The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn hosted by Ben Vaughn 4q3m47

If you walk around the hi-desert, you’re likely to see some big hats. And Saturday night (May 31) there’s going to be a whole new batch of hats hitting Landers. New Orleans based artist Oliver Manhattan is bringing her hats to the hi-desert for what organizers are calling a “Hat Show and Party.” Jef Harmatz sat down with organizer Ali Miyares for a conversation about haberdashery. Ali: “Our good friend, New Orleans’ favorite milliner, which is a hat maker, has come to the high desert with 10 to 20 epic hats for sale.  You know, it would be almost wrong to say they’re party hats because they’re more than that. They’re hats for any fabulous occasion.  Brimmed hats with feathers, ruffles, paintbrushes sometimes. All the hats are for sale. So show up with no hat and you might leave with one or two. “The hat party is inside of  Al’s Metal Shop, which is an awesome quonset hut turned metal shop. We’re gonna have a show inside and cocktails for free and food from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at 1142 Yucca Mesa Road, Landers, California. Come ready to have a good time. It’s gonna be fun.”

Fighting any wildfire relies on people. From the boots on the ground who initially report the fire and coordinate efforts to fight it, to the state and federal agencies that respond from outside the fire’s area. When a wildfire breaks out on public lands like Joshua Tree National Park, Rangers are almost always the first ones to the scene, as they are the most familiar with the terrain and the environment that the fire is burning through. They also may be the only people in an area where a fire is reported, especially in a park like Joshua Tree which is over 1200 square miles of open desert and rugged mountains. An understaffed park received more cuts in February At the beginning of this year, Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR) was already understaffed when the Department of the Interior fired around 1000 probationary workers across the National Park System, resulting in a reduction of six rangers at Joshua Tree National Park. Those workers eventually got their jobs back through a federal judge who ruled the firings unconstitutional. Those firings and rehirings made big news, including coverage here on Z107.7. However, staffing struggles inside the park remained behind the scenes as rounds of buyout offers and early retirements continued to reduce the workforce inside Joshua Tree National Park. The reduction in staff is an effort spearheaded by the Trump istration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to cut what they characterize as wasteful spending. A hiring freeze was also put in place by Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum right before the busy Spring season for most public lands, which means that for every employee that was badgered to accept a buyout or take an early retirement, their now-vacant position couldn’t be filled. Joshua Tree National Park rangers already face over three million visitors a year and the shrinking skeleton crew of park staff were are now forced to work extra hours in positions they didn’t normally do. Rangers were tasked with new responsibilities in public facing jobs like fee collection or campground maintenance which are necessary jobs in a popular park like Joshua Tree National Park. However those more visible roles hide the true cost of a reduced workforce, with less Rangers available to respond to emergencies or take on tasks such as Preventative Search and Rescue. Residents gather to show for fired Joshua Tree National Park Rangers Potential impacts of Eureka Fire on JOTR visitors We asked a source inside the park about the potential impact the Eureka Fire could have on the National Park as we enter another busy weekend. The source, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that fighting the fire and the mop up efforts may initially take away personnel away from other parts of the park and their regular tasks, and more “behind the scenes” projects and will suffer. However, visitors are unlikely to notice the impact in the short term, as the park has already been operating on a reduced but dedicated crew. The source says once the Eureka fire is no longer active, the National Park will face a complex restoration in the impacted area from both from the fire itself and the efforts to contain it. Park employees will be working to restore roads and cultural trails, and wildlife and vegetation scientists will be working alongside fire cleanup and prevention. The National Park Conservation Association’s California Desert Program Manager Luke Basulto spoke with me about reduced workforce inside the park:  Luke Basulto: “Our parks need to be fully staffed in order to operate efficiently and keep the parks in a way that is safe and enjoyable for visitors. Heavily visited parks like Joshua Tree are being asked to do more with less. You may not see the effects obviously, but park staff that have to do the jobs of two or three employees are certainly feeling the pressure to make sure visitors have the best experience possible.” Park Rangers are essential for all public lands It’s hard to imagine what the Eureka fire could have been, as winds were mercifully light and temperatures were still mild on Friday (5/30). However, favorable weather conditions aren’t the only reason the fire didn’t reach more catastrophic levels. Joshua Tree National Park rangers showed up yesterday to help fight the fire and coordinate efforts in the park even if it was their day off. For an overworked crew that has been stretched thin by illegal firings and misguided attempts to cut costs, it shows that our Park Rangers still care about Joshua Tree National Park and the people and lands that surround it. Summer slows down in the hi-desert but the fire dangers don’t, and a fire season that was once only a few summer months has now stretched into a year long problem. When visiting Joshua Tree National Park, take extra care with anything that could cause a fire and be mindful of the crew of workers that are making Joshua Tree National Park a safe place to visit. Thank a Park Ranger, a firefighter, a first responder, or anyone who makes an extra effort to preserve and protect our public lands during a time that they are facing threats both natural and manmade. You can read more about the National Park Conservation Association on their website. They are a non-profit partner of the National Park system. There are buttons on there you can push to donate to them. As always, thanking a ranger is free. More to read: Joshua Tree National Park layoffs: “I owe my life to the Rangers”

