Community Meeting, Sunday, 1 PM, November 15, 2026

The Friends of Wonder Valley sponsors

The 8th Wonder Valley

COMMUNITY MEETING

1 PM, SUNDAY, November 15

Wonder Valley Community Center

80526 ½ Amboy Road, Wonder Valley

Everyone is welcome to attend and to participate.

Sign up for updates at:

https://tinyurl.com/wv411

3rd Wonder Valley Community Meeting - April 26, 2026

 

The Wonder Valley Community Center has been closed for renovations, so we can’t meet there for our April 26th meeting. Instead of canceling, we’ve reserved Founders Hall at the Twentynine Palms Historical Society.

The 3rd Wonder Valley Community Meeting.
1 pm, Sunday, April 26 at

Founders Hall, Twentynine Palms Historical Society
6760 National Park Drive in 29 Palms.

Everyone is welcome to attend and to participate.

We will be prioritizing issues brought up at last months meeting, and choosing two to put on next month's agenda. The meeting attendees will be deciding on what will be agendized. This is worth celebrating!

Sign up for updates at:
https://www.friendsofwondervalley.org/p/email-list.html

Good News From The Friends of Wonder Valley

It’s been a hard few years for our little board. First there was Covid, which shut down the Wonder Valley Community Center -- our primary venue for events and programming. Then several board members were hit with personal hardships. Our dear friend and board member, Gary Tufel, died in May of 2025. In addition to all of this, renovations were started on the WVCC, making it unavailable to us.

Despite all of this, the Friends of Wonder Valley (FOWV) continued hosting the monthly social meeting Chit Chat & Chew; and we continue to buy supplies for, and support, the USDA Food Distribution.

THE GOOD NEWS IS…
We are thrilled to announce that in our recent end-of-the-year board meeting, we added three new board members: Nick Harmon, Reeyna Daniel, and Kelly Hake, and confirmed Jeffrey Barrett as our Community Outreach Liaison.

This is in addition to board members: Teresa Sitz, Ken Sitz, Isul Kim, and Stewart West.

We are meeting early in January to start planning events and programs, and are excited to begin working together.

Join us by supporting our work! Give through the PayPal Giving Fund. Nonprofits, such as ours, are thoroughly vetted, and no fees are taken from your donation.

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/CKEQ82D6XQH8L

Dark Skies & Wonder Valley - Fri, April 14, 2023 @ WVCC

Join us to learn how we can protect the Dark Skies in Wonder Valley.

Friday, April 14, 2023 • 7:30pm

Wonder Valley Community Center

80526-1/2 Amboy Road, 92277

Free and open to the public.

Ted Chat: Weed Show Preparation, Saturday 9/17/2022

Have you ever wanted to submit an entry to the Twentynine Palms Historical Society's Annual Weed Show? Have you ever wanted to win? Ted Meyers, long-time Wonder Valley resident, has won the Weed Show multiple times (honestly, we've lost count!) and returns to the WV Community Center to share his winning secrets with us.

SATURDAY, 9/17, 10 a.m - noon at the Wonder Valley Community Center 

Ted will be here to explain the Weed Show's strict rules; the differences in categories; choosing a display base; collecting and using weeds effectively; choices of accessories and tips and tricks.

Three things the audience will take away from the presentation: 

• How to construct a display.
• The importance of following all rules.
• There are no monetary prizes involved, but the fun, the feeling of accomplishment and the possibility of winning bragging rights for a full year are worth the effort!

This is NOT a hands on class so you don't have to bring anything but yourselves. Ted will be doing all the demonstrating.

The 2022 Annual Weed Show is scheduled for Saturday & Sunday November 5 & 6 at the Old School House Museum, 6760 National Park Drive, 29 Palms.

Chit-Chat & Chew - Saturday September 10, 2022

Chit-Chat & Chew, the monthly 2nd Saturday neighborhood get-together returns Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 8 a.m. till 10 a.m. at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526-1/2 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley. 

The early morning monthly gathering is where Wonder Valley neighbors, weekenders, and visitors gather to meet without an agenda to share news, stories and the history of Wonder Valley, past, present and future.

Chit-Chat & Chew has been a wild success and is a fun way to grow community connections and build neighborhood resilience before folks start their Saturday errands and continue their chores. Coffee, Espresso and tea, along with other refreshments and pastries will be provided.

STOP THE BLEED | No one should die from bleeding - FREE!

