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Frederick, Maryland

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Tue, January 6, 2009

	Housing counselor ready to embrace challenges ahead Despite daily news of a bad economy and rising foreclosures, if you're looking to purchase a house, it's a buyer's market. more »
	Former country girl comes to roost at local farm Joan Ross lives on a 260-year-old farm on Elmer Derr Road. Being there with her husband fulfills a lifelong dream. more »
	MSP pilot: Flying not just for boys Kristine Yaroschuk is flying high these days, eight months after becoming a civilian pilot of the Trooper 3 helicopter for the Maryland State Police. more »
	Local artist reconnects with her muse in new medium For years, Deborah LaGarde was an accomplished landscape painter, exhibiting her work in the 1990s at Veerhof Galleries and Alla Rogers Gallery in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood, the Watergate Gallery, and at the Art League in Alexandria, Va. more »
	Local fifth-grader gets early start on philanthropy All kids can be heroes. more »
	Foxhound puppy bounces back from severe injury MIDDLETOWN -- Pimlico, a 6-month-old Pennmarydel foxhound, will spend the first day of 2009 in her favorite place -- curled up on the couch, with her head on a pillow in Kim Brenengen's home. more »
	Detour teen among group visiting N.C. for volunteer work Since 2006, Matthew McKeel has been part of a group of students and parents visiting Charlotte, N.C., to help pack gift boxes to send to needy children overseas. more »
	Thurmont man is skate rink's ice-cold driver Even when it is warm outside, Will Scheetz spends his workdays in the cold — and he enjoys every minute of it. As a Zamboni driver, Scheetz has been resurfacing the ice at Skate Frederick for 14 years. more »
	Lang receives 'big' award Woman honored for work with 'Little' sister in 2008 Rhonda Lang does not have children, but young people are a major part of her life. The Howard County high school teacher has spent more than six years as a Big Sister, served as a youth mentor and hosted children through the Fresh Air Fund. more »
	Deputy hails Middletown High School's clothing drive A Frederick County sheriff's deputy recently decided to involve Middletown High School students in a clothes drive to bring some holiday cheer to the local community. more »
	First female pastor of Asbury wants to focus on issues of social justice LaDelle Brooks realized she wanted to be a pastor for the first time while conducting missionary work in Kenya. more »
	Smith tapped to lead school board through trying time Jean Smith's friends and family members often ask her why she doesn't just retire. more »
	County security guard brings holiday cheer He decked the halls, now he's filling them with music. more »
	Award instilled pride for local company Every company wants to win firm of the year, but it is especially nice when it is a local award, said Nick Damoulakis of Orases Consulting Corp. more »
	Former police officer, sheriff to chair kidney foundation walk Carl Harbaugh spent nearly 30 years in charge of the streets of Frederick County, first as a Maryland State Police trooper, then as the county sheriff. more »
	Prosecutor hopes to pass new bar For five years, Jennifer Lichtenfeld has faced off against criminals as a prosecutor at the Frederick County State's Attorney's Office. more »
	Local actor takes final bow after 118 'Nutcracker' performances Determination is a specialty of Noel Werking's. more »
	MET member adding to bag of tricks She's a director, actor, choreographer, costume designer and teacher -- and that's only listing the major bullet points she has fulfilled in the past four months. more »
	Detrick soldier places 3rd in national Army martial arts tourney [video] FORT DETRICK — U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared Roy got interested in martial arts at a young age. more »
	Saving our landfills, one coat hanger at a time Got hangers? more »
	Howard Levine honored for keeping moving business honest for two years Moving is always an experience, either a pleasant one or a traumatic one. more »
	Doctor opens first ocular plastic surgery practice in county Dr. J. Christopher Henry has always wanted to study medicine. more »
	Area talk show host hopes to improve nonprofit's reach About two years ago, Maya Boston-Coiner had Elizabeth Chung, the executive director of LIFE & Discovery, on her NBC 25 television talk show, "Maya Talk." more »
	Peace Corps volunteer exits Georgia war, enters paradise Michael Bonett (at far right) had been in the Republic of Georgia for two months as a Peace Corps volunteer when conflict broke out in South Ossetia, and he had to leave abruptly." I was not able to say goodbye to many of the friends I had made," he said in an e-mail about his experience. "I did not get to say goodbye to my host family until I was in Armenia." more »