Just over a year ago the Town of Yucca Valley invited local skateboarders to a series of meetings where they asked for on the current Yucca Valley skatepark, and what they would want to see in a new skatepark. It took a couple of meetings to spread the word and get folks out, but famed skatepark builder Spohn Ranch came out to the second meeting, and so did local skaters from around the Morongo Basin. They shared on an older redesign that dated back to 2019, and plans seemed to be coming together for a new spot to replace the functional but not-very-versatile skatespot located on the northern side of the Yucca Valley Community Center. That last meeting was on April 16th of 2024, so you may be wondering what’s happening with the long-delayed project. The skatepark is only one part of a larger master plan for the Coommunity Center, which also in expected to include eight pickleball courts, new restrooms, resurfaced basketball courts, more parking, and more shade. Construction for Phase 1 was anticipated to begin in October 2024 and was hoped to be completed this spring. The Yucca Valley Skatepark can be empty in the middle of a weekday, but plenty of skaters hit the spot when school isn’t still insession. The park is open sun up to sun down, and summer is right around the corner. The Town of Yucca Valley’s Parks and Recreation Supervisor Jakub Kusmierak says that the new skatepark is still in the works, and part of a later phase of the Community Center Master Plan. That Master Plan currently doesn’t have a finalized timeline, and Kusmierak says that’s because the Town is still waiting on direction from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regarding the Joshua Trees in the area. The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan is currently in review at the CDFW and is expected to be finalized and delivered by June 30th. On Wednesday (5/28) the CDFW released revised guidelines for Western Joshua Tree Take Permits and audits, which will be required for ground disturbing construction near a Western Joshua Tree, or the complete removal or transplant of a tree if deemed necessary and viable. That means skaters hoping for fresh lines and updated features will have to wait a little longer. However, the current skatepark remains open from sunup to sundown. Visiting the park during the day you can understand some of the gathered from last year’s meetings. There is a lack of shade around the skatepark, and the features themselves are looking a little worn down and aged. Despite what these photos may seem to depict… skateboarding is alive and well in the Morongo Basin with both kids and adults hitting the Yucca Valley Skatepark when school isn’t in session. This also isn’t the only skatepark in the hi-desert… far from it. There are thriving and reviving skate scenes around each of the parks in Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Morongo Valley. Landers and Wonder Valley have a scene, too, despite a public park. Skateboarding is not a crime, and luckily most cities have grown past the skateboard panic of the 80’s and 90’s, when “NO SKATEBOARDING” signs dotted city sidewalks and every grindable surface.  Z107.7 will keep you updated on the Yucca Valley Community Center master plan, and over the next few weeks we’ll be looking at each of the skate scenes around the hi-desert and we’ll talk to longtime locals and new faces that are progressing the sport out here in the middle of the Mojave. If that’s you – email me at [email protected] and let’s meet up and skate your local. (Just don’t ask me to do a kickflip)

The first Joshua Tree Accordion Festival will be taking place this Saturday, May 24 at Art Queen from 3:30 to 9:00 p.m. The fest will feature eleven accordion acts, an accordion raffle, and a free accordion lesson at 3:30 for anyone interested in this iconic and evocative instrument. Sponsored by the Accordion Apocalypse Repair Shop and Joe Alvarez Studios, the event is organized by Skyler Fell, accordion and singer of local trio Tumbleweed Timemachine. Twenty-five years ago, Skyler Fell found herself in Spain where she was recruited by a traveling band of folk musicians in the middle of their own unique journey––traveling around the world by horse and cart.  “I was in Barcelona, and I was staying at the circus squat warehouse, and I met these amazing traveling folks that had this little horse. I was helping them with some gardening projects and they invited me to come out and play accordion on the back of their cart that they were taking. The horse and cart was going around the whole world and so they were like, ‘Come play accordion on the back of our cart and we’ll drink wine and our horse will be pulling it!’ So there we were in Barcelona, going through the cobblestone streets with the clip clap of the horses’ hoofs. I didn’t play accordion yet, but I sure learned fast. When I got back from that trip, I found a broken accordion in the art warehouse that I lived in in Oakland, repaired it myself a little bit and then took it into a shop for more info on repairs and ended up getting an apprenticeship at that shop and the rest is history.” Skyler has since brought her own Accordion Apocalypse Repair shop from downtown San Francisco to Joshua Tree where they repair, sell, and teach accordion. Through her shop as a local hub where she’d meet other players, she saw a reason to celebrate the instrument further through this first official gathering: “Originally I had no idea there were that many accordion players in the hihigh desert but as time went on, I just met more and more, and we decided that it was the perfect moment to start the festival.” Skyler’s group Tumbleweed Timemachine will play at 6:00 p.m. surrounded by ten other accordion acts like Doug Legacy of Zydeco Party Band, Mudbugs, Jenifer Palmer Lacy, the Beauty Bubble’s own Jeff Hafler and more. The event is free and open to the public. 