A person can bleed to death in just a few minutes. If you know how to stop bleeding, you can save a life, and that life may be your own, or that of a loved one. Living in a rural area, knowing how to stop bleeding is an indispensable skill. Get yours! FREE!

Gael Whetstone BSN RN, from Desert Care Network, Desert Regional Medical Center, Level II Trauma Center will teach the nationally recognized Stop the Bleed course from 

10 a.m. to 12 noon, Saturday, June 4, 2022
at the
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526-½ Amboy Road
Wonder Valley CA 92277

Reserve your space by calling: James Dunham at 760-367-9880

This is a national program to teach the lay person hemorrhage control by using direct pressure, wound packing and tourniquet application. It was created in response to mass casualty incidents, however, it can be used for earthquakes, car crashes, etc.

The same basic principles also apply to animals so some of what you learn can also be applied to pets and livestock.

Those who attend and complete the class will receive a certificate of completion.

An RSVP is required for this event. Class size is limited to 15. There will be a wait list, and the class will be held again if needed. For more information and to sign up for the class, please call James Dunham at 760-367-9880. 

The Magic and Fun of SPROUTS! FREE!

 Learn How to Set Up a Countertop Sprout Garden 
with Doug Evans, Wonder Valley author of "The Sprout Book"

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Sunday, June 12, 2022
at the
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526-½ Amboy Road
(under the big fake palm tree!)
Wonder Valley CA 90027

Sprouting is fast, cheap, easy and sprouts are the most nutritious food on the planet.

FAST * CHEAP * EASY

When the class is over you will --

• know why sprouts are the perfect food for treating chronic illnesses like diabetes and obesity.
• learn step-by-step how to grow nutritious and delicious lentil sprouts in a jar using water. 
• know what equipment you will need and the best places to get it.
• know how to grow your own food without soil, sunshine or fertilizer.
• be able to grow your own vegetables on your kitchen countertop with simple, low cost equipment.

Attendees will have free online access to “The Sprout Book,” with instructions and sprouting charts.

If you have questions, contact Doug Evans at doug@dougevans.com

This event is sponsored by the Friends of Wonder Valley, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Friends of Wonder Valley seeks to enhance the lives of the people of Wonder Valley
by providing programs that engage residents and build community.

Wonder Valley Community Cleanup.

 

WONDER VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP

San Bernardino County Code Enforcement and Solid Waste Management Divisions

will be providing bulky trash collection containers for the FREE disposal of

accumulated trash, e-waste, and tires. Please bring your bulky items and trash to

the designated container at the location listed below. This program is limited to the

residents of the unincorporated County area.

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 WILL ACCEPT household trash, bulky items, green waste and vehicle tires.

The Urban Conservation Corps will be present to accept electronics

(TV’s, computer monitors, VCR’s, stereos, cell phones, microwaves & more)

WE CANNOT ACCEPT HAZARDOUS WASTE. This includes motor oil and oil filters,

antifreeze, gasoline, drain cleaner, pesticides, fertilizers, fluorescent lights,

wood preservatives, pool and hobby supplies, auto/furniture polish, paint thinners,

paint products or similar products.

For current information, locations and times for the disposal of Household

Hazardous Waste, please call the Household Hazardous Waste Program:

1-800-OILY-CAT (1-800-645-9228)

WONDER VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP

WHEN: Saturday, June 18, 2020; 8:00 a.m. to NOON (or until equipment is full)

WHERE: Wonder Valley Community Center

80526-½ Amboy Road, Wonder Valley (next to the palm tree cell phone tower)

PLEASE BRING A PHOTO ID WITH YOUR ADDRESS

If you have questions regarding this event,

please call County Code Enforcement at 909-884-4056.

RE: Wonder Inn

 I'm sorry to report that neither Ken nor I have received any documents or links to documents from the Project Team.

When we have, we will post them here, on the Wonder Valley Community Page on Facebook, on Wonder Valley NextDoor.

Teresa Sitz

Dale Basin Well Owners Meeting - Sunday March 13, 2022

The Dale Basin Well Owners Association (DBWOA) is holding its Spring 2022 membership meeting at the Wonder Valley Community Center on Sunday March 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All Wonder Valley residents, property owners and stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The DBWOA was incorporated as a non-partisan community non-profit back in February 1989 but was operating informally for some time before its establishment as a non-profit. Of the various community organizations once active here, the Volunteer Fire Department, Citizens Alliance for Wonder Valley, Wonder Valley Improvement Group, Wonder Valley Citizens against the Formation of a Community Services District (CSD), American Legion Auxiliary Post 729, and the Wonder Valley Hiking Club, the Dale Basin Well Owners Association is the only one still extant.

