Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Open Mic Night at The Palms


Public · Hosted by Kevin Bone and 3 others
from 7 - 10 p.m., Friday, February 2, 2018
Palms Restaurant
83131 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, California 92277

Friday, January 26, 2018

Wonder Valley Fundamental Plan

The first step toward having an official “community plan,” is the creation of a “fundamental plan.” According to the County, a community plan guides “...local expectations for County services and set a clear direction for the future of each unincorporated community.”

The Wonder Valley Fundamental Plan begins with YOU filling out the survey: https://tinyurl.com/wvplan

The Fundamental Plan relies on SWOT analysis. SWOT is Strengths/Weaknesses and Opportunities/Threats. Understanding these binaries will help you in filling out the form. They also look at values and aspirations, and focus statement, defined below.


From the survey:
Strengths and weaknesses are considered to be internal to the community, or things the community has control over.
Opportunities and threats are considered to be external to the community, or things that affect the community, but that they have little or no control over.

Many ideas can fall into multiple categories (for example, an existing park may be a strength, but maintenance of the park may be a weakness; a new park may be an opportunity). You may put topics in more than one category.

Values and aspirationsDuring the third exercise we are asking you to provide information on what you value about the community currently and what aspirations you have for the community in the future.

Values express what really matters in your community. For example, dark skies, close-knit community,or  local history.

Aspirations are a future state you would like to see in your community that supports the community's values. For example, a park, more community events,remain rural, improve the local economy, preserve the natural environment, etc.

Focus statements for the community. We ask you to provide input on the direction of the community, including changes you would like to see and aspects you want to remain the same.

When thinking about Focus ideas, think about the overall changes for the community to make. You'll be able to list 5.

At the end they ask about:

  • Historical Information
  • Community Amenities (For example, parks, trails, schools, etc.)
  • Community Organizations
  • Community Events

Please do try to fill out the survey. Don't worry about us being inundated with a plethora of County services. We’re still farther out than anyone wants to venture.

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Desert Trail, January 25, 2018

The Wonder Valley Cleanup got rid of a lot of trash and many, many tires! The burned-up bedspring on Blower Road is even gone, thanks to Ted Meyers and John Aylsworth. Great going, Wonder Valley!

Trucks lined up at the WVCC, filled with tires.
January 20 was Teresa Sitz’s first day as our new coordinator. As her first “official act,” she has contacted Pat Rimmington from the Twentynine Palms Historical Society to help us create a Legacy Program to preserve our Wonder Valley history. Photos, plaques, letters, awards and other documents will all be scanned and uploaded to a free online photo gallery that everyone can access. If you do not have Internet access, you will be able to view everything at our Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road near Blower Road. There will also be real photo albums for people to look through. This is a great idea and will preserve our memories into the future. If you have any memorabilia of any kind, you will be more than welcome to scan it in at the community center as soon as the Legacy Program is set up. Call Teresa at 760-367-9880 for information.

The Godwin Christian Fellowship building inauguration was a well-attended and uplifting celebration. Keynote speakers included San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos, Twentynine Palms Mayor and president of the Ministerial Association Rev McArthur Wright and his wife Evangelist Alfreda Wright. Great music was provided by The Luminators, and a delicious luncheon was served following the official ribbon cutting by Supervisor Ramos. Pastor Max Rossi and wife Olympia are rightly proud of this wonderful building that is a real asset to Wonder Valley.

Max Rossi and James Ramos
A special meeting on rural healthcare will be held on Wednesday, January 31 at our community center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Marge Doyle, Board President of the Morongo Basin Healthcare District, will provide information and answer questions. Call Teresa at 760-367-9880 for further information.

Marge Doyle, Morongo Basin Healthcare District
We send out Rainbows-of-Garnets-and-Carnations to Vida Hamilton who celebrates her special day this week. Happy birthday, Vida!

Lake Louise is no more! Several months ago, our grader operator Tim Candelaria worked extensively on the road directly in front of the Meyers’ house that would always become a giant lake and mud bog with each rain, getting larger and deeper as time went on. The result is that following our recent rain we didn’t even have a decent-sized puddle out there! Thank you, Tim. By the way, Karen’s husband Ted named Lake Louise after our mom who loved the rain! If you have questions, comments, complaints, compliments or information regarding road maintenance, please leave a message for Tim at 760-367-9880.

