Cameron B. D’Ambrosio

A Boston-area teenager remains in custody on $1 million bond nearly one month after being arrested over what he said on the Internet.

Eighteen-year-old Cameron B. D’Ambrosio of Methuen, Massachusetts was arrested on May 1 after police were alerted to “disturbing verbiage” on his personal Facebook page discovered by a fellow student at Methuen High School. D’Ambrosio allegedly posted original rap lyrics that prompted authorities to charge him with terrorism, and now he faces a potential 20 years in prison.

“He posted a threat in the form of rap where he mentioned the White House, the Boston Marathon bombing and said, ‘everybody you will see what I am going to do, kill people,” Methuen Police Chief Joe Solomon told the Valley Patriot earlier this month.

Three weeks after being surprised by police at his Methuen home, D’Ambrosio remains locked up.

“A kid is in prison. Away from his family. All for something he posted on Facebook” reads a support page for the high school student established this week by the Center for Rights and Fight for the Future. In 48 hours, the website received more than 500,000 views, and on Thursday the administrators said 1.2 million people had visited the page by the time D’Ambrosio went before a judge that morning for a scheduled bail hearing. The justice differed deciding at this time if D’Ambrosio should be released from custody.

“Cam’s attorney made arguments that he should be released to his family and that all evidence (including testimony from the police) suggested that he was not a threat to anyone. He also noted that Cam was two weeks away from graduation, and Methuen High School had decided to grant him a diploma,” Fight for the Future wrote early Thursday. “We expect a decision within a few days and sincerely hope that Cam will be home safe with is family soon.”

Meanwhile, though, D’Ambrosio remains locked up if and until a judge decides he isn’t a hazard to the community.

At the time of his arrest, school officials and law enforcement alike applauded the speedy response and celebrate D’Ambrosio’s arrest as a victory against terrorism only a few days — and a few miles — from where two brothers allegedly detonated explosives at the Boston Marathon, killing three in the biggest act of terror in years on American soil.  But nearly one month after being detained, authorities have not announced any proof that D’Ambrosio intended to act out the lyrics he left on his Facebook page.

“A search of Cam’s house found no explosives, weapons, or ANY evidence that he was planning anything other than becoming the next Eminem,” his supporters write.

Among the Facebook content that alerted authorities was a song that was considered a warning of things to come.

“So when u see me (expletive) go insane and make the news, the paper, and the (expletive) federal house of horror known as the white house, Don’t (expletive) cry or be worried because all YOU people (expletive) caused this (expletive),” reads a redacted version of one post made available to the Boston Herald.

Fox News quoted another song, in which the amateur rapper wrote “(expletive) the Boston bombing, wait til you see what I do. I’m going to be famous.”

On his support page, it’s noted that a key word was dropped from the line when it was reported by Fox. In actuality, D’Ambrosio wrote, “I’ma be famous rapping.”

“Suddenly something that sounds like a threat of violence is clearly just bragging about how good Cammy Dee is going to be in the rap game. Last we checked, teenage dreams of grandeur were not a crime,” the website claims.

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Story and photos by Pat Krause

The McCallum Theater hosted the Annual One Night Only Concert produced by Michael Childers on April 24th. Over 20 well known singers, actors and dancers performed. The cast consists of artists from Broadway, TV, movies and World Stages. Diversity is priority in that all forms of music from Opera, country and pop songs are sung. There is some type of music for everyone and the dancers were superb.

Michael Childers was shown on several videos in between performances. He told of his life, how he got started in photography, meeting famous people,meeting his life partner and other facets of his life. The videos brought a certain intimacy and purpose to the concert.

Danny Gerwin and Tony DeLare started the performances. Kelli Prevari sang a medley of songs like, Jolene and 9to5.James Snyder and Christine Andreas sang favorites, Time after Time and If You Go Away. Loretta Devine and Naturi Naughten teamed up to sing, Last Dance. Liz Callaway sang, From A Distance, while Valerie Perri wowed with Don’t Cry for Me Argentina. Pamela Myers ended the first set with, Another Hundred People.

After a 20 minute intermission the concert continued with James Barbour, I will Wait for You, and Donna Theodore singing, Crazy. Matt Zarley and Naturi Naughten sang. Endless Love, and local legend Kaye Ballard sang, Lazy Afternoon. Next artists were Spencer Day, Matt Zarley, Actor William Atherton. The One Night Only Dancers came on stage in African attire complete with straw skirts, spears and feathers. Opera Stars Shana Blake Hill, Suzanna Gusman and Nmon Ford sang an operatic aria.

Ann Hampton Callaway sang, I’ll be Seeing You, while dancers performed around her. The Palm Desert High School Choir provided back up singing for CANDID. The finale was performed by all the cast. Silver streamers came from above as the concert ended.

