Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Special Meeting - October 12, 9:00 a.m.


Wonder Valley | Special Meeting

Monday, October 12, 9:00am - 10:30am
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.


Division Chief John Chamberlin from the San Bernardino County Fire Department will present on a proposed increase to pay for our fire and emergency services.

The agenda will be posted shortly.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:
November 9, 2015 – Veterans Affairs
December 14, 2015 – BLM on WEMO

Kip's Desert Book Club: Edna in the Desert

Monday, October 5, 7:00pm

Palms Restaurant
83131 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA


It helps if you read the book, but it's not essential. Come and enjoy hanging out with this lovely, literate desert crowd. There's a potluck - bring something to share. Bring a flashlight if you want to venture over to Laura's Wonderland of Books afterwards. There's no electricity, so you'll need a flashlight to check out this lovely bookstore!

Wonderland Books with Gloria, Ken and Pat browsing.
Delightful decor

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Luncheon with Supervisor James Ramos in Joshua Tree

Third District (us) Supervisor James Ramos met with constituents today at the San Bernardino County Building on White Feather. About 100 people were in attendance and Ramos made his best effort to speak with everyone individually.


Mark Lundquist (above left), Ramos' new field aide and the Chair of the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council, attended, as well as many members of the MAC, including me (Teresa Sitz, Wonder Valley).

It was a nice event. I apologize that I didn't notify you of it - I only just found out about it yesterday. I have no idea how this one slipped past me. Thanks, Almut Fleck, for the heads up!

Starter camera drone only $70

The palm-sized SKEYE Mini Drone with HD Camera sells for $70. Flight time is 7-8 minutes.

Though flight distance is only 50 meters the camera can extend the usefullness of that distance. This might be a good tool to see what's going on in a distant or obscured area of your property, or to check on a neighbor if you've worked out that kind of arrangement. See the video below to get an idea of the kind of pictures you'll get.


I forsee the prices coming down on these and their usefulness as crime fighting tools increasing.

This one is even cheaper and has great reviews:
Hubsan X4 Quad Copter with Camera

Wonder Valley Community Cleanup

Our community cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2015 from 8 a.m. until noon. More details will follow but other areas received dumpsters and a tire truck at their community centers, so it's likely we'll get the same. Residents are welcome to come and bring their trash and some tires to the clean up on that day.


Monday, September 28, 2015

Two happy, sparkly space campers


The two happy, sparkly space campers wandered in for breakfast Sunday morning, mixing with the locals. Space camp was obviously a smashing success. Nice kids, and stylish!



Wow - I can't believe I forget to post this on this site. It was in the Wonder Valley Sand Paper, the Hi-Desert Star, and FaceBook - but I completely forget to post it here. Sorry 'bout that.

Supermoon!

Wonder Valley Community Member Beth Sheffield took this amazing picture of the supermoon on September 27, as it crested the Sheep Hole Mountains.

Thanks, Beth, for sharing this amazing picture!

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Desert Trail Column, September 24, 2015

We send out Rainbows-of-Sapphires-and-Asters to Eddie Kim, Bernice Barcott, Les Lindsley and Orville Fangmeyer who celebrate their special days this week. Happy, happy birthday to all of you!


Darlene’s Commentary: What is my very favorite, tons of fun, totally unique, absolutely best and beloved event of the year? It’s the Weed Show!! This year the theme is entitled “Diamond in the Rough:  75 Years in the Making.” Anyone can enter their creation or creations and ribbons are rewarded for first, second and third place, honorable mention and a Peoples’ Choice award that is judged by the visitors to the exhibition. It’s fun to win a ribbon, but in my opinion, the real fun is finding dry weeds from your yard, in a vacant lot or a walk in the desert. As you walk, you may spot “found objects,” weathered wood, dried vines, rusty cans, pieces of everyday things from years ago and beautiful or unusual rocks. There is so much beauty surrounding us, and inspiration and creativity is inside each and every person.

Free Workshop October 10.
Karen’s Commentary: Thanks to Joni Daniel for a stack of greeting cards. And this week I have a soapbox issue that’s bugging me. When a fake palm tree was erected at our community center, it looked somewhat like a real palm tree – at least on a foggy day with dirty glasses! Anyway, THEN a “tumor” was added to the side of it, making it pretty recognizable as a fake from half a mile away. And with a series of lights surrounding the “fronds” that are covered with what appears to be green plastic panels, the “real” factor is brought down to a new low, giving a five-year-old the ability to see that this is not a real palm tree. I’m sure that before the okay was given for the antenna/tree, the County was assured that this would be a realistic-looking tree. Once it is up though, all those promises go out the window.

The Food for Life Ministry prepares delicious and nutritious hot meals that are served free of charge at Little Church of the Desert every Saturday. If you have a problem getting there, Reach Out Morongo Basin will deliver the meals, also free of charge, directly to your home. Call 760-361-1410 for further information.

Handy Hint: Tires affect fuel efficiency. Big tires have more road contact, resulting in more friction and more gas burned. And a tire that’s inflated correctly at 80 degrees will be underinflated by as much as 5 pounds at 30 degrees.

Thought for Today: Cheer up – your plumber is naming his new yacht after you.

Until next time . . . remember to take time to enjoy the WONDERs all around us.