More than ever, Wonder Valley needs a clear, consistent, non-partisan voice in matters effecting our community. While membership in the DBWOA has been traditionally limited to those who owned wells, the organization is in the process of amending it's bylaws to expand its membership to all Wonder Valley residents, property owners and stakeholders. The mission of the DBWOA is also being updated to include all water related issues and to provide a voice for the community in dealings with County, Special Districts (CSA 70 M) and others local area, state and federal agencies such as Morongo Basin water districts and the Bureau of Land Management.

The Sunday March 13, 2022 membership meeting is for the election of a new 6-member board of directors and discussion of amendments to the bylaws to institute an expanded membership and mission for the DBWOA. Copies of the DBWOA incorporation document, revised bylaws, and agendas of the the special subcommittee that met over last Summer will shortly be available on the DBWOA website. The agenda for the March meeting will be posted online and at the WVCC later this week and public comments are welcome at the meeting.

Former DBWOA president Steve Reyes will kickoff the meeting and suggest a framework for an expanded role for the organization, and provide a report of topics impacting the Morongo Basin.

The Wonder Valley Community Center is located at 80526-1/2 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley. and the WVCC coordinator James Dunham can be reached at 760-367-9880.

Bystander Overdose Response Training a Success

The Bystander Overdose Response Training conducted by We Reach Out Yucca Valley and sponsored by Friends of Wonder Valley (FOWV) on Monday February 28 at the WVCC was a success with a good midday turn-out of 13 local residents who became certified and left with a two-dose Narcan kit that can be used to save a life in the event of an opiate overdose.

SAVE A LIFE: Bystander Overdose Response Training was presented by Seth Farison and he put the opiate crisis in perspective and covered how to counter the stigma associated with Opiate Use Disorder. When a person is suffering from a drug overdose, time is essential, and a trained bystander can save a life.The free training session taught how to identify the signs of an opioid overdose (including fentanyl a synthetic opiate 80-100 times stronger than morphine) and how to administer the overdose reversal drug naloxone.

FOWV would especially like to thank Jill Reinig for her encouragement and support of this event.

 

Meet WV Community Center Coordinator James Dunham

The Wonder Valley Community Center (WVCC) has a new Coordinator. Please welcome James Dunham.

California born and raised, James Dunham has been a Wonder Valley resident the last three plus years. He majored in Electrical Engineering at Cal State University,  Long Beach and worked for ten years at Hughes Aircraft Company. James has spent over thirty years in the glass arts and crafts industry doing sales, support and teaching. His hobbies include ongoing study in art, science, electronics and music, and he enjoys reading, cooking, and watching documentaries.

You may already have seen James at The Palms or a local astronomy event, and he's been a regular volunteer at the monthly USDA food distributions at the Wonder Valley Community Center over the last year.

The WVCC is back to it's regular schedule of Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This month's special events include the February USDA food distribution for Wonder Valley residents on Tuesday 2/15 starting at 10 a.m. until the food runs out, and help for residents from the San Bernardino County Aging and Adult Services on Wednesday 2/16 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Stop by the WVCC and say a big hello to James!

Welcoming the old and new on this Lunar New Year's Eve!

Longtime Wonder Valley road grader Tim Candelaria is 'back in the saddle' as our full-time road maintenance operator as of today! Older residents will recall how much we missed his dedicated work and deep knowledge about our Wonder Valley roads, easily the BEST roads in the entire Morongo Basin. To request road maintenance you can call 909-386-8800 or use the online reporting system. Hint - using the phone, available during regular business hours, is your best bet.

And if that wasn't enough good news for this Lunar New Year's Eve, the Wonder Valley Community Center Coordinator position has officially been filled by local resident James Dunham who started today as well! The WVCC will resume scheduled hours this week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. Call 760-367-9880 for the WVCC coordinator and see the updated calendar  for full schedule of events. The next USDA food distribution is Tuesday 2/15 at 10 a.m. until noon (or the food runs out) and Bob Dougherty from SBC Aging & Adult Services will be back at the WVCC on Wednesday 2/16 from 10-11 a.m. helping seniors and at risk individuals to access resources to improve or maintain choice, independence and quality of life.

Happy Year of the Tiger! Gong Hei Fat Choy! Chuc Mung Nam Moi! Chodesh Tov!

