Palm Springs Air Museum
By Bob Lilac
PDTC continues tradition of service
The Palm Springs Air Museum opened its new Korea/Vietnam Hangar on Memorial Day 2017. A new World War II Glider exhibit was also opened the same weekend, honoring those who flew into Normandy on D-Day and in other operations in Waco CG-4 gliders. Troops and equipment were delivered in these aircraft, which had no engines and were towed into combat.
The Palm Desert Tennis Club has a long history of its members, past and present, volunteering their time to acquire, restore and display military aircraft to the public. Ray Chalker, a former naval aviator, was a long time PDTC member before passing away several years ago, contributed a lot of time to the Palm Springs Air Museum(PSAM). Marty Kaucher, former aircraft structural engineer with Northrop Corporation has been a valuable member of PSAM’s restoration crew for many years, where he worked on the restoration of many of the museum’s aircraft.
Dan Forbush, a long time PDTC member, has been making major contributions of his time in assisting the mission of the Air Museum, to preserve, honor and educate the public. He is a key member of the Museum’s Restoration crew with his amazing talents in restoring and reconstructing many of the newer aircraft exhibits at PSAM. He was a lead man on the very difficult restoration of an F-102 Fighter Aircraft, which required over 2000 man-hours of work by the restoration crew.
 
The photos here show the “before” shape that the F-102 was in.
Dan’s efforts resulted in this beautiful restoration of the F-102 fighter aircraft.
This F-102 aircraft is now on display in the newly opened Korea/Vietnam Hangar at PSAM. 
 Dan also was the lead project volunteer on the construction of a World War II, CG-4 “WACO” glider that is now featured in the newest exhibit, “Silent Wings” at the Air Museum. Dan flew to an Air Force base in Missouri to retrieve pieces and parts of operational gliders that had been stored in a field there since World War II. He spent much of the time from March thru May 2017 con-structing the glider exhibit.
Dan Was honored at the dedication of the glider exhibit on Memorial Day weekend. His efforts to get the job done by Memorial Day 2017 were declared "Awesome" by Museum director, Fred Bell. 
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob Lilac has been named the “Hangar Chief” for the newly dedicated Korea/Vietnam hangar which also opened on Memorial Day 2017 and was dedicated to the memory of Major General Ken Miles, long time Palm Desert resident, who recently passed away.
Bob has 55 docents (volunteers) whom he has been training to perform the mission of telling the story of the Korea and Vietnam era aircraft and history, with a focus on the school students of this area who make nearly daily visits to the museum. Bob, who flew the F-104 in the Vietnam war, is pictured here in the new hangar.
 
The Palm Springs Air Museum is supported by donations, membership and admissions. It is a great place to visit and a great place to take your family and guests. Check out the museum at www.palmspringsairmuseum.org. Bob Lilac and Dan Forbush would be glad to help out with tours. |
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Welcome Newcomers
by Jake McDougal
 Welcome to Susan and George LeBlanc
from Moses Lake, Washington. Both George and Susan are tennis players and purchased Unit 53 after researching other tennis clubs in the valley and deciding to join us here at PDTC.
George grew up in South Texas where his father was in the oil business, and he has deep roots in the French speaking community in Louisiana. George followed his father in the oil business and graduated from the University of Houston as a Mechanical Engineer.
Business travels have taken George and Susan to postings in Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabia.
Susan is an Oklahoma native and graduated from Oklahoma State with a degree in Micro Biology. She spent several years working for NASA in the Lunar Laboratory during and after our moon landing in the 60's. In addition to tennis, Susan is also a duplicate bridge player.
Susan and George have two children, a son and daughter. and four grandchildren.
 Welcome to Sue Charles
After a long career in nursing, Sue Charles has retired and is the new owner of Unit 55. She plans to be at PDTC full time.
Sue is a native of St.Paul, Minnesota and was one of seven children - six girls and one "spoiled" boy. One of Sue's younger sisters is Carla Intlekofer who, is Sue's neighbor in Unit 58.
Sue's family moved to Seattle when she was five, She got her nursing degree at the University of Washington and later a Masters in Counseling Psychology. She spent more than 40 years as a nurse, her last job was as a surgical nurse in Bellevue, Washington.