Saturday, October 24at 4:00pm
Palms Restaurant, 83131 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277
Tickets Available

Thief Presents

KADAVAR (Germany)
DEAD MEADOW
BLACK BOMBAIM (Portugal)
GOYA (AZ)
GREAT ELECTRIC QUEST (CA)
LORDS OF BEACON HOUSE (CA)
CHRCH (CA)
HIPPY GOODS acoustic
CHURCH OF SUN

Dj's Uriah Creep & L. Ron Maiden

FREE CAMPING w/ purchase of general admission ticket.

--An official pre party of Day Of The Shred--
www.dayoftheshred.com // @Thiefpresents

Where's Heather?

Wonder Valley's own artist, Heather Johnson, is riding her motorcycle to the other end of the Americas. She's made it as far as Peru.


From Heather:
Peru. It hasn't been kind, exactly. I've been ripped off, others I know have been ripped off, a dear friend's motorcycle has been unjustly confiscated, and I may have some infectious parasite that's liquefying my poop. 
That said - this kind of @#$! keeps me from wanting to return home. I've relied on Planned Parenthood for basic care for a good chunk of my adult life, during all those many-numbered artist-with-crappy-day-job moments when I lacked health insurance. I am not looking forward to facing the stupidity and short-sightedness in our political system and culture that allows something like this to happen. Sigh... America... 
Saludos, 
Heather

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Wonder Valley Sand Paper - a free weekly newspaper

Get your free print newspaper every Sunday at the Palms or the Glass Outhouse Gallery.


The paper is published weekly by Ken and Teresa Sitz. It only exists in print and is not online. It is intended to provide information for those living in Wonder Valley without access to the Internet. It is also intended to get people out of their houses and to the Palms or the Outhouse where they might meet their neighbors.

Ken and Teresa are at the Palms nearly every Sunday morning from about 9 a.m. to noon if you'd like to meet your editors and provide news or just engage in a little conversation. We hope to see you soon.

How to sandbag

Now is the time to prepare your sandbags for winter storms. You can stop by your local firehouse and pick up up to 10 sandbags free. The staff may help you fill your sandbags and may even deliver to your house if you require assistance.

Watch the following video to learn the best way to use sandbags, especially how to dispose of used sandbags. You might also want to stock up on plastic sheeting, duct tape, and garbage bags.


You'll also need to stock up on a week's worth of:

  • water for each member of the family, and for pets and livestock
  • food
  • medicine
  • light sources including batteries
  • a fully charged fire extingusher
Talk to your neighbors and make sure you have a way of checking up on each other. A group of neighbors may consider pitching in to buy one or two mini drones with cameras. The drone can be sent to a neighbor's house to make sure they are safe. The one below is currently on sale for $70.52. Flight time is usually around 7 minutes and flight distance is around 300-400 feet.


Monday, September 21, 2015

Manson Family Vacation movie filmed a little bit in Wonder Valley



Parts of the movie Manson Family Vacation were filmed in Wonder Valley and the movie might be screened here in October. It's a comedy and seems fairly family friendly. We'll keep you posted.

Turkey Vultures are migrating

We saw about 8 different groups of 20 turkey vultures circling over Amboy on our way to breakfast yesterday. We saw a group of about 80, with about 20 in the trees below, near FiLoxSee. It's a pleasure to behold!

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Gould
You can distinguish the vultures from ravens and hawks because the bottom half of their wing is white, and they're so damned big!

The Glass Outhouse Gallery, October 3, 2015



FEATURED ARTISTS:
  • Artemecia Minarik
  • Michael Arata


LIVE MUSIC: The Luminators


Saturday, October 3, 2015, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
The Glass Outhouse Gallery
77575  Twentynine Palms Highway, Wonder Valley, 92277

Halloween at the Palms


All Hallows Weird
at
The Palms Restaurant
83131 Amboy Rd, Wonder Valley, CA 92277
featuring
Drug
The Renderers
Golden Sliper
The Sibleys
Saturday, October 31, 8:00 pm
Free
Costume contest with prizes

Friday, September 18, 2015

Community members take control

Community members Bob Tellefson and Ken Sitz dismantled the laundromat on Shelton near Two Mile Road last Monday. Someone had dumped a washing machine and dryer and placed them side by side on the berm.They also picked up other refuse dumped near Two Mile Road. Bob hauled the stuff to the Wonder Valley Dump.


Thanks, fellas, and thanks to the other participant who chooses to remain nameless.

To the lawbreakers that dumped this in our neighborhood - please cut that @#$% out.

To everyone else: Do NOT use unlicensed dump services! They'll take your money, then dump the stuff in the desert. It will be your fault, and if County Code Enforcement finds your name anywhere in your refuse they'll come to YOU to clean it up and pay the fines.

Desert Trail Column, September 17, 2015

The USDA Food Distribution will take place on Monday, September 21 at our Wonder Valley Community Center from 11 to noon. The He Provides Ministry will also be there with free clothing and household items for anyone who needs them. They are a wonderful group.

