After a long successful career as a Photostylist and producer in New York and Los Angeles, Hilary Sloane moved to the Morongo Basin and began a new career as a journalist and documentary photographer, getting a journalism certification from Michigan…

Hi-Desert Pride parties this weekend and next

The Hi-Desert Pride festivities include a long list of events and parties that begin on June 16 to 18 and start again on June 23 to 25. Enjoy dance parties, teas, art, communal gatherings, Hoe Downs, and Pride-filled shops. Reveal a hidden talent at an open Mic and indulge in good food with friends. Look for the complete listing of events here, we'll report them as they become available.

Yucca Valley Planning Commission reviews fee for widening Highway 62 at new construction

The Yucca Valley Planning Commission faced a difficult decision reviewing site plans for the High Desert Times-proposed new construction at 56695 Twentynine Palms Highway. The owners requested a waiver of the 77,420 in-lieu fees for widening Highway 62. Liz and Steven Lapp have submitted site plans for building an eleven-hundred-square-foot retail store on Highway 62 next to the California Welcome Center. The new business will sell old and new magazines with space for author readings and…

Yucca Valley Planning Commission reviews Land Development report tonight

The Yucca Valley Planning Commission will review an environmental assessment report and the Land Development report. At tonight’s meeting, the Commission will review an Environmental Assessment, Site Plan Review for a new magazine store in Yucca Valley. The High Desert Times requests constructing and operating an approximately 1,100-square-foot retail store on a 0.92-acre site. The property, located at 56695 Twentynine Palms Highway, is on the south side of Twentynine Palms Highway, near Grand…

Yucca Valley’s Essig dog Park closing until October 30

Earlier this year, with funding from the Town’s Measure K, Yucca Valley, decided to upgrade Essig Park's dog areas. They began with a public survey, plans, and designs, and a contract awarded to IMR Inc. on May 30. The well-reviewed plans come with a three-month closure starting on June 19 and ending on October 30. Many pet owners are unsure where to take their dogs during the closure. It was a beautiful day, just warm enough but not hot. I got to the park around five in the afternoon, and…

Yucca Valley Town Council reviews sign and mascot regulations, bears and dinos up for re-examination

At last night's meeting, the Town received the End-of-Term Report from the Yucca Valley Youth Commission. Some of the events the Commission successfully held were a Teen Tech help event for Seniors, an April Teen Splash Day, and a May Middle School Forum. The Youth Commission also hosted a Spring Dance to celebrate senior citizens. The Dance took place at the Community Center and featured refreshments, a dessert bar, dancing to live music and door prizes. Deputy Town Manager Shane Stueckle…

Yucca Valley Town Council affirm appointments to Planning Commission and Revenue Oversight Commission tonight (6/6)

The Yucca Valley Town Council will review the Youth Commission Term Report and affirm appointees to the two open Town Commissioner positions. At tonight's meeting, the Town Council will affirm Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Lombardo's nomination for the open Planning Commissioner position. The Council will also consider the submitted applications and recommend an applicant to the Revenue Measure Oversight Commission. Also on the agenda is the review of the Town Services Consolidation and Public…

Yucca Valley awards bid to Contractor for the renovation of Essig Park

The Measure Y Essig Park, located at 8490 Warren Vista Avenue, between Warren Vista and Joshua Lane, is a multi-purpose neighborhood/ community park project. In March of 2023, after reaching out to residents, the Town received feedback on the park and a wish list of upgrades. In the first phase, the Town will add two shade structures, trees, fencing, a semi-circle of benches, and solar lighting for the parking areas. Maintenance tested new types of turf, and the Town decided to rehab the grass…

Yucca Valley adds additional waste handling charges to the tax rolls

California is now experiencing a climate crisis, partially due to increased greenhouse gases. SB 1383, a statewide effort to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses, requires all California cities and towns, including Yucca Valley, to reduce organic waste sent to landfills by 75% and recover surplus edible food to feed Californians facing food insecurity. In addition, there will be changes in how organic waste is collected and processed. To accommodate the new way of collecting and processing…

Yucca Valley Planning Commission reviewed the Land Use Development Report

Yucca Valley Town Staff got straight to the Land Development Report. Starbucks West in the Stater Bros. parking lot is working on its traffic impact analysis. Star Cafe, and Chipotle, are in the building and safety plan check process. Dominos is making progress, and Quack Quack Car Wash is preparing its site for construction. A site plan has been filed for a new hotel on the South East corner of Buena Vista and 247. The plans for the five-acre parcel include 320 ft individual pods and a…

“Help Yourself, Help Your Neighbor” Emergency and Disaster expo on Saturday (5/20)

Members of the Morongo Basin Community are invited to attend an emergency and disaster preparedness expo coined "Help Yourself, Help Your Neighbor" at the Yucca Valley Walmart parking lot tomorrow (5/20) from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at 58501 Twentynine Palms Highway. This event is presented by local community leaders Marjorie Smith of Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), Justin Merino of the High Desert Emergency Action Alliance (HDEAA) & Morongo Basin Fire Safe Council.…