Blood supplies are low in the Morongo Basin, and Lifestream will be holding a blood drive tomorrow (May 2) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the California Welcome Center located at 56711 Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley.
Healthy individuals at least 15 years of age may donate blood. (Everyone under 17 years of age must provide LifeStream with written parental consent.)
Donors receive a free mini-physical (including readings for blood pressure, pulse, cholesterol levels, iron level and temperature with results being posted on the donor’s private online portal.) Please set an appointment by calling LifeStream at 800-879-4484 or visiting LStream.org.
After shots were reportedly heard in Wonder Valley, an out of state felon was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a ghost gun.
On Sunday night (April 28) at around 8:30 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies received a report of shots fired around the 83000 block of Amboy Road in Wonder Valley.
After searching the area, deputies contacted Leo Oladimu, 53, who they say was in possession of a shotgun and ammunition. Deputies report that the shotgun was sawed off, that the shotgun’s serial number was modified, and that as a convicted felon, Oladimu is prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
Leo Oladimu was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a ghost gun, manufacturing a short-barreled rifle, and booked into the West Valley Detention Center. He has been released on bail.
The world of funding measures can often be dry and overlooked. However, there are significant benefits to understanding the tax measures that may slightly impact the pocketbook but can significantly impact our collective livelihood. For residents of Yucca Valley, these impactful measures are known as Measure Y and Measure Z.
The lesser-known Measure Z is a local, half-cent tax measure through which funds are appropriated to reduce the costs of sewer assessment for residents. These funds are given to the Hi-Desert Water District and are distributed equitably amongst property owners on their tax bills. Measure Z helps lower these costs by approximately 50% per year.
Of the two measures, Measure Y is the one that is commonly heard around the Morongo Basin, from Town Council Meetings and in the news. This a local, half-cent tax measure that provides funds to advance three specific goals: Public Safety, Infrastructure, and Quality of Life. Some of these funds have gone to fund public works projects, such as crack and slurry seal project to repair the roads. Measure Y funds have also helped fund programs at the Senior Center such as chair yoga and karaoke, as well as staff positions at the local Sheriff’s Department, including a detective and safety specialist. Recently, the Old Town Beautification and Sustainability Project has been made possible in part due to Measure Y funds.
Despite each being anticipated to earn only $1.5 million, Measures Y and Z each garner roughly $2.8 million for the town each year. According to Dr. John Husing, nearly half of this revenue is paid for by non-residents, thanks to local tourism. The Measures have also provoked community input and engagement since their enactment. The Measure Revenue Oversight Commission was formed in 2021; community members apply to sit on the commission and have a say in fund distribution. There are also Measure Y Partnership Funds, which local nonprofits or service organizations can apply for to increase the Quality of Life for residents.
According to Curtis Yakimow, the Town Manager for Yucca Valley, resident engagement is important for these Measures to thrive.
“We have an annual report that will be coming out shortly on Measure Y and Z. You can always go to our website or take a look at the newsletter that will come out and find out more information and stay engaged. Quite frankly, at the end of the day, that’s what we need is an engaged and informed resident base to make the best decisions for this community.”
Both Measures were voted into existence in 2016, to expire in early 2027. The Revenue Oversight Commission has recommended that the Town Council consider reauthorization this year. Should that not occur, Yucca Valley residents can expect to see Measures Y and Z on the ballots again in November 2026.
A Morongo Unified School District school bus driver has been named “School Bus Driver” of the year for his quick actions after a traffic collision in Yucca Valley.
Ben Glaser, who drives with Student Transportation of America, has been named the Southern Region School Bus Driver of the Year for 2023 by the California Highway Patrol.
Glaser was driving a bus full of 28 students away from La Contenta Middle School on August 24, 2023. While the bus was heading westbound on Onaga Trl, the CHP reports that a Nissan, driven by David Terrey, a 53-year-old Yucca Valley resident, did not stop at a stop sign. The Nissan struck the right side of the school bus. The bus was pushed off the road into a yard, and collided with another vehicle.
One child on the bus suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital out of an abundance of caution.