The finale production of Theatre 29’s groundbreaking 25th anniversary season, “AND THEN THERE WERE NONE” by Agatha Christie, has announced their cast at Theatre 29.  The spine chillingly murderous romp set on a lonely island off the coast of England will run June 13th through 29th. Award winning director Kathryn Ferguson reveals an ensemble cast featuring many new faces as well as some award-winning veteransm including Rebecca Osier as Vera Claythorne, Miguel Gomez as Philip Lombard, Joseph Rego as William Blore, Laura Harwood as Emily Brent, Equinox Kramer as Anthony Marston, Makasi Boykin and Salome Fischer playing Thomas and Ethel Rogers, Mick Dean is General John MacArthur, Catherine Inscore is Doctor Edwina Armstrong and Charles Harvey as Justice Lawrence Wargrave. “And Then There Were None” is rated 13+ for adult content that may not be appropriate for younger audiences. The production will open June 13th with an opening night gala hosted by the Twentynine Palms Community Food Pantry.  Tickets for opening night and the rest of the run are available now at theatre29.org/tickets. This production is proudly ed by Visit 29.

During Tuesday night’s Yucca Valley Town Council meeting, local leaders reviewed a range of state, federal, and municipal updates, including state budget projections, infrastructure improvements, and public safety operations. A report on California’s May budget revision outlined the state’s growing 14 billion deficit, driven by higher medical costs and declining tax revenues. Although no immediate funding cuts are expected for the town, staff warned that future state deficits could put financial pressure on education, Medi-Cal services, and wildfire programs. Last month, the town submitted a request to Congressman Obernolte’s office for federal funding to pedestrian and stormwater improvements along Palm Avenue. If selected, the project will be posted on his website by June 13 as part of the FY 2026 federal budget process. Caltrans presented updates on the 21 million Highway 247 rehabilitation project, now underway from Highway 62 to just beyond Gin Road. The project includes new eight-foot shoulders, drainage improvements, and Class II Bike lanes with signage. Night work will continue through the fall. Council honored Public Works staff for National Public Works Week and approved a 1.5 million town-wide slurry and cape seal contract with American Asphalt to begin in June.  The council also approved renewing its 6.5 million contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Captain Justin Warwick highlighted strong crime resolution rates, including an 81% felony case closure, updates on new resources like the K9 unit dog, Naji, and a growing explorer program that allows youth to learn about law enforcement and public safety careers. Warwick credited the Measure Y-funded detective and sheriff service specialist positions with enhancing efficiency and response. Graffiti eradication, proactive youth engagement, and community trust-building were all cited as essential efforts for public safety. Council praised the department’s visibility, responsiveness, and collaboration with local organizations. As the meeting ended, over a dozen of the public expressed concerns and suggestions regarding the town’s animal shelter. Many cited high euthanasia rates from 2024 and called for the removal of the current shelter leadership. Several individuals noted that since public pressure began in February, cat and dog euthanasia rates have dropped significantly. However, they pointed out that no structural or staffing changes had been implemented, suggesting that the improvements were not sustainable. Suggestions included: Fast-tracking a dedicated volunteer program Extending shelter hours, including Sundays ing no-kill efforts like those in Riverside County Increasing public transparency and timely posting of intake/adoption data Forming a community advisory committee Other speakers ed fostering and networking. An out-of-town rescue organization also expressed a willingness to partner with the shelter but noted that their outreach emails had gone unanswered. Council acknowledged the criticism and expressed appreciation for the public’s persistence. They confirmed that staff would present a report on animal shelter operations and revised volunteer program policies at the June 3 meeting. Mayor Jeff Drozd said, “We have made changes: Petfinder, sedation protocols, more partners, but we know more needs to be done.” He encouraged ongoing dialogue and promised continued attention to the issue. The Future agenda items include the return of the Old Town Naming Project, a farmers’ market, and the Youth Commission’s end-of-year report. Planning Commissioners will meet on June 10 to discuss senior housing preservation and state fire hazard updates. Meanwhile, Memorial Day weekend festivities, Thursday, May 22 to Sunday, May 25, kick off with Grubstakes Days, hosted by the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce. The town’s 34th annual Grubstakes Fun Run begins Saturday morning, and the final Friday night movie, The Bee Movie, will be screened this week. Visit the Town of Yucca Valley and Yucca Valley Chamber websites for complete schedules.