Wonder Valley Cloudscape, September 2015
Karen’s Commentary: Thanks to our cousin Annie in Phoenix for once again sending two large envelopes full of cut-out manufacturer’s coupons and used stamps. The military families overseas and the eagles in Big Bear appreciate it! As for my casino update, I’ve been going up and down on my running tally of winnings and losses that began on April 1, 2014. Right now I stand at $295 ahead, but you may recall that I was more than $600 ahead a few months ago! Of course $295 in the black beats anything in the red, so I’m certainly not complaining. One last comment:  September 18 is Hug a Greeting Card Writer Day, but Dar and I have decided to change that to Hug a Greeting Card MAKER Day since we both make cards as a hobby. (Sorry, Melody Marks!)

Darlene’s Commentary: I live close to the Wonder Valley Community Center and sometimes see cars parked and people going in and out of meetings. It makes me feel good that our community is coming back together, and I’m anxious to attend again after a summer of doctor’s appointments, MRIs, CT scans, crutches, hip surgery, walkers . . . whew! I am so glad that Teresa is our Wonder Valley Representative to the Basinwide Municipal Advisory Council. She has such a can-do positivity about her that is contagious. She is great! I encourage everyone in our beautiful valley to attend our community meetings. It doesn’t matter if you are new to the desert or an old-timer. Come and meet your neighbors, learn about new things happening and what is planned for the future. Be informed and give your opinions. Be part of our future! I hope to see you soon, neighbors.

The September meeting with Jim Ricker from MCAGTC answering questions.
Godwin Christian Fellowship holds Home Group meetings every Sunday on Bonny Dunes Road. They are in the process of building a church on Godwin Road, just north of Highway 62. Many setbacks and delays have occurred, but they are hopeful of forging ahead before the end of this year! Call Pastor Max Rossi at 831-234-6848 for any further information.

Handy Hint: Before applying self-stick weather stripping, lay down a bead of caulk to act as extra adhesive and to prevent any gaps caused by surface irregularities.


Thought for Today: “What are they planting to grow the seedless watermelon?” – Jerry Seinfeld

Just because. That's why!
Until next time . . . remember to take time to enjoy the WONDERs all around us.

Where's Heather?

Wonder Valley's own artist, Heather Johnson, is riding her motorcycle to the other end of the Americas. She's somewhere in the south of Peru.


From Heather:
6 months ago I left the arms of friends at the Palms Restaurant in Wonder Valley, CA, on an overloaded Yamaha XT250, bound for my former home state of Texas and the bottom of the planet. Immediately I plowed into a soft patch on a sandy road that flipped my bike 180 degrees, scattering my numerous bits of crap in a gigantic arc and trapping my left foot beneath the engine case (all in view of the paved main highway less than a quarter mile away). Something gave me the strength to pick the bike up and limp to Houston anyway, icing my nearly broken foot in cheap motels along the way.

Since then I have ridden roughly 10,700 miles through 12 countries, over 187 days, for this third leg of In Search of the Frightening & Beautiful. I've left behind or given away 14 pieces of art, shot at least 6000 photographs, and have way too many stories in my head to describe. To mark this occasion (and perhaps to make sense of it), there are 12 pictures here, one from each country. These are by no means individual representations of each place; rather they form a collective image of a greater experience that is still occurring, that I have yet to wrap my mind around.

I write this from a calm place, where lodging is cheap and the internet is strong. Here I will determine what the rest of this journey will be.

Saludos,

Heather

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Wonder Valley - full of blue green algae!

Recent rains created the conditions for blue green algae, dormant in our arid soil, to come to life.

Sun shines through white quartz rocks to the microbial communities of algae thriving in the water trapped beneath them.

These are called "hypolithic" communities - a fancy term for "under rock."

It's can be a refreshing surprise to see a little green in the desert!

Wonder Valley Dump

We took our first trip to the Wonder Valley Dump yesterday. I was happy it was cooler and overcast because I imagine the heat does nothing but intensify that dump odor. I loved the rolling road to the dump and passing the rifle range.


Someone built a fascinating display with some of the castoffs, along the fence leading to the dispoal building. I walked the length, amazed at some of the juxtapositions.

So, it's not easy getting rid of your stuff in the desert, especially in Wonder Valley. We do not have curbside pickup, being that we barely have roads, let alone curbs. We recently threw in with our neighbor and we're sharing a dumpster, and now we've been to the dump.

If you own property you should have a dump card. Bring your ID, too. It's required.
The most important thing is to not hire someone to dump your trash for you, including construction contractors. Require a receipt from the dump to be CERTAIN your trash was dumped at the DUMP and not in the desert!

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

9/14/2015 Community Meeting Notes

Download the meeting notes [pdf]


