All fireworks are illegal in Wonder Valley and adjacent.

Do not do this at home or away.

San Bernardino County Fireworks Facts
Fireworks are NOT permitted in
unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County.

Firework Safety from the San Bernardino County Fire Department

If you choose to disobey the law and use fireworks anyway remember that the nearest hospital is more than 30 miles away. If you are out at the mines it may take the fire department more than an hour to find you or your children, pick you up, and get you out.

I'm only saying this because of couple of young boys had to be airlifted out a couple of years ago.

Two boys sustain serious injuries with fireworks east of Twentynine Palms

COUNTY FIRE MAKES IT EASY TO REPORT ILLEGAL FIREWORKS
To make an anonymous report, residents may visit https://bit.ly/SBCoReportFireworks. Be sure to include the date, time, and specific location of the alleged activity. Any photos and videos of incidents will aid in the investigation of alleged violations. Photos and videos may be included in the submission of each report.

Off road vehicles are illegal in incorporated areas, and shooting is illegal, too. The locals WILL call the Sheriff's Department. They have patrols out on the holidays. This is not a wasteland. People live here.

Okay, SBC. Don't mess it up.

The state hasn't set the bar very high, so don't get sloppy. Wear masks. Don't crowd the bars. Keep some social distance, and wash your hands for two rounds of "Happy Birthday to you," or it's back to drinking at home!

Desert Trail Column - June 24, 2020

The drive-thru food distribution went very smoothly, as usual. Some participants are hoping that it will continue in this manner even after the pandemic is over. It is run very efficiently and seems to save a lot of time. Of course this is only one side of the coin. Perhaps the volunteers see it in a different light. For one thing, at this time of year it is hot out there in the sun. The people taking down information really need a pop-up to stand underneath. And perhaps two or three pop-ups would help the people loading boxes into the vehicles, too. It also may be that the “getting ready” phase takes a lot longer – or perhaps it is easier and/or faster. All these things and more should be taken into consideration. It seems that some good will certainly come out of this pandemic because it has forced people to accomplish things in a completely different manner. Surely many new ways of doing things will prove to be surprisingly better than before.

Potholes abound on Amboy and Godwin – Wonder Valleyites, unite! Phone calls need to be made to the County Roads Department on a DAILY basis until ALL the potholes are repaired with something that lasts longer than a week! The number to call is 760-366-3572. Tell them which road (Amboy or Godwin), which lane of travel (southbound, eastbound, etc.) and the nearest cross street (just east of Meriwether, 1/4-mile south of Becker, etc). Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

We send out Rainbows-of-Pearls-and-Roses to Josiah Bevins who turns 11 this week. Happy birthday, Josiah!

Karen’s Commentary: I sent out hundreds of coupons this week to U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine and Army bases in Japan, Guam, Germany, Spain, Sicily and Italy.

Darlene’s Commentary: I’m pretty sure a small cluster of tiny fine cacti got stuck in my sock because my ankle was raw. I ended up just throwing the sock away. I gently washed the whole area with soap and water, but when I started to pat it dry I discovered that I was just pounding the little needles deeper into my ankle! It was really painful. You will find that when a big foot steps into a little wonderland of these tiny sharp spines they bend to just the right degree and leave you with a souvenir you can’t get rid of! So if you love to clomp around in bare feet, sandals or socks, get yourself a back scratcher and keep it handy so you won’t need to bend down constantly to scratch your ankles! Now where’s my scratcher?

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

Desert Trail Column - June 17, 2020

According to our good friend Judy Taylor, Animal Action League is not doing nail trimming at this time, but they are still doing shots. They do not know when they will resume their regular services. Call 760-366-1100 for current information.

Our Wonder Valley Community Center was in a flood zone the other evening! Apparently a pipe broke, flooding the grounds with well water. Jim Copeland discovered it and contacted Ted Meyers who TRIED to contact someone for assistance. MAC representative Steve Reyes was out of town, WVCC coordinator Teresa Sitz didn’t answer, the Special Districts’ emergency operator said she had no way of handling this, a recording was reached at the Twentynine Palms Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Department dispatch number was busy! In the meantime, Jim Copeland managed to find a shutoff valve, so the flooding was finally stopped. What a fiasco!
[Note: Teresa Sitz contacted SDD and the break was repaired on the next business day. Thank you to Jim Copeland who figured out where to turn the pipe off and did so. Mighty neighborly of you.]

The Drive-thru USDA Food Distribution will take place on Tuesday, June 16 outside our community center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road at Blower Road, at 10 a.m. Everyone needs to wear a face covering and remain in their vehicle. The community center is currently closed.

We send out Rainbows-of-Pearls-and-Roses to Bill Hague who celebrates his special day this week. Happy birthday, Bill!