The Morongo Valley Community Services District will hold their regular 6:00 p.m. meeting tonight in Covington Park’s multipurpose room. For the meeting’s agenda in continued business, the Board will have further discussion on effective methods to manage Covington Park; on whether to move forward with establishing a Morongo Valley dog park; and on the Covington Park mural project, the latter which the Board will discuss and approve the concept, parameters, and authorization of staff to move forward with planning and coordinating efforts.  For new business, there will be a public hearing on the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2025-26, followed by the final budget approval. The Board will discuss and accept Resolution 25-01, approving the assessment fee and ordering the levy and collection of annual assessments within the Morongo Valley Fire Suppression Assessment service area. The Desert Fire Region FireSafe recommends establishing a Fire Safe Council Center at the underutilized Morongo Valley Fire Station #2 at the bottom of Bella Vista, at no cost to the CSD, and its recommended the Board review and approve the proposal and staff to proceed.  The Board will take stronger steps to enforce San Bernardino County’s dog leash law at Covington Park and will discuss purchase of stronger signage for an amount not to exceed $250. To enhance park security and deter vandalism, the Board will discuss the installation of security cameras and better lighting at Covington Park and Geeson Field, along with ADT monitoring fees in the amount of $861.19 and $96.30.  The Morongo Valley Fire Department seeks to enter into an Instructional Services Agreement with Copper Mountain College starting in July, allowing the fire department to receive financial reimbursement for essential training hours at a locally accredited fire train.

The Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival proudly announces its 2025 production of King Lear, a breathtaking adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, performed under the open desert sky at Wind Walkers Medicine Wheel. Running from May 23rd-June 1st, on Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM, this production continues the festival’s mission to bring world-class, accessible Shakespeare to the Joshua Tree community. The production will feature a talented ensemble of actors, including festival alumnus Kurt Schauppner as King Lear, Molly Katelbach, Cooki Bilsborough, Kevin Hayles, Andrew Catlin, Brian Hennessy, Bobbie Breckenridge, Malcolm Stanley-Wolfe,  Liz Wessel, & Cris Matthews. The production will be set against the stunning natural backdrop of Joshua Tree in a Theatre-in-the-Round atmosphere. For more information and to buy tickets, visit their website at www.jtshakesfest.org.

Following a presentation by CalTrans on the Highway 247 Project Update, the Yucca Valley Town Council meeting will begin with a review of the Annual Street & Drainage and Landscape & Lighting Assessment Districts for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The Council previously formed these maintenance districts as part of approvals for private subdivision development projects. The Assessment Engineer’s Reports must be updated and approved each year. The Council will then consider the construction contract for the town-wide crack/slurry/cape seal project. This public works initiative is an annual maintenance effort to maintain the pavement throughout Yucca Valley. The Town received five bids for the project, and Town Staff recommends that American Asphalt South, Inc. of Riverside be awarded the contract. Construction is anticipated to begin in June and be completed by September. Lastly, the Council will review a Public Safety Contract Amendment for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The Town contracts with the department for services annually; the approved budget for the new fiscal year includes an anticipated increase of 2%. Tomorrow night’s meeting is open to the public and begins at 5 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center.