The concert benefitted Jewish Family Services of the Desert. Carl Remsburg directed the concert while John
McDaniel was the music director. Co-chairs consisted of Harold Matzner, Helene Galen, Annette Block, Barbara Keller, Barbara Fromm and Terri Ketover and the presenting sponsor was Wells Fargo. Many other donors that came forward to help put on this extravagant event.

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“We’re teaching responsible and caring pet ownership,” explains Humane Educator Diana Martinez. “Many of these girls leave our class wanting to take home a dog or cat.”

Accompanied by their troop leaders, the girls attend AnSams’ class as a group.  After 45 minutes of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on learning, the young scouts earn their Animal Samaritans badges.

The class costs $8 per scout, which covers the expense of the patches.  We invite Girl Scouts between the ages of 5 – 11, including Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors, to learn respect for all living creatures, and be the best pet owners they can be.

Troop leaders can schedule class for their scouts by contacting Diana at 760-601-3761 or Carla at 760-601-3759.

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Animal Lovers in San Diego visit with Capone.

Capone, the two year-old bait dog rescued by Animal Samaritans in February, celebrated his adoption day party on April 12. Beth Gruff, Owner and Medical Director of It’s the Pits Animal Rescue in San Diego, had been fostering Capone since early March. Now that’s he’s available, there’s no shortage of adopters. In fact, the hard part will not be finding him a home, but rather selecting the best match.

AnSams’ Adoption Alliance Rescue Coordinator Michelle Bergeron traveled to It’s the Pits to reunite with the dog she rescued from Riverside County Animal Services (RCAS). During Capone’s Adoption Day Debut, she saw over 100 fans of the abused bait dog oohing and awing over his recovery. Bergeron, who admits to sobbing like a baby in front of most of them (and not caring either), couldn’t have been more pleased.

“He’s put on at least ten pounds. He looks incredible,” she said. “And happy too.”   Bergon traveled to San Diego with three other AnSams’ staff members, and JoMarie Upengui, a vet technician from RCAS who assisted in Capone’s release from the local pound–and wonderful ally in the fight to save animals.

Capone greets a young fan at his Adoption Day Party.
See local media coverage of Capone at: KMIR 6 coverage 

Back in late February, animal control officers responded to a call about an injured dog in the City of Coachella and brought the dog now called Capone to RCAS. At the time, it was almost certain he would die from his abuse, or need to be put down. He had a gaping axe wound to his head, dozens of bite marks about his face and neck, ticks, fleas, and was so emaciated he could hardly stand–undeniable signs that Capone had been some dog fighter’s bait dog, used to bait illegal fight dogs, then discarded as useless trash.

Today, thanks to Bergeron’s efforts, and Animal Samaritans’ partners in animal rescue, RCAS and It’s the Pits, Capone has a new life with a bright future.

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Gary Costa has been named the LGBT Community Center’s executive director.

PALM SPRINGS, CA – The LGBT Community Center of the Desert (The Center) is pleased to announce that it has named Gary Costa as their new Executive Director. Costa has served as The Center’s Interim Executive Director since November, 2012.

A nationwide search for the position was conducted by McCormack & Associates, a national executive search provider specializing in diversity recruiting. Included in the search committee was The Center’s Board Chair, Randy Lowe: ”Gary has worked at the Center as an executive assistant and has done an outstanding job on the operations of the organization.  I look forward to working with him as our new Executive Director. Gary fully understands our long term vision at The Center and is totally dedicated to the organization’s success.”

Costa has a wealth of experience in working with not-for-profit and LGBT organizations,including Program Director at The Center OC and as Executive Director of Being Alive, Los Angeles. “I am honored to have been selected to be the next Executive Director of the LGBT Community Center of the Desert.  This is an exciting time for our community, on both the local and national level; with same-sex marriage, and the overturning of DOMA both within reach”, states Costa.

Prior to coming to The LGBT Community Center of the Desert he was the Resource Coordinator for the Coachella Valley Autism Society. Additional credits include a 10-year stint as Associate Director at Dartmouth College, where he worked on their $1.5 billion capital campaign and coordinated major gifts and pledges for the entire Western Region. Over the years, Costa has served on over a dozen non-profit boards, County and State Commissions. “I envision a stronger vibrant community center that will continue to be welcoming to the Senior population while offering additional programs and events on our path to be more inclusive of women, transgendered individuals, youth and gay men of all ages.  We have an incredible cadre of volunteers, a talented staff and an active, growing membership base. I anticipate that my transition into this new role will be seamless.”

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Boston bombing were identified as Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, and his brother Dzhokhar, 19. The elder brother was killed in the stand-off with the police, while the younger one remains at large.