	Holiday light show is Urbana family's gift to the community URBANA -- John Yaglenski describes the holiday light show in front of his family's house as "tastefully tacky." The display is animated and synchronized with music transmitted on a local radio station. more »
	Nativity scene honors Christ's birth, remembers a lost son Since she was a child, Kim Crum has loved children and animals. more »
	Volunteer experience takes WHS grad far and wide Beyond hammering roof shingles and serving meals, Madeline Brennan found that volunteering required something equally important: Listening to residents share experiences and unload stress about recent devastation. more »
	Carol of the ceramic bells Cameron Petke makes ceramic bells. more »
	Cookies sold to combat low-weight births The smell of cinnamon was in the air one afternoon last week as Joann Ramsburg pulled trays of snickerdoodles from the oven. more »
	In remembrance of loved ones lost Dan Muller had been more than a big brother to Karen Swope. She was the youngest of a family of seven, and Dan, 16 years older, had helped raise her. more »
	Mount professor taking a break after media and politics frenzy The last thing Michael Towle wants to think about for a few years is the presidential election. more »
	Woman wins national DAR award The Daughters of the American Revolution honored Joanne Snouffer Parsley with its Outstanding Junior national award. A resident of Barnesville, Parsley received the award at the 2008 Continental Congress of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution's national convention. more »
	Vet returns to Vietnam 40 years later Frederick resident Steven Ranney went to Vietnam in 1968 as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army. After just three weeks as a forward observer, he was wounded in the head, and he spent the next 15 years learning to walk and talk again. "That was the end of the war for me," he said. Ranney never intended to visit Vietnam again. more »
	Local man volunteers time to promote downtown events The heart of many projects is the volunteers. more »
	Kid heroes plan new project KidsAreHeroes.com, a website run by the local father-daughter team of Gabe and MaryMargaret O'Neill, is on to yet another project that will positively impact young people. more »
	Caregiver writes of hard, rewarding role Over the summer, a newspaper announcement caught Alice Kennedy's eye. A national home care group was calling for caregivers to write about their experiences for a chance to win some respite care. more »
	Student promoting anti-tobacco agenda in Latino community Dariela Sarmiento first heard about an effort to educate members of the Latino community about the harmful effects of tobacco from her stepmother, who was taking English classes at a local church. more »
	Tree Farmers of the Year also are preserving habitats [video] URBANA -- Black walnut trees in every stage of life populate Barbara and Peter Luchsinger's 50-acre farm on Thurston Road. From tiny seedlings to mature canopies, the Luchsingers hope walnut trees will dominate the landscape of their farm for centuries to come. more »
	A former student's gift has more than practical value It's a rite of passage for all aspiring Eagle Scouts: Come up with a special project that will benefit the community, recruit and supervise a group of fellow Scouts, raise funds, complete the project. Then collect the highest, most coveted rank in Scouting. more »
	FPD officer provides a G.R.E.A.T. example Frederick police officer Chris Herman asked tough questions of his students last week, but they proved to be fast learners. "Communication -- what does it mean?" Herman asked. more »
	Local lawyer moves on to ICE post While studying law at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Joseph B. Edlow never imagined he'd see the inside of a courtroom. more »
	Local cycling enthusiasts start mobile bicycle repair business Got a flat? Bent rim? Can't change gears or snapped your chain? more »
	Mount grad sheds new light on 'Frankenstein' It's not every day that you find a college professor juxtaposing Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" with Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Terminator 2." more »
	Studio offering yoga classes in exchange for canned food The owners of a downtown Frederick yoga studio are creating some instant karma for generous Frederick County residents. more »
	Frederick resident celebrates 100th birthday Mary Ceccorulli arrived off the coast of the United States in 1913, following a 12-day ocean voyage. more »
	New Market man honored for 'Great Comeback' Patrick McKinney (left) has what he calls a normal life. He enjoys spending time with his family, he works as a safety specialist at Fort Detrick and he plays in a rock band on the side. But life hasn't always been this good, he said, and it's taken some hard times to help him appreciate what he has. more »
