Monday, November 25, 2024
Jef Harmatz

Jef Harmatz

Jef Harmatz is the co-host of Z107.7’s “Morning Show with Cody and Jef” and Z107.7’s News Director. He has worked as a journalist, cartoonist, chef, and delivery driver. He is known nationally for his writing and comics in publications like TimeOut,…

Review: Final weekend of “Man of La Mancha” bursts through the darkness!

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
March 15, 2024
“Man of La Mancha” opens this weekend at Theatre 29

I had the pleasure of attending the gala opening night of Theatre 29’s production of “Man of La Mancha.” Gary Daigneault, the director of the program and owner of this radio station, asked that I submit my review of the show, which is as follows. Having no familiarity with the 20th century musical by Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh, and Joe Darion, nor the 17th century Cervantes novel that serves as source material, I can say that I was surprisingly delighted by the Theatre 29’s production of…

Major highway connecting Morongo Basin and Las Vegas closed due to degraded bridge

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
March 8, 2024
Number of unhoused in Morongo Basin rises; County reserves $72 million to fight it

A damaged bridge has led to the closure of National Trails Highway between Amboy and Kelbaker Road, and repairs are expected to take another three weeks. This closes a major throughway used to connect the Morongo Basin and Las Vegas. San Bernardino County's Public Works office provided Z107.7 with background on the damage and an update on repairs. Public Works said that the damage to Bridge 70, located about a mile east of Saltus Road, was discovered by Caltrans during a routine inspection…

Morongo Basin Ambulance talks about emergencies in the National Park

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
March 8, 2024
Mojave National Preserve requesting public input on road rehab

How do our local emergency service providers respond to medical situations within Joshua Tree National Park? Morongo Basin Ambulance Operations Chief Craig Bell discussed exactly that on last week’s Z107.7 Up Close Show with host Gary Daigneault. “That's one of the things that I love about this job, you're getting a call in the park, and you're getting some exercise in. You're going in and taking care of the patient. It changes up the day a little bit. You go in, get to help…

Joshua Tree Post Office burglarized over weekend

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
March 5, 2024
Joshua Tree Post Office burglarized over weekend

The Joshua Tree Post Office was the victim of a break-in over the weekend. An overturned found behind the Post Office on Monday morning. The post office, located on Twentynine Palms Highway at the intersection of Halle Rd, was closed this morning (March 4) due to what signs on the front door described as a "break-in" and "vandalism." Postal equipment is currently scattered throughout the vacant land behind the post office. County Sheriffs' Deputies were at the facility,…

Workshop 29 hosting free transformative sculpture classes next two Sundays

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
March 2, 2024
Workshop 29 hosting free transformative sculpture classes next two Sundays

Workshop 29 is hosting a two-part paper-making and sculpture workshop beginning tomorrow afternoon (March 3). The workshops, led by local artist Jai Knight, will teach people to use recycled paper in the creation of vessels that symbolize the body’s’ experience of trauma. Participants will be working to transform literal and metaphorical “waste” by forming a relationship with it, showcasing how people are shaped by their lives and have the ability to grow and transform. Knight will be assisted…

Sheriff Dicus discusses Project Hammerstrike success at Joshua Tree open house last night

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
February 29, 2024
Operation Hammer Strike has seized marijuana worth over One Billion dollars

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus spoke about Project Hammerstrike in Joshua Tree yesterday (February 28). His appearance was part of San Bernardino Board of Supervisor Chair and local Third District Representative Dawn Rowe monthly open house meeting series at the Joshua Tree Community Center. Dicus discussed a wide-range of topics, including growing up in Morongo Basin. But of particular note to our area was his thoughts on the effectiveness of Operation: Hammerstrike, an…

High Desert Choir serenades 29 Palms Farmer’s Market

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
February 19, 2024
High Desert Choir serenades 29 Palms Farmer’s Market

Listen here: The High Desert Choir performed in the midst of the Twentynine Palms Farmers Market on Saturday.  The community choir’s performance, which is part of the Workshop 29 and is sponsored by 29 Palms Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC), invited professional singers, amateur singers, and people who had never sung before to perform in public for a good cause. Choir leader Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs, explains: “The High Desert Choir is a drop-in, no-experience necessary, body’s choice…

Yucca Valley Third Saturday Art Walk tonight (2/17)

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
February 17, 2024
The Twentynine Palms Art Gallery announces their Holiday Market Nov. 26

Yucca Valley's galleries have been debuting new shows on the third Saturday of the month, and that third Saturday happens to be today (February 17). A number of Yucca Valley galleries are showing off artwork today, with many galleries debuting new shows and holding receptions with the featured artists. Goat Mountain Co. debuts their new group show, "Homage to Wes Anderson," which features art from a variety of local makers the pays tribute to the iconic director and his famous…

Woman killed in YV motorcycle collision identified

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
February 13, 2024

The woman killed in a fatal motorcycle collision in Yucca Valley has been identified. On Thursday (February 8) 12:45, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report that a motorcycle had collided into a light pole on Twentynine Palms Highway near Kickapoo Trail. They report that Melanie Fontes, a 49 year old resident of Gardena, lost control of her motorcycle, colliding into a light pole in the 55400 block of Twentynine Palms Highway.  The rider was pronounced dead at…

Second Saturday Art Walk tonight in Joshua Tree

Jef Harmatzby Jef Harmatz
February 10, 2024
Shop Local 2023

It’s also the second Saturday of the month, and that means the art crawl returns to Joshua Tree. With a look at what’s happening downtown, here’s art aficionado Jef Harmatz Downtown Joshua Tree’s art galleries will all open to the public tonight, and many of them will have receptions for new shows. La Matadora comes back for a third helping of defiled thrift store art. A number of hi-desert artists have taken second-hand, thrifted artwork and added their own unusual touches to the work.…

Copyright © 2024 Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree - Local News for the Hi Desert.
Copyright © 2024 Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree - Local News for the Hi Desert.