Coachella Valley Firebirds Praised For First AHL Season

PALM SPRINGS, CA — Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez issued one proclamation each to honor the Coachella Valley Firebirds on their season and to name Friday Hershey Bears Day.

The Firebirds were praised for their first year playing in the American Hockey League, which Perez said featured an incredible season and praiseworthy accomplishments, according to a statement from Perez's office.

Additionally, due to Perez's friendly wager with Dauphin County Commissioners and the team's loss Wednesday, Friday was declared Hershey Bears Day in the county and locally crafted products will be sent to the Pennsylvania-based officials, Perez said.

"As the saying goes, `You win some and you lose some,' and unfortunately for us CV Firebirds fans, we lost and it hurts," said Supervisor Perez. "But allow me the time to recognize the Dauphin County Commissioners for being great sports and for making this series even more exciting. I just wanted to ensure folks that we take it in the chin and we acknowledge it."

Dauphin County Commissioners Mike Pries, Chad Saylor and George P. Hartwick III will soon receive Coachella Valley-grown grapes and dates highlighting the region's agriculture, according to Perez. Growers, restaurants and community members in the Coachella Valley are encouraged to take up Dauphin County on their solicitation of date recipes by submitting them at dauphincounty.gov.

"Supervisor Perez has been a good sport throughout the championships play," Hartwick said in a statement. "I always suspected the Bears would come out on top, and those suspicions were proven right after some tense, nail- biting moments in the final game."