	Planning a return to fashion — maybe Middletown resident Kyra Rodgers majored in fashion merchandising as a college student and has worked in the fashion industry for several years. more »
	Administrator named Maryland's Social Studies Leader of the Year Mike Bunitsky of Frederick County Public Schools recently claimed a little piece of history for himself. more »
	Big Brother of the year finds enrichment through experience Chris Kennedy knows that being a Big Brother helps out young people. But it helps him, also. more »
	Local couple sponsor orphan, help orphanage in El Salvador Herb and Marilyn Dennison joke that a free trip they took turned out to be one of their most pricey excursions. more »
	Immigration lawyer becomes English solicitor Some people have a weakness for chocolate, others for foreign movies. For Robert Toth, it's Oxford, England. more »
	Walkersville High School DJ aiming for musical dominance Diamante Blackmon wants to take total control or, better yet, kill the music scene with overwhelming beats and rhythms. When the Walkersville High School junior is not in class or on the football field, he's hatching his musical world domination under the name D.J. Carnage. more »
	MSD graduate crowned Miss Deaf America It was love at first sight for Michelle Lapides. more »
	Brunswick High School grad honored for valor The year after he graduated from Brunswick High School in 1988, Bryan Green went to work for Amtrak in Washington. more »
	Reverend aims to 'break the silence' Shortly after arriving on the Hood College campus, where she served as chaplain from 1979 to 1982, the Rev. Anne Weatherholt was approached by several local women who wanted to start a women's shelter. With her assistance, the group, which Weatherholt joined, began holding regular meetings at the school. more »
	Frederick native dances her way through college Even her name sounds like that of a dancer. more »
	Frederick dentist transforms lives by bettering, encouraging smiles Dentist appointments make some patients cringe, but chances are a visit to Nils Olsen's office will put a smile on your face. more »
	Skateboarder, videographer combines passions URBANA — It takes a lot of time to shoot a skateboarding video. more »
	Tourism council salutes Captain Scrubby Captain Scrubby has been named tourism ambassador of the year by the Tourism Council of Frederick County. more »
	HRC member seeks middle ground for FredCo residents Early this year, Hayden Duke began to consider joining the Frederick County Human Relations Commission when he saw a group dedicated to promoting understanding in the community. more »
	Towpath goes to the heart of local man's fondness of C&O Canal LANDER -- Brian Carlstrom, the new deputy superintendent of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, was driving his new administrative assistant along a short stretch of the canal's towpath from Point of Rocks to Lander when the vehicle encountered a tree in its path. more »
	Local man hopes to turn cakes into computers Eric Zimmerman is computer-savvy and enjoys all the benefits of modern technology, including the Blackberry that he carries with him at all times. more »
	Hockey mom leads McCain campaign in Frederick The chairwoman of the McCain/Palin campaign in Frederick County knows what it's like to be a hockey mom. more »
	School manager lives the farm life When Courtney Ridgely graduated from Towson University in 1992 with an early childhood education degree, she never imagined she would become the district manager of 14 private schools in Maryland. more »
	Frederick trooper tops at target shooting Maryland State Police began carrying a new handgun this year, the Beretta PX-4 Storm. more »
	As local woman plans fundraiser, breast cancer hits home — again When Angela Spencer organized "A Toast for the Cure," a 1970s-themed party last year to raise money for the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund, she was inspired by her two aunts, both diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago, and her high school best friend, who received the same diagnosis while they were planning their 20th class reunion together. more »
	Perseverance pays off for Stine after second-place finish in 2007 When Lindsay Stine was named runner up in the Little Miss Frederick County Fire Prevention contest last year, she decided to go for it one last time this year. more »
	Lakin may go for 3-peat in future What do Tom Brady, Michael Jordan and Jefferson resident Grace Lakin all have in common? more »
	Knoxville woman getting her hands dirty KNOXVILLE -- Karen Russell began working with clay a decade ago. more »
