Doug MacLeod Blues Workshop in Borrego Springs A rare, small-group session with multiple Blues Music Awards winner Doug MacLeod—scheduled before his live performance at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center. Learn acoustic blues technique, song craft, timing and dynamics, plus first-hand stories from the road. Below are the exact details on location, date, price, materials, capacity, and registration so you can decide quickly and secure a seat. Life, Love and the Blues! Format: Hands-on coaching, Q&A, storytelling Focus: Song craft, right-hand patterns, tone, timing, feel When & Where Date & Time: October 17, 2025 — 1:00–3:00 PM Workshop Location: Studio West , 587 Palm Canyon Dr., Suite 208, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 Price BAI Members: $75 Non-Members: $100 Materials Bring a notebook, a writing device, and a desire to learn. Capacity 20 student maximum. Intimate format for individualized feedback. Description Kick off Borrego Days with the blues. Learn from award-winning artist Doug MacLeod. Explore song craft and guitar techniques, and hear first-hand stories of old bluesmen and blueswomen. Includes audience Q&A. Registration Register through borregoartinstitute.org . For questions about fees or accessibility, contact Borrego Art Institute. About Doug MacLeod Doug MacLeod is known for superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit, and memorable live performances. Storytelling sits at the center of his shows, bringing characters—from the faceless to the legendary—to strikingly real life. He is a multiple Blues Music Award winner, including 2024 Acoustic Album of the Year (Raw Blues 1) and 2023 Acoustic Artist of the Year . In 2025 he received two Blues Music Award nominations: Acoustic Artist of the Year and Acoustic Album of the Year (Raw Blues 2) . His 2022 release A Soul to Claim (produced by Jim Gaines) was named a DownBeat Magazine “Album of the Year.” An international touring artist, MacLeod writes and sings original songs drawn from his own life and experiences. As a youth he overcame abuse and a debilitating stutter by turning to music and voice. His playing led to sideman work with George “Harmonica” Smith, Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Lowell Fulson, and Big Mama Thornton . Over four decades he has recorded 29 studio albums , several live records and compilations, two blues-guitar instructional DVDs, and a live performance DVD. His songs have been covered by Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker, and Eva Cassidy , and have appeared in TV movies and the series In the Heat of the Night . Playwright August Wilson requested MacLeod’s slide guitar for the Los Angeles opening of Gem of the Ocean . From 1999–2004 MacLeod hosted Nothin’ But The Blues on Los Angeles’ KLON-KKJZ and later voiced The Blues Showcase on Continental Airlines. For ten years he wrote “Doug’s Back Porch” for Blues Revue Magazine , sharing humorous and insightful stories with thousands of readers. He is also featured in the documentary Resonate: A Guitar Story about National Guitars. Like the masters who taught him, MacLeod’s music expresses life and times with a clear sense of what matters most. He often cites mentor Ernest Banks of Toano, VA: “Never play a note you don’t believe,” and “Never write or sing about what you don’t know about.” Brought to you by Borrego Art Institute, Mitzi Matijevich & Option B Entertainment - Stay tuned this is just the beginning of incredible events and workshops. Let's show our support!

An ARTTALK with publisher, author, and historian Diana Lindsey is scheduled for Saturday, October 11 at 3:00 PM.

Celebrate St. Francis on his feast day, October 4, 2025 at the Blessing of Animals, at the Christmas Circle at 10am. Bring your pets!

