USDA Food Distribution -- April 16, 2019.

The USDA Food Distribution will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at noon on Tuesday, April 16th, at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526-½ Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277. The Community Center is next to the Fire Station.

Low income Wonder Valley residents self-certify on site. No ID or other documentation is required. You may pick up ONE (1) box for a neighbor, or they may pick up ONE (1) box for you, IF a signed pick up form is presented. One pick up per person. Pick up forms are available online at http://tinyurl.com/wv-pickup-form. They are also available at the WVCC on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., and at the kiosk outside the WVCC the week before the event.

For more information, call Teresa Sitz at (760) 367-9880.

The text below is required.

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1) mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or 

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

USDA Food Distribution, March 2018

us

The USDA Food Distribution will begin at 9:30 a.m. on TUESDAY, March 19, at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526-½ Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277. The Community Center is next to the Fire Station.

Low income Wonder Valley residents self-certify on site. No ID or other documentation is required. You may pick up a box for one neighbor, or they may pick up a box for you, IF you present a signed pick up form. One pick up per person. Pick up forms are available online at http://tinyurl.com/wv-pickup-form. They are also available at the WVCC on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., and at the information kiosk at the WVCC the week before the event.

For more information, call Teresa Sitz at (760) 367-9880.

The text below is required.

Nondiscrimination StatementIn accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax:
(202) 690-7442; or

(3) email:
program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

USDA Food Distribution - September 17, 2018

The USDA Food Distribution will begin sometime after 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 17th at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526-½ Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277. The Community Center is next to the Fire Station.

Low income Wonder Valley residents self-certify on site. No ID or other documentation is required. You may pick up a box for a neighbor, or they may pick up a box for you, IF you present a signed pick up form. Pick up forms are available online at http://tinyurl.com/wv-pickup-form. They are also available at the WVCC on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., and on the door of the WVCC the week before the event.

For more information, call Teresa Sitz at (760) 367-9880.

The text below is required.

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or 

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

There will be a USDA Food Distribution on Monday, May 21, at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526-1/2 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277.
Wonder Valley residents may sign in beginning at 10:30 a.m. Distribution will happen after the food truck arrives and we have had time to start putting boxes together.

There will be a USDA Food Distribution on Monday, May 21, at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526-1/2 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277.

Wonder Valley residents may sign in beginning at 10:30 a.m. Distribution will happen after the food truck arrives and we have had time to start putting boxes together.

Low-income Wonder Valley residents self-certify on site. No ID or documentation is required.

Pickup forms are available at the Wonder Valley Community Center, or online at: http://tinyurl.com/wv-pickup-form. If you want to pick up a box for someone else, or have someone else pick up a box for you, you must submit a *signed* pickup form.

If you have any questions, please stop by the WVCC, or call (760) 367-9880.

Required text:

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or 

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Food in Wonder Valley

THE OTHER WONDER VALLEY
Our friends from Wonder Valley Olive Oil are having a dinner. I got the invitation - I think I signed up at their site - but was a day late and $120 short to get a place at the table.

If you don't know what a "paladar" is, come sit by me. I looked it up. It's a little restaurant run by "self-employers." It's a Spanish word related to the root for "palate."

The Olive Oilers describe the event thusly:

"Our seasonal paladars are leisurely multiple course communal suppers, cooked over an open fire, where strangers become friends, all set to the background of the beautiful high desert near Joshua Tree, California. The dishes will be prepared with the remainder of the 2016 harvest olive oil by chef Jay Wolman of Small Trades. Jay's background is working in landmark kitchens such as Diner, Marlow & Sons, and newcomer Hart's (of Bon Appetit's Top 10 best new restaurants 2017).

"Live music & cocktails at 5 pm followed by a five course menu and wine pairing by Oeno Wines."

See the menu.

FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS
Volunteers distributed 83 boxes of food on September 18 at the Wonder Valley Community Center, serving 108 people. All low income Wonder Valley residents may self-certify on site. The next distribution is Monday, October 16.  The doors open at 10:30 a.m There is a Salvation Army Food Distribution at the WVCC this coming Wednesday, September 27 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., first come first served. All you have to do is sign your name and you'll be given a box. No waiting.