	Ex-Terp defender tackles criminal justice career Now working for the prosecution, Leroy Ambush III used to work for the defense -- as an outside linebacker for the University of Maryland football team. Five years removed from the college gridiron, Ambush is still quick on his feet, anticipating legal maneuvers at the Frederick County Courthouse. more »
	Reformer wants changes in local schools Tom Neumark's two children are not yet old enough for school. more »
	Childhood wildlife experience leads to assistant park manager job Mark Spurrier turned a childhood fascination with an up-close wildlife program into a career as a Maryland State Park Ranger. more »
	Homeless families advocate sees challenges ahead After years of working at Frederick nonprofit organizations, Jeanne Russell will use all her skills and experience as the new executive director of Advocates for Homeless Families. more »
	Nurse organizes volunteers to promote Latino health By the time some of the Latino patients pushed through the doors of the medical practice where Adriana Roa worked as a community health care specialist, they had already been sick for weeks or longer. more »
	Local man named interim fire chief As of Nov. 1, Frederick resident Richard Bowers will have held every rank in the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. more »
	Local attorney has long tally of presidential conventions Frederick attorney Dan Rupli has been to six presidential conventions. more »
	Woman uses healing touch on aggressive pets Pam Wanveer studied special education at the University of Maryland, but her life's work ended up focused on animals. more »
	Miss Frederick County Fire Prevention enjoys second consecutive reign as queen During her reign the past year as Junior Miss Frederick County Fire Prevention, Meaghan Gallagher dedicated herself to teaching others how to avert fires. more »
	Third-generation MSM graduate becomes dean of admissions EMMITSBURG — Michael Post is a third-generation Mountie. more »
	High school student learns leadership lessons at Washington conference "No matter what you do, no matter what you are interested in, be passionate about it." more »
	Local wins on 'The Price Is Right' Samantha Schanuel of Walkersville not only will be on "The Price Is Right," but she won two prizes on the CBS game show. more »
	Thurmont resident rescues man from drowning Thurmont resident Carlos Delgado wasn't planning to save someone's life when he and his family went to Annapolis on Aug. 31. more »
	Volunteer honored for help to African women, children Winning awards was the furthest thing from Shirley Snowden's mind when she began organizing aid to women and children in Ghana eight years ago. more »
	Trainer works with, not against, dogs When dog trainer Pat Sutton gives her dog Shadow a command, she speaks in a soft, low voice. In her business, Blue Ridge K-9, Sutton doesn't use submissive techniques. She believes training should be fun for dog and owner. more »
	Woman to run half marathon after donating kidney [video] About a month after donating her kidney to a friend, Brunswick resident Diana Martin was running along the C & O Canal towpath with her German shepherd, Zeke. more »
	FCPS employee follows family tradition of helping Francina Baldi believes in giving back to the community. more »
	Deputy committed to helping town Patrolling on a bicycle, walking the streets, talking to local business owners and meeting with residents are several reasons why Frederick County Sheriff's Deputy First Class John Bartlett loves being assigned to Emmitsburg. more »
	Middletown woman finds sense of purpose in teaching Even after 19 years of teaching at Middletown High School, Joey Hoffman couldn't stay away from guiding young minds. more »
	Myersville mom takes next step in spiritual journey Last month, Lora Powell took over as the director of religious education at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick. It's a step, she said, that seems to fit with the progression in her professional career, as a mother, and in her own spiritual journey. more »
	Local submariner recalls his time at sea Doug Smith joined the submarine service in 1969. more »
	Deputy banks on foot traffic BRUNSWICK -- As the school resource officer at Brunswick High School, Deputy First Class Tony Lawson helps students put their best foot forward. more »
	Hood alumna honored for self-esteem study If you suffer from low self-esteem problems, you might be able to blame your parents. more »
	Local teen's photo wins 2nd at fair Nicole Harbordt shoots dogs. more »
	Mount Airy 9-year-old will be youth ambassador for diabetes walk MOUNT AIRY -- Bella Queen looks like an average 9-year-old, but she has more responsibilities than her fourth-grade classmates. more »
	Helping Zambian children, brick by brick Each of the 30-pound bricks Neil Donnelly lifted to build the walls of an orphan house in Zambia reaffirmed to him a phrase often dismissed: One person can make a difference. more »
