Christopher Perry loves old films and is influenced by a lot of wonderful things from the golden ages of the 1930s through the 1950s. He explains to Desert Local News his idea and hopes that it will pick up a big following.

“It’s just starting. We are actually going to show classic films and people will come. I have produced a few hundred classic film presentations,” he said. “We are hoping that we will start in September.”

Perry hopes to show classic films from the 1920s to the 1940s. They will be screened at the Bijou Cinema in Yucca Valley and at the Kay Francis Cinema in the Palm Springs area.  Mini-lectures by film historians will accompany each showing. In the past, Perry has done hundreds of mini-lectures accompanying the movies he has shown.

Field trips to various venues in the Inland Empire are also in the works for the near future. Monthly film presentations will feature film genres such as Film Noir, Classic Comedy Teams, Classic Animation, Science Fiction, Silent Film, Screwball Comedies, dramas and more.

To become a member, visit the website at   http://www.meetup.com/DESERT-CLASSIC-FILM-SOCIETY www.meetup.com/DESERT-CLASSIC-FILM-SOCIETY

There is no charge to become a member. If you are interested, please call Christopher Perry at 760-365-0475.

PALM DESERT, CA- Rick Jones is an expert in classic rock music, an era that spans the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He is the leader of NeonMax, which has been a project of his for already a long time coming and has already developed a reputation in the Coachella Valley.

Jones has had two stints in the valley, starting in 2001 and later in 2007. In the past, he was the sound tech at the Religious Science Church of the Desert in Palm Desert, then working at the Indio Performing Arts Center and occasionally a disc jockey at The Eagle (KDGL) 106.9 FM in Palm Springs. Still, music is his passion, having been influenced by rock and jazz.

“We started as a production band in Dallas, Texas in 1984, played at local college radio stations. Fifteen years later, we started on an album called ‘Pop’ that was recorded in Aspen, Colorado,” said Jones. “The album we’re working on now will be closer to the sounds of The Eagles, Boston, Foghat and other classic rock acts.” Jones and the boys record a lot of original material as well as many recognizable covers onstage.

Stories are the basis of many of Jones’ originals. “One song was about a car accident that really took place. Another one is about one who doesn’t take any crap from anyone- just jumps on his Harley and takes off,” he explains. And like the music he loves, his original tunes follow in those same styles.

Featured in Jones’ band are Alan Ashe, an Orange County native who plays drums. Somehow, he cannot escape the fact that he is a drummer, as he grew up with 1980s music and Christian influences. His church talked him into playing the drums once they found out he had talent. “I learned just by sitting down and listening,” he said. “I played throughout high school. I fill in for my friend’s band up in Las Vegas from time to time.”

Steve “Steverino” Whitman is the bassist and also has had years of experience with professional musicians, which include The Coasters. “We were going places, but the Vietnam War drafted a lot of us,” he explained. “I wanted to do something different in the rock scene. Texas style rock like ZZ Top is what I like best.”

Jim Marsolino plays lead guitar for NeonMax. A Northern California native, he has been playing since he was a small kid, starting off in jazz, be-bop and Broadway music. During the past 27 years, he has played a little bit of everything, including rock.

Overall, Jones wants people to understand that they are just like everyone else. He concludes by saying, “We just want to share our songs with them. If you come out, the whole field of the thing is lightheartedness. It’s just rock and roll.”

Look for NeonMax at an upcoming gig, performing at The Tack Room Tavern, located at 81-900 Avenue 51 in Indio on Friday, August 13^th at 9:00 p.m. Also, look for their downloads at www.soundclick.com/NeonMax as well.

SACRAMENTO, CA- In the wake of Wednesday’s ruling by Judge Vaughn Walker to strike down Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has stated on Friday that the practice of gay marriage should resume in California immediately.

Papers were obtained by Desert Local News staff which show a copy of the Governor’s motion to deny the Stay Pending Appeal that he filed on Friday. In these documents, the Governor’s words state, “The Administration believes the public interest is best served by permitting the Court’s judgment to go into effect, thereby restoring the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. Doing so is consistent with California’s long history of treating all people and their relationships with equal dignity and respect. Conversely, the

Administration submits that staying the Court’s judgment pending appeal is not necessary

to protect any governmental or public interest. As the Court has pointed out, California

has already issued 18,000 marriage licenses to same-sex couples without suffering any

resulting harm. Government officials can resume issuing such licenses without

administrative delay or difficulty. For these reasons, the Administration respectfully

requests that the Court deny defendant-intervenors’ motion for stay.”

