Meeting notes from CSD meeting

Thirty people attended the CSD meeting

The notes for Saturday's CSD meeting are posted.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j17iz6viux4bmlq/03262016_wv_meeting_notes.pdf?dl=0

Adopt-a-Road Program

Hi All,

I've been researching county programs that might help us reduce dumping in our beautiful desert. One that looks very promising is the San Bernardino County Adopt-a-Road Program. You can adopt an entire road, or just a mile, and then you are responsible for 4 cleanups a year. The county provides the tools you need including trash bags and they come pick up the bags. They'll also pick up any bulky items that have been dumped in the area.

People who adopt a road may apply for a sign and the SIGN is what I think will make the difference. I know that many people who dump in the desert are thoughtless, but I believe that SOME of them may see a sign that says the "Smith Family" or the "Wonder Valley Hiking Club" maintains this road, then they MAY think twice about dumping there.

Adopt-a-Road signs would give the appearance that Wonder Valley is owned by the people who live here and is not just a wasteland for people to dump in.

So, I would encourage you to join. If you have any questions, please contact me: teresa_sitz@gmail.com.

To learn more about the program, and sign up, follow this link:
http://www.sbcounty.gov/dpw/operations/adopt-a-road.asp

To see the map of available roads, follow this link:
http://sbcountydpw.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=53a06871b7324ad9b947df3ad1ba9164

Here are the available roads in Wonder Valley:
These are called "County Maintained Road System" (CMRS)

Amador between Amboy and Montalyo
Amboy to Bullions Mountain Road
Anza from Amboy to the end of the road
Bullion Mountain Road between Valle Vista and Amboy
Diamond Bar between Bullion and Falderman
Encanto between Bullion and Falderman
Falderman between Amboy to a little past Sunny Sands Drive
Godwin between 62 and Amboy
Montalyo between Bullion and Falderman
Pinto Mountain Road from Amboy to Valle Vista
Raymond Drive between Bullion and Mojave Road
Valle Vista between Pinto and Bullion

Please let me know if any of these roads have dump sites contiguous to them or are high crime areas.

Desert Trail Column, July 23, 2015

The meeting with our Basinwide MAC representative Teresa Sitz on July 13 was very informative and interesting. Reps from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and Roads Department were there, answering numerous questions from the audience. Wonder Valley Community Watch signs, WV pencils, WV postcards, flyers and informational sheets were given out, and a lot of subjects were discussed.

Seniors and disabled persons can apply for free painting, light carpentry and light repair work. Call 760-361-1410.

Leo Calice and Gerhard Treml from Vienna, Austria will screen the very unique “Eden’s Edge” at The Palms, 83131 Amboy Road, on Saturday, July 25 at 8 pm. “Eden’s Edge” consists of nine shorts, one of which is Darlene’s story of raising worms in the desert! This collection of short films is like nothing you’ve ever seen – it will be well worth your time to attend. More details at bit.ly/edens_edge.

We send out Rainbows-of-Rubies-and-Larkspurs to Star Javier, Isabel Austin and Mary Anderson who are all celebrating their special days this week. Happy birthday to all of you!

Karen’s Commentary:  Thanks to Jan Peek for stamps, cards and coupons. I just sent two big boxfuls of cards to St Jude’s Ranch for Children. An update on the ants:  They came back! So I am now a true believer in the powers of original blue Dawn as opposed to the cheap stuff. I applied a thin coating of “OBD” about two inches wide on the kitchen counter top all along the wall, and no more ants!

Darlene’s Commentary: Gerhard Treml  emailed me from Vienna, Austria about the showing of “Eden’s Edge” at The Palms this Saturday, but I will unfortunately be unable to attend due to my upcoming surgery. Gerhard, Edith and their team came here a couple of years ago to interview folks that had a story to tell about life in our beautiful and unique piece of desert. I was so honored to have my story selected and developed as one of the nine short films in their project. “Eden’s Edge” has been screened at art film festivals around the world, including Germany, Poland, South Korea, France, Austria and Slovenia.

If you want to ask about, complain about or cheer about our road maintenance, call 760-367-9880.

Handy Hint: To prevent a door from constantly blowing shut, put one part of an adhesive-backed Velcro fastener on the end of the doorstop and the other part on the wall.

Thought for Today: All Chinese bar codes start with the number eight, because it is pronounced in Chinese the same way as the word for “prosperity” and considered to be a lucky number.

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

Rain storm over the north of Amboy neghborhood in Wonder Valley, 7/19/15, Teresa Siz

BLM West Mojave Plan - IMPORTANT, please review

The public comment period for the WEMO (WEst MOjave Plan) opened on March 5 and will close June 4, 2015. Send your comments to:

mailto:cawemopa@blm.gov or by mail to:

Bureau of Land Management
California Desert District
Attn: WMRNP Plan Amendment
22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos
Moreno Valley, CA 92553

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MAC member Pat FLANAGAN (Desert Heights) gave a presentation on the WEMO Plan at the last MAC meeting. I encourage you to view it. Her presentation begins at 59 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YysGKI94mU

I am unclear on the impacts of Alternative 3 but some people are concerned that this will allow OHV access to 1.) county dirt roads and 2.) to BLM land adjacent to private property. I cannot speak to the validity of these concerns though I am looking into it. As it seems these concerns are at least possibilities I recommend that Wonder Valley residents look into this and write letters to the BLM addressing your concerns and interests.

I will try to arrange a presentation to better explain the impacts of this plan.

- Teresa Sitz, MAC Delegate, Wonder Valley

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The preferred BLM alternative (3) will increase OHV roads from 5,338 miles to 10,428 miles.

Read more here: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd/west_mojave__wemo.html

The plan, chapter by chapter:
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd/west_mojave__wemo/wmDEIS.html

Chapter 2 - The 4 plans (3 is preferred by BLM)
http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/cdd/west_mojave_plan_updates/wm-deis.Par.23916.File.dat/508-WEMO%20SDEIS%20Chapter%202_Jan%2029%202015_508.pdf
Alternative 1 - page 2-36
Alternative 2 - page 2-38
Alternative 3 - page 2-39, 2-65, (preferred, see page 2-88)
Alternative 4 - page 2-41

Comparison of Length (in miles) of Alternative Route Networks (Chapter 2, page 2-86)

Total Open and Limited Miles of Routes in Network
Alternative 1 (current) 5,338
Alternative 2 4,293
Alternative 3 10,428
Alternative 4 5,782