Desert Trail Column, June 11, 2015

Desert Trail Column, June 11, 2015, by Karen Meyers and Darlene Parris

Lee Jesmain asked that we put something in the column warning people about the Microsoft scammers that are working overtime right now! They try to sell you a “fix” for your computer for over $300. They tell you that your computer has a virus or malware or Trojan horse or whatever, and try to convince you that it is a dire emergency. Please be aware that Microsoft does NOT call you on the phone to tell you of emergencies. Just hang up.

San Bernardino County Scam Alert

The USDA Food Distribution will take place on Monday, June 15 at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road, from 11 to noon. The wonderful He Provides Ministry will also be there to distribute free clothing and household items to those who need them.

Just in case you haven’t decided on a destination for your summer vacation, there is an Ice Cream Days celebration in Iowa and a Banana Split Festival in Ohio this week. Need we say more?

The Alfred Hitchcock film “Psycho” premiered 45 years ago this week. Millions of moviegoers (including Karen Meyers) avoided the shower after the thriller’s debut! Karen lived in an old, small, creaky-floored apartment where the shower was not in the bathroom – it was at the end of the hallway, with only a shower curtain separating her and any knife-wielding nut sneaking down the hall! By the way, even “Psycho” star Janet Leigh said she avoided showers for a long time.

We send out Rainbows-of-Pearls-and-Roses to Bill Hague, Robert Adams, Rosemary Evans and Josiah Bevins who are all celebrating their special days this week. Happy, happy birthday to all of you!

Speaking of birthdays, others celebrating special days this week include Joseph C. “Joe” Montana, Jr (59), Marv Albert (born Marvin Philip Aufrichtig, 72), Tim Allen (62), Stephanie Maria “Steffi” Graf (46), Jim Belushi (61), Roberto Duran (64), Greg Kinnear (52), Joe Piscopo (64), Phil Mickelson (45), Patricia “Pat” Summitt (63), Malcolm McDowell (72), Timothy Busfield (58) and Hugh Laurie (56).

Tai Chi classes are held every Wednesday morning at 10 at the Wonder Valley Community Park, next to the fire station and community center. There is no charge for the classes.

Handy Hint:  Remove a spray can nozzle (such as on spray paint) that is the same size and shape as a WD-40 nozzle, place it on a can of WD-40 and give it a quick shot. Remove it and place it back on the original spray can and it will be nice and clean and will not clog up.

Thought for Today:  A dog wags its tail with its heart.

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

MAC Notes for Wonder Valley, June 8, 2015

MAC* NOTES for Wonder Valley, June 8, 2015

1. Call to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call:Pioneer Town – Vacant; Yucca Mesa – Elizabeth KARMAN – absent; Landers – Vacant; Joshua Tree – Mark LUNDQUIST – present; Flamingo Heights – Lib KOENIG – present; Desert Heights – Pat FLANAGAN – present; Wonder Valley – Teresa SITZ – present; Morongo Valley – Gayl SWARAT – present; Copper Mountain Mesa – Mary Helen TUTTLE – present.
4. Adoption of the Agenda – unanimous
5. Approval of the Minutes from May 11, 2015 – unanimous
6. Call for Public Comment
   A. Ed Vallerand – status of the Desert Heights Fire Department
   B. Al Marchese – agreement between Joshua Basin Water District and Hi-Desert Medical Center
   C. Thomas Fjallstam– burglaries and ADA lawsuits against small businesses
   D. Tom O’Key – bobcats and public comment at the Board of Supervisors on WEMO
   E. David Ficke – Noah Purifoy at LACMA
   F. Almut Fleck – Diane Feinstein’s desert preservation bill and OHVs
   G. Teresa Sitz – no dumping signs
7. Public Safety Reports
   A. County Fire – John Chamberlain, Division Chief, South Desert
   It’s fire season – open fires are illegal. Call 911 if you see an open fire and a truck will be dispatched. Permits are required for fire pits. Barbecues, like in Webers, are permitted.
   B. CHP – Joan Griffin
   Be prepared with summer driving. Carry water and extra supplies. You don’t want to break down east of Twentynine Palms. (Yep! She actually said that!) She said to call Code Enforcement for dumping, that they have been tracking people down and citing them.
   C. Sheriff’s Department – Captain Mondary. There were 10 burglaries in April and 6 auto thefts. He suggested talking the following steps to reduce burglaries:
   - Keep your doors and windows locked.
   - Leave your lights on at night or use motion detectors.
   - Know your neighbors. Watch out for each other.
   - Start a Neighborhood Watch.
   - Keep detailed notes on anything suspicious – day, time, descriptions,etc.
   - Invest in an alarm.
   - Invest in a security system.
8. Presentation – Drought 101, Marina West, General Manager of the Bighorn Desert View Water Agency, http://www.bdvwa.org/about-us/agency-staff/
   The presentation focused on state mandated water cutbacks for residents and how desert communities and disadvantaged communities, who have already drastically cut back, may be unable to cut back further. A one-size-fits-all approach to water conversation may not yield the biggest water savings.
9. Community, Officer and Committee Reports
   My Wonder Valley Report is posted at:
   http://wondervalleycsa.blogspot.com/2015/06/mac-report-for-wonder-valley-monday.html
10. Adjournment.