New Road Request Form & Phone Number

Wonder Valley CSA 70-M receives new tractor for road maintenance, July 1990

San Bernardino County Special Districts has a new road repair web and mobile form for Wonder Valley (CSA 70M) residents to submit their road maintenance requests. It also has a phone line to SBC Public Works where requests can be submitted to be routed to the proper road district. The web and mobile URL is below, or you can use the QR code to reach the URL with a mobile device. The phone number for submitting a request is 909-386-8800 and a receptionist will take the information during normal business hours (M-F, 8am-5pm). You will be able to leave a voice message during non-business hours.

https://specialdistricts.sbcounty.gov/roads/road-repair-request/

Because the form-based submission process has changed quite a bit we've compiled these step-by-step instructions. 

1. SUBMIT A REQUEST: Go to the Road Request URL on your desktop, tablet or phone either clicking on the link above or use the QR code on your mobile device.

Select Road Issue from the list of categories or start typing Road Issue into the search box. Select Road Issue in the highlighted text below the search box to move to the next step.

2. LOCATION: Enter "Wonder Valley 92277" in the Address search box and "Wonder Valley Park & Recreation" and "Wonder Valley Community Center" will appear below in results. The map below will shift to center on whichever one you selected - and this an awkward method to be sure - but with this map interface you must move the map underneath the orange oval locator (map pin) to get an generated address to complete a road request submission. Since you probably aren't reporting a issue at either of those two pre-selected locations, use the minus sign (-) to zoom out to get a larger view of Wonder Valley until you can visually locate your requested road section. Now drag the map to bring that section underneath the locator and an highlighted address with appear in the search box above and underneath Road Issue in the right hand box. When you're satisfied by the map location and address, click Confirm Location to move to the next step.

3. ADD PHOTO: You have the opportunity to upload a photo of the road issue, or to choose No Photo. Clicking on No Photo will advance you to the Details page where you can enter a written description and other specifics.

4. DETAILS: Write in a brief description of the road issue and any relevant specifics and click Confirm Details.

5. SUBMIT: This step asks "How would you like to submit this request?" which one of two choices, either "Submit as yourself" or "Hide your identity" as the request will be publicly viewable. Choose one, it defaults to "Submit as yourself," and click Next.

6. REGISTER OR SIGN-IN: You must choose to register and create a SeeClickFix account or sign-in from your existing SeeClickFix account in order to submit a road request. Click on either choice.

7. SIGN-IN AND SUBMIT: The 2 following screens are for either registering an SeeClickFix account or logging into an existing SeeClickFix account.

SUMMARY: This 7-step process with awkward map interface replaces the previous 3-step submission process so you might be better off just using the phone number.

909-386-8800

Wonder Valley Forever 2021 - Sunday 12/19/2021

 After there were homesteads came a community. Then came the watering holes and places to meet. Please join Steve Reyes for a Sunday afternoon browsing a treasure trove of Wonder Valley historical photos.

We'll be visiting the California Agricultural Checkpoint before it because the Wonder Valley Volunteer Fire Department, look at gatherings of American Legion Post 729 and its Women's Auxiliary at Barnett's and the Palms, and the Wonder Valley Hiking Club on local outings and parading in 29 Palms' Pioneer Days.

Steve Reyes is a local historian who lives in Wonder Valley and collects stories, documents, artifacts and oral histories.

Sunday December 19, 2021 at 1 pm, the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526½ Amboy Road. 

The event is free and light refreshments will be served.

[This event is sponsored by the Friends of Wonder Valley and we encourage everyone to visit and join the Twentynine Palms Historical Society whose museum and state of the art archives contains a wealth of local history.]

Dale Basin Well Owners Association, Saturday November 13, 2021

The Dale Basin Well Owners Association's (DBWOA) bi-annual membership meeting will be held Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 11 a.m. the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526½ Amboy Road in Wonder Valley.

The Dale Basin Well Owners Association aims to provide a unified and legal entity in all matters related to the Dale Basin aquifer and its well owners' interests. Founded over 32 years ago, the DBWOA is nonpolitical and advocates for conservation measures to protect the natural desert aspects of the Dale Basin Area and preserve its waters from intrusion by outside interests.

Last Spring a working subcommittee was constituted and tasked with reviewing the DBOWA's mission and bylaws, updating its communications and outreach, and a renewed focus on current threats including proliferating illegal cannabis 'grows,' groundwater mining, and the impact of the continuing drought. The subcommittee met several times over the Spring and Summer to prepare its recommendations to the general membership.

