Winston Gieseke

3 weeks ago | desertsun.com | Winston Gieseke

The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival has announced the two winning playwrights for its 2025 season: Kayla McCarty, 18, of Ramona High School and Peyton Taylor, 17, from Valley View High School. McCarty's play, "Seven," explores the haunting stillness of purgatory, where seven souls must confront the weight of their sins. Only one can rise toward grace, while the others descend into darkness.

1 month ago | desertsun.com | Winston Gieseke

They say an image is worth a thousand words. And perhaps nowhere is this more true than in photojournalism, where complex and sometimes multiple ideas are conveyed in a single, carefully composed image. A photojournalist's job is to capture photos that tell a story. And behind every powerful image is a person who saw something worth remembering.

1 month ago | desertsun.com | Winston Gieseke

Those who don't believe that angels walk among us are probably not familiar with the Angel Light Academy. The nonprofit's mission is to teach leadership, team building, problem solving, conflict resolution, drug and gang resistance and communication skills to young people and adults in the Coachella Valley. And on March 15, the organization held its annual Above & Beyond Desert Gala, where it honored 10 "Angels on Earth," individuals who make our local community better by going above and beyond.

2 months ago | desertsun.com | Winston Gieseke

The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage is making it very easy to support a local nonprofit. The resort recently launched a philanthropic dinner series to benefit Olive Crest. Once a month on select Tuesdays, the resort will donate $5 to the charity from each entrée purchased that evening at State Fare Bar & Kitchen. Olive Crest is dedicated to preventing child abuse in the Coachella Valley.

2 months ago | desertsun.com | Winston Gieseke

Book lovers, mark April 26 on your calendar as the Palm Springs Writers Guild will be holding a highly interactive book festival designed to give readers the opportunity to meet and hear from local authors, among other exciting events. This will be the guild's biggest book festival to date and will feature 40 authors across a range of genres.