	Salvadoran poet to sign books this weekend Salvadoran poetisa Mayamerica Cortez fled her native country in 1980 at the beginning of a 12-year civil war. more »
	Woman donates family relics for history museum When Janice Laster moved to Frederick in 1993 with furniture and belongings of her great-grandparents, she closed a loop in her family history that began more than 120 years ago. more »
	Harpers Ferry ranger works to enforce rules, keep hikers safe on Appalachian Trail HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Todd Remaley once hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. Now, he's protecting it as the trail's chief park ranger. more »
	Young Democrat revives political club At a recent picnic for Frederick County Democrats, a group of young people staked out a table. more »
	Teaching leadership by example Thurmont Middle School teacher Von Mosser teaches science to his eighth grade students in a well-equipped lab. more »
	Farrier connects with his work Gary Faulkner is a farrier who came to his trade through a job at a stable during a break from studying meteorology. more »
	A lifetime of learning for Emmitsburg senior EMMITSBURG -- When Cecilia Dieterich graduated high school she didn't have an opportunity for a college education. more »
	Frederick native takes the plunge for Coast Guard NyxoLyno Cangemi decided in late August to take the plunge and re-enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard. After taking the oath in an airplane, the Petty Officer First Class plunged 13,500 feet to Earth, skydiving over Williamstown, N.J. more »
	Mortgage banker adds auctioneer title to resume Dana Dudley has been a mortgage banker for 22 years and loves helping young people buy their first homes. more »
	Local law office adds third partner This summer, lawyer Dino Flores invited a pair of old friends to lunch at the Mexicali Cantina. more »
	MSM employee lends weekend to grieving children Brooke Donovan spends one weekend every summer volunteering at camp. more »
	Man repeats Braddock Mountain skateboard run MIDDLETOWN — Mark Yannone played baseball, basketball and football as a teenager, but no sport provided the thrill he was seeking -- until he found skateboarding. more »
	Wiffle Ball tourney raises funds to help kids with cancer Noah Grove isn't one of those kids who sits around watching TV or who stays glued to the computer. The 9-year old is a throwback to when boys ran around playing Nerf football and Wiffle Ball -- on top of Little League baseball and soccer. (He played third base in the spring and scored two goals for his indoor soccer team this winter.) more »
	Retired reverend follows calling to help change the world The Rev. Gerry Hanberry believes he found his calling in his second career. more »
	Twins differ in more ways than one This set of local fraternal twins couldn't be more different. more »
	Bringing a piece of the Southwest to New Market NEW MARKET — Ben Madrid lights up when a customer enters his Main Street, Native American arts shop mid-day. It means another chance to tell the stories behind his wares, the symbolism and history of his people. more »
	Woman to hike mountain to combat ovarian cancer MONROVIA — Rebecca Ward is not a mountain climber. But she may be in October, when she plans to trek to the base camp of the Nepalese peak Annapurna to raise awareness for ovarian cancer. more »
	Local man loans couple dream car for wedding The 1949 black Lincoln was just what Heidi Duthoy and Larry O'Hara had in mind for their wedding. It was classic. It had whitewall tires, shiny silver details and "suicide" doors that opened outward like French doors. They spotted it while walking in a Frederick neighborhood, just down the street from her parents' home. more »
	Seventh-grader wins award for biodiesel project While world leaders and scientists debate global warming and its potential far-reaching effects, one local student is working to fix the problems he believes his generation faces. more »
	Sheriff's major adds biblical studies to his roster About eight years ago, Maj. Gary Morton of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office was in his Ijamsville home when he started to get chest pains. more »
	Myersville man invites others to share his love of cycling Nine months ago, Myersville resident Steven Michael had a problem: Gas prices were going up, his primary car needed repairs and three older vehicles he was restoring weren't ready to go yet. more »
	Woman transitions from math and science to art When Amy Connor was 7 years old, she thought she had moved to paradise. Her folks bought a 10-acre farmette outside of Winchester, Va. more »
	Man uses own experience to help others with mental illness For most of his life, David Weiss seemed to be doing fine. more »
	Attorney returns to prosecutor's office In August, the Frederick County State's Attorney's Office brought Ed Lulie aboard as a community prosecutor -- to fight crime in the City of Frederick. more »