* The MAC is the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council. Nine delegates represent nine unincorporated communities including Copper Mountain Mesa, Desert Heights, Flamingo Heights, Joshua Tree, Landers, Morongo Valley, Pioneertown, Wonder Valley, and Yucca Mesa. The council advises San Berndardino Supervisor James Ramos, 3rd District.

Bat Country Summer Slam - 4th of July - All Ages!

HDU, Dirt Bag, and Radio Free Joshua Tree presents

BAT COUNTRY SUMMER SLAM

Saturday, July 4th - All ages 

Poop, the Hick-ups, Loc Jaw, Vatican Assassins, Incomsiderate Jerks, the Gashers, Agent 86 (Las Vegas), the Flickers, Tanzler, Patient Zero, Tracy Chaos, Underground Alliance, Down Fall, Withdrawal Symptoms, Horror Clinic Herbert, Infected

MD'd by Jeff "JJ Star" Duran

 The Palms, 83131 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA

MAC Report for Wonder Valley, Monday, June 8, 2015

I attended the MAC* meeting Monday night and read the following report for Wonder Valley. I'd read it earlier in the day at the Meet 'n' Greet at the Wonder Valley Community Center. - Teresa Sitz

MONTHLY MAC REP REPORT: June 8, 2015

It was a busy month for Wonder Valley.

The new quarterly publication Desert Oracle was featured in the LA Times on May 29. Wonder Valley was mentioned, as well as Joshua Tree.

One May 23rd Wonder Valley hosted a public meeting on the BLM’s WEMO Plan. Pat Flanagan gave her presentation. Thank you, Pat. There were 36 people in attendance. Lots of locals volunteered to put the event together. It was a great opportunity to bring together the old timers, those who have lived here since the 50s and 60s, with the newcomers, those who have only lived here 10 or 20 years.

Memorial Day weekend saw an influx of tourists in Wonder Valley for two exciting events. About 60 people gathered at Iron Age Road for a High Desert Test Sites event: Carmen Argote’s Vast Furniture. There was a lecture and an art exhibit, a potluck and camping.

Later that night artist Diane Best screened three of her movies at the Palms as part of Boxoproject’s Joshua Tree-enial. Around 200 people filled the outdoor patio, under a beautiful starry sky and watched Best’s movies accompanied by Reverend Screaming Fingers, Artemis and Wonder Valley’s own, The Renderers.

On June 6 there was a reception celebrating the 6th anniversary of the Glass Outhouse Gallery. Artists included Janet Cole, Christine Lamb and Olive Tosconi. The Luminators provided music.

A couple of neighbors and I met with Sergeant Millard and Specialist Robert Anderson at the Sheriff’s Department last Monday to address ongoing issues in Wonder Valley. We plan to schedule a public safety meeting soon to start a Neighborhood Watch.

We had a Meet and Greet this morning and 14 neighbors attended. We are digitizing photographs of Wonder Valley in the 1970s for an online community photo album.

I also had postcards printed publicizing the Wonder Valley website. They’re available at the front.

Thank you.

* The MAC is the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council. Nine delegates represent nine unincorporated communities including Copper Mountain Mesa, Desert Heights, Flamingo Heights, Joshua Tree, Landers, Morongo Valley, Pioneertown, Wonder Valley, and Yucca Mesa. The council advises San Berndardino Supervisor James Ramos, 3rd District.

Sign up for the Email List!

Please sign up for the mailing list, especially if you live in Wonder Valley. I'm not asking for real names or other personal information. I just know some of you are not on Facebook and don't often check the Internet, so email may be the best way to get information to you. It will also help if we need to mobilize in case of an emergency. Consider signing up for the email list part of Neighborhood Watch.

In the media | Eric Saks and Laurel Siedl

Way to go, Eric! Thanks for highlighting one of Wonder Valley's greatest treasures.

Listen to Laurel Seidel talking about The Glass Outhouse Gallery with Eric Saks.

Erik Saks and Laurel Seidl

The grounds of the Glass Outhouse Gallery

Fort Williams

Courtesy of Ms. Charlotte Williams, circa 1978

Ms. Charlotte Williams, a long time resident of Wonder Valley, loaned me her desert photo album from the 1970s and gave me permission to post pictures online. I asked Ms. Charlotte about it and she said they never allowed clocks or watches on the property. What a perfect picture to illustrate how different time is out here. Thank you, Charlotte. More photos will be posted as time allows.