Desert Trail Column - March 18, 2020

Don’t forget to stop by Del Taco tonight, March 18, between 4 and 8, and use one of the coupons being handed out in the parking lot. This will authorize Del Taco to donate 20% of your order total to Wonder Valley Community Church for the building’s “facelift,” and there will be no increase in the cost of your food. A painless way to give a charitable contribution!

 

Mark your calendars for the Salvation Army Food Distribution on Wednesday, March 25 from 11 a.m. to when the food is gone. Trader Joe’s provides the food which usually includes meat and fresh fruits and veggies.

 

Most events at our community center are sponsored by our non-profit organization Friends of Wonder Valley. For additional information on any local event, contact WVCC Coordinator Teresa Sitz at teresa.sitz@sdd.sbcounty.gov or 760-367-9880.

 We send out Rainbows-of-Aquamarines-and-Jonquils to Donna Parsons and Tyler Holsclaw (23) who celebrate their special days this week. Happy birthday, Tyler and Donna!

 Karen’s Commentary:  Thanks to Bob, Mary Quamme and son Joe for lots and lots of coupons, and for all the stamps and goodies sent by Jan Peek from Arizona!

 If you find a sick, injured or orphaned wild bird, you may reach wild bird rehabilitator Susan Doggett at 714-637-8355 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. If you would like to help Susan continue to save wild birds, please consider any of the following:  1. Hosting an art or crafts class for adults or an “Arty Party” for your children’s special events; 2. Adopting a non-protected bird (parakeet, small parrot, domestic duck, pigeon, etc.); 3. Enrolling in a three-hour wildlife rehabilitation class so that you can volunteer to help at Susan’s local licensed wildlife care facility. You can also help protect wild birds by keeping cats safely indoors and by restricting tree trimming to fall and winter months.

 Handy Hint:  Sign up for Informed Delivery at the U.S. Postal Service at informeddelivery.usps.com. Each delivery day the USPS will send an email to you containing digital scans of the letter-size mail that will soon arrive at your box or door. The email also has details about packages scheduled to arrive soon.

 Today’s Thought:  In the year 1959, Alaska and Hawaii became states, little girls clamored for the new Barbi dolls, Lee Petty won the first Daytona 500 in a photo finish, the Explorer 6 satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral and transmitted the first picture of Earth from space, The Twilight Zone debuted, the top song was “The Battle of New Orleans” by Johnny Horton, Karen turned 17 and Darlene turned 7!

 

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

USDA Food Distribution CANCELLED!

The COUNTY has just shut down our USDA Food Distribution -- don't come in.

The Salvation Army Food Distribution is also cancelled, and the WVCC is closed until further notice.

So sorry, everyone.

Artist Spotlight - Eric Hisaw

I met Eric Hisaw when I lived in Austin Texas. Austin is chock full of great musicians and Eric is one of them. His music for me brings feelings of warm summer nights on a dusty porch drinking burbon with a big dog sitting beside you. Since that's a picture of my current life it comes as no surprise Eric's music is on constant rotation here at Cosmic Ranch. I was in touch with Eric last week and we decided to do a little catch up and interview.

Ronnie: Hey buddy! Good to talk to ya, you probably know my unhealthy obsession with the film Almost Famous, with that in mind, Eric.. what do you love about music?

Eric:   Good question, because when you do it for so long it kind of just becomes like breathing and it's easy to lose sight of what got you in to it to begin with. The first music that really hooked me was early rock'n'roll like Elvis, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran and also some hillbilly stuff like Johnny Horton and Hank Williams. I think I was drawn to how music could take you on a journey. It is like literature but using more of your senses to get the message across. A way of telling stories that is both intellectual and physical. That is what grabbed me as a listener. As a player, I really enjoy having a discipline, something to strive for everyday. I also like the outsider, rebellious, revolutionary aspect of living immersed in the arts.

Ronnie: We met in Austin, how did you end up there and how has it played a part in your music?

Eric:   I had done a bit of traveling around before I came to Austin, living in Louisiana and Tennessee. I was very much romanced by the Woody Guthrie/Jack Kerouac mentality, wanting to see and do everything possible. Austin became an easy choice to look in to as I was a big fan of some music coming from there, in particular Joe Ely, The LeRoi Brothers, the True Believers and a record Ely had produced for Will Sexton which really succeeded in getting the dirty Stones rock'n'roll meets country vibe that I was going for. Austin has influenced my music by being home to so many great guitar stylists, Johnny X Reed, Denny Freeman, the late Jesse Taylor, the late Eddy Shaver, the late Joe Eddy Hines. There is kind of a seamless melding of country and blues that happens with players here that doesn't happen anywhere else. Texas is obviously home to tons of great songwriters though I believe I'm more influenced by Californians than Texans in the lyric department (Los Lobos, Dave Alvin, John Doe, Merle Haggard etc.)