I want to thank all of our volunteers: Mary Quamme, Star Javiar, Karen Meyers, Stand Up Bob Woods, Mighty Mike Gillespie, Steven Wilhelm, Ken Sitz, Sunny Downer, and Grey Hill. We couldn't do it without you, and we love your sunny faces and wonderful, generous attitudes. This is what Wonder Valley is all about. Remember, some people are so poor that all they have is money.

Food Distribution, Monday, July 17, 10:30 a.m., WVCC

The Community Action Project (CAP) 

U.S.D.A. Commodities Food Distribution will be:

Monday, July 17, 2017, 10:30 a.m.

Wonder Valley Community Center

80526-1/2 Amboy Road

Wonder Valley, CA 92277

Low income Wonder Valley residents self-certify on site.

PICKING UP FOR A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER?If you want to pick up food for a Wonder Valley resident living at a different address, download and print the form below, have that person fill it out and sign it, and bring it with you to the food distribution. If it's filled out correctly you'll be allowed to take a box of food to them.
http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/EFA15.pdf

The form above also contains the Emergency Food Assistance Program 2016 Guidelines for qualifying monthly and annual household income for household size. Low-income Wonder Valley residents self-certify on site.

January USDA Food Distribution - DATE CHANGE

This month's food distribution will be on TUESDAY, JANUARY 17. I was on the phone with Community Action Partnership several times today verifying that date. I know it's USUALLY the 2nd Monday for January and February but I checked two or three times today and they SWORE the date for January is TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017.

Desert Trail Column, November 5, 2015

The Wonder Valley Community Center will be closed for the months of November and December, with the exceptions of the community meetings on November 9 and December 14, and the USDA Food Distributions on November 16 and December 21. The community center will again be open every Monday from 9 to noon beginning in January, 2016. The Wonder Valley Book Program will also be closed until January, with the above exceptions.

The Glass Outhouse Art Gallery invites everyone to an Artists Reception on Saturday, November 7 from 5 to 9 pm. Featured artists are Perry Hoffman, David Greene and Michael Carballes, and music will be provided by Leslie Mariah Andrews. The gallery is located at 77575 29 Palms Highway at Thunder Road. For more information, call 760-367-3807.

A community meeting will take place at our community center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road, on November 9 at 9 am. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate. Veterans Administration Benefits Advisor Stewart West from the Marine Base will be present to talk to veterans one-on-one about their benefits and eligibility issues following the meeting. Service-connected disabilities can be applied for at any time in life. For further information, call our Basinwide Municipal Advisory Council Representative Teresa Sitz at 760-865-9550.

The Basinwide MAC meeting will be held on Monday, November 9 at the community center at Sunburst Park in Joshua Tree from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. All are welcome to attend.

On a sad note,  Wonder Valley resident Joseph Henry Evans, 72, has passed away. We send our condolences to his wife Lisa K. Evans; son Robert Evans; daughters Teresa Evans and Tammy Caroll; sister Sara Evans; brother Edward Evans; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service is being planned.

Karen’s Commentary: Oh, my! Those little annoying Christmas elves that whisper in my ears this time of year have upped their volume considerably as of November 1. They’re saying if I’d listened to them in October, I’d already be done with my Christmas shopping.

Darlene’s Commentary: Here comes the Weed Show! Grab your friends, bring the kids and come to the Old Schoolhouse Museum on November 6 and 7. Hours – Saturday noon to 4, Sunday 10 to 4. Check it out! Admission is free. I love the Weed Show!

Handy Hint: Revive stale bread or rolls by sprinkling them lightly with water, putting them in aluminum foil and warming them in a 375-degree oven for about 5 minutes for rolls or 10-15 minutes for bread.

Thought for Today: When the winds of change blow, some people build walls, and others build windmills. – Chinese Proverb

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

Desert Trail Column, May14, 2015

The USDA Food Distribution will take place on Monday, May 18 at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road, from 11 to noon. The He Provides Ministry will also be there with free clothing and household items for anyone who can use them.