WONDER VALLEY MONTHLY MONDAY MEETING
Second Monday of the month, September 14, 2015, 9:00 a.m.
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277
Wonder Valley MAC Delegate and Meeting Chair: Teresa Sitz
Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.
N O T E S
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; 
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Jim Ricker answers questions about the Marine Base.
  1. Call to order, 9:15, Teresa. (We waited for Bob, Hannah and Ken to return from picking up the laundromat dumped on Shelton at Two Mile.)
  2. Introductions
    Teresa: I want to thank everyone for coming. I really look forward to this meeting and seeing you. Thanks to Star for hosting this meeting. Please remember to sign in.
    Present (18): Star, Karen, Duane, Almut, Teresa and Ken, Karen and Ted, Marilyn, Mary, Jill, Beth and Chris, Bob, Charlotte, Hannah, Izzy, and Robin.
  3. Community comment on items not on the agenda
    The community is also invited to comment after the reports and during the discussions below.Chris asked that the lighting ordinance be put on the next agenda.
    Almut asked  what that plan is for Shelton Road, that it’s becoming wider, but not at crown. She asked if Star supervises the road grader? Star said no, but that she takes information on the raods. Almut (and Bob) reiterated that El Paseo needs to be widened at the crown. She also asked the reason for a secondary road running parallel to and higher than Shelton. Star said that Shelton is an emergency road and is graded to accommodate 2 vehicles side by side. She said that telephone lines may be in the way in some places. Star said they want to take the hump out of Shelton but will widen it in the meantime.
    Bob  talked with Special Districts about the crown. He said the hump is too big to take out and that he hasn’t heard anything more. He said Troublefield gave him permission to widen it himself. Bob said he will take some dirt.
    Star said they are widening Shelton for 2 vehicles. She said it’s always a process of lowering berms versus removing excess sand. She said there has been no moisture in over 4 years and that is contributing to the problem.
    Ted said that South road is washed out, getting soft. Road was nothing but a river during the last storm.
    Star said that the new cutting blades have been installed and are being used.
    Almut said that Shelton should not be on emergency road list because it floods.
    Star said she has revised the emergency road list to say, “as they will be maintained on a priority basis.”
  4. Reports and Presentations
    A. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Teresa Sitz
    JULY – 76 – 9 – 1 (calls, reports, arrest)
    AUGUST – 59 – 5 – 0 (calls, reports, arrest)

    When you call to report a crime
    Get out a piece of paper, note the day, the time, the number you called, and what transpired. Try to be as calm and matter –of–fact as possible, ask for a report number.  After you call, email me, or post a note on NextDoor, private message me - just get ahold of me and let me know you called and made a report

    Do you want me to continue inviting the Sheriff’s Department to this meeting?
    It was unanimous that the community wants the SBSD and CHP at the meetings when possible.

    B. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Jim Ricker,  Assistant Chief of Staff G5, Kristina Becker, Community Liaison
    Jim Ricker – presentation:  95% of all Marines come through this base.
    Number to call if you have a problem that needs to be addressed: 760-830-9222Schedule activity – will let me know, press releases
    Jill : What are the tanks shooting in the range behind Wonder Valley. Ricker: Practice rounds.
    Jill: On this map, what is happening off the pink part that extends over WV?
    Ricker: That is air space, restricted use airspace, 24/7/365.
    Me: When we went on a base tour they said the base has no aircraft.
    Ricker: That’s right, there is none on base, except Mercy Air.
    Hannah: How low are aircraft allowed to fly over WV?
    Ricker: 1000 feet, if issues, let us know, can put a limited restriction on the airspace.
    Call within a day or two – let us know where you live, the time and date of the problem.
    Jill: What is the big shiny thing at the top of the mountain?
    Ricker: It’s a communication tower, what you’re seeing is a reflection off the tower.
    Chris:  What’s the status of the expansion?
    Ricker: They’re putting signage up, but scrappers steal signs.
    Chris: Asked about the staging area on bajada, the dust, lights, noise, activity, who can we contact.
    Ricker: Call 760-830-9222.
    Teresa: Could you talk about the lights at the end of Wilson Road?
    Ricker: We drove out to Screech Owl. There are a series of ranges - 400, 500, 600. We suspect it’s range 500 - maintenance lights, run by a portable generator. There is no permanent lighting in that area, except for a building. We will set timers to set off at 2100 (9:00 p.m.). We’re also trying to reposition to cut light trespass. Give us 30 days (October 15) to implement the changes. The red blinking lights, they’re an FAA requirement. Whenever it’s cloudy outside it’s going to be much noisier.
    Almut: Do you have statistics for veterans transitioning into jobs?
    Ricker: No. Contact VA.
    Bob: What about access to the pictographs.
    Ricker: There used to be tours. Then there was vandalism. Someone tried to chip the pictographs out of the rock, chipped off the patina, so there are no tours now.

