Gabriel Hart is a journalist and author from Morongo Valley, CA.

Assemblymember Wallis talks green bins

On last week’s Up-Close Show, host Gary Daigneault spoke with District 47 Assemblyman Greg Wallis about the confusion surrounding the new green waste recycling law, requiring every California jurisdiction to provide compostable carts and associated waste collection services to every resident and business. If you’re a resident who wasn’t anticipating the green bin you found on your curb this week, you’re not alone—Wallis affirms that for a bill passed all the way back in 2018, it…

Live From Joshua Tree sees local notables speak for a good cause

Tonight is Live From Joshua Tree, the popular annual spoken word event to benefit Mil-Tree, the local veteran non-profit outreach that heals the wounds of war through creative expression and community building through veterans and civilians. The event, curated and hosted by Mil-Tree founder Cheryl Montelle, is an entertaining community celebration with desert stories, songs and poetry. Tonight’s line up of speakers/performers includes veteran writers Nadia Clark and Omar Columbus; Rainbow Stew’s…

Desert Split Open Mic Founder Susan Rukeyser reflects on 5 years of radical writers in the hi desert

Listen here: The Desert Split Open Mic local reading series, featuring feminist, queer, or otherwise radical writers, celebrates its five-year anniversary tonight (Sunday, January 21st), at Joshua Tree’s Beatnik Lounge from 6-8PM. When Desert Split Open founder and host Susan Rukeyser moved to Joshua Tree right before her 50th birthday, she got the serenity she came for. Yet, even as its writing community embraced her, she witnessed a silence where a conversation was missing. “I was quite…

MVCSD President Christina Gorke recipient of 2023 Chuck Osborne Award

At last Wednesday’s MVCSD meeting, Board members didn’t have to look too far to choose the recipient of the 2023 Chuck Osborne Award, when they recognized Board President Gorke as their outstanding local volunteer. While Board members considered recommendations from the community, many residents recommended Buddy Stogner be 2023’s recipient. Vice President Lynn Watts nominated Stogner’s wife Tammy because, “behind every strong man, there’s a strong woman.” Regardless, Buddy Stogner was already…

MVCSD passes voluntary revenue plan (VRP) at Wednesday’s meeting

The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors held their regular 6PM meeting last night in Covington Park’s multipurpose room. In the continued search for a new general manager, the GM Ad-Hoc Committee, composed of Board Vice President Lynn Watts and Fire Commissioner Lance Fisher, have narrowed down four applicants from the thirteen received, who they plan to interview at an upcoming special meeting. In the meantime, CSD Administrative Coordinator Brittany Chavez will step…

MVCSD proposes new “CSD Supporter Program,” splits of General Manager and Fire Chief’s duties at tonight’s meeting

The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors will hold their regular 6Pm meeting tonight in Covington Park’s multipurpose room. For the meeting’s agenda, the Board will approve minutes from previous meetings, then adjourn to closed session, continuing Fire Chief Brakebill’s performance evaluation in conference with labor negotiator, both overseen by the district’s attorney Steven M. Kennedy. After closed session reports, new business action items to approve include: an…

MVCSD discusses revenue ideas at last night’s special meeting

The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors held a special meeting last night at 6Pm in Covington Park’s multipurpose room. The only item on the agenda of this special meeting was an open discussion regarding revenue possibilities for the MVCSD, an item continued since last month’s regular meeting. With the MVCSD continuing to be over budget, Finance Director Johnny Tolbert said, “If we don’t find a way to get more money to our fire department, we will lose the department.”…

Two students recognized for Seal of Biliteracy at last night’s MUSD meeting

The Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees held their regular 6PM meeting last night at Joshua Tree Elementary. The meeting began with the Board presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Behavioral Instructional Assistant Satore Mark for her exceptional work at Condor Elementary and 29 Palms Junior High. Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Amy Woods recognized Andrea Tene Meza of 29 Palms High and Joseph Natzel of Yucca Valley High for achieving the Seal of…

MVCSD holding special meeting tonight at Covington Park (1/10)

The Morongo Valley Community Services District board of directors will be holding a special meeting tonight at 6PM in Covington Park's multipurpose room. For the meeting's agenda, the Board will use the time to have an open discussion regarding revenue possibilities for the MVCSD, continuing the discussion between the board and attendees at last month's regular meeting.

MUSD Board of Trustees holding meeting tonight (1/9)

The Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold their regular 6PM meeting tonight at Joshua Tree Elementary. For tonight’s agenda, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Amy Woods will be recognizing students from 29 Palms High and Yucca Valley High for the Seal of Biliteracy, an award given to students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. The Board is requested to approve a MUSD/CSEA Memorandum of Understanding…