	Frederick sophomore juggles grand ambitions "I plan to become a lawyer, then become a politician and become the first black governor of Maryland." more »
	Girl led to offer flowers, prayers by dad's dream A summer intern's project at a local church had members traveling as far as Prince George's County -- to deliver pots of flowers. more »
	Mount Airy artist among finalists for award Ryan Browning has always been a science fiction fan, a fantasy novel buff and a "gamer" -- as in, video games. But he's also always thought of himself as an artist, above all else. more »
	Local teacher finds love of agriculture, teaching THURMONT -- A teacher and FFA adviser at Catoctin High School thanks her interest in agriculture to a mentor she had in high school. more »
	Public speaking coach helping teens go from shy to bold Myra Derbyshire received a second place national public speaking award at the recent National SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City -- a feat for which she credits Michael D. Boyd. more »
	Photographer opens gallery in childhood home Liz Hough has loved photography since her first class at Middletown Middle School. more »
	Mount Airy woman battles cat overpopulation MOUNT AIRY -- Leslie Gilbert may be only one woman, but she's trying to combat the problem of cat overpopulation with Darby's Place Cat Rescue. more »
	Overcoming adversity, Bonsai is living sculpture In mid-August, little is left to trim or train on Dennis Blalock's team of bonsai -- a Japanese term that means tray planting. What heat and light remain this summer will not be sufficient for much new growth. In the fall, he'll cut back unnecessary branches or roots and make other needed adjustments for the coming winter. more »
	From brass to broadcast Adam Pohl is a student of the game of baseball. more »
	Walkersville grad takes trip to Maine with new schoolmates WOODSBORO -- Colin Muir had never been to Acadia National Park in Maine, so when Salisbury University offered a trip there, he jumped at the chance. more »
	Mount Airy teen steps onto the national stage at Wolf Trap Since he was 3 years old Luke Moorman knew of "Les Miserables." more »
	At home in the Holy Land, Hood student describes life in Israel Ayelet Baruch lives in Frederick, and she's been living in the United States since she was a baby, but she was born in Jerusalem. more »
	Local jazz band gears up for Russian festival TANEYTOWN — A Frederick County jazz band will soon go from local venues to an international stage. more »
	Bagpipes become family affair This summer, Bill Douwes sent his 12-year-old son, Alexander, to bagpipe camp. more »
	Local woman celebrates being the biggest loser Overweight. Lazy. Unhappy. more »
	Twirling her way to the top Franchia Everhart, a senior at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, is twirling her way to the top. more »
	Habitat for Humanity volunteer finds different experience in Botswana Moira Young helped build Habitat for Humanity houses in Emmitsburg and Biloxi, Miss., but she encountered a whole different process on a June trip to Mahalupye, Botswana. more »
	Woman's railroad town memories rekindled by volunteer work Doe Horch has been workin' on the railroad the whole livelong decade. more »
	Taneytown parents Beijing-bound for cycling son Forty-four years after Taneytown psychologist Robert Lea went to the Tokyo Olympic Games as an alternate oarsman on the U.S. team, his son is in Beijing pursuing a cycling medal. Bobby Lea, 24, who now lives in Mertztown, Pa., is scheduled to hit the track Saturday in the single-person points race. more »
	8-year-old helps premature babies John Sun was born premature at 27 weeks. Now 8 years old, John is reaching out to other premature babies, or "preemies." This summer, John, a fourth-grader at The Banner School, began collecting aluminum cans to raise money to create gift baskets for preemies at Frederick Memorial and Shady Grove Adventist hospitals. more »
	Woman, almost 106, credits active years for longevity Helen Wheat attributes her longevity to her years of staying active. more »
	Burkittsville family increases energy efficiency, cuts carbon impact BURKITTSVILLE -- Lisa Orr and her husband, Charlie Cottingham, consider themselves environmentalists. But when they scrutinized their energy-using habits, they realized they could do a lot better. more »
	Chinese native in Frederick looks forward to Olympics By the time Lillian Yuan left her home in China for Frederick in October, the Olympics was one of the most spoken about topics in Chinese media, and among people she knew. more »
	Deputy attends prestigious tactical medicine school Sgt. Keith Bowerman of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office recently spent two weeks in sunny Palm Springs, Calif.