    C. Discussion and possible action: Shall the community endorse the delegate’s MAC Report to be read at the MAC meeting tonight? (One paragraph was struck and a new one added based on late information.)Yes.
    Questions re: Southern California Gas
    Ted: Ask them if they can hook us up to gas.
    Jill: Do they pay for maintenance on the road? They’ve damaged Godwin and Blower at Pipeline.
    Star: As far as I know they do not.
    Almut: Get the details in writing.
    Ted: When it was an oil pipeline they’d do a flyover every Monday.
  5. Ongoing Business
    "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh
    A. 
    Neighborhood Watch and NextDoor
    We now have 46 members in our NextDoor network. Sign up at: bit.ly/nextdoorwv
    Ted: I’m offering a patrol service. I’m checking 9 places. I keep a card on everyone and a map, and the days I checks places. Most robberies happen in the daytime – 60%. There’s been one incident at Screech Owl and Wilson.
    Star: The other time is in the middle of the night, around 2-3 in the morning.
    Teresa: I’m researching low cost security systems, some as low as $50 and I’ll be reviewing some of  these over the next month on the website, Facebook, NextDoor, and in the Sand Paper. Our BEST means of preventing crime is keeping your eyes and ears open and making reports. One of our NextDoor members stopped a crime last month by simply holding up her cell phone. The thieves saw her and it, got back in their cards and drove away. If you can, try to take an extra step to look out for your neighbors, and please do tell me when you have a success story.
    Duane: We all know who’s doing the crimes. I don’t understand why we don’t band together as a community to fight this.
    Star: We can’t do it without evidence, with a picture or video. We know who it is.
    Ted: We’re trying to.
    Duane: (to Ted) I want to do some patrolling.
    Ted: That’s fine.
    Jill: There have been reports of two different vehicles – a dark Expedition, and a dark green SUV, that aren’t from Wonder Valley.
    Ted: There’s a camo painted truck, too.
    Beth: I’m concerned that we not create vigilante justice out here. We need more police support. We need to get some of this on video.
    Teresa: I’m in continuous talks with the Sheriff’s Department and I don’t seem to be able to get any results.
    Duane: Let’s start phone trees so we can call each other when we see something.
    Beth: I can support that.
    Izzy: Keep it simple. I have my own Neighborhood Watch. It works in emergencies, too.Ted: There are also problems with squatters.

    B. Illegal Dumping
    Teresa: We’re having 2 community cleanup days.
    1. Early 2016 – dumpsters out front for trash and tires. AFTER that
    2. Joanna from code enforcement will drive around to all the sites we’ve list and select one for a site cleanup
    Twentynine Palms is having their community cleanup day on Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to noon, across from Luckie Park, 74325 Joe Davis Drive. I’m going to give you a phone number in a minute to call and see if you need to provide proof that you live in 29.
    There’s a household hazardous waste from 8 am – noon Saturday, October 24 behind City Hall, 6136 Adobe Road.
    For more information contact Larry Bowden at City Hall, 760-367-6799, or see last week’s Desert Trail, or contact me.
    We had a new laundromat out on Shelton near Two Mile. Let’s give a hand to Bob and Hannah and Ken for picking these up and taking them to the dump.



    Bob: Can we start collecting tires ahead of time at the Community Center?
    Star: Yes, 2 or 3 weeks ahead.
    Bob: It would be easier if we could do it on a regular basis, throughout the year.
    Star: There’s currently a 9 tire limit for any property. We’d need permission from County Code enforcement to collect tires here.
    Karen: Didn’t Reese Troublefield say he need tires for hi racetrack?
    Star: We need to find out how many he’ll take, and when.
    Star: Let’s contact Code Enforcement and ask for wireless cameras for areas where there is illegal dumping.

    C. Discussion and/or possible action:
    Shall the Community schedule a community potluck for October, Saturday, 10. Time? Volunteers? GO – 10/3, Art Tour – 17,24, Halloween – 30.
    Only 6 people raised their hands so I suggested adding it to the next agenda.
  6. Agenda planning
    The community is invited to suggest items to place on the next meeting agenda.
    - Chris suggested putting the Dark Sky Ordinance on the agenda.
    - Teresa will put a community Base Tour on upcoming agendas. Ricker said they request between 8 and 35 attendees.
    - The community potluck was bumped to the next agenda.
  7. Announcements
    Jill: If you’re missing a peach-colored mobile home – I know where’s it is.
    Duane: Great. Does anyone know who stole my house?
    Teresa: Reach Out Morongo is still taking applications for October and November for the Navy chiefs program. If you know of an older or disabled person who needs help, repairs or cleanup to their property, please call 760-361-1410. Jill, I want to talk to you about this program after the meeting today.
    Our neighbors, Cass and Arjuna, have opened a yoga studio, Wonder Wellness, in Twentynine Palms and they teach senior yoga. Other classes looked interesting, as well.
    There will be a new show at the Glass Outhouse on Saturday, October 3. I want to thank Izzy and Charlotte for attending the show last Saturday night. It’s so wonderful to see these two pillars of the community representing Wonder Valley at the Glass Outhouse. I also want to thank Almut, Stewart, Jill and Sandy for supporting Frank and Laurel and the community.
    Kip’s Desert Book Club will have their one-year anniversary at the Palms on Monday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. The book is Edna in the Desert, by Maddy Lederman. Everyone is invited.
  8. Adjournment  10:35 a.m.September 14, 2015, 
MAC Report: Wonder Valley, by Teresa Sitz, Wonder Valley Delegate
We had a community meeting this morning with 17 in attendance. We were very happy to welcome Jim Ricker and Kristina Becker of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, to present. We also discussed dates for a community cleanup and a community potluck.

The next week I followed up on a letter that a community member received from an oil company asking permission to use their property for a pipeline. I believe this letter was several years old but the community member was still concerned.

I researched the issue and found that the pipeline under Pipeline Road originally belonged to Arco and was called the Arco 16, being 16” in diameter. At some point it was owned by Questar who then sold it to Southern California Gas. Southern California Gas now owns it and uses it to transport natural gas. Questar attempted to buy the pipeline back from Southern California Gas to convert it to ship crude oil, some of which is the highly volatile Bakken crude obtained by hydraulic fracking. Questar then considered putting down another 16” pipeline along the SoCal Gas line and contacted a large number of landowners, including our community member, asking for permission to cross their land with the pipeline.