When Proposition 8 passed in November 2008 with fifty-two percent in favor, county courthouses throughout California were immediately told to stop issuing marriage license to non-heterosexual couples. Immediately, the Gay and Lesbian community took action and led protests, marches and two couples filed a lawsuit with a Federal Court after the State Supreme Court voted to uphold the Proposition, yet allow the 18,000 gay couples who were wed during the five months of legality to remain married.

On Wednesday, Judge Vaughn Walker made his decision to strike down the proposition, ruling it as a violation of the 14^th Amendment. This sparked an uproar amongst those who supported the ban and they immediately filed appeals.

Attorney General Jerry Brown, who is also running for Governor in November, has joined Schwarzenegger to file papers with the courts allowing same-sex marriage to resume while appeals are fought out in a higher court and most ultimately, The Supreme Court. A decision was expected on Friday, yet by the end of the business day, no word has been issued.

Check back with Desert Local News for more details.

PALM SPRINGS, CA- On Wednesday at approximately 7 AM, members of the Coachella Valley Narcotics Task Force served a narcotics search warrant at a residence in the 600 block of W. Ramon Road.  Task force members discovered marijuana being cultivated outdoors at that location.

About 217 mature marijuana plants were seized and destroyed during the operation.  Two weapons and U.S. currency were also seized.  No arrests have been made in connection with this search warrant service.  The investigation remains ongoing and charges will be filed with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

The Coachella Valley Narcotic Task Force (CVNTF) is a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Cathedral City Police Department, La Quinta Police Department, Palm Desert Police Department, Palm Springs Police Department, Riverside County Probation Department and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.  The mission of the CVNTF is to increase public safety by significantly diminishing the availability and use of illegal drugs in the Coachella Valley.

PALM SPRINGS, CA- Police in Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs and Cathedral City had their hands full dealing with a major police pursuit on Wednesday.

At approximately 10:40 PM, Palm Springs Police officers initiated a traffic stop on a speeding black Ford Expedition in the area of Indian Canyon Drive and Alejo Road.  The driver turned the headlights of the vehicle off and fled from officers.  The driver led officers on a pursuit throughout Palm Springs, traveling at speeds well above the posted limits. 

The pursuit made its way into Cathedral City, where their officers were set up to deploy spike strips.  This deployment was unsuccessful and the driver made his way onto Interstate 10, into the city of Desert Hot Springs and then back into Cathedral City, where the driver of the Expedition entered a residential area of Cathedral City.  Due to safety concerns, the pursuit was cancelled. 

The Cathedral City Police Department located the abandoned Expedition in the 68000 block of Estio Road a short time later.  The vehicle was impounded and the investigation into the identity of the driver is ongoing.

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- Scott Matas, Mayor Pro Tem of Desert Hot Springs and a lifelong resident, speaks exclusively to Desert Local News the facts- that he fully supports Mayor Yvonne Parks and she does the same in return for him.

 ”My friendship with Yvonne is too good to ruin like this. Somebody’s simply trying to drive a wedge between us,” he said. “I have made no announcement at this time to run for Mayor. I am not trying to force Yvonne out of office.” He further explains that when Mayor Parks is ready to retire from public office, that is when the decision will be made on whether or not he will consider a run for Mayor in Desert Hot Springs.

“Yvonne has been my friend and has fully supported me since I first began seeking politics,” Matas made clear, also adding that she will support him if and when he does decide to run for the highest honor in the city.

In the wake of a rival publication printing in its recent issue that Matas is pushing into the Mayor’s seat, Matas himself sent notices and replied to all of his supporters the actual facts. The article stated that Jim Stewart of the Lincoln Club of Palm Springs spoke to a radio host on KPSI-AM 920 that Parks is in poor condition physically and that she will not seek another term. It also stated that Parks is “too ill to seek a second term” when in fact she already has and that in truth, she would be seeking a third term in 2011 if she decides to run again.

Stewart immediately assumed that Matas will run for Mayor during that broadcast, that was made a week ago. Desert Local News attempted to contact Stewart but he has not responded back at this time.

Matas has served as a volunteer firefighter, chair of the city’s Public Safety Commission and first became a councilman in March 2007, after long-time council member Gary Bosworth passed away in 2006. Community and Cultural Affairs Commission chair Dot Reed filled in as an interim council member after Bosworth’s death and before Matas’ election.

JOSHUA TREE, CA- For nearly two hours, 41^st Congressional District candidate Pat Meagher met with Morongo Basin residents at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree to answer questions and develop a strategy to win people’s votes this coming November.