Book Day is a new event hosted by Desert General in the Twentynine Palms commerce area known as “Tin Town” this Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m. In partnership with the Desert Writers Guild and Mojave Sage Writers, festivities will begin at 2:00 p.m. featuring readings from regional authors Cindy Rinne, Francis Moss, Donna Tomlinson, John Sierpinski, Rose Baldwin, Mike Vail, and Mil-Tree founder Cheryl Montelle. All the author’s featured books will be available for purchase at a special 5% discount.  Four guest authors will make a special appearance for live discussion: Jardine Libaire, author of You Are an Animal and White Fur, and co-founder of P.O. Box Outer Space; poet and former wildland firefighter Ruth Nolan, author of After the Dome Fire; Twentynine Palms-based artist Ted Meyer, author of In the Room Sinatra Died; and Brian Townsley, editor of the noir/horror/western journal Starlite Pulp and author of Outlaw Ballads.  Families are encouraged to attend––Brown Bag Books will fill a special corner with children’s reading.  Avant-blues duo Sister John Angela will bring their resonator and bowed stand-up bass improvisation to usher out the afternoon, before the event concludes with the official unveiling of the Twentynine Palms Book Festival Program to take place November 7-9. 

This month marks a milestone for Karin Skiba, who has been on a 50-year art journey woven from paper, paint, intuition, and lived experience. Her retrospective exhibition, Tapestries, Paper, and Paint, opens May 17 during the Yucca Valley Artwalk and runs through June 16. It celebrates color, character, and creative independence. The title, she says, comes partly from Carole King’s Tapestry and partly from the materials themselves. “The work is mostly work that’s on paper, based on paper with paint. I’m a collage freak, And I save just about everything, and I can find a use for it.. Skiba’s artistic practice isn’t just a craft; it’s a lifeline. “The art making has helped me through all sorts of different things in my life…it’s very important to me. It’s integral to my personality. It’s who I am.” The exhibition includes large-scale collages of Detroit’s decaying architecture, fictional portraits of women, and works layered with beads and symbolic feathers—echoes of her childhood love for storytelling, fashion, and mythology. Skiba spent over 20 years teaching in the community college system. She helped establish the gallery at Norco College, wrote its mission statement, and held her 40-year Retrospective there before stepping away to focus more fully on her art. Now, she’s entering a new phase: experimenting with scale and materials and deepening her connection to the local creative scene. “It’s a celebration of 50 years of an art adventure.” The opening reception is Saturday, May 17, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hi-Desert Artists Gallery, 55635 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley. The show runs through June 16.

If you spent any time driving in the Morongo Basin, you’ve likely seen large metal sculptures on medians, along Highway 62, in front of buildings and on private properties. These iron giants come from the hand of one artist, Simi Dabah, who no longer creates with industrial scrap metal but is alive and well at age 98. For those who are not alive and well, there is the 20-acre Twentynine Palms Public Cemetery, though it’s hard to say how many art lovers exist(ed) there. One fan for sure is General Manager Emily Helm who has welcomed the new Simi Dabah sculptures with open arms and a mind to the future. “So we were very lucky when I first came here in January of 2020, we were very lucky to get six sculptures from Simi Dabah. And then as we have progressed here, people have commented on how much they like to see the sculptures. They are also maintenance-free which is what we are going for here,” said Helm. “And being in a desert cemetery the plants take a lot of water so we’re trying to do more natural landscaping – boulders, the sculptures, that type of thing. And it just gives another level of architectural value to the cemetery which is traditionally flat land.” While the cemetery did officially pay for two of the sculptures at a total of $3,000, the remaining eight were donated outright. The Simi Dabah Sculpture Foundation (SDSF) often donates sculptures to public spaces and businesses with 501(c)(3) status. The sculptures are also available for sale to the public. The foundation is located at 5255 Sunfair Road in Joshua Tree and open to the public on Saturdays. For more info about the foundation, call Larry Bowden at 760/501-1718.