MUSD Risk & Transportation Director Jack Salseda said that it was a “Miracle” that all students were able to go home safely that day.
Terrey was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment for injuries. He was cited for his involvement in the collision, and has since failed to appear in court for hearings related to the citations.
Glaser was recognized for his efforts as the Driver of the Year for all of Southern California by a panel including representatives California Highway Patrol, Dept. of Motor Vehicles, Dept. of Education and California Association of School Transportation Officials. He was presented with an award at a ceremony on Friday (April 26)
Glaser drives for the Student Transportation of America in Yucca Valley, serving students on the eastend of the Morongo Unified School District. He received his California School Bus Certificate from San Diego Unified School District in 2019; he then drove for Chula Vista Elementary School in 2020 and came to Student Transportation of America in Morongo Unified in April 2022.
The 29 Palms Art Gallery will host an art reception on Saturday, May 4th, to celebrate the May exhibition.
The gallery will be open all day, and reception hospitality will be served on the gallery patio from 4 to 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend and meet the artists. Admission is free. Featured in the West Wing in May is “Mohave Metal and Fiber” by Morongo Basin artists Karin Skiba, Kathi Klopfenstein and Holly Rae Wind, three artists who create fine art but use methods that were historically considered craft techniques.
East Gallery features Yucca Valley artist Hiroko Momii’s vibrant and harmonious abstract paintings and drawings titled “My Journey to Freedom: Search for Self”, utilizing painting is a meditation to reach the deepest, silent space of vast consciousness. The exhibition will be on display at the gallery May 3 to 26, open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On last Friday’s (April 26) Up Close Show, host Gary Daigneault sat down to discuss all things recreation with Clayton Rardon and Jakub Kusmieruk of the Yucca Valley Recreation Department.
In 2022, the Yucca Valley Town Council adopted a public art policy to encourage beautification and engagement with art. Clayton Rardon of the Yucca Valley Recreation Department noted how public art has become more prevalent in town since then.
“We’ve done a piece of art to enhance the 5th edition of our Yucca Valley Film Festival last November. We have a new installation at the Yucca Valley Branch Library by Gubby Beck; it’s a sculpture called Infinite Connection. And next week, we are installing utility box digital wraps.
The Utility Box Program was created to help beautify blank spaces across Yucca Valley. After an initial Call for Artists, the designs were posted online for community review before the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Commission selected final pieces that can soon be spotted all over town.
“Chloe Allred has a couple of really cool paintings that have been converted into digital media to be wrapped onto boxes. Those will be near the Tesla chargers and Grocery Outlet. There’s a fun graphic design by Julie Peasley over on the utility box by Panda Express and Taco Bell. It has lots of cool bright colors and geometric shapes.”
The digital wrap installation process on the utility boxes will begin this week, to be finished in early May.
What can only be described as Landers’ most beloved UFO is now safely ensconced at its landing pad outside the Landers Post Office. The saucer, which has three space aliens peering out its windows, was returned to its original landing pad last week by the Landers Association.
The four-foot tall by eight-foot-wide saucer had been held at the Landers Association for about five weeks while it underwent a major restoration. The Association took the UFO for safekeeping after it miraculously appeared near the landing pad following six anxious months during which time Landers residents only knew that the UFO had disappeared.
While some speculated it had been stolen, others felt it must have been recalled to a mother ship, Thus far the three aliens aboard whose names are unpronounceable have remained tight-lipped about what they may have been through during their six months away.
What is known is that the Association has restored the ship patching and repainting the outer skin, and securing its footings. Landers UFO first appeared in the water-wise demonstration garden outside Landers Post Office in 2018.
The ship is a popular stop for picture-taking. With new safeguards in place, hopes are that the ship will not disappear again.
There has been an increase in reports of found guns, legal and illegal – in unusual places around the Morongo Basin.
If you have found a firearm or ammunition and want to dispose of it responsibly but you aren’t comfortable handing it – The San Bernardino Sheriff Station says it’s as simple as calling them and asking a deputy to come and take possession of it.