I spoke with Steve Chapman, a spokesperson at Questar, and he told me the company is looking at several possibilities including a rail terminus at White Water where they would offload crude oil into a pipeline there. Another option is moving crude oil by rail along the BLM utility corridor that parallels the 10 freeway, or selling their pipelines to another company.
This is an issue that we need to keep an eye on. A crude oil spill anywhere in the Morongo Basin would be tragic.

Looking at Google maps it seems that along some portions of Pipeline Road in Wonder Valley you can see the profile of the Arco pipeline – that it may not be buried deeply. I’d like to research this further as it seems that off-road and even on-road vehicles could conceivably strike the pipeline and fracture it, leading to a gas leak. This would be one reason to oppose the WEMO plan and continue to limit OHV access on public roads and lands, and also ask Southern California Gas to assess the possibility of this type of accident.

Last week I spoke with Robert Visconti, a public affairs officer with Southern California Gas. He assured me that the pipeline in Wonder Valley is safe. It is buried at least 36 inches deep, and was qualified by testing in 2012 when it was changed to a natural gas pipeline. Once a year someone either walks or drives the line with leak detection equipment, and the safety and shutoff valves are inspected, lubricated, and operated. The pipeline is “pigged,” an internal mechanical inspection, no less than once every 7 years. If you have any questions about the pipeline, please contact me and I’ll get in touch with our contact at SoCal Gas.

Thank you.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn, September 13, 2015

This week's MANY MOODS OF BEN VAUGHN will feature selections by these fine recording artists and more. Full playlist to follow.


BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
KCDZ, Joshua Tree, CA (Sundays at 3:00 pm PST)

AVAILABLE AS PODCAST: 
Now available on iTunes thanks to KCDZ in Joshua Tree, CA.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Wonder Valley Crime Stats

I received the monthly crime stats for Wonder Valley today from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, as well as those for months past. 


The image below shows this in graph format.


The image below shows the percentage of times a call resulted in a report.


I don't have the crime statistics for last year, but it seems that actions taken on calls has fallen steeply. I'll be asking about this at the Monday MAC meeting. The public is welcome and invited to attend and participate.

Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council
Monday, September 14, 2015, 6:30 p.m.
Joshua Tree Community Center
6171 Sunburst, Joshua Tree, CA 92252

MAC Agenda - September 14, 2015

Download the agenda - 09142015
Download the minutes - 08102015

Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council
To Third District Supervisor James C. Ramos
Regular Open Session Meeting – 6:30 P.M. Monday September 14, 2015
Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Ave., Joshua Tree, CA  92252

  1. Call to Order
  2. Pledge of Allegiance
  3. Roll Call: Seat 1: Pioneertown: Vacant; Seat 2: Yucca Mesa, Tom Ziegert; Seat 3: Landers: Richard Lutringer; Seat 4: Joshua Tree, Mark Lundquist; Seat 5: Flamingo Heights, Lib Koenig; Seat 6: Desert Heights: Pat Flanagan; Seat 7: Wonder Valley, Teresa Sitz; Seat 8: Morongo Valley, Gayle Swarat; Seat 9: Copper Mountain Mesa, Mary Helen Tuttle
  4. Adoption of Agenda
  5. Approval of minutes from August 10, 2015.
  6. Call for Public Comment
    At this time, anyone may comment on items not on the agenda that are of interest to the public and within the jurisdiction of the MAC.  The MAC is prohibited by law from taking action on matters not on the agenda.  Comment may be offered on items on the agenda when those items come up for discussion or action.  A limit of 3 comments per item and 3 minutes per comment may be imposed.  In all cases, if you wish to speak, please submit a REGISTRATION CARD to the SECRETARY and proceed to the podium when recognized by the Chair.  Speakers should address the MAC as a whole; comments to individual delegates and/or staff are not appropriate for this venue.
  7. Public Safety Reports
    A. County Fire
    B. CHP
    C. Sheriff’s Department
  8. PRESENTATIONS
    A. Frazier Haney will present new and exciting events happening at the Mojave Desert Land Trust.
    B. Mark Goodale will present an overview of the Morongo Basin Transit Authority to include a proposed plan to provide transportation to the Joshua Tree National Park.
  9. Community Reports
  10. Adjournment:

San Bernardino County is committed to ensuring persons with disabilities are provided the resources to participate fully in public meetings.  If you require disability-related modifications or accommodations, including auxiliary aid or services, contact the BOS office at least three business days prior to the meeting.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Desert Trail Column, September 10, 2015

The Fall Opening at the Glass Outhouse Art Gallery, 77575 29 Palms Highway, is Saturday, September 12 from 5 to 9 pm, with Leslie Andrews as the featured artist, plus the not-to-miss Art Around America, presented by Laurel and Frank.  Refreshments will be served, and music under the stars provided by the Luminators. For information, call 760-367-3807.


The monthly meeting chaired by our Basinwide MAC representative Teresa Sitz will be held Monday, September 14 at our community center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road, at 9 am. Assistant Chief of Staff Jim Ricker and Community Liaison Kristina Becker from the Marine Corps Base will be there to answer any questions you may have.

The Basinwide MAC meeting will also take place Monday, September 14 at the Joshua Tree Community Center on Sunburst Road from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

We send out Rainbows-of-Sapphires-and-Asters to Sherry Hague who celebrates her special day this week. Happy birthday, Sherry!