With over three million visitors a year and climbing, Joshua Tree National Park’s weekend crowds can make hiking in the park hard for those who live here year round. If you are like me, you don’t see the National Park much on weekends. During Spring when visitation is at its highest, I’ll only get inside the park on a Saturday or Sunday if I have visitors in town and they need to wake up early enough to make it in before the long lines. On Sunday mornings everyone seems to be moving a little slower, which means I can squeeze in a breakfast at the Palms before circling back and using the much less-busy Twentynine Palms entrance. Soon we may be battling hot days along with long lines, making weekend treks into the park more trouble than its worth for those with limited days off. However the sun is staying up longer as we move toward the summer solstice, and there are plenty of hikes and loops inside Joshua Tree National Park that you can do in the late afternoon on a weekday before the sun slips behind the hills. Desert Queen Mine Trail The Desert Queen Mine trail is a short 3-ish mile there and back hike with minimal elevation changes and a whole lot of big open landscapes that are beautiful to behold in the raking golden light of the late afternoon. It’s about 14 miles inside Joshua Tree National Park from the west entrance in the Pine City Zone, and on a Wednesday at 3:30 in the afternoon the parking lot only had one other car in it. The trail itself has varied terrain but it’s pretty easy-going. I did the hike in Chuck Taylor’s when I realized I left my hiking boots in Flamingo Heights, but you will run into some rocky scrambles and steep inclines as you hike up toward the now abandoned gold mine. The mines themselves have been blocked-off and caved-in for visitor safety, although you can still go inside some of the more horizontal mine entrances a dozen feet or so.  Link: Desert Queen Mine Trail at AllTrails Horizontal mine shafts have been closed off or caved-in. Underneath the iron grate that protects visitors from falling inside the mine. A heavy cast-iron “Chicago Pneumatic” air compressor sits abandoned on the trail. Some mining equipment and an old homestead cabin remain in the area, and if you are a casual rockhound there is plenty to be found out here. Some small fields of quartz and chrysocolla are scattered around the mines, but all the gold is either still hidden deep in the monzonite or was gathered up by a turn-of-the-century miner whose fortune was short-lived. According to the National of Historic Places which has the original 1975 application for the Desert Queen Mine, a man listed as just “A. James” discovered gold in the area in the early 1890’s. James’ fortune didn’t last, however, as he was shot and killed after g over the mine to a local cattle rustler named Jim McHaney. McHaney operated the mine until it ed into the hands of William Keys around 1917, who continued to mine it sporadically until 1961. One of two early homestead cabins, this one with a very low door and a bedframe that has seen better days. Chrysocolla and other copper-related colors splash some of the rocks around the mine. Why wait in line at Skull Rock when there are charasmatic monzogranite boulders all over Joshua Tree National Park that don’t have a line to view them. Even if you don’t get off work until 5:00 o’clock there is still plenty of daylight left to burn on a weekday inside the park. If you have some favorite short hikes or loops that you’d like to see featured, send them to me. There are plenty of “pancake prickly pear” cactus on the hike. Whjile many cactus are still waiting to bloom, there are plenty of flowers just now opening up on the trail. Original 1975 Application to National of Historic Plances, courtesy of http://npshistory.com/ nr-desert-queen-mine

Morongo Unified School District will be holding a special hiring event on Saturday, May 31, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Yucca Valley High School. This in-person event offers job seekers a unique opportunity to learn about available positions within the district and how they can make a meaningful impact in the lives of local students. Representatives from various departments — including Health Services, Information Technology, Custodial, and Instructional — will be on site to answer questions and connect with potential candidates. Open positions for non-certificated staff include health and nutritional services, instructional aides, clerical, custodial, information technology, ELOP, and much more. Attendees can learn about the district’s hiring processes, employee benefits, and career advancement opportunities; receive on-site assistance with applications; and network directly with MUSD staff to explore a variety of roles. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Stacy Smalling said, “Our goal is to connect with individuals who are ionate about education and community. Whether you’re looking for a new career or want to contribute your skills to help our students, there’s a place for you at MUSD.” For a full list of current job openings, please visit: https://www.ed.org/morongok12

The meeting began with the Board recognizing Twentynine Palms High School Valedictorian Amiel Escobal, Salutatorian Vanessa Tran, and Yucca Valley High School Valedictorian Jaden Cadwising, each of them receiving a Certificate of Appreciation. Yucca Valley High School Valedictorian Jaden Caswing, Salutatorian Vanessa Tran, and Twentynine Palms Valedictorian Amiel Escobal. Photo: Gabriel Hart Next, participants in MUSD’s Aspiring course ed Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Stacy Smalling and course facilitator Dr. Guttierez to the podium, in which Guttierez stated the course “provided a valuable framework to help participants reflect on and strengthen their own leadership journeys.” A total of eighteen certificated and classified staff participated in the Aspiring course, with fifteen honorees attending all sessions where Guttierrez stated they “demonstrated consistent growth, commitment, and enthusiasm throughout the experience.” Aspiring honorees recognized by the Board. Photo: Gabriel Hart Stacy Smalling returned to report on the Sunshine negotiations proposal with Mike Johnson. For negotiations, Smalling and Johnson stated they’d be opening articles for Compensation and Benefits, Hours and Overtime, Vacation and Sick Time, Vacancies, Extra Hours and Assignments, Timelines, and the Duration of the Agreement.  Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Sharon Flores gave an update on Bond Measure C issuances, citing significant savings for taxpayers. Flores said, “Eight million dollars in voter approved bonds will be sold in the bond market and three issuances over the next ten years. The bond rating assigned to the district by BBC came in with a grade A, double AA 3 rating. The first bond issuance of $32 million was sold in the bond market on April 3rd. The projected true interest cost was estimated to be 4.364%. The actual true interest cost at the time of the sale was 4.311, which reduced the cost of the bond repayment for the taxpayers by $436,837. The bond sale closed on April 17th and the funds were deposited in the county treasury, so we do have the first round in the county treasury.” Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Amy Woods reported that since MUSD applied for the Community Schools Grant, Oasis Elementary School has been awarded 1.4 million dollars to be paid over the course of the next five years.  For action items, the board approved resolutions for May 1 as School Principals Day and May 6 as Day of the Teacher.  During Board comments, Area 1 Trustee Karalee Hargrove announced her resignation in amicable spirit, planning to return to her role as a teacher at La Contenta Middle School. Hargrove said, “Thank you for the fun, it was always a good time. Thank you to the voters who ed me, but for personal reasons I need to be with students––that’s where I make my impact.”