Maybe they can address Lake Midway next.
Until next time . . . remember to take time to enjoy the WONDERs all around us.


Sunday, January 14, 2018

Water Reports and other water issues

Water test results for 2016 and 2017 for the well at Station 45 in Wonder Valley. The highlighted portions indicate chemicals in the water over state standards, including : bicarbonate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, boron, chromium, magnesium, calcium, arsenic, potassium, and sodium.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vebm5VDUIjAKGS0E-TpSZbImpZbKljTu/view?usp=sharing

ON THE ISSUE
Please read the Center for Disease Control | Rural Water Supplies and Water-Quality Issues
15% of people living in the U.S. are not served by approved public water systems.

California Drops Tough Chromium-6 Standard, Sara Jerome, August 16, 2017
The standard was dropped because the state "failed to properly consider the economic feasibility of complying."
Please realize that the decision was based on costs, and not what was best for the health of the people. if we do not know the health effects of chromium at these lower levels we may be arguing against our own best interests. Anecdotal information, as in, "I've consumed this water for 40 years and I'm fine," are not scientific and do not adequately address the health issues associated with our water. People who died early, perhaps due to water issues, are not here to tell their side of the story.

Homestead / Recreational Cabin FAQ, from Land Use Services
addresses issues around wells and hauling water.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

"East Coast Wasted" -- Improv at The Palms!


East Coast Wasted is a high energy improv show. They drink on stage, you drink in the audience, and we all party after! Suggested donation at the door: $5, to cover their gas money (or they just might need it for their bar tab..!!)

East Coast Wasted" Improv at The Palms!
Public · Hosted by Boneybone Productions and Palms Restaurant
Saturday, January 27 at 8 PM - 9:30 PM
Palms Restaurant
83131 Amboy Rd, Wonder Valley, California 92277

Sunday, January 7, 2018

2017 in Wonder Valley - the Year in Review

COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS

January 14, 2017 -- WV Community Meeting
January 30, 2017 -- SBC Aging and Adult Services Presentation
March 11, 2017 -- WV Community Meeting
March 25, 2017 -- Legal Access to Medical Marijuana for Seniors
April 8, 2017 -- WV Community Meeting
April 29, 2017 -- Jack McConaha Memorial
May 6, 2017 -- WV Community Meeting
May 6, 2017 -- Permaculture in Wonder Valley, with Tim DeLorey
June 8, 2017 -- WV Community Meeting
June 10, 2017 -- Citizen Science Project in Wonder Valley
August 2017 -- The WVCC Coordinator, Ricardo Figueroa, exits his job.
September 2017 -- The WV Fire Department leaves for Twentynine Palms.
September 9, 2017 -- WV Community Meeting
December 13, 2017 -- James Rikker, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

COMMUNITY TREASURES | Our Volunteers

     The Community of Wonder Valley is maintained by a faithful congregation of volunteers that spans every group. I want to start by thanking Starlene Javiar, Mary Quamme, and Karen Meyers - the energizer bunnies of our community - whose continued faithfulness keeps us humming along. Many thanks, as well, to the following, who show up and help at community events: Lupe, Sunny Downer, Jack Gandtt, Matt Haubner, Grey Hill, Mary Lindsley, Jill Reinig, Ken Sitz, Randy Smith, Deborah Tobin, Gary Tufel, Bob Wood, Ed Vallerand, Steven Wilhelm, and the many others that I cannot recall at the moment.
     I also want to call out Olympia and Max Rossi who donated space for the Well Owners Association meetings, and along with Diane and Garrett Brooks, tend to the spiritual needs of our community.
Many thanks to the Sibleys and Kevin Bone for creating such a lovely meeting place, and to Laurel Seidl and Frank Mezget for the Glass Outhouse Gallery.

