Crime stats August 2020

 

It's always horrible when you, or someone you know, is burgled. It feels like things are out of control and crime is on the increase.

I post these stats, when I can, to show that there hasn't been a lot of variance over the past years. 

That said, please take precautions against burglary and theft. Install deadbolts and motion detector lights. Keep everything locked up. If you're leaving your property for the day, or for vacation, don't advertise it on social media.

Part-timers: Please get security systems with motion detectors and cameras, a system that will send alerts to your cell phone wherever you are, and call the police.

Know your neighbors. 

"Lucky Dog" dog food drive.

Nearly everyone we know has at least one rescue dog. Most of these dogs were abandoned in the desert of Wonder Valley. These dogs mean a lot to the people who rescued them, who are often very isolated, living at least 15 miles from the nearest store or gas station. Most people live on 5 acres, at least a quarter mile from their nearest neighbor. Their dogs are their dearest friends.

With Covid increasing their isolation, and adding financial strain, many residents find themselves having to choose between feeding their pets or themselves. 

Contributions from other dog lovers would go a long way toward keeping pets and owners together, and both properly fed.

The Friends of Wonder Valley is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit in charge of
the "Lucky Dog" dog food drive.

There are three ways to give:

PayPal Giving Fund (no fees on either side):
paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/3520421

Friends of Wonder Valley Website
Go to https://www.friendsofwondervalley.org/ 
and click on the PayPal donate link on the top right.

Make check payable and send to:
Friends of Wonder Valley
PO Box 1704
Twentynine Palms CA 92277

Note that your donation is earmarked for the Lucky Dog Fund. If you provide a mailing or email address, a receipt will be sent to you.

We will match the first $100 in donations.

Friends of Wonder Valley is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit.
Our EIN is 83-1473136.
For more information please email secretary@friendsofwondervalley.org. 

Desert Trail Column - August 26, 2020

Godwin Christian Fellowship, 6389 Godwin Road at Highway 62, holds a drive-in style church service every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. All attending are asked to wear face coverings and to remain in their vehicles at all times. Contact Pastor Max Rossi at mrossi121@yahoo.com or call 831-234-6848, or Brother Wally Currie at 760-449-8683 for information.

Karen’s Commentary: I have written down some cleaning solutions that kill the coronavirus. I can’t tell you which publication or website they were listed in, but they are definitely from RELIABLE sources. When I have seen the same thing recommended a second time from a different reliable source, I put a checkmark beside it, so these are the ones that have been mentioned in at least two reliable publications or websites. I personally would not hesitate to use any one of these – in fact, I am using two of them in my home right now. 

1. Isopropyl alcohol, at least a 70% solution. WARNING: This solution can discolor some plastics. 

2. Bleach, ½ cup per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons per quart of water. WARNING: Will degrade plastic containers within a few days, will corrode metal over time and is too harsh for most countertops. 

3. CleanSmart, a commercial product that is safe for use around people, pets and food. Read any warnings on the label. 

4. Clorox Multi-surface Cleaner + Bleach,a commercial product. Read any warnings on the label. 

5. Lysol Max Cover Disinfectant Mist, a commercial product. Read any warnings on the label. 

6. Hydrogen peroxide, full strength. Can be used in a spray bottle. Leave on surface for at least one minute. Can also be sprayed or poured on and left to dry. WARNING: Can discolor fabric.

The last we’ve heard, the Morongo Basin Healthcare District’s Lift Transportation is operating. They will pick you up at your home and transport you to medical appointments in the Morongo Basin, then return you to your home. This is a free service. Call 760-820-9229 or 760-366-5438 for information and scheduling. 

Handy Hint: Did you know that hairpins are thought to be one of the earliest human artifacts? You can use a modern-day bobby pin to fix a broken zipper – insert it through the eye of the slider and pull; reset electronics – access those teeny-tiny buttons; waste less toothpaste – slide one over the end of a tube, squeeze it together, and pull it toward the nozzle; hang delicates to dry – use as mini clothespins; and mark a tape roll – clip one over the loose end of duct or packing tape. Or you can actually use them in your hair!

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

Grocery Bag Distribution.

PLEASE read below carefully.

The Friends of Wonder Valley is partnering with 29 Palms Community Food Pantry & Outreach Ministries INC. to distribute bags of groceries at 10:00 a.m. on WEDNESDAY, September 2, 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 11 a.m., or until we’ve given out all the bags.

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

You may pick up ONE (1) bag for a neighbor, or they may pick up ONE (1) bag for you.

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(s), and as you drive up to the loading zone, we’ll bring your bag(s) 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.

  

Desert Trail Column - August 19, 2020

Tigger Buskirk, who lives at Amboy and Sandy Lane, received a FedEx package that should've gone to Marguerite Severson at 81242 Amboy. She would like Marguerite to please pick up the package as she is unable to deliver it.

Godwin Christian Fellowship,6389 Godwin Road at Highway 62, will hold a drive-in style church service on Sunday, August 23 at 7:30 a.m. All attending are being asked to wear face coverings and to remain in their vehicles at all times. Contact Pastor Max Rossi at mrossi121@yahoo.com or 831-234-6848 or Brother wally Currie at 760-449-8683 for further information.

