month, dozens of organizations within our city collaborated to award our academically esteemed seniors…

Just a quick celebration of our very own Commander Paiz! A law enforcement career that began here 17 years ago has evolved into an exemplary record of service. Commander not only patrols are communities, he is active within them. He and his beautiful family are truly an asset to our city. Congratulations again and thank…

Eduardo Contreras Our Tennis Champ. A story of resiliency…one that shows the true heart of a champion. A reminder that when your mind is set, and you’ve prepared like no other, victory is attainable! The story of resiliency has been the reality for Eduardo Contreras. Eduardo recently represented Desert Hot Springs High during the league…

Desert Hot Springs High School class of 2018! This street sign was installed in honor of our High School Valedictorian Esmeralda Salazar! Photographed here with family and city officials, her celebration was very well deserved. Achieving class valedictorian is no small feat…. especially when you lead the way with a 4.62 GPA! According to several…

With the ever increasing popularity worldwide of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), we are proud to showcase something HUGE in our own backyard! Led by our own Eddie Bates, Kihon MMA began nearly 19 years ago and has now been positioned as a national powerhouse! Few realize that here in this city, we have national cham0ps…

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela With several elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and a high school, our city has plenty to offer education wise. We not only have two current Riverside teachers of the year (Painted Hills Middle School Director of Bands Dr. Brian…

Today I had the honor of speaking with the Desert Hot Springs Little League baseball president Al Gonzalez! Mr. Gonzalez has been a board member for the last 15 years and became president just two years ago. It’s always a great thing to converse with someone who has a heart for the youth in our…

This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Floyd Barton and Kent Helser. Together, they own and operate the UPS store of Desert Hot Springs. However, their contribution to the city goes above and beyond printing and mailboxes. “We love DHS because when we purchased this store we were received with open arms; we…

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Kimberly Krause, Account Executive at the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. With four other sites throughout the valley (Indio, La Quinta, Coachella, and Cathedral City), she is a part of the group that will bring an office here to Desert to Hot Springs. “We want…

https://www.worldgym.com/deserthotsprings/home World Gym has over 215 ultimate fitness destinations across 20 countries and 6 continents. One of those fitness destinations is located right here in Desert Hot Springs on the corner of Palm Drive and Acoma. This week, we place the spotlight on owner Andrew Levine. Owner Andrew Levine (left) has been a mainstay in…