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Playground offers teens glimpse at career fields

Monica Torline and Debra Gruszecki • The Desert Sun • November 15, 2009

Construction types had a sense of satisfaction seeing roughly 70 teens from the Indio and La Quinta clubhouses of the Boys & Girls Club of Coachella Valley join Home Depot workers and other volunteers as they put together a new playground at South Jackson Park in Indio.

Designed with ideas from the Indio clubhouse, the playground funded by KaBoom didn't just provide a spot where kids could romp.

It was grist for young upstarts to dream about a future in engineering, architecture, construction and the art of outdoor design.

The hammering also began the week Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the “I Built It” campaign to inspire youth to consider a career in the trades.

KaBang!

Art in public places

No treehouses went up in Indio, but a beautiful Eagle's Nest was built into a bench at Cabot's Pueblo Museum as part of Desert Hot Springs' Art in Public Places Program.

The tile bench was created by Tim Downey and the 2008-09 ceramics class of Desert Hot Springs High School.

Mission Springs Foundation provided funding for the 7-foot-long, 2-foot-tall bench. The money was commissioned at the request of Marge Cook and Groundwater Guardians. The bench, adorned with 160 ceramic tiles, tells a story about Cabot Yerxa, the Pueblo and Desert Hot Springs.

It will be unveiled Wednesday during a Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce mixer. This is the second piece of art commissioned since Cabot's Kachinas art replications were rededicated last year.

Or, the galleria

The Hart Gallery is the new Christian Hohmann Fine Art.

But the new gallery that has reopened on El Paseo in Palm Desert between Leeds & Son Jewelry and Edenhurst Gallery hasn't abandoned its artistic roots.

Christian Hohmann, who at age 21 gained notoriety in 1995 for being the “youngest gallery owner” in Hamburg, Germany, says the new gallery will turn in some new directions at the same time it respects the spirit and traditions of Hart Gallery.

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“When my aunt and uncle, Eva and Ed Hart, decided to retire and close The Hart Gallery in July, it was with the understanding that we would carry on their legacy by representing all the popular Hart Gallery artists” in the new venue, said Hohmann, who has directed Hart Gallery since 2002.

So, for openers, Hohmann's first show of the season will revolve around work of Paul Wunderlich.

The grand opening, slated for December, will offer a rare glimpse at original and rare paintings from the estate of artist David Schneuer (1905-1988).

Rollin' along

With an eye toward valley development hugging the Interstate 10 corridor, Kiner Communications moved on Nov. 4 to the new White Water building on Cook Street in Palm Desert.

The full-service marketing and advertising firm of 11 left the nook it occupied at Highways 111 and 74 in Palm Desert since 1994 for the Class A-rated building with its wave-like walk to gain a mid-valley foothold for growth when the new economy rebounds.

Scott Kiner, founder of the firm, says that next wave is right around the corner. He described the new building as “fabulous'' and well-suited for new and existing clients who include Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Pete Carlson's Golf & Tennis, PENTA Building Group, Las Casuelas Nuevas, The Vine Vault,Kobe Steak House, Thermal MotorSports Park and Heckmann Corp.

Happy anniversary

Good Gauze, the women's clothing store, celebrates 15 years in Palm Springs.

This “unique boutique” lays claim to operating the “only store in California” that carries nothing but 100 percent cotton garments from around the world. It also says that 60 percent of the lines it carries are born in the U.S.A.

Steve Levine of Palm Springs, founder and president of Splashtacular Entertainment, will chalk up 15 years in the company with — excuse the expression — a splash.

He plans to roll out two patent-pending water rides, 360Rush and SplashRally, at Booth 5051 of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions this week at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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The silver goes to Town & Country Kmart Center, a center that opened in 1984 where Highway 111 rounds the bend at Clinton Street, for 25 years of business in Indio.

Anniversary revelers for the center that was built on the edge of Ed and Jo Kroeger's date garden marked the anniversary Saturday with celebratory music, face painting, clowning around and door prizes that included $100 in silver dollars. The center, with 35 tenants, lists its longest-tenured occupants as: Indio Shoe Store, Munson Jewelers and Sloan's Restaurant, formerly Elmer's Restaurant. Those helping to organize the anniversary celebration were Gloria Gunter, manager of Verizon, and Judge Richard and Judy Marsh, co-owners of the center.