Karen’s Commentary: This is a story called "The Owl and the Jackrabbit." Just about every evening, five jackrabbits show up in our front yard and play and chase each other around our trees. I usually sit on the porch swing awhile and watch them. Currently we have a great-horned owl living here, so some evenings the jacks don’t show up at all, we assume because the owl is too close. The other night Ted noticed the owl perched on a low branch in one of the trees right where the jacks play. Three jacks had arrived and were chasing each other around, sometimes right underneath the tree where the owl was perched! I held my breath every time this happened. Then two of the jacks ran out into the desert, leaving the largest one alone, directly under the owl! Suddenly the owl jumped to the ground about six feet from the jack. They both just stood there, thoroughly looking each other over! They weren’t the least bit aggressive, just curious. This went on for about five full minutes, then the owl just flew away. An up-close-and-personal "National Geographic Moment!"

Helpful Hint: If you rant and rave when the brown sugar is hard as a rock, store it in the freezer. Unlike other frozen foods, it won’t harden.

Today’s Thought: Volunteer. Sometimes the jobs no one wants conceal big opportunities.

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

May 2020 Crime Stats.

     These stats are gathered from the SBC Sheriff’s Department Media Reports. There may be a small margin of error.
     Crime seems to be down from previous years, though there has been a rash of suspicious fires. Please keep your eyes open and report anything suspicious. Always ask for an incident number. Three thefts were reported, and there was some illegal shooting.

USDA Food Distribution -- Drive Through

PLEASE read below carefully.

The USDA Food Distribution will begin at 10:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, June 16, at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526-½ Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277. The Community Center is next to the Fire Station. The event continues until noon, or until the food runs out, which has been happening lately, about 11:00 a.m.

All the boxes are the same, so there is no incentive to arrive before 10 a.m.

This food distribution is for Wonder Valley residents only. Please wear a mask and stay in your car.

We will be taking PRECAUTIONS to protect YOUR and OUR health.

Please enter the access road at the WVCC sign and continue driving around the building until you stop behind the car in front of you. Stay to the inside of the curve (left) in case someone has to leave. Do NOT get out of your car. We will come around, take your name, give you a ticket(s), and then bring your box(es) to your car. Please be patient and follow all instructions from the volunteers. This is to insure your safety and the safety of our volunteers and staff. Thank you.

The WVCC is CLOSED. The park is closed. There are no bathrooms available.

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.

Desert Trail Column - June 3, 2020

Our two churches are back in business! Wonder Valley Community Church, 82575 Amboy Road at Thompson Road, will hold services every Sunday at 9 a.m. Godwin Christian Fellowship will hold services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. At this point, face coverings are still required and social distancing will apply. For further information about Godwin Christian Fellowship contact Pastor Max Rossi at mrossi121@yahoo.com or 831-234-6848. For further information about Wonder Valley Community Church, call Pastor Lonnie Casper at 760-401-6128 or 760-391-0480.

Since the birthstone for June is the pearl and the flower is the rose, we send out Rainbows-of-Pearls-and-Roses to Pappy Parsons who celebrates his special day this week. Happy birthday, Pappy!

Karen’s Commentary: Thanks to son Joe for saving coupons for me to send to the U.S. military bases overseas. And I’d also like to thank Mary Lee Twomblay and her husband for the huge amount of used postage stamps they gave me for Boys Town! They also threw in two greeting card fronts which will be sent to St Jude’s Ranch for Children for their recycled cards program. All good causes.

Darlene’s Commentary: I just had a week where I felt like I was walking in quicksand with items bobbing just out of reach! Every day it seems I need to call some business, but never get someone who speaks “human.” So I end up hearing a lot of information that might be useful, but by the time I get something scribbled on my paper, I go to push 4 and accidentally push 5 and the recorder says, “Welcome to . . . Your wait time will be approximately 45 to 58 minutes, but you can press 7 and give your name, address, place of birth, number of children and shoe size!”

We are hoping Animal Action League will be able to resume their wonderful work for the animals soon. Spaying, neutering, microchips, vaccinations and even nail trimming are all offered at very reduced rates. They are located at 62762 29 Palms Highway, just west of the dinosaurs in Joshua Tree. Please call 760-366-1100 for further information.

Handy Hint: Credit cards charge interest daily. If you normally pay $200 per month, instead pay $100 every two weeks which will save you a lot of interest, but add up to the same amount paid per month.

Today’s Thought: A poem for your enjoyment. The gum-chewing student, / The cud-chewing cow, / Are somewhat alike, / Yet different somehow. / Just what is the difference / I think I know
now -- / It’s the thoughtful look / On the face of the cow.

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