However – If you do feel safe handling the firearm or ammunition you want to turn in – you can take it to the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station. It’s best to call ahead so the station knows to expect you, and once you’ve arrived check-in at the front window first – without the firearm. Once the clerk takes the firearm – you’ll be provided with a receipt or case number for record keeping.
The Sheriff’s Department says that they will ask basic questions involving whatever you know about the firearm – stating “we have a duty to document how we received the firearm and from who – just in case it is later found to be involved in a crime.”
If you wish to remain anonymous but still want to turn in the firearm – you can call the WE TIP line to report it – and if enough information is provided a detective will look into how to retrieve the firearm. That number is 1-800-78-CRIME
The Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station can be contacted at (760) 366-4175
If you’re traveling from the hi-desert to Big Bear this week, expect delays on State Route 18.
Caltrans will be replacing culverts along the highway from Lucerne Valley to Big Bear Dam, and only one lane will be open to traffic in both directions, necessitating flagging and traffic control.
Construction begins today (April 29) and will be happening all week long form 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There is good news for Morongo Valley residents who are tired of their washed-out dirt roads—a special roads district is being formed for locals, by locals, and the first meeting is Tuesday at 6 PM in Covington Park’s Mesquite Room.
Join your Morongo Valley neighbors to discuss how we can maintain our roads, keep them private, while providing your input on the project. Organized by community member Grace Hamilton and attended by the San Bernardino Special District’s personnel, this meeting is significant for homeowners living between North Star Trail and Navajo Trail.
The first steps to becoming an affordable Special District with the County of San Bernardino for maintenance of our local roads is to dispel misinformation, get facts, obtain information to the landowners, and raise enough funds to cover the costs. Once funds are raised, the county mails ballots to all affected landowners for a pass/fail vote, then the money is returned to residents who paid into the project. All of this starts by talking to neighbors to get an idea if this initiative is supported by the majority of the landowners.
To aid in gaining support, Grace Hamilton has created the fact-based website: crappyroads92256.com.
The national day of observance is held on the first Thursday of may, and is recognized locally by the 29 Palms Ministerial Association. They will hold three services throughout the day in Twentynine Palms, each led by city council member and Association President McArthur Wright.
The first two services will be held at 7 a.m. and noon at Veterans Park (flagpole), located at 6136 Adobe Road. The third service will be at 6:30 p.m. at Gospel Fellowship Christian Center Church located at 5898 Adobe Road.
Twentynine Palms Mayor Steven Bilderain present a proclamation at the morning service. Services will feature speakers and representatives from many of the hi-desert’s churches, as well as representatives from local schools and business.
Earlier this season, Theatre 29 announced the desert debut of the Off-Broadway musical “Disenchanted” as part of their 2023-24 season. Due to unforeseen casting difficulties, they were not able to continue that project.
Director Charles Harvey will replace it with the hugely popular ecumenical musical, “Nunsense”.
With catchy songs and irreverent comedy, “Nunsense” is sure to keep audiences rolling with laughter. Featured in the cast of a small group of nuns who put on a talent show to raise funds to bury their last four dead sisters due to an accidental poisoning by soup incident at the convent are Mother Superior Laura Harwood, Mistress of Novices Sister Hubert played by Lisa Hodgson, wise-cracking Sister Robert Anne played by Kimberly Sonntag, Forgetful Sister Amnesia portrayed by Tiffany Crocker and ballerina Sister Leo played by Melissa McNiel.
The production run will remain May 24 – June 9th, with tickets available now at theatre29.org.
Chris Plummer, loving husband and devoted father, passed away suddenly on January 5, 2024. He leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and cherished memories that will forever remain in the hearts of his family and friends. He was born in Cleveland Ohio on Feb 8, 1968 and lived in Maple Heights, Ohio until he was age 4, when his mother moved back to California. During his elementary years Chris moved several times; living in Fontana, Redondo Beach and even spent a year at the Air Force Base in England. By age 13 he landed in La Canada where he attended La Canada High School (Class of 1986). During High School he loved playing Football and spending time with friends.
After graduation Chris went on to play football for Akron University (Ohio) and San Diego State University. After college, Chris remained in the Los Angeles area and worked as a consultant/Network Administrator for several companies: Raytheon, Northrup Grumman, The Guitar Center, and The Gas Company.