We send out Rainbows-of-Peridots-and-Gladioli to Dominick Bruxer and Ted Meyers (83) who celebrate their special days this week. Happy birthday, Ted and Dominick!

Desert Trail Column - August 12, 2020

Godwin Christian Fellowship, 6389 Godwin Road at Highway 62, will hold a drive-in style church service on Sunday, August 26 at 7:30 a.m. All attending are required to wear face coverings and to remain in their vehicles at all times. Contact Pastor Max Rossi at mrossi121@yahoo.com or 831-234-6848 or Brother wally Currie at 760-449-8683 for further information.

 

The USDA Food Distribution will be held outside our Wonder Valley Community Center building, 80526 ½ Amboy Road at Blower Road on Tuesday, August 18 at 10 a.m. This will be a drive-thru distribution with all attending required to wear face coverings and to remain in their vehicles at all times. Follow the signs and/or directions of the volunteers to enter the dirt driveway just east of the building and follow the line of cars around the building to pick up your food. Please note that the community center building and the park both remain closed.

 

We send out Rainbows-of-Peridots-and-Gladioli to Chad Fairweather and Alexa who celebrate their special days this week. Happy birthday, Alexa and Chad!

 

Karen’s Commentary:  Did you know that Stater Bros Market sells miracles? Well, they do! I know because I bought one in the dish soap aisle recently. The miracle is called Dawn Ultra Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray and it is a liquid that dispenses as a foam. The first time I used it was on a 9” X 13” Pyrex baking dish that had years of built-up yellowish-brown discoloration; it now looks like new! The initial cost includes the dispenser, but then you only need to buy refills. A product that really works!

 Handy Hint:  How to preserve a pretty bouquet to enjoy year-around. Begin by placing flowers on parchment paper (available at Dollar Tree for a buck a box), taking care not to overlap blooms. Place a second piece of parchment paper on top. Place these “flower sandwiches” between the pages of large heavy books. Gently close books and stack them on top of each other, adding extra weight on top. Do not disturb for at least two weeks. Cut a piece of heavy paper or cardstock to fit inside a picture frame. Carefully remove dried flowers from books and arrange as desired on the heavy paper. Brush a light amount of glue on the back of each flower and gently press into place. Let dry thoroughly. Then put the heavy paper with flower arrangement attached between two new sheets of parchment paper and press in a weighted book for a few days, Open book, remove parchment paper and place your pretty new “bouquet” in the frame, then enjoy!

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

USDA Food Distribution -- August 18.

PLEASE read below carefully.

The USDA Food Distribution will begin at 10:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, August 18, 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.

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.

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 - August 5, 2020

 

 

Drive-in church services are once again being held every Sunday at Godwin Christian Fellowship, 6389 Godwin Road at Highway 62, starting at 7:30 a.m. All attending are required to wear face coverings and to remain in their vehicles at all times. Contact Pastor Max Rossi at mrossi121@yahoo.com or 831-234-6848 or Brother wally Currie at 760-449-8683.

 

We send out Rainbows-of-Peridots-and-Gladioli to Cris Buskirk who celebrates his special day this week. Happy birthday, Cris!

Karen’s Commentary:  Recently I came across a March 1990 issue of Reader’s Digest. The first thing that struck me was the weight of it! Upon examination, I noticed there were 246 numbered pages, compared to my July/August 2020 issue which consists of 126 pages – that’s almost half the number of pages and this is a DOUBLE issue! There were 18 main articles, a book section and 17 smaller articles in the old issue; 7 “features”, 12 “departments”, 4 “humor” articles and 4 “genius” sections in the new one. So just as I was convinced that Reader’s Digest is now a giant rip-off, I decided to count the advertisement pages. The old issue has a whopping 84 pages of ads plus several multi-page inserts (totaling another 30 pages) that were not numbered as regular pages; the new issue had just 21 pages of ads, no inserts. I’ve always loved Reader’s Digest. I’ve been a subscriber for many years and read other people’s copies for many years before that. But one thing I will never be able to forgive them for is taking their table of contents off the cover! To me, that was a unique feature that they should never have messed with. The time span of thirty years has certainly made a difference in this magazine, but not enough to stop me from continuing to subscribe to and read it. If losing the cover’s table of contents feature didn’t stop me, I guess nothing will.

 We have a certified wildlife rehabilitator who specializes in birds right here in Wonder Valley! Her name is Susan Doggett and her phone number is 714-637-8355.

 Handy Hint:  Chocolate and Xylitol (the sugar substitute in many sugarless gums) are both poison to your dog. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous. If you suspect your dog ate either one of these or any other toxic substance, call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680. Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so. The Helpline will tell you how to induce vomiting with ordinary hydrogen peroxide, so keep some in your house for emergencies. (By the way, full-strength hydrogen peroxide also kills the coronavirus!)

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

Cathy Allen interviewed by the Desert Sun.

Small Wonder
In Twentynine Palms, artist Cathy Allen has created Sunvale Village, a community for the small, which repurposes materials and throwaway toys into an artistic expression.