Long time Wonder Valley resident and member of the DBWOA Jim Copeland will provide a short presentation on the history of the Dale Basin aquifer and efforts to protect it.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Membership is open to well owners in Wonder Valley for $5 a year (hurry, before annual dues go up!). Please attend and bring your well owning neighbors.

For more information, visit the Dale Basin Well Owners Association website or contact the DBWOA at info@dalebasinwellowners.org

See previous Dale Basin Well Owners posts

Joshua Springs 29 Palms Campus

 

They're HERE.

Joshua Springs Calvary Chapel is now in control of the former Godwin Christian Fellowhip on Godwin near Highway 62. 

For a brief period between the closing of GCF and the transfer to JSCC we had an egalitarian ratio of churches to bars -- 1:1. Now there will be 100% more churches than there previously were, and 100% more churches than bars. Le sigh.

The new church already has a website up:
https://www.joshuasprings.com/29palms

The "launching date" is Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 10:00 am. 

Wonder Valley Stories

 One of our local interweb geniuses has created a new Wonder Valley website:

WONDER VALLEY STORIES
https://www.wondervalleystories.com/blog

The site is beautiful and easy to use, and already contains some fabulous WV content.

Check out these links:
Wonder Valley - An Unpublished Story

A Free Wheelin' interview with Bob Rowell (AKA Harmonica Bob) by Gary Tufel

Jack Rabbit Homestead History

Interview with George Howell by Gary Tufel

Thanks to all involved for this wonderful project!

WVCC COORDINATOR: Apply from 9/4/2021 through 9/17/2021

The County of San Bernardino invites application for the position of of
Community Center Coordinator - Wonder Valley (PSD/Extra Help)
Job Number: 21-50223WV-01 (Active beginning September 4, 2021)

SALARY: Hourly
APPLY BY: 5:00 p.m., 09/17/2021
Applicants are encouraged to apply online: http://www.sbcounty.gov/jobs 
(Active beginning September 4, 2021)

DOWNLOAD THE FLIER AND QUESTIONNAIRE: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-deZDG4Jl6KFKCZOEzKfCGj05QeLAP80/view?usp=sharing

THE POSITION:
The Special Districts Department, Parks and Recreation Division , is recruiting for a PSA/Extra Help Community Center Coordinator to perform general and routine oversight of facility activities and reservations, assuring buildings and grounds are clean, safe, and orderly for scheduled activities and usage. This position is located in Wonder Valley, and is currently scheduled for 15-20 hours per week. Wonder Valley is located approximately 2 hours/100 miles from downtown San  Bernardino.

Primary duties consist of locking and unlocking the building; answering phones, ordering supplies, and filing; reserving rooms, collecting rental fees, and issuing receipts; readying the building for scheduled activities (arrangement of chairs, etc.); cleaning the building (including floors, common areas, restrooms, sinks, counters, windows, and emptying of trash); and monitoring grounds, playground, and park areas. 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
AVAILABILITY: Must be available to work in Wonder Valley. This is an extra-help, non-regular Public Service Employee (PSE) position. This position works approximately 15-20 hours per week and required availability to work evenings and weekends/holidays as needed. Successful candidates shall be considered at-will throughout the term of employment. 

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License must be provided at the time of hire and maintained throughout employment.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Must be able to frequently lift and/or carry items weighing 10 pounds and up to 50 pounds, stoop, kneel, crouch, bend over, crawl, and perform other physical activities in the performance of job duties for this position.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

EXPERIENCE: Six (6) months of paid work experience in office procedures, custodial duties, grounds caretaker practices, or building/facilities maintenance.
NOTE: Ensure your qualifying experience is clearly detailed in your work history section of the application. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have prior experience in a municipal parks and recreation program, school district, or related public service industry, especially with coordinating reservations and use of computer programs.

SELECTION PROCESS
There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on the information provided in the Application and/or Resume. As well as the information provided as a response to the Supplemental Questionnaire. You are encouraged to include detailed descriptions of you qualifying experience and skills, as only the most highly qualified applicants will be referred to the Department. 

The Human Resources Department reserves the right to modify the examination process in accordance with the Personnel Rules and accepted selection practices.

Applications may be obtained and filed online at: http://www.sbcounty.gov/jobs
(909) 387-8304 - TTY Users:711
175 West Fifth Street, 1st Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415

An Equal Employment Opportunity and ADA Compliant Employer

Issue Date: 09/04/2021