In 2002 Chris married the love of his life, Meredith. The very next year, in 2003 they left the “hustle and bustle” of Los Angeles and moved to Twentynine Palms to start a family and enjoy a peaceful life. They welcomed their daughters, Isabel (2004) and Natalie (2005).
Before settling back to work in IT, Chris fulfilled a childhood dream that was not possible in Los Angeles. He joined and graduated from the fire academy and EMT program at Copper Mountain College. Chris may have been the oldest student in the program, but he was the most successful. Chris enjoyed serving as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the Morongo Basin.
In 2005, Chris returned to his work as a Network Administrator. He worked for Eisenhower Medical Center, the Morongo Unified School District, Copper Mountain College, the G6 and Naval Hospital aboard the Twentynine Palms Marine Base. His final job was the Director of Information Technology for MCCS, aboard the Twentynine Palms Marine Base. While Chris never served in the military, his pride in working on base and his profound respect for service members were unparalleled.
Chris was a loving and dedicated husband to Meredith, his partner in life’s journey. Their bond was a testament to the strength of true love, built on trust, respect, and unwavering support for each other. Together, they faced life’s challenges with courage and shared countless moments of joy and laughter.
As a father, Chris was a pillar of strength and guidance to his two beloved daughters, Isabel and Natalie. He showered them with unconditional love, encouragement, and wisdom, nurturing their dreams and aspirations. He was their biggest cheerleader, celebrating every milestone and offering a steady hand during difficult times.
Chris was an excellent story-teller and was always ready with a good “dad” joke. His compassion touched the lives of many, and his legacy of love will continue to inspire those who knew him. In this time of profound loss, Meredith, Isabel, Natalie, and the entire family find solace in the beautiful memories they shared with Chris. They take comfort in knowing that he will forever watch over them as their guardian angel. His love and legacy will continue to shine brightly, illuminating the lives of those he touched. Chris will be remembered for his kind heart, infectious smile, and the warmth of his presence. May he rest in eternal peace, knowing he was deeply loved and will be dearly missed.
Chris is survived by his loving wife Meredith and daughters Isabel and Natalie, sister Shelly and parents Lynne (Vic) and Troxel. Chris is proceeded in death by his brother Michael.
A funeral service to celebrate Chris’s life will be held on May 18, 2024 at 1pm at the Twentynine Palms Cemetery, followed by a reception at the Twentynine Palms Inn.
In lieu of flowers or donations, we can all honor Chris by practicing kindness and paying it forward.
Update – we previously uploaded the shorter version of this story below. The longer version is now in it’s place.
Listen to the longer version here:
One of the highlights of the upcoming Morongo Daze music festival is “desert legend” Sean Wheeler, a longtime veteran of desert rock and a deep-rooted influence on its surrounding culture.
Fronting bands like Throwrag, Sean and Zander, The Reluctant Messengers, and countless projects for the last 40 years, Sean Wheeler’s deep baritone often swirls into coyote-esque yelps, grounded by an often-described “Shamanistic” stage presence that appears possessed, steeped in otherworldly waters deep enough to avoid anything close to contrived, now with a new focus on poetics that seems a focused reinvention of the desert veteran.
Wheeler touched on how he acquired the desert legend moniker.
“(on a flyer) Someone called me ‘desert legend,’ and I was all, ‘I’m gonna use that.’ It sounds like one of those blues names where you’re like, ‘I think I’ve heard of that’ even though you know you’ve never heard of it, but it sounds like you should have. And you know, it was just a joke. But then these intercommunity guys were getting upset by the proclamation, even though it’s actually one-hundred percent accurate. But you know, anyone in the desert can be a desert legend if they feel legendary.”
Whether or not its tongue-in-cheek, the desert legend moniker has substantial roots that go all the way back to the late 1800s. After his great grandparents met in San Jacinto at a barn dance in 1903 (where Wheeler’s great-great uncle Milt entertained as the one-man-band), Rose and Oliver McKinney would eventually move to Morongo Valley in 1911 with a well-digging machine, earning a living by digging for water for the area’s first homesteaders like themselves.