The father of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Anzor Tsarnaev, says his son, who still remains at large, is “accomplished medical student” and “a true angel”, AP reports. He spoke to the news agency from the city of Makhachkala, capital of the Russian republic of Dagestan, shortly after police said his other son, 26-year-old Tamerlan, had been killed in a shootout.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with a friend. The photo was uploaded early on Friday. Image from vk.com

“My son is a true angel,” the Anzor Tsarnaev told AP. “Dzhokhar is a second-year medical student in the US. He is such an intelligent boy. We expected him to come on holidays here.”

In the interview to ABC, Anzor Tsarnaev confessed he talked with his son about the bombing earlier this week.

“We talked about the bombing. I was worried about them,” he said.

Anzor Tsarnaev called on his son to give up peacefully. At the same time he warned that if the US kills his son, “all hell will break loose.”

The brothers’ uncle has confirmed to AP that the brothers lived together near Boston and have lived in the United States since immigrating there about a decade ago.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev became an American Citizen on September 11, 2012, CBSBoston reported.

“I say Dzhokhar, if you are alive turn yourself in and ask for forgiveness from the victims, from the injured,” another uncle of the suspects, Ruslan Tsarin, has called on his nephew, also suggesting he ask for forgiveness.

“He put a shame on our family, he put a shame on the entire Chechen ethnicity,”he said speaking to reporters outside him home in Montgomery Village, Maryland.

“I dearly ask you to respect our property. With the families of those who suffered, we’re sharing with them their grief,” The Guardian cited Tsarin. “And ready to meet with them, just to bend in front of them to ask their forgiveness.”

Read the whole articles…

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Authorities are searching for Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, a government official said Friday morning.

Police have surrounded a home and car in Watertown, where law enforcement has reportedly cordoned off a two-block area.

“We were woken up at 3 am by a reverse 911 call. The police told all the residents to stay put and not leave the house. Looking out of our window we saw masses of SWAT teams and police agents scouring all the backyards, bushes and streets.  There are helicopters. The police seem to have isolated one particular area. The police were looking and talking to the suspect through a megaphone – this is where we are right now,” Firaz Gliel, a nearby resident and eyewitness, told RT.

SWAT team members search for one remaining suspect at a residential building on April 19, 2013 in Watertown, Massachusetts. (AFP Photo / Mario Tama)

Residents have been asked to stay in their homes, and all public transport has been shut down. Police have asked media to refrain from showing live pictures at the scene, especially of police positions.

“Everybody is tense. No one can leave their house, all the businesses around here are closed. And we had a bomb threat yesterday, and then the marathon explosion before, so everyone is jittery. Everyone is in shock that something like this could happen in a relatively safe place, but the community has pulled together. People are helping each other out. So, there are both positives and negatives to what is going on right now,” Gliel said.

The firefight, which involved explosives, ensued after an MIT police officer was shot and killed on Friday morning, and fellow officers followed the lead of an apparent carjacking.

The killed suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was wounded during the gun exchange with the police and was apprehended, police said. He later succumbed to the injuries.

The suspect remaining at large is the FBI’s Suspect 2 in the Boston Marathon bombing, the so-called ‘white hat suspect’. Police called the man a terrorist, who is armed and dangerous.

A 20-block perimeter was established as the manhunt for the second suspect continues.

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SWAT teams enter a suburban neighborhood to search an apartment for the remaining suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings in Watertown, Massachusetts April 19, 2013. (Reuters / Jessica Rinaldi)

At least three people, including an eight-year-old, have been killed and more than a hundred injured after two explosions hit the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The investigation of two potential suspects is still ongoing.

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Desert Hot Springs, CA,

Do you prepare the best salsa around? Prove it at Salsa Blast! 

With over 5,000 expected attendees, gather your fans to vote you as one of our 2013 divisional champions! Salsa Blast! will feature The Great Salsa Taste Challenge, with participation open to restaurants, chefs, aspiring chefs, home cooks, groups and non-profit organizations from throughout the Coachella Valley. Prizes will be awarded to winners in the following divisions: Best Hot Salsa, Best Medium Salsa, Best Mild Salsa, Best Red Salsa, Best Green Salsa, Best

Specialty/Fruit Salsa, and People’s Choice Salsa. There is a $1 charge per vote to cast your ballot for your favorite salsas, with proceeds benefiting the Chamber’s community events and programs.

Food, Music, Vendors, Kid Blast Family Fun Zone, Custom Car Show and DJ Latin Kweenz bumping in the Caliente Club. There’s sure to be something spicy at Salsa Blast! for everyone!

All participant and vendor applications are now being accepted. Registration still open, space is limited.

11-999 Palm Drive Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240 (760) 329-6403 www.DesertHotSprings.com

For more information, please refer to the website:

www.SalsaBlast.com 

or contact

Heather Coladonato, CEO Office

Phone: 760-329-6403

Email: Heather@DesertHotSprings.com

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Two new members of Max’s family, I hope these albino-twins can make it. Dangers lurking all around the yard, but ‘Lika’ is watching them. It is considered a good omen in my culture, may it be for all of you as well. Enjoy!

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