Sue has two children. Son Ryan in Los Angeles is an actor, composer and "mixologist". Daughter Kari is an emergency physician in the Seattle area. Sue makes frequent trips to the northwest to see family, including her 95 year old mother and a seven month old grandson.
She keeps busy with a part time job at The Loft in Palm Desert and enjoys pickleball, working out, hiking, swimming and Happy Hours. Tennis? Not yet, but she says she hopes to get sister Carla out on the court with her soon to start learning and playing the game.
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Jane Robison 1927 - 2017
Jane Robison passed away on July 19th. She and her husband Jim bought Unit 13, the model condo, from the PDTC developer in 1983. They were happy to be in the sunshine with warmer winters, and on the tennis courts. They organized tennis activities such as the “croquet in whites” tournament, evening lectures in the clubhouse, progressive dinners and other social gatherings. Jane and Jim enjoyed having children and grandchildren visit for the holidays and regularly took them to the Living Desert Zoo. Jane was 90.
The PDTC condo is now owned by Jane's daughter, JoAnn Cornelius. JoAnn and her husband Ross keep involved with tennis, golf and hiking.
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Outside the Gates
GOING TO LOS ANGELES? SAVE BIG BUCKS
It’s called Tesloop, a new ride sharing service that uses luxury Tesla electric vehicles. Tesloop provides 12 regularly scheduled trips to the Coachella Valley every day. Pickup points include the parking lot at Panera Bakery on Highway 111 near Monterey, and the Marriott Hotel on Country Club. Rides cost between $29 and $79, depending on time of day. Snacks and free wi-fi are included. Just four passengers per car and seating is by reservation only. Tesloop has just gotten permission to drop off passengers at the L.A. International Airport. Details and pricing at tesloop.com.
FRONTIER RESTARTS AIR SERVICE, PALM SPRINGS TO DENVER
The low-fare carrier has added 21 new cities to its routes, including Palm Springs. By Spring, Frontier expects to serve 90% of the U.S. population. Seasonal flights connecting the Coachella Valley to Denver will operate four days a week, starting in November. One-way fares will start at $59.
ACQUA CALIFORNIA BISTRO OPENS AT THE RIVER
It’s big; more than 500 diners can be seated at a time. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, happy hour and dinner are offered. The Bistro menu is similar to the offerings at Lulu California Bistro in Palm Springs. The restaurants are owned by the same family. A real bargain is a three-course dinner, with many food choices, offered from 3pm to 5pm every day for $16.95.
HAWAIIAN RAW FISH SALAD, NOW CLOSE TO HOME
The Hawaiian name is Poke, and you can find it at the new House of Poke on Bob Hope in Rancho Mirage. Or at the Pokeana in LaQuinta. Poke can be an appetizer or the main course. Diners work with staff to select content of their salad. The House of Poke is operated by Monica Bradley, wife of professional boxer Tim Bradley. You might see Tim there, since he retired in August, ending a career with 33 wins, just two losses and 13 knockouts. Pokeana plans to open another eatery soon, in Palm Desert. House of Poke is set to open a second restaurant, in Palm Springs, in a few months.
EL PASEO LUXURY HOTEL, READY FOR GUESTS SOON
Hotel Paseo is accepting reservations online for a Fall opening. The three-story, 150 room hotel is on Larkspur, just south of El Paseo, east of The Gardens. The 150 rooms include 143 standard rooms, six specialty suites and one fully restored and furnished Airstream trailer. Operated as part of its Autograph Collection group by Marriott, the new hotel’s room rates will range from $200 per night up to $600. General Manager Gil Reyes says the outdoor area will have an artificial lawn, a pool and in-ground whirlpool spa, café with bar, fire pit, and a stage for live performances. There will be indoor parking and an exhibit of works by local artists that will change four times a year.
CITY COUNCIL OKAYS PLAN FOR NORTH PALM DESERT HOTEL
An 18-acre mixed use commercial development may soon appear at the northeast corner of Monterey and Dinah Shore. Monterey Crossing, close to the freeway interchange, will include auto sales and repair shops, drive through restaurants and a four-story hotel.
