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

Pop-Up ‘Precieux Metal Clay’ jewelry shop takes over La Matadora Gallery this Saturday

A pop-up jewelry shop and art gallery are coming to downtown Joshua Tree, launching this Saturday November 11th to run through January 7th. Jewelry designer Shahasp Valentine and her Rock and Rapture will be taking over La Matadora Gallery, featuring a rotating selection of artist made and vintage jewelry, including local businesses Wild East Imports and Selene Boutique. The popup will feature 28 jewelers in all, in addition to Shahasp’s own work, "Precieux Metal Clay Jewelry.” Shahasp says…

Yucca Valley Film Festival’s mission is to bring more movies to the Morongo Basin

On last Friday's "Up Close Show with Gary Daigneault," Yucca Valley Film Festival Director Matt Beurois discussed the festival's mission. When Daigneault commented on the festival's growing popularity, Beurois confirmed more that more and more directors are coming out for the festival every year, before segueing into the festival's mission: Matt Beurois: "This is the mission of the Yucca Valley Film Festival - to put the town of Yucca Valley on the map. To…

MUSD chooses John Cole to fill vacant Area 2 seat on Board of Trustees

The Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees held a special meeting today (November 1) at the former grounds of Joshua Tree Elementary, to review, nominate, and appoint a new trustee for their vacant Area 2 seat. John Cole, Photo Courtesy of MUSD Board members began the meeting reviewing the applications from candidates John Cole and Michael Chlebik. Board Clerk Kerry Condley made a motion to not proceed with interviewing Chlebik. Citing an article reported from us at Z107.7, Condley…

MUSD to select new board member at special meeting tomorrow at 1PM

The Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees will be holding a special meeting tomorrow (November 1st) at 1PM in Joshua Tree Elementary’s multipurpose room. The meeting’s purpose: to appoint a new board member. To fill a vacancy left by former Board President Kathy Nelson, the Board will go through the necessary protocol to select a seat of Trustee Area 2. Starting the meeting with public comments, the Board will then conduct interviews of all potential appointees, followed by their…

BLM fire restrictions no longer in effect in California Desert District

The Bureau of Land Management’s seasonal fire restrictions are no longer in effect in the California Desert District, which means campfires and target shooting may now resume on BLM-managed public lands in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, southern Inyo, eastern Mono, San Diego and eastern Kern counties. Use of campfires, barbecues and gas stoves on BLM-managed public lands within the California Desert District are allowed with a valid California campfire permit. During…

29 Palms Book Festival runs all day long

The first annual 29 Palms Book Festival is happening today at Freedom Plaza, the Corner 62 Passage, and other local favorite spots in Twentynine Palms. The book fair starts at 9 a.m., followed by a variety of book signings by Southern California authors, as well as those local to the Morongo Basin. A wide variety of live events and panel discussions will be happening throughout the day and into the night, including Indie Bookstore Life In The Mojave Desert with Space Cowboy and Raven Books, a…

Live discussion of lost Gram Parsons Sci-Fi Film “Saturation 70” this Saturday at 29 Palms Book Festival

A mysterious sci-fi film starring Gram Parsons and other counterculture luminaries shot in Joshua Tree in 1970 will be the subject of an upcoming book by local writer Chris Campion. Before Star Wars, Blade Runner, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, there was Saturation 70, the groundbreaking lost sci-fi film about environmental collapse by visionary filmmaker Anthony Foutz and legendary special effects maestro, Douglas Trumbull. Saturation 70 starred country rock icon Gram Parsons,…

MUSD Board of Education accepting applications to fill vacant trustee seat

The Morongo Unified School District Board of Education is accepting applications to fill a vacant trustee seat for Area 2 of the district, to serve the remainder of the term through December of next year. The California School Boards Association states five core school board trustee duties as setting direction, establishing an effective and efficient structure, providing support, ensuring accountability, and providing community leadership as advocates for children, the school district, and the…

Sweet Beast and Hawk Messengers headline Beast Night at the Beatnik in Joshua Tree

Tonight, Joshua Tree’s Beatnik Lounge presents a monthly local band showcase called BEAST NIGHT, hosted by the band SWEET BEAST. Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the reverb-soaked surf-twang of Sweet Beast, joined by the experimental psych-blues of The Hawk Messengers for a two-band bill that will bring the thunder with three hours of non-stop music from 7 to 10PM. Bring your friends and your wildest spirit. Don't miss out on this epic event at the Beatnik Lounge, at 61597 29 Palms Hwy…

MVCSD passes preliminary budget, continues storm repair discussion

Last night, the Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors held their regular monthly 6PM meeting at Covington Park’s multipurpose room. For Fire Chief James Brakebill’s report, he stated the Fire Department staff is continuing to work with FEMA for reimbursements on various repairs to the Fire Department building, including mud damage to the brake system of a fire apparatus. Chief Brakebill also reported the Fire Auxiliary had raised over a thousand dollars over the weekend…