Last night’s Yucca Valley Planning Commission meeting began with a Public Hearing on a Class III Home Occupation Permit for private music lessons and music composition. The lessons will be held within an accessory dwelling unit, with a maximum of five customers daily. The Planning Commission approved the permit without issue, complimenting the applicant for going through the Town’s steps prior to running a business from the home. The Commission then considered an Exterior Color Change application for Taqueria El Comandante. Last night was the fourth time the Commission reviewed the item, which had been continued due to a bright color palette noncompliant with the Commercial Design Guidelines. The applicant was in attendance and the Commission continued the item, recommending that he work with Staff to create a visual proposal that would fall within the parameters set by the Town. Lastly, Town Staff provided the Commission with the Land Development Update. An architect ed Building and Safety regarding building plan requirements to convert the former Pizza Hut building to an El Pollo Loco. The Town is still waiting to hear whether the Vertical Bridge Monopine project intends to move forward, and Walmart has entered the CEQA review process for its fuel station and convenience store.

Concerning the reallocation of funds to clean up blight, the recommendation is that the City Council approve reallocating the remaining $30,510 of the Navigation and Resource Center and shower funds to residential, commercial, vacant land, and homeless camp cleanup. An hour of public comment ensued; basically everyone agreed that the homeless should be treated with dignity and respect; pointing out that sometimes all that stands between homelessness and gainful employment is the chance to take a shower and wear clean clothes. The City Council was urged to wait with their decision to reallocate the funds until Reach Out could present a plan in two weeks, for sustainable, long term assistance to the homeless. It was argued that the $30,510 could better be used to assist the unhoused than to clean up one unsightly property. In the end the Council voted 4-1 to reallocate the funds and begin cleaning up the blight immediately. Staff presented the preliminary two-year General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 & 2026-27 for initial City Council review and direction. Staff is recommending using Fiscal Year 2024-25 as the baseline for the two-year budget, which includes maintaining all programs at current levels. Questions were raised about a survey on strategic planning for the budget and where that could be found. Interested parties were directed to the City’s website where they could find the 5-year strategic plan.