Ronnie:  I'm a big fan of your music and latest record.  Tell me a bit about how it came together and your writing process:

Eric:  I spent a few years working much more as a sideman and got to do a lot of really cool and interesting gigs and go lots of places. When the gig I had came to an end I got re-motivated to start my own band. It took a couple of years to get it together. I met a great bass player and harmony singer named Neal Walker at a Doug Sahm tribute show in San Antonio. We started playing together regularly and through Neal's longtime association, Shawn Sahm offered to record us. Most of the songs I'd had kicking around for awhile, they were the staples of our live set, though the first two tracks "Hurry it Up" and "Streetlamp" were brand new. The songs all touch on the same themes that have been running through my writing all along, family dynamics, romantic situations, class struggle, addiction.... I did set out to do it with a more economical approach to the lyrics and really focus on the rhythms. We cut the record in Shawn's studio almost like we were playing a gig, then I'd overdub a second guitar for texture, Shawn would put on a keyboard part and then on two tracks the great accordionist Josh Baca of Los Texmaniacs added a part.

Ronnie:  If someone hasn't heard your music how would you describe it?  I always hear something new ever time I listen.

Eric:  I think as a rule we are the worst at describing our own music. I told a radio dj one time in a long roundabout way that I was trying to create songs that had the imagery and detail Sam Shepard stories crossed with the eclectic southwestern rhythms of Doug Sahm. The DJ blurts "oh, like Joe Ely, he does that!"  I had to agree, yes he does, so much for my revolutionary idea. It seems various key words hit home in different ways for people depending on their own frame of reference. Living in Texas I feel like I have almost nothing to do with hardcore country western music, which to me is Ray Price and Johnny Bush playing shuffles and waltzes to dancers, but in New England states I have been told that my style was "honky tonk purist".  By the same token to me rock'n'roll means the Flamin' Groovies and the MC5 where to a kid in a small town it may mean Metallica and Judas Priest. That said I usually tell people we are influenced by the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.

Ronnie:  Which guitar players are your heros?

Eric:  I have a lot of favorite guitar players who mine similar territory. I mentioned above a slew of Texas guys who I have seen live hundreds of times which impacted me quite a bit. The guys who pretty much built the foundation of what I play would have to be Keith Richards and Ron Wood, they both mix lead and rhythm guitar and use a lot of Chuck Berry licks and country bends to enhance the groove and build songs with the instrument. I've never been much for dazzling soloists. I like the tight little dynamic bits James Burton played on Rick Nelson records and with Elvis. Same with Steve Cropper at Stax. Jesse Ed Davis who played with the Taj Mahal band and did tons of sessions is a big influence. Both guitarists from Los Lobos, David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas, are constant sources of inspiration as well.

Ronnie:  Our country is so divided, I miss protest songs a lot.  Do you feel like I do, that we need artist's voices in the battle?

Eric:  Yes, I believe it is important for artists and filmmakers and authors and poets to have a socio-political voice. It's really difficult to write good songs in that vein and it is important that the songs be of quality for anyone to hear the message or be moved by it. I've never worked in that area on a literal level, but it has always been important to me to have stories in my music that address the division of wealth and the way people are affected by politics and war. I've made it a point this year to spend time listening to every Dylan album in chronological order. His work on The Times They Are A-Changing is really incredible protest writing. There is a real flow of energy going on there. We could certainly use a new person of that depth to write about today.

Ronnie:  Austin is the live music capitol of the world ... Does that make it easier or harder for musicians living there?

Eric:  I'm not sure with how much the general demographic of Austin has changed over the last few years that it is the Live Music Capitol but a musician can play a lot of gigs here. It's a good and bad thing. I think because of the saturation of talent it is hard to get noticed and easy to get put in a box here in Austin. On the other hand a player can really develop by having the opportunity to play out more often than in other towns. I like to play a lot so it has been a good fit for me.

Ronnie: What are you currently working on, any new songs coming down the road?

Eric: I have been working with a new rhythm section and we have come up with a good chunk of new material we are planning to record this spring. A cool label that does vinyl called Flak Records is going to release the album when it is done. There are some pretty uptempo songs in there that are really fun to play live.

Ronnie: We sure would love to see you on the west coast, any plans for a trip out west?

Eric:  I would certainly like to get around a little bit more when we get a new record out. I love the west coast and have always felt like it was a great place to play my music. I will keep you posted first!

Ronnie: Eric, thanks for doing this my friend, let's show the readers where to get your music!

Eric's Website

On ReverbNation

On Facebook

Crime Stats February 2020

The Sheriff’s Department stopped providing us data on their service in October of 2016. Teresa SItz combs through the media reports each months and sifts out the crime stats for Wonder Valley. These are unofficial statistics, subject to a small margin of error.

The OHV Patrol was active in Wonder Valley on February 22 and 29. If you notice illegal OHV activity, please contact the Sheriff's Office as they received a large grant to address the problem.

USDA Food DIstribution, Tuesday, Marcy 17. 2020

Due to recommendations made by the State of California we will be doing the food distribution differently. Please read and check out the picture below.

Line up in your car on the service road behind the WVCC. Please stay to the right so that if someone has to leave they can. We will come by so that you can sign in and give you your tickets. When you get to the distribution point, please stay in your car and we will bring your box (or boxes) to you.

