The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • 1

4-r '4- -r a I- Make it a memorable Our 59th Year No 252 May 26 1986 CupyngM lane T(w Dnwt Sun PuMulHN Co Al ngMt naanxd Palm Springs California A GANNETT NEWSPAPER 32 Pag at 2 Sactions 25 cants A small but determined group of hand-holders form a short line segment along Highway 1 1 1 in Rancho Mirage during the Hands Across America event on Sunday Local organizers call linkup a success despite gaps By LAURALEE MENCUM Desert Sun Staff Writer Several thousand people determined to help the nation's hungry and homeless could have used many more helping hands Sunday in the Coachella Valley as numerous gaps appeared in the 35-mile fund-raising line along Highway 111 Still local organizers of Hands Across America believed the event was a success In central Palm Springs Palm Desert and Indio crowds of people carrying banners and wearing Across America" T-shirts formed unbroken lines for about 15 minutes hut there were miles-long gaps throughout the rest of the valley About 100 people riding motorcycles and all terrain vehicles along the roadside at Windy Point north of Palm Springs ignored the event leaving the few par ticipants scattered along the 10-mile stretch on Highway 111 from Interstate 10 to Tramway Road much more than an arms length from one another After portions of the line in Arizona were abandoned because of health and safety hazards the goal to link 6 million to 10 million people in a 4124-mile line through 16 states was given up Local volunteers however vowed to keep the California chain unbroken were very said Jackie Segerman of Palm Springs a local volunteer leader who was part of a continuous line from Alejo to Ramon Road in Palm Springs 1 "You could just feel the electricity when everybody joined hands We had gaps and then all of the sudden at five minutes before noon it all pulled together We had people coming from all over to participate" she said "It was wonderful" said local paid director Donna Campbell "I was just But she added "I haven't ever seen anything happen so fast and dissipate so The crowd that joined hands at noon was gone not more than 30 minutes later Many said they were headed home for picnics and barbeques while others hopped in their vehicles and cruised down Palm Canyon Drive Pedestrians with fire extinguishers and squirt bottles doused passersby Most didn't seem to mind the relief from the 104-degree heat in Palm Springs one of the highest readings in the nation Just before noon the young and old linked together and ran into the center of Palm Canyon Drive where several people shouted at passersby to "park it and join the Line" Volunteers filtered into the command post at the Rancho Mirage City Hall before 11 am as David Silverman Hands staffer passed out arm bands and (Please turn to Page A-2) 350000 Californians turn out to sing sway and hold hands ley worry about the problems (the gaps)" said actress Shari Bela-fonlc "The important thing is there is a real consciousness being The western end was anchored by Bill Jones 34 his wife See pages A2367 Main Street where the route was empty Charles DcMille nephew of movie director Cecil DeMille said he came to Skid Row to show lie cared "Living in Beverly Hills separate me from what I feel for these people in my heart" DeMille said Participants who paid from $10 to $35 for a place in line showed up in droves in spots such as Santa Monica where celebrities Jane Fonda Pat Benatar and Jeff Bridges joined the line Hand-holders there stood three deep surrounded by a large crowd Enthusiam also was high in Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley with participants standing in the middle of Sunset Boulevard and motorists on Ventura Boulevard (Please tun to Page A-2) Mary 25 and their five children all living at the Family Shelter for the Homeless in Long Beach think it's just incredible and I hope this feeling carries on" said Jones "I wish everyone would get the spirit There is a real need" On Los Angeles' Skid Row inner-city enclave for the area's homeless about 60 people stretched between Los Angeles and Sixth Street The line turned the corner at rphoto President and Mrs Reagan joined by daughter Maureen Reagan (right) and children of White House staff raise their hands during Hands Across America line Sunday Nearly 5 million stretch By RICHARD DEATLEY Axuriatr4 Pm Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) Hands Across America brought the enthusiasm and awareness its organizers envisioned to California with lines of singing hand-holders estimated at 350000 swaying on bridges boulevards and beaches you look beautiful today This is what America's about" said entertainer Ben Vereen who took part in the end-of-the-line ceremony Sunday next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach The event to raise money and awareness for the country's homeless and hungry failed to connect its human line throughout the state's 346-mile route but organizers dismissed that as secondary to the spirit that lingered anyone had any doubts we hope they now know it's a success" said Marty Rogol the executive director of USA for Africa the parent foundation for Hands Across America He said it may take most of the summer to determine how many people participated and how much money was raised There were big crowds on hand for the western end of the line at the Queen Mary in Long Beach along the beach cities dotting Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Monica on Ventura Boulevard in 'he San Fernando Valley Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Disneyland in Anaheim and the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove But crowds were skimpy or nonexistent in Los Skid Row the industrial section of the city suburbs east of Los Angeles and through the searing desert until the Califoraia-Arizona border town of Blythe where 10000 people gathered The line in California apparently went unbroken for no more than a few miles at a time with one of the longer continuous links running along a five-mile stretch of Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Val Weather Sunny and hot on Memorial Day High 102 to 108 Details on A-4 to aid poor "If anyone had any doubts we hope they now know it's a success" said Marty Rogol the executive director of USA for Africa who said it may take all summer to tote up the contributions Hands Across America at first asked everyone in line to donate $10 but in the rush to fill the line organizers gave envelopes to late-come rs and hoped they would come through with some cash The event brought out celebrities and politicians kids and a few people past the century mark the wealthy and the destitute President Reagan lined up on the White House grounds and protesters queued up outside In rural Frederick County Md Clyde Gross-nickel used three prize bulls to help fill the line and attracted so much attention that "we could hardly get our arms up" the 71-year-old farmer said There were five weddings in the line two killer whales and one penguin not to mention Mickey Goofy and Pluto on line at Disneyland The main event also Inspired spin-off hand-clasping for charity across the country from Alaska and (Please loro to Page A-2)' across US 0 By ROBERT BARR MilN Prm Whirr The reach of Hands Across America could not match its grasp but gaps in the cross-country line didn't stop the millions who turned out from having an awfully good time Some were moved to tears laical organizers estimated that upwards of 49 million Americans joined in the effort on behalf of the hungry and the homeless on Sunday and except for two people overcome by the heat in Arizona no one suffered anything worse than disappointment about breaks in the line between New York and Long Beach Calif is just the top organizer Ken Kra-gen said in New York today is over roll up your sleeves and go out to work in your community We have to move from the big event to the person on the street" Hands Across America still has to count up the money it hoped to earn 50 million or more and then figure out how to spend it The organization said 90 percent would go for innovative self-help projects for the needy Sports The weather forecast today called for an 80 percent chance of rain that could again delay the Indianapolis 500 Meanwhile on Sunday Gen Chuck Yeager who will drive the pace car and driver A Foyt waited patiently at The Brickyard Pages B1-5 Circulation Call 320-6920 or 3 3-5646 for delivery or inquiries I.