Low-level crimes and past indiscretions can hang around a person’s permanent record, acting as a roadblock to simple but necessary services like renewing your state ID. Once you lack a valid ID, job hunting and housing can become more difficult, creating a spiral that can be hard to pull out of. If you find yourself in a situation where the actions of your past are impacting the decisions you are making for your future, there is an event happening tomorrow in Joshua Tree that can help. The San Bernardino County Public Defender’s Office is bringing its Mobile Defense Program to the Joshua Tree Community Resource Fair this Wednesday, May 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They are offering on-site record clearings and expungements, the clearing of bench warrants, summary probation assistance, assistance in resolving or eliminating outstanding fines and the re-enrollment in court-required classes. The Mobile Defense Program’s mission of providing rural residents with equitable access to social services began in April of last year in Landers. It’s grown since then, holding events in other areas of the county like San Bernardino, Ontario, Fontana, Needles, Barstow and Lucerne Valley.  In addition to the record and warrant clearing services the Court is also offering self-help for legal matters in family law or small claims. Here’s San Bernardino County Public Defender Thomas Sone talking about why providing these services in rural areas is an important part of public service: Public Defender Thomas Sone: “We talk about access and equitable access. There isn’t a whole lot in some of these remote areas, so our thought was how can we better our service and how can we better serve our communities by going to them? The majority of our clients don’t have reliable transportation so what happens is if they get cited for something  – even something minor – they might not make it to court. They might not be able to make that 2-3 hour trek and if they don’t make that drive and a warrant is issued all of the sudden you have a downward spiral of negative consequences.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by San Bernardino County Public Defender (@sbcdefender) That spiral of consequences can be extremely difficult to extract yourself from, especially if it impacts your ability to get a drivers license or apply for housing. Assistant Public Defender Kellie Byward says that in many cases, the laws have changed and time is on the side of many of those who just want to clear their records and move on with their lives. Assistant Public Defnder Kellie Byward: “There has been recognition by the legislature that these low-level crimes and things are hindering people’s ability to get good jobs, or (to do things like) volunteer to coach their kids’ soccer team. Even if somebody had something 15 years ago, what their experience was may not be how it would be addressed now. There’s a lot of automatic sealing for old cases that have been dismissed or even cases that weren’t dismissed. After a certain period it’s supposed to come off your rap sheet, and you should be able to answer questions via a potential employer differently than before as if the offense never happened.” Organizations at Wednesday’s event include: Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County Desert Oasis Healthcare Energy Savings Assistance Program for SCE and SCG IEHP Molina Healthcare Morongo Basin Health District Morongo Unified School District San Bernardino County Department of Aging & Adult Services San Bernardino County Department of Child Services San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department Valley Star Morongo Basin Crisis Walk-In Center Valley Star Morongo Basin TAY One Stop Center Yucca Valley Reach Out The Joshua Tree Community Resource Fair is hosted by San Bernardino County Special Districts in partnership with the Morongo Unified School District. Held every second Wednesday of the month, the event brings local and county resources to the Morongo Basin. The event will take place at the Joshua Tree Community Center located at 6171 Sunburst Street. Reservations aren’t required to attend the event, but there are some steps you can take before Wednesday that can be helpful. You can get more information and here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-bernardino-county-public-defender-mobile-defense-program-joshua-tree-tickets-1333262366629

Sergeant Berumen representing the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station, reported that there had been a down tick in Landers’ crime recently and only two burglaries were reported last month. There was an accident with the Off Road Vehicle associated with the Sheriff’s department’s off-road unit the Dust Devils. The deputy broke his leg, and the ORV was totalled. Next up was Battalion Chief Chris Bowden, who reported that the brand new fire engine had been delivered to fire station 42, as well as an off road vehicle. A drone program with one operator has been added as well. Meeting attendees were urged to their cell phones, so that urgent warnings and evacuation notices may be received promptly. A Residential Assessment Program is also available, where a representative will assess your property for fire hazards and give advice on how to make your property more fire safe. Go to sbcfire.org for appointments and for more information. 3rd District County Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s Field representative Glen Harris reported that Caltrans will begin the Highway 247 road widening and highway improvement work on May 18th. Birth certificates, death and marriage certificates can all be obtained from the public records office every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, at the Government building on White Feather Road. Previously reported: Collision involving Sheriff’s OHV Patrol vehicle and civilian SUV sends one deputy to hospital

In March, USA TODAY’s readers voted Joshua Tree Music Festival the top music festival in the country. It is irresistible for many who have danced in the desert at night, shared food with strangers, or wandered into a late-night sound bath beneath the stars. Founded in 2003 by Barnett English, the festival has always prioritized connection over commercialism. English, a fan of music festivals, discovered the high desert and recognized it as the perfect location. He started with 500 friends and no clear plan. Today, the festival hosts thousands of artists, families, climbers, travelers, and locals, making everyone feel welcome. JTMF occurs twice yearly at Joshua Tree Dry Lake Campground in May and October. It features a diverse worldwide musical lineup, over 100 workshops, including yoga and dance classes, a bustling world market, and Kidsville, an interactive zone for children. In recent years, the festival has expanded its programming to include more visible spaces of belonging, such as the Queer Salon, a community-led initiative offering LGBTQ+ workshops, conversations, and social events during the weekend.  “It’s not about checking boxes,” English said. “It’s about showing up, being real, and creating space for everyone to feel seen.” We don’t cater to any one group. We welcome everyone.” As costs continue to rise, making ends meet remains challenging. Sometimes, English said, he wondered why he was holding the festival. “But then,” English added thoughtfully, “I … especially when the festival is only five or six days away, I’m so excited. I’ve been having, you know, 20, 30, 40 daily conversations with people on their way here, and how excited they are and how much it means to people.” There is still room for the festival to grow, primarily through word of mouth. Tell your friends and bring your family; there is something for everyone. Despite national recognition, JTMF remains local, accessible, and people-powered. “We learn as we go, but the heart of it has always been the same: good music, good people, and space to connect,” English said in closing. This festival runs October 10–13. For details and tickets, go to: joshuatreemusicfestival.com. Screenshot