YOU'LL GET A KICK OUT OF THIS
Team UK topped Team USA at Desert Willow. It was the first Jansen Cup, pitting 24 top FootGolfers from the United Kingdom against 24 of America's top players. Patterned after golf's Ryder Cup, the FootGolf event was played on Palm Desert's municipal Mountain View course in late May. Desert Willow is the home course of the American FootGolf League. FootGolfers must drive a soccer ball 200 yards or more from the tee into a large cup, 21 inches in diameter. The sport is now played in 40 countries. A number of other country clubs in the Coachella Valley are looking at it as a way to attract additional income. Tee times, or kick times, are limited, but you can make a reservation by phoning Desert Willow.
SEE THE 2028 OLYMPICS IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY
Not a joke. It could happen. Los Angeles has been picked to host the event, 11 years from now. But the organizers just might consider locating parts of the competition in Indian Wells, Indio, Palm Desert and other Valley communities. Tennis at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, one of the top facilities of its kind in the world, is a natural. (Wouldn't Larry Ellison just love that?) Golf could be played at some of the Valley’s more than 100 courses. How about boxing at Agua Caliente or Fantasy Springs? Softball at Big League Dreams in Rancho Mirage? Equestrian events at polo fields in Indio? And Pickleball too, assuming that by 2028 that sport will be added to the Olympic roster. One problem for outdoor venues: it does get HOT in August. Maybe a compromise for tennis: preliminary matches at Los Angeles locations, but the semis and finals to be held at night at Indian Wells?
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Tell Us What You Did This Summer
Remember back in grammar school, your first assignment after returning from summer vacation? To tell the class what you did while you were away.
So PDTC members, here's your assignment. Send us a picture (a selfie is fine) of yourself enjoying something you did while on vacation. Let us see you in front of the Taj Mahal, or on safari, or at your favorite beach…or whatever. Write a very short caption telling us what we are looking at.
We'll gather all the fun info you send in and publish it in the next issue of the Racqueteer. Send pix and captions to me, please: howardkback@gmail.com
Howard Back, Ye Olde Editor
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CALENDAR
September 4th - Labor Day
September 22nd - First Day of Fall
October 9th - Columbus Day
October 31st - Halloween
November 5th - Daylight Saving Time Ends (2:00am)
November 7th - Election Day
November 10th - Welcome Back Town Hall Meeting
November 11th - Veterans Day
November 11th - PDTC Annual General Meeting - 9 AM
November 11th - Welcome Back Reception & Dinner
November 12th - Tennis Tournament
November 23rd - Thanksgiving
December 7th - Pearl Harbor Day
December 21st - First Day of Winter
December 25th - Christmas
December 31st - New Year's Eve
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Board of Directors
Karen Dummermuth - President
Ann Merill - Vice President & Tennis
Sue Williams - Secretary & Emergency Preparedness
Jane Turner - Treasurer
Dale Schultz - Landscape
Jake McDougal - Architectural & Nominating
Denise McCambridge - Rentals
Club Staff
Ken Kuperstein - General Manager
Steve Geyer - Maintenance Supervisor
Greg Dunkel - Maintenance Technician
Marlon Reveche - Head Tennis Pro
Heidi Gerner - Tennis Coordinator
Amy Kemper - Tennis Coordinator
Dana Hutchinson – Chef
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"A Miracle on Mother's Day". That's how Lorraine Usher and EJ Cook described their performance at Surprise, Arizona. The PDTC pair were part of a 10 member Southern California ladies senior 7.0 team. They had previously won local and sectional titles, to qualify for the National USTA Invitational event May 12th to 14th.
they faced a team from Virginia. The Southern Californians won two of the three matches; all courts went to 3rd set tie-breakers.
Lots of PDTC fans were on hand at the USTA La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club early in May. They came to cheer for Pearl Evans competing in a USTA hardcourt event for seniors. Pearl, just turning 90, teamed up with 94 year- old Luci Trefzger, who is a member of the Mountain Park Racquet Club in Lake Oswego, Oregon—Pearl’s home club. They played in the women’s doubles over 90 event. 
Karen's Korner