I spoke to Sean at this very homestead that he’s been fixing up and rehearsing in for the past year, where he continued speaking to the depths of his family’s local history which led them down the hill in 1916:
“So then the McKinney’s went to Palm Springs and kept knocking babies out. My great uncle Ted McKinney was the first non-native boy, and my grandma was the first non-native girl to be born in Palm Springs on the corner of Ramona and Indian Canyon. There was another white family who claimed to be the first, but my grandma told them, ‘You weren’t because you left, because there was no hospital in Palm Springs, you went to Banning or whatever… I was born right there on the corner in a tent!’
Wheeler was a pioneer himself in the early 80s, when being a teenager in the desert wasn’t at all how it is now, especially for one just discovering punk rock, far removed from the action in Los Angeles.
“When we were punk kids in ’81, ’82, the first punk shows in the desert were in the garage at my mom’s house, then we started doing the generator parties.”
Organized by Wheeler’s friend and collaborator Mario Lalli (who he considers the Godfather of the Desert), these infamous generator parties are what gave desert rock its roots of culture, best documented in the films Lo-Desert Sound and The Desert Age, both in which Wheeler is a key figure raconteur who nearly steals the movie with his seasoned stream of consciousness.
For his set at the upcoming Morongo Daze festival, Wheeler is reuniting with Billy Pittman, his guitar player from their gospel-blues project The Reluctant Messengers, rounded out by the rhythm section of Los Pancho Tones, who will also be performing.
Sean Wheeler at the threshold to history, under his great grandpa’s plaque
I asked Wheeler what makes Morongo Valley unique compared to the rest of the basin, and how Morongo Daze is turning into a true community event.
“One thing that makes Morongo Valley rad is, depending on who you talk to, it’s the first town… or the last town in the high desert. And sometimes it seems overlooked, but it really is the sweet spot. When I played the last Morongo Daze in the fall, I was shocked—the community was jamming! You couldn’t even find parking! Like, everybody turned out.”
Sean Wheeler and band plays at 5 PM on Saturday, May 4th for Morongo Daze in Morongo Valley’s Covington Park.
The Hi-Desert Nature Museum is a great place to go if you are looking for a little taste of the outdoors… indoors. Museum director Celeste Hildebrand sums it up best:
Visitors check out the geology room at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum.
Celeste: “It’s an amazing place that has a little bit of everything. Our museum is unique – we have natural history, we have art, we have cultural exhibits. Our museum takes a little bit of everything from the Morongo Basin and the hi-desert and combines it into one family-friendly place for visitors and locals to come enjoy and learn about our desert.”
The museum has been around since 1964 when it was founded by Evelyn Conklin and her father Percy, along with long-time desert resident Camilla Hudson and Jerry Moore…
Celeste: “…who was the Director of the Parks and Recreation district at that time. (He) put out a call for recreation activities in the local newspaper. Evelyn responded with an idea for her nature museum. She had previously opened a nature museum down in San Dimas, and so she had experience with it. She had collections as a naturalist, and her idea was accepted and the nature museum was born.”
Evelyn Conklin served as the curator for the museum for 28 years. She still lives in the Morongo Basin, and recently turned 97. In 1973 the museum moved to where it is now – at the Yucca Valley Community Center Complex. It wasn’t the town of Yucca Valley back then, the area became officially incorporated as a Town in 1991 and the museum became a division of the Community Services Department.
A mock schoolhouse is ready for kids to cut loose inA light-up interactive map of the Morongo BasinLots of live desert critters are on displayGet close-up with nature dioramasLearn about Giant Rock in their interactive exhibit
Although the name says “nature,” that’s just a small but essential part of what the museum offers. Our area has a rich culture and history, as well as an active art community. Here’s the Hi-Desert Nature Museum’s collections and exhibits coordinator, Charlie Rossow:
Charlie Rossow: “We do have a rotating gallery that changes three of four times a year. There’s some long traditions of exhibits that have been there that people find interesting. Then we rent exhibits as well, from loaning facilities. We try in every way possible to bring collections out from storage that haven’t been seen in a while and try to make those relevant