John McMullen has crawled out of the COVID Hole and left his fetal position as the United States of America seems destined to swirl around a drain caught in a funnel it may not escape. Is there hope to overcome the Invasion of the Maggots from Earth 2? And, just what is "Normal" when it comes to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Maybe THAT is The Big Lie.

Sponsored by El Portal Mexican Restaurant.

John McMullen has exited the management suite and is back solely as Podcaster. The mask mandates are leaving but he's keeping his KN95 handy and thinks that you should, too. As if that's not enough, McMullen is sick and tired of his Millennial and Gen Z friends tossing around the word 'Boomer' like it's a pejorative. His suggestion is rather than blame other generations for what precedes you, focus on fixing things like he has rather than just griping about it!

Presented by El Portal Mexican Restaurant in Cathedral City.

As the California Legislature gets back to work in the New Year, 56th District Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia recaps achievements in 2021 and objectives for 2022 and beyond with John McMullen. Garcia has a busy agenda in the year ahead and is planning a run for Congress. In this episode, they talk about census-related redistricting, affordable housing projects, new park grants, regional and global climate change matters, environmental and economic concerns at the Salton Sea, post-secondary education in the desert cities, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on people and businesses.

Samantha Porter, Admissions Director for Elite Cosmetology School, talks about the Palm Desert-based programs they offer to people seeking a new career path with their trade school based in the Palm Desert Mall. As people are looking to change career directions or start their professional lives with an artistic flair, find out about the opportunities and what is involved in becoming a barber, an esthetician, or cosmetologist and the fun and dynamic environment Elite offers students here in the Coachella Valley.

John McMullen welcomes education reporter Jonathan Horwitz from the Desert Sun back to the show to discuss the latest drama involving a city in the Western Coachella Valley raising concerns about shifting plans by the region's junior college involving placement of a new campus. Recent plans to abandon Cathedral City where the school was to open its new automotive repair school and shop has caught the attention of the City of Palm Springs, where the plans for a West Campus have not moved beyond clearing away a former shopping mall and currently stands as a large dirt patch adjacent to the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This week, the City Council will vote on whether to send an official letter and demand information on how funding from nearly $1 Billion in bond measures have been spent to date. C.O.D. leadership says they still plan to build the campus, but city officials say that the new college President and Superintendent has thus far been unwilling to guarantee that this it the case. Where does it all sit? Jonathan shares details on where the matter sits.

Larry Davis has spent five decades giving comfort and aide to people at life's toughest moments. As Vice President for the Coachella Valley region at Forest Lawn, he has been a part of celebrating the lives of tens of thousands of people. But, doing our loved ones justice in terms of how we share about their lives can be a difficult task. Larry discusses the challenges people face at these deeply sorrowful occasions and even shares how people in the funeral business can be as deeply affected as those who do not have to deal with death day in and day out. He also talks about the importance of pre-planning these types of services over leaving the details to your loved ones.

Contact Information:

Phone: (760) 328-3112

On the Web: www.ForestLawn.com

Palm Springs resident and successful television writer, producer and director David Lee, best known for Cheers and Frasier, has contributed $5 million to the "Help Save the Plaza Theatre" campaign in Palm Springs, nearly half of the anticipated $12 million needed for renovations. Desert Sun entertainment and culture writer Brian Blueskye visited with John McMullen hours after the donation was announced by one of the project's primary boosters, former Palm Springs City Councilmember J.R. Roberts. Brian also fills us in on plans for a January fundraising music festival at the Plaza Theatre and a successful super group of DJs who have just announced plans to appear in Spring 2022 at the Coachella Arts & Music Festival.

Using $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding from Cathedral City, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission has extended its human services support to the homeless population in the West Valley city with two mobile shower stations. It's just one of the many services that CVRM offers to the disadvantaged population in trying to help them maintain dignity and seek to better their lives. Learn about this and the many other outreach services the Rescue Mission provides across the desert cities region and how you can volunteer or provide other assistance and make the lives of people less-fortunate better.

Coachella Valley Rescue Mission's Program Coordinator Mark McGowen talks with Radio111's John McMullen about the organization's outreach.

On the Web: Coachella Valley Rescue Mission