If you need to use the bathroom, the WVCC will be open, but otherwise, the WVCC is closed to the public during this distribution.

Thank you for your patience.

Desert Trail Column - March 11, 2020

On Saturday, March 14 there will be a Neighborhood Cleanup at our Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road at Blower Road, from 8 to noon, or until equipment is full. Please bring a photo ID with your address. San Bernardino County Code Enforcement and Solid Waste Management are providing bulky trash collection containers for free disposal of trash, e-waste and tires. No commercial or hazardous waste will be accepted, and tires are limited to a maximum of nine, including tires on rims. Call 909-266-3477.

A St Patrick’s Day Potluck will be held at Wonder Valley Community Church, 72575 Amboy Road at Thompson Road, following the regular Sunday service on March 15. Call 760-391-0480.

The Wonder Valley Community Center will be the location for the USDA Food Distribution on Tuesday, March 17 from 9 to noon.

If you’re hankering for some Del Taco food, be sure to go there on Wednesday, March 18 between 4 and 8 p.m. Coupons will be handed out in the parking lot/drive-thru for you to present to the cashier when paying for your order. A coupon will not give you a discount, but will allow Del Taco to donate 20% of your order total to Wonder Valley Community Church for the church building’s “facelift.” The cost of your food will not be increased. This is pain-free (and money-free) charitable giving for a very good cause.

One of our Wonder Valleyites needs a microwave oven. Does anyone out there have one they would be willing to part with? Call 760-953-5702.

Most events at our community center are sponsored by our non-profit organization Friends of Wonder Valley. For additional information on any local event, contact WVCC Coordinator Teresa Sitz at teresa.sitz@sdd.sbcounty.gov or 760-367-9880.

Karen’s Commentary: Called Frontier for phone repair and was asked if I was Darlene Parris – I said, “That’s my sister!” Was then asked if the account was under Joseph Meyers – I said, “That’s my son!” Neither are on our account. After two repair no-shows, Frontier called Ted’s cellphone to verify our address as “5025” – Dar’s address!

Darlene’s Commentary: My landline’s been dead a long time, emitting only hums, crackles and snaps. Appointments have been made with Frontier Repair – one tried, but said he’d have to get someone else out here, the rest no-shows. Perhaps I could find a high schooler who knows how to fix my phone? Anyone else having these problems??

Handy Hint: Slip a bobby pin over the loose end of duct or packing tape and never struggle to find it again.

Today’s Thought: Hairpins are thought to be one of the earliest human artifacts.

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

Desert Trail Column - March 4, 2020

The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council meeting will take place on Monday, March 9 at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Street, at 5:30 p.m. Our Wonder Valley representative Steve Reyes invites everyone to attend. For further information, contact Steve at stevenr26251@outlook.com.

The group Coffee and Friends will meet on Tuesday, March 10 at 73883 Manana Drive in Twentynine Palms at 10 a.m. All Wonder Valley ladies are cordially invited. Contact Sharon at 760-910-9039 for further information.

Most events at our community center are sponsored by our non-profit organization Friends of Wonder Valley. For additional information on any local event, contact WVCC Coordinator Teresa Sitz at teresa.sitz@sdd.sbcounty.gov or 760-367-9880.

Since the birthstone for March is the aquamarine and the flower is the jonquil, we send out Rainbows-of-Aquamarines-and-Jonquils to Sandy Mitchell and Tonya Briggs who celebrate their special days this week. Happy birthday, Tonya and Sandy!

Karen’s Commentary: Getting a bigger TV prompted moving old TVs into different rooms, moving or repurposing old stands that now weren’t the right sizes, cleaning out cabinets and/or drawers in those old stands, rearranging furniture to accommodate new sizes of everything, and just generally purging all the stuff I found that hasn’t been used in a very long time. I’m tired!

Here are some phone numbers you might be interested in:
Glass Outhouse Art Gallery 760-367-3807, Reach Out Morongo Basin 760-361-1410, The Palms Restaurant and Bar 760-361-2810, Salvation Army office 760-228-0114, Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-in Center 760-365-6558, Suicide Hotline 800-273-8255, Veterans Crisis Hotline 800-273-8255 (Press 1), Domestic Violence Hotline 760-366-9663 (Press 1), Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator Susan Doggett 714-637-8355 and MBTA Ready Ride 760-366-2395.

Handy Hint: This clever trick was passed along to our sister Donna by an employee at DOHC Urgent Care, and Donna says it works great. For your ID, medical, credit or debit cards that you keep in those little plastic pockets in your wallet, this trick will allow you to pull them out easily and quickly. Use a small 1” piece of Scotch Tape, placing one end on the edge of your card that sticks out of the pocket, then folding it over so the other end sticks to the back side of your card, forming a small tab to use to pull the card out! The only caution is not to place the tape on the edge with a strip that you swipe through a machine or on the edge containing a chip that you insert into a machine. Thanks for that one, Donna!

Today’s Thought: A girl said she recognized me from the Vegetarians Club, but I’d swear I’ve never met herbivore.

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