THOSE WE LOST AND REMEMBER

Stephen Joseph Dahl
Andrew Boyce Evans II
Nikos Lukaris
Jeffrey Perry
Leonard James Sampson
Kassandra Shaw
Bill Yokum

If I have forgotten anyone or anything I apologize. Please let me know and I will edit this page.

Inland Counties LEGAL SERVICES | Schedule for Outreach Senior Centers - 2018

Here is the schedule for legal service for seniors 60 years old and over, at these two locations.

Twentynine Palms Senior Center
6539 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

Yucca Valley Human Services Building
56357 Pima Trail, Yucca Valley CA 92284

To schedule an appointment call Robert Dougherty at (760) 228-5219 or (760) 228-5232.

JANUARY
11 Yucca Valley
24 Twentynine Palms / Yucca Valley

FEBRUARY
8 Yucca Valley

MARCH
8 Yucca Valley
28 Twentynine Palms / Yucca Valley

APRIL
12 Yucca Valley

MAY
10 Yucca Valley
23 Twentynine Palms / Yucca Valley

JUNE
14 Yucca Valley

JULY
12 Yucca Valley
25 Twentynine Palms / Yucca Valley

AUGUST
9 Yucca Valley

SEPTEMBER
13 Yucca Valley
26 Twentynine Palms / Yucca Valley

OCTOBER
11 Yucca Valley

NOVEMBER
8 Yucca Valley
15 Twentynine Palms / Yucca Valley

DECEMBER
13 Yucca Valley

This is the schedule for 2018 Outreach at the Senior Centers I serve. Please consider these dates affirmed, but not absolute dates. Changes MAY have to be made from time to time to accommodate possible emergencies, illness, mandatory training or vacation schedules. While every effort is made to have someone fill in if a change has to be made, on occasion an appointment date may have to be changed. Every effort will be made to give advance notice should a change be necessary.
Barbara Seifrits

Saturday, January 6, 2018

December 2017 Crime Stats

There were no real surprises in the Crime Stats for December 2017. The number of calls were down slightly, as was the percentage of reports to calls. The numbers for December 2015 were provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. They stopped providing us these numbers in October of 2016. Teresa Sitz, the MAC Delegate for Wonder Valley, has been teasing our stats out of media reports since May of 2017. This is tedious work. The stats are unofficial, and there is a small margin of error.

A change in numbers does not reflect a change in service. A change in numbers can reflect a change in the willingness to call the Sheriff's Department, with reports and arrests adjusting in response.

If you call the Sheriff's Department, ALWAYS ask for an INCIDENT NUMBER. Please write it down.


There were approximately 6 calls for burglaries in December, with one arrest. This was at the Wonder Valley Thrift Store where 3 people were arrested. An additional arrest was on a warrant.


Because we are lacking crime stats between October 2016 and April 2017, I've taken a three year slice when stats were available - May through September. Reports per calls peaked last year in July at 16.9% and declined steadily until December when it peaked again at 11.7%.

It's difficult to assess, in any quantifiable way, the quality of service that we receive from various county agencies. The percentage of reports to calls may not be of much use, but it is one metric that is available to us when others, including monthly crime stats, are not. The residents of Wonder Valley want to maintain an effective Neighborhood Watch, but without assistance from the Sheriff's Department, and without meaningful metrics to gauge how we are doing in our efforts, results are anecdotal at best. We are left not knowing how to best spend our energies in crime prevention.
The Sheriff's Department has really stepped up to help us with illegal shooting in Wonder Valley. Detective Dominic Vaca has been assigned to address the problem and came to last month's meeting to hear resident's complaints and offer advice. 

Vacation Rental and AirBNB Tax Collections


Important:
Airbnb will collect and remit occupancy taxes in Twentynine Palms, CA

If you have vacation rental property in Wonder Valley listed on AirBNB, you may have received a notice from them that a transient occupancy tax ("TOT") and a Tourism Business Improvement District (“TBID”) Assessment will be collected from your guests and paid to Twentynine Palms.

Wonder Valley shares a zip code with Twentynine Palms (92277) so this notice was probably sent to all VR owner/managers in the area, including those in Wonder Valley.

