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DAPCAN
Desert AIDS Project - Community Action Newsletter
August 4, 2011
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Washingtonia Filifera |
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Editorial Staff
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David Brinkman
Chief Executive Officer
Barry Dayton
Director of Marketing and Communications
Alexis Ortega
Interactive Marketing
Specialist
Rick Vila
Volunteer Co-editor
John Lewis
Volunteer Co-editor
Steve Bolerjack
Volunteer Co-editor
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| Save the Date | |
Tuesday, September 6, 6:00 PM
The monthly Positive Life HIV education series will resume again on Tuesday, September 6, after its summer hiatus in July and August. The September topic will be HIV & Nutrition, and feature Bansari Trivedi from the VA Medical Center in Loma Linda. A light supper will be served starting at 6:00 PM, and the program will begin at 6:30 PM. The program is held in the Sinatra Auditorium at Desert Regional Medical Center (at the corner of Tachevah and Via Miraleste in Palm Springs), and is always free. ASL translation will be provided. Please email or call Jeff Taylor at jefftaylorps@gmail.com, or 760.335.1926, with any questions. (rv)
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| Community Center Events | |
The Client Community Center hosts regular activities events every week (listed below). Community Center special events and other activities are now listed under the main D.A.P. website. Click here for the complete list of upcoming special events.
August 1 through September 5, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Community Center Presents:
THE WRITER'S WAY TO A BETTER YOU
Please join us in the D.A.P. Community Center for this six-week creative writing course. Join Instructor Ted Luciani as he helps you channel your creativity through poetry and prose. Please RSVP to Ray at 760.323.2118, ext. 295 or rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org
This class is limited to 10 participants so sign up now!
Starting Friday August 12th 10:00 - 11:30 AM
 Community Center Presents - EMOTIONAL WELLNESS GROUP
Discover the Gifts of Your Emotions and how to turn the Negatives into Positives. This group is ongoing and you may join at anytime. Curriculum will repeat at the end of each cycle. For more information please contact the group's facilitator, or just show up. Embrace your feelings! Ray Robertson at 760.323.2118 ext 295 or via email: rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org
Regular Client Community Center activities include:
- Support groups
- Spiritual Living 101
- Hepatitis C Therapy Education
- Diabetes Education
- Community Center Computer Lab
- Lending Library
- Free films, Thursdays, 1:00 PM
Follow this link to see the recurring activities on the Community Center Calendar.
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New HIV testing hours at Indio location
Nyrza Gonzalez, D.A.P.'s Community Health Educator for our Indio office writes: "As of August 1st, we will NO longer be testing at the Indio office on MONDAYS. We will expand our testing hours on WEDNESDAYS from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. (rv)
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New CDC estimates of HIV incidence released
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released its HIV incidence rates, one day after Congress passed, and President Obama signed, legislation to trim the federal budget, including many programs that impact persons with HIV/AIDS. The annual number of new HIV infections in the United States was stable at approximately 50,000 new infections each year. However, HIV infections increased among young men who have sex with men (MSM), driven by alarming increases among young, black men MSM - the only subpopulation to experience a sustained increase during the time period. The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to exact a heavy toll on communities of color. While blacks represent 14 % of the total U.S. population, the new estimates find that they accounted for 44% of new HIV infections in 2009. The HIV infection rate among blacks in 2009 was almost eight times as high as that of whites. The HIV infection rate among black men was the highest of any group by race and sex - more than six times that of white men - and the rate among black women was 15 times that of white women. Click for the full CDC press release. (rv)
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2011 is the year of acyclovir
Several studies presented at last month's 6th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2011) in Rome showed that treating herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) with acyclovir or valacyclovir (Valtrex) reduced HIV viral load and slowed disease progression. Results were so consistent that Jeffrey Lennox, reporter for the clinical science track, quipped, "I am officially declaring 2011 the year of acyclovir." Read the full article. (rv)
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The natural world around you - California and Mexican fan palms
by guest writer: Palm Springs city planner Ken Lyon
Would you like to know a little bit about the palm trees you see around our desert community? The most common ornamental palm trees in Palm Springs are the two main varieties of palms: the California fan palm and the Mexican fan palm. The California fan palm has a fatter trunk and, generally, larger fronds. The Mexican fan palms are generally skinnier and taller than their stout cousins. Mexican fan palms were first introduced to the Los Angeles area as ornamental trees to beautify that city in preparation for the 1932 Summer Olympics. Many of them are now reaching the end of their life cycle and are being replaced with other types of trees, such as oak trees that provide more shade and trap more air pollution. California fan palms are the only palm tree native to the western United States. There is a natural oasis of these trees in the Indian Canyons at the southern end of Palm Springs. It is a truly rejuvenating experience to visit this beautiful natural oasis here in our own community! Visit www.indian-canyons.com/palm.html for more information. (rv)
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Tell us your story
 Just like you, your editors have been through it and lived to write about it. In our ongoing series highlighting 30 years of AIDS, we've run a couple of stories on fellow survivors, one or two local, some from elsewhere. But since we prefer to focus on D.A.P. clients, we'd like to hear from you. What did you go through upon diagnosis, starting meds, becoming ill? What were reactions from family, friends? We all have our own individual stories and we'd like to run some of them here at DAPCAN. Of course, the more unusual and instructive the better, but if you're an HIV/AIDS veteran, have worked on the front lines, or have any interesting tale to tell, we'd love to hear it and publish it. Please email us at info@desertaidsproject.com with anything you'd like to share and a photo too! (sb)
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AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) phone numbers
ADAP for Riverside County has a new fax number. Clients can now fax their verifications to the Moreno Valley office at 951.486.4434. You can also contact the County of Riverside directly at 951.486.5400 to make an ADAP appointment or get more information. (jl)
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Call 211 for essential human services in Riverside County
2-1-1 is a toll-free service for residents looking for information about essential human services such as affordable housing, food pantries, help for an aging parent, free or low cost health services, addiction prevention programs, employment, support groups, volunteer opportunities, and 1,700 additional services! (jl)
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"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity."
-- Henry Van Dyke
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Desert AIDS Project - Community Action Newsletter (DAPCAN) presents published material, reprinted with permission, and neither endorses or opposes any material. All information contained in this newsletter, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. Always discuss treatment options with a physician who specializes in treating HIV. Publication of the name or likeness of any individual in articles in this newsletter is not to be construed as any indication of the HIV status of such individual. If you do not wish to receive this e-newsletter, please notify us by using the email address below.
For questions, comments, or unsubscribe contact us at : DAPCAN@DesertAIDSProject.org
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