On Sunday, the Hi-Desert Democratic Club members met with Meagher to hear him discuss his ideas if he gets elected, ranging from receiving stimulus dollars to the current War in Iraq and in Afghanistan. “If I want to be your representative, I want to be able to listen to you,” he said as he addressed the crowds in the beginning.

He criticized British Petroleum’s handling of the Gulf of Mexico’s oil spill, saying that they would cause generations of job losses. “They should pay for it. We should not pay one dime out of our tax dollars for it, as we did not receive one dime of their profits,” he noted.

When it comes to the sacrifices the military’s armed forces are making for freedom, Meagher thanked everyone of them. “We do owe them something and we have to keep their benefits going. We want to take care of them for the rest of their lives,” he explained.

Meagher made clear that the current congressman Jerry Lewis (R-41, Redlands) has failed the people and has refused government stimulus money that could have provided jobs. Also, he believed that the country’s borders need to be secured before they could do something with the immigration reform. “We don’t know who they are and what their intent is. Whose flag are you going to salute? Whose culture are you going to adapt to?” he asked. “If they intend to be American citizens, there’s going to be a lot of hoops they must go through. Let’s do it right. Let’s set up a pathway towards citizenship.” Plus, he feels that splitting families up is inhumane over the parent’s immigration status. He adds, “Let’s be realistic. We’re not going to ship 12 million people out of this country.”

Social Security and Medicare must remain governmental programs, as Meagher stated. He doesn’t believe that these programs must be privatized, as many Republicans want to do eventually.

Part of Meagher’s mission is to start knocking on doors during his campaign, getting his name to be known. Since the 41^st District stretches as far northeast as Needles and further north of Barstow, he will be going to all regions to give town hall meetings and talk to voters face to face. He will not only be reaching out to Democratic voters but also to third-party registrants whose trust he is trying to win.

Meagher resides in Forest Falls, California with his wife, Trish. He has nine children ranging in age from nine to thirty-one. Seven of them are adopted. He was once the principal of Fontana High School and is active with the Redlands United Church of Christ.

Prospective purchasers can inspect the items to be auctioned from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at the same location. Items available are vehicles, paving equipment, turf maintenance equipment, and office furniture and equipment.

Please contact the Public Works Department at 760-369-6579 x 308 with any questions.

PALM SPRINGS, CA- A juvenile was responsible for at least three attacks on cars, homes and property in Palm Springs with intentions of anti-gay lashing.

It all started on June 19, 2010 at approximately 7:30 am, when the Palm Springs Police Department received a report of vandalism in the 2000 block of Magnolia Road.  The victim reported that two vehicles had been spray painted with phrases and pictures that targeted the owner’s perceived sexual orientation.  The victim’s residence had also been the target of similar vandalism. 

Later that morning at approximately 10:00 AM, officers responded to a residence in the 2000 block of East Via Escuela regarding a report of vandalism.  The homeowner reported that a phrase directed at their perceived sexual orientation had been spray painted on the residence. 

A third report of vandalism was received about twenty minutes later. Investigators believed that this vandalism, which was located in the 2100 block of Deborah Road, was related to the other reported incidents. 

Investigators have been able to determine that a 14-year old male from Palm Springs was responsible for the vandalism. On Sunday at approximately 7:40 PM, the juvenile was arrested for Vandalism and Damaging Property to Violate Civil Rights in connection with these incidents.  He was subsequently released into the custody of his guardian.  This investigation remains ongoing. 

Anyone with any information about these crimes is asked to contact Palm Springs Police Detective Villegas at (760)323-8136 or Crimestoppers at (760)341-STOP.

NEEDLES, CA- A 30-year-old Needles man was arrested on Sunday in connection to a stabbing at an apartment complex.

At approximately 2:17 a.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 report of a stabbing at an apartment in the 1900 block of Erin Drive. Deputies arrived within two minutes and found a 22 year old male suffering from stab wounds to his upper body and rib areas. Deputies also located a device believed to be the weapon used to stab the victim. The victim was transported by ambulance to the Colorado River Medical Center for treatment.

Deputies conducted an investigation which led them to a residence in the 1700 block of Needles Highway, Needles. At the location they contacted parolee Michael Nopah. Based on additional information obtained and evidence found at his residence, Deputies arrested him for investigation of PC 245(a)(1)Assault with a Deadly Weapon and PC 3056 Violation of Parole.

Nopah was booked at the Colorado River Station jail and is being held without bail. The victim is being treated at the Colorado River Medical Center for non-life threatening puncture wounds.

The motive for the assault has yet to be determined and the investigation is continuing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact investigators at the Colorado River Sheriff’s Station at (760) 326-9200.