Darlene’s Commentary:  I want to tell everyone what a wonderful organization Mission Home Health Care is. From the office staff to the field workers, everyone was extremely positive, helpful, well-educated, experienced and ready to answer any question. I am certain that these qualities make an enormous difference in a patient’s healing. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank Registered Nurse Maria for explaining everything to me clearly (and her sense of humor when my dog Otis almost knocked her over!), Case Manager Chris Farrand for helping me move through the stages smoothly with her can-do spirit, and Physical Therapist Debbie Brackett for helping me through the pain and healing with encouragement to move forward. And I hope Ms Scheivan from Ireland decides to join the group – you’ll make an excellent addition to the team!

Karen’s Commentary: There must be some kind of special solid-gold loving cup award available for an ad-writer/artist who is capable of creating a cute- and cuddly-looking bladder with a whole range of sweet facial expressions! If someone had told me awhile back that there would be an ad on TV with a darling little bladder in it – well, the laughter would’ve been uproarious to start with! I really think an award is due here.



  The Wonder Valley Thrift Store, on Godwin Road north of Highway 62, is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 to noon. All proceeds go to the Godwin Christian Fellowship Church building fund.

Handy Hint: Buy plain cottage cheese and yogurt and stir in fresh or canned fruit. Much cheaper and healthier than buying pre-flavored versions.

Thought for Today: “You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.” – Indira Gandhi


Until next time . . . remember to take time to enjoy the WONDERs all around us.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Weather in Wonder Valley

James Sibley, of the Palms Bar and Restaurant, posted this photograph yesterday.

Looking toward The Palms. Click through to embiggen.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Agenda for Second Monday Community Meeting - September 14, 2015

[Updated on 09082015 - I made a correction on the MAC report.]

Download the agenda

WONDER VALLEY MONTHLY MONDAY MEETING
Second Monday of the month, September 14, 2015, 9:00 a.m.
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277
Wonder Valley MAC Delegate and Meeting Chair: Teresa Sitz
Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.


"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; 
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
  1. Call to order
  2. Introductions
  3. Community comment on items not on the agenda
    The community is also invited to comment after the reports and during the discussions below.
  4. Reports and Presentations
    A. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
    B. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Jim Ricker  Assistant Chief of Staff G5, Kristina Becker Community Liaison
    C. Discussion and possible action: Shall the community endorse the delegate’s MAC Report to be read at the MAC meeting tonight?
  5. Ongoing Business
    "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh
    A. Neighborhood Watch and NextDoor
    B. Illegal Dumping
    C. Discussion and/or possible action:
    D. Shall the Community schedule a community potluck for October?
  6. Agenda planning
    The community is invited to suggest items to place on the next meeting agenda.
  7. Announcements
  8. Adjournment 

September 14, 2015, MAC Report: Wonder Valley
by Teresa Sitz, Wonder Valley Delegate

We had a community meeting this morning with ___ in attendance. We were very happy to welcome Jim Rickers and Kristina Becker of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, to present. We also discussed dates for a community cleanup and a community potluck.

On August 15 neighbors took me on a tour of the north of Amboy neighborhood and showed me dump sites and a high crime area.

The following week I followed up on a letter that a community member received from an oil company asking permission to use their property for a pipeline. I believe this letter was several years old but the community member was still concerned.

I researched the issue and found that the pipeline under Pipeline Road originally belonged to Arco and was called the Arco 16, being 16” in diameter. At some point it was owned by Questar who then sold it to Southern California Gas. Southern California Gas now owns it and uses it to transport natural gas. Questar attempted to buy the pipeline back from Southern California Gas to convert it to ship crude oil, some of which is the highly volatile Bakken crude obtained by hydraulic fracking. Questar then considered putting down another 16” pipeline along the Southern California Gas line and contacted a large number of landowners, including our community member, asking for permission to cross their land with the pipeline.

I spoke with Steve Chapman, a spokesperson at Questar, and he told me the company is looking at several possibilities including a rail terminus at White Water where they would offload crude oil into a pipeline there. Another option is moving crude oil by rail along the BLM utility corridor that parallels the 10 freeway, or selling their pipelines to another company.

This is an issue that we need to keep an eye on. A crude oil spill anywhere in the Morongo Basin would be tragic.

Looking at Google maps it seems that along some portions of Pipeline Road in Wonder Valley you can see the profile of the Arco pipeline – that it may not be buried deeply. I’d like to research this further as it seems that off-road and even on-road vehicles could conceivably strike the pipeline and fracture it, leading to a gas leak. This would be one reason to oppose the WEMO plan and continue to limit OHV access on public roads and lands, and also ask Southern California Gas to assess the possibility of this type of accident.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Kip's Desert Book Club - Road to Soul


Monday, September 7, 2015 at 7:00pm
Copper Mountain Mesa Community Center Gazebo
65336 Winters Road, Joshua Tree CA 92252

Everyone is welcome and invited to attend - bring a dish to share for the potluck, and your favorite beverage. Dogs on leashes are welcome at this venue.