We send out Rainbows-of-Emeralds-and-Lilies-of-the-Valley to Curtis Johnson who celebrates his special day this week. Happy birthday, Curtis!

Darlene’s Commentary: Our father, Jerry Borquez, worked in aerospace and in 1958, our whole family moved to Cape Canaveral, Florida where his expertise was needed. Two years later, when I was eight years old, we returned to California by car. I remember stopping at a fruit inspection station, and as Daddy drove up to the window, he turned to me and my little sister Donna and said, “Now, don’t say anything about the oranges in the ice chest.” We got out of the car to stretch our legs (and, I am sure, to keep our mouths shut) and I remember we walked over to a tall wooden sign that read “Welcome to California” and “Wonder Valley.” Little did I know that I would move to this area 29 years later, and end up living across the road from that very sign!  I love Wonder Valley.

Karen’s Commentary: Our big bullfrog is croaking again! He had quit croaking for about a week when we put three new tadpoles in the pond, but he is now back in fine form. We haven’t named him yet, but are thinking of calling him Damian after Damian McGinty who is a very young and handsome member of Celtic Thunder with a baby face and a surprisingly deep voice. Years ago, we named our first frog Jeremiah. After Jeremiah went to that great fishpond in the sky, we got three frogs that we promptly named Bud, Weis and Er! It’ll be pretty hard to come up with better names than those.

Our community center is open every Monday and Wednesday from 9 to noon, and Star Javier is there to answer any questions or discuss issues about our park and/or roads. On the Mondays when the USDA Food Distribution takes place, the community center opens at 8 am.

Handy Hint: Hang a shoe organizer bag in your garage. The clear plastic pouches make it easy to both store and locate spray paints, lubricants, gardening tools and other items.

Thought for Today: Gene Simmons was a sixth grade teacher in Harlem; Sting taught English, music and soccer at a Catholic girls school in England; and Stephen King was a high school English teacher in Maine. Kind of scary.

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

Desert Trail Column, April 16, 2015

The USDA Food Distribution will take place at our community center located at 80526 ½ Amboy Road on Monday, April 20 between 11 and noon. The He Provides Ministry will also be there with free clothing and household items for anyone needing them.

We send out Rainbows-of-Diamonds-and-Sweet Peas to Penny Root and to Lonnie Casper, both celebrating special days this week. Happy, happy birthday to both of you!

There is also a very important anniversary being celebrated this week – ours! April 19 marks the beginning of our fourth year writing the Wonder Valley News column. In case you are new to our area, we are sisters, Darlene being the younger and more creative one, and Karen being the older and wiser one! The youngest in our family of three girls is Donna who previously lived in Wonder Valley, but now resides in Yucca Valley, and is forced to read our column every week! Our mom, Louise Borquez wrote this column for 18 years, so we have a way to go to catch up to her record!

Darlene’s Commentary:  I had a great conversation with our Wonder Valley representative to the Basinwide MAC, Teresa Sitz. One of the issues that she planned to address at the MAC meeting was the ongoing illegal dumping on multiple sites in Wonder Valley. Teresa will request a number of metal signs stating the penalties and fines for illegal dumping to be placed at the dump sites in our beautiful and delicate desert. We must be the eyes and ears for our neighborhoods and report illegal dumpers.

Karen’s Commentary:  Thank you, Marie, for sending over those neatly cut out used postage stamps. A ¼-inch border all around the stamp is desired, but not necessary. I just sent a huge envelope full of stamps (including Marie’s) to Hi-Desert Gardeners in Phelan.  They sell them to a company that packages them and sells them all over the world to stamp collectors. The money that the gardening club collects goes to help save the eagles in Big Bear. So, Marie, the eagles thank you!

The Food for Life Ministry prepares delicious hot meals every Saturday at Little Church of the Desert. There is no charge, and if you are unable to get into town, Reach Out Morongo Basin will deliver the meals to your home, also at no charge. Call 760-361-1410 for further information.

Handy Hint:  Keep brown sugar soft by storing with a couple of marshmallows.

Thought for Today:  Pigeons have the distinction of being the only birds that don’t have to raise their heads to swallow when they drink water.

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