We, in Wonder Valley, are an unincorporated area and are under the governance of the County of San Bernardino and not Twentynine Palms. No properties in Wonder Valley should be assessed TOT or TBID taxes to be paid to the City of Twentynine Palms. If this happens to you, please notify your MAC Delegate, Teresa Sitz, at teresa.sitz@gmail.com.

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Wonder Valley Community Clean Up


Saturday, January 20, 8 a.m. until noon (Event will end earlier if equipment is full.)
Wonder Valley Community Cleanup

Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526-½ Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277

The San Bernardino County Code Enforcement and Solid Waste Management Divisions, with support from CalRecycle, will be providing bulky trash collection containers for the FREE disposal of accumulated trash, e-waste, and waste tires. Please bring your bulky items and trash to the designated containers at the locations listed above. This program is limited to the residents of the unincorporated County areas. We cannot accept commercial or industrial waste from businesses. Please remember to safely secure and properly cover your loads prior to traveling to the event. If you are bringing waste tires, please limit your load to a maximum of 9 tires. Tires on rims will be accepted. PLEASE NOTE: If you have oversized, loose, or hard-to-handle loads, you may be turned away to dispose of your waste materials at your own expense. We can only accept waste as long as we have available capacity, so plan to arrive early!

NO HAZARDOUS WASTE WILL BE ACCEPTED

If you have any questions regarding this event, please call Code Enforcement Officer David Jorgenson at (909) 948-5091.

Download Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tsV2d4A3Ronf0HcMAN6bGxG_0zH2p3l8/view?usp=sharing

Inaugural for Godwin Christian Fellowship


Inauguration Celebration for new facilities of Godwin Christian Fellowship
6389 Godwin Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277
Sunday, January 21, 2018, 10:00 to 12:00 noon.

Keynote Speaker: MacArthur Wright, Mayor of Twentynine Palms CA
County of San Bernardino and City of Twentynine Palms dignitaries will be in attendance. There will be an official red ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a catered lunch. Live music will be provided by the Luminators. There will be fun and games for children.
Everyone is invited.
Contact Pastor Max Rossi for more information at (831) 234-6848.

WV Special Meeting on Healthcare


Wonder Valley Special Meeting on Healthcare

Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526-1/2 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277

Marge Doyle, the President of the Board of Director of the Morongo Basin Healthcare District will present on healthcare issues and outcomes with impacts specific to rural areas, how these are being addressed by the district, and future plans for improving healthcare delivery in our area. A Q&A will follow. Please bring your questions and concerns.

AGENDA: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YyMQJZBteHypHOR3tdegQBqJGrleS9RNDuJu7Q9nHbg/edit?usp=sharing
NOTES: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eQD6imwrSsM-oZfbxjQ-xeL_bct3kK938EVQEMuhPUc/edit?usp=sharing
LINKED: An Overview of Your Healthcare District (Dated -- please confirm services)https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FFUkX1E4OYy-dtPasu_mt8OE0p3453QO/view?usp=sharing

Wonder Valley January Community Meeting


Saturday, January 13, 2018, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526-1/2 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277

Agenda posted: 11:05 a.m., January 4, 2018
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJtqkqZfXJZcAeCGVLp5fFvvd7nhR_kWmMGgZ1EPxwc/edit?usp=sharing
Meeting notes posted: 7:15 a.m., January 14, 2018
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dp8fobtx5oI8w5PdU47Pbssrrb33YScb/view?usp=sharing
Fire Calls for December 2017
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jraj0hkFO0U1VIjaXc-u4u_7En9XWVFm/view?usp=sharing
Stewart West's Presentation on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15duhvBETug266hqq54lNnY4HCyRs2Zk_/view?usp=sharing

Topics of discussion on the agenda include County Fire, and crime stats.

Meeting Presentation: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Stewart West, Veterans Administration Representative, 29 Palms, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, will make a short presentation on the latest data on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and its prevalence. He will address causes of the illness, what is known and not known, as well as the variations of the syndrome. A brief look at how the medical community makes the diagnosis for CFS will be followed by a discussion on new and alternative drug therapies for treating it, and how lifestyle choices can help in coping with it. A Q&A will follow.

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.