BMA Late Summer/Early Fall Newsletter Father Michael Plekon, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, president, BMA Since the work of the Borrego Ministers Association (BMA) never takes a vacation, it’s time to tell what we’ve been up to lately. And it’s time as well to ask your help as we always do. You know doing good is never out of season. Just to remind us all, the BMA is the work of all God’s people—Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Baptist, LDS, Jewish, Muslim, doubting, whatever faith you are or aren’t. All of us are “ministers,” not just Pastor Mateo Mamea, Fathers David Madsen, Michael Plekon or Tony Stanonik and other local pastors. Those who regularly meet on Zoom on Tuesdays are a cross section of the Borrego community, from Martha Deichler of the Community Resources Center (CRC) to Diane Johnson and Tammy Baker on the Water Board, Linda Stanley from Soroptimists, and Dale Jones of the American Legion, along with the pastors just named and other members like Pam and Mike McEvoy, George and Carole Thompson, Tery Neal, the Rev. Dr. George Abrams, Shirley Vialpando, and Joyce Merrick, our secretary and interim treasurer. Andrea McKenna is our gifted communications person. We check in with each other every Tuesday, pray for our sisters and brothers in need, go through the pastoral needs submitted since the last meeting, and review our upcoming events and services. Every month the Borrego Ministers Association provides about $4,000 in food coupons for The Desert Pantry and The Center Market. These coupons are distributed on Wednesdays at the Community Resource Center by Diana Fox. Each week, neighbors receive support through the “Let’s Go Borrego” program, operated by the CRC, to help offset medical transportation expenses. Donations also provide modest grants that help ease the burden of staggering utility bills and rent. This year, in coordination with a grant from the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, the BMA is administering a program providing temporary emergency AC units to families whose AC unit has broken down. These are “loaner” units, to be returned when home units are repaired or replaced, all this with the help of the HVAC business in Borrego. Those sisters and brothers who come to us are put in touch with County social workers to explore programs from which they might benefit. Likewise, people asking for help are connected with the food banks that operate every week at the CRC and St. Barnabas Church once a month. Connections to periodic dental and medical screening opportunities are made for our neighbors. The ways in which the BMA tries to assist neighbors is much larger. It can include connection with legal aid when a lawyer’s help is needed. Or consultation with a retired medical professional residing in Borrego. Connection with trained caregivers, with the English classes at the CRC and English as a Second Language (ESL) tutors in town. BMA members have linked neighbors up with special assistance available through The American Legion for vets and Soroptimists for women heading households. It may get tiring, reading all these works of love that the BMA tries to do. But what you cannot see in this newsletter are the smiles, the faces that break into joy when we are able to help with overwhelming costs. Summer is a very tough time for Borregans. The 100+ temperatures are matched by increased utility rates. This comes on top of so many residents being laid off from the hospitality and related businesses till the winter/spring “season” of snowbirds and tourists returns in October. Despite setting aside a reserve fund for summer needs of our neighbors, we at the BMA see our funds depleting as we help sisters and brothers in need. The BMA has no paid employees, minimal operational costs, so virtually all contributions go directly to neighbors in need. Please consider renewing your contribution or making one if you have not. Doing so makes, as the prophet Isaiah says, “the desert burst forth in flowers.” ~Father Michael Plekon, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, president, BMA >> Please consider donating to the BMA

As a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, the store's proceeds benefit the Borrego Springs Children's Center, making every purchase impactful and meaningful. 

Find the class schedule for Borrego Academy of Music & Art. Explore music and art programs for all ages in Borrego Springs. Get involved today!

Friday, October 17, 2025 • 7 p.m. BSPAC presents blues legend Doug MacLeod , a storyteller extraordinaire whose soulful vocals, masterful guitar playing, award-winning songwriting, and unforgettable live presence have captured the hearts of blues lovers worldwide. Why You Can’t Miss This Doug MacLeod delivers performances rich in narrative and authenticity. A multiple Blues Music Award winner, he received the 2024 award for Acoustic Album of the Year (Raw Blues 1) and the 2023 award for Acoustic Artist of the Year. In 2025, he received two additional nominations for Acoustic Artist of the Year and Acoustic Album of the Year (Raw Blues 2). His 2022 release A Soul to Claim was named an Album of the Year by DownBeat Magazine. Over his long career, Doug’s songs have been covered by legends including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker, and Eva Cassidy. His music has also been featured in film, television, and on stage productions. 

Fresh Coffee, Good Food, and Friendly Faces

Rams Hill’s Borrego Community Builders broke ground on the first model home in Borrego Springs, addressing urgent local housing needs.

Borrego Springs CRC Food Bank offers weekly groceries, monthly health services, and improved facilities with help from community grants and donations. Open to all.

Take the Borrego Springs Housing Survey—7 minutes, confidential, available in English & Spanish. Share your input for a chance to win a $250 Visa gift card.

DAP Health’s Mobile Dental Unit will be in Borrego Springs on Sept 16, 10am–3pm, offering free dental screenings and protective treatment.

Rams Hill COO Harry Turner, Borrego Springs Unified School District Superintendent Mark Stevens, Rams Hill CEO Shannon Smith, Borrego Village Association Vice President Jim Wermers, Rams Hill / Borrego Community Builders Director of Development & Construction Rodney Bruce, Borrego Springs Community Resource Center Executive Director Martha Deichler, Borrego Water District Board of Directors Diane Johnson, Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce President Kirit Patel and founding member of OLAX Borrego Springs Esmeralda Lopez-Garcia.

Explore Summer Novas at The Gallery at The Palms, May 3–Sept 28. Featuring Rebecca Duckworth, Debbie Gallerani, and Tom Bertolotti. Artist reception May 3.

Experience olive oil tasting in Borrego Springs. Learn the 5 S’s with Borrego Olive Oil Co. at the Garden Café, every last Saturday of the month.