Robert Haydon

NPS and U.S. Forest Service seeking public’s input on climbing activities on public lands

November 30, 2023

Listen here: The U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service are seeking public input on proposed guidance that would help the agencies in managing climbing opportunities in national forests, grasslands and parks. The climbing activities covered include not only rock climbing, but snow and ice climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering, and caving. All of these are popular in National Parks - especially Joshua Tree National Park which is a climbing and bouldering destination. Some of the items…

Holiday cheer and Christmas lights brighten Yucca Valley at annual tree lighting

by Robert Haydon

November 29, 2023

Holiday cheer and Christmas lights brighten Yucca Valley at annual tree lighting

Listen here: It was a cold but clear night at the Yucca Valley Library where hundreds of people got together for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. Mayor Dennison greeted the crowd at around 5:30, and the Yucca Valley Youth Commission was handing out coffee, cocoa and candy while kids lined up to visit and take a picture with the guest of honor - Santa Claus. The line to see the jolly elf curved like a candy cane around the library parking lot where kids and their parents patiently…

Freezing temps are here: winterizing your swamp cooler can help you keep in the heat

by Robert Haydon

November 28, 2023

Freezing temps are here: winterizing your swamp cooler can help you keep in the heat

The National Weather Service gave the Morongo Basin its first freeze warning on Sunday morning (November 26.) With temperatures dropping below 32 degree Fahrenheit, it’s a good time to think about preparing your house for winter, especially if you are one of the many homes that run a swamp cooler. If this was your first summer with a swamp cooler, you were probably pretty pleased with how cool they can get your house, at least on low-humidity days. Unlike air conditioners which use a sealed…

Thanksgiving Food Baskets being distributed today at the Way Station in Joshua Tree

by Robert Haydon

November 21, 2023

Today starting at 8AM the Way Station in Joshua Tree is giving away Thanksgiving baskets to those in need. Yvonne Gates is the director of the way station - a food pantry and soup kitchen right here in Joshua Tree that’s been helping feed folks here in the Morongo Basin for 38 years: Yvonne Gates: “Each guest will receive celery, onions, yams and potatoes. All of that product is fresh… they will have their choice of a ham or turkey. To round out the food box, there will be stuffing, mashed…

Basin Transit and Way Station team up to make sure no family goes hungry on Thanksgiving

by Robert Haydon

November 19, 2023

Listen here: This last Friday Basin Transit teamed up with the Way Station in Joshua Tree to try and fill a Basin Transit bus up with food for families who are feeling the pinch this year. From 7AM to 7PM, volunteers from both organizations were at the main entrances of the Yucca Valley Wal-Mart, collecting stuffing, veggies, cranberries, marshmallows, rolls, turkey, hams and more. Michal Brock is the Office Manager from Basin Transit was there bright and early and she was already excited…

La Contenta 8th Grader Elizabeth Milson collects hundreds of pairs in 2nd Annual Sock Drive

by Robert Haydon

November 19, 2023

La Contenta 8th Grader Elizabeth Milson collects hundreds of pairs in 2nd Annual Sock Drive

A La Contenta Middle Schooler is helping those in need with her second annual sock drive. Elizabeth Milson collected 276 pairs of socks this year, topping the 250 she gathered last year - and she’s pairing with the Way Station to distribute them with the Thanksgiving Baskets. According to the MUSD’s Press release - Elizabeth initially did the project in her 7th grade leadership class when she reached out of the way station who said that socks were their biggest need. This year - she didn’t have…

Leonid Meteor shower peaks this weekend

by Robert Haydon

November 18, 2023

If the clouds stay away this weekend you may see a show if you point your peepers skyward Saturday and Sunday night. The Leonid meteor shower is set to peak tonight - with previous years reporting about up to 15 meteors an hour. Much like the Perseid meteor shower - the Leonid meteor shower will peak during a waning moon meaning extra dark skies for easier viewing. Unlike the Perseids - this meteor shower isn’t expecting record traffic into our area. NASA recommends heading out at midnight - but…

Joshua Tree Library selling paperbacks and DVDs for dimes and quarters

by Robert Haydon

November 18, 2023

The Friends of the Joshua Tree Library are having a giant sale on books and movies through December 16th. During library hours you can get paperback books for 10 cents and all DVDs are only 50 cents. The Joshua Tree Library is open everyday except Fridays and Sundays - all proceeds from sales go back into the Joshua Tree Library for books, events and special programs.Come on down and grab some books and movies and get cozy during these cooler fall evenings - and do some good for our public…

Heading into the Mojave National Preserve? Kelso Depot closed for renovations

by Robert Haydon

November 17, 2023

Heading into the Mojave National Preserve? Kelso Depot closed for renovations

The Mojave National Preserve is continuing to recover from storms and fires this year - and they’ve closed a few more areas for renovations. Beginning on Tuesday the National park Service has closed the public restrooms and parking area at the Kelso Depot just northeast of the Morongo Basin. They say that the current facilities have frequent issues that force emergency closures and repairs can take weeks as parts for the current facilities are limited. Preserves encourages visitors to prepare…

Can you donate Joshua Tree seedlings to the National Park?

by Robert Haydon

November 12, 2023

Can you donate Joshua Tree seedlings to the National Park?

Joshua Trees are a species under threat. Wildfires sparked from careless activity spread further and faster in the desert than in years past due to invasive species, and climate change brings hotter and drier seasons. This can spell trouble for a species that can take decades for their seedlings to grow to the full-size trees that we see in higher elevations here in the Morongo Basin. Recent fires in the Mojave National Preserve have devastated thousands of acres of Joshua Tree forest. The Cima…

Login

Register

Recover your password.