Our September book club selection is ROAD TO SOUL by Carmen Mendoza. Don't feel bad if you haven't heard about it – this collection of short stories was published only a few months ago with a book release party at the 29 Palms Inn. Mendoza is a graduate of Twentynine Palms High School, and now lives in Colorado. The memories of driving the lonely roads of the Mojave inspire Mendoza's writing to this day. The prose gets a little racy at times, a perfect easy read for the end of summer.

This is the twelfth meeting of Kip's Desert Book Club. Learn more about this monthly gathering.

P.S. In honor of the one year anniversary of Kip's Desert Book Club in October, October's book club meeting will be at The Palms Restaurant and Saloon and we will be reading Edna in the Desert by Maddy Lederman, a book written in, and about, Wonder Valley.

Glass Outhouse Opening - September 12


Saturday, September 12, 2015 - 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
The Glass Outhouse Art Gallery, 77575 Hwy 62, Wonder Valley, CA 92277

Artist, musician, and radio star Leslie Mariah Andrews opens the 2015-2016 season at the Glass Outhouse Art Gallery, with her show, "The Art of Life." The other exhibit will be Art across America, art collected on Laurel and Frank's recent cross country trip.

Live music by the LUMINATORS, good food, great company.

If you've never been here, please come check out one the most fascinating places in Wonder Valley, complete with a hand-built chapel, grave yard, solar toy display, bottle garden, quick sand, animatronic barn yard, a bicycle ranch, the GLASS OUTHOUSE (they can't see in but you can see out) and OH, SO much more. It's a WONDER!

Bring a few sheckles for the musicians who usually play for free, if you feel so inclined.

Goodbye, Summer!


At the Palms Restaurant
83131 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277

Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
No cover charge


Chicken Dinner Special!
BBQ Chicken with Baked Beans,
Coleslaw Corn on the cob $4.50
Festival Chili Dog $2.50

Drink Specials Gin & Tonic $2.50

The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn, Sunday, September 6 at 3:00 p.m.


This week's MANY MOODS OF BEN VAUGHN will feature selections by these fine recording artists and more. Full playlist to follow.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
KCDZ, Joshua Tree, CA (Sundays at 3:00 pm PST)

AVAILABLE AS PODCAST: 
Now available on iTunes thanks to KCDZ in Joshua Tree, CA.

Where's Heather?

Wonder Valley's own artist, Heather Johnson, is riding her motorcycle to the other end of the Americas. Heather, somewhere in Peru.

Desert Trail Column, September 3, 2015

We send out Rainbows-of-Sapphires-and-Asters to Cheryl Davies who celebrates her special day this week. Happy birthday, Cheryl!


Karen’s Commentary: Well, at least the flies have let up a bit now. That was a really unwelcome invasion. While the worst of it was going on, we discovered a flytrap being sold at Stater Bros for six dollars a pop. It really worked great, but in all the information on the package, there was not one mention or warning of the horrible smell to come. At first we thought something had died under our porch, but finally narrowed the odor down to the flytrap. The trick is to get the trap far enough away (or downwind) so you don’t smell it, but close enough to be effective. Or it would make a great deterrent. Don’t want someone walking on your just-raked area? Hang a flytrap there! It’s just a thought.

Darlene’s Commentary: About a month ago, I took several calls from my ancient answering machine, wrote the names and numbers down, and didn’t see them again until yesterday. (I blame it on the anesthesia. Oh, well.) I apologize to Mr Joe Perez, a former Wonder Valley resident, who happens to be a handsome 92 years old and reads our column faithfully. Joe was having problems with those BIG red ants. He told me that they would find a way into his wild birdseed feeder and hummingbird feeder no matter what he did, and he asked for the “ant solution” that we used as a handy hint awhile back in our column. Here it is:  Using original blue Dawn dish soap, full-strength, make a barrier about three inches wide around the target area where the ants want to go. Spread it in a solid thin coat with your fingers, and place it where the ants HAVE to cross it to get to their target. Just keep in mind that what keeps them away is that they do not want to walk in
 the dish soap. In the case of a bird feeder, I would suggest putting the dish soap barrier where it attaches to the post, pole, wall, etc.
Our Wonder Valley Fire Station #45 is staffed 24/7 with two San Bernardino County Fire personnel, with at least one of them being a Paramedic. We are very fortunate to have this kind of emergency coverage in a small rural community. If you see the bay doors open, stop in and say hello.

Handy Hint: Mix coffee grounds into soil for a nitrogen-rich plant food.

Thought for Today:
A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.

Until next time . . . remember to take time to enjoy the WONDERs all around us.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Wonder Valley man arrested

A Wonder Valley man was arrested this week in Yucca Valley.

SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBER ARRESTED FRIDAY
By Z107.7 News, on August 31st, 2015
"A Wonder Valley man was arrested Friday, accused of holding up a Yucca Valley pharmacy with a knife earlier that day. According to a Sheriff’s press release, a man, later identified as Justin Becker, 23, entered the New Pharmacy located in the Town Center Mall about 9 a.m., brandished a knife at clerks, and demanded narcotics. Becker then fled on foot with the drugs. About 3:50 that afternoon, deputies stopped Becker on an unrelated call near Larrea Road and Old Woman Springs Road in Johnson Valley. Becker was driving a white Ford which deputies determined was involved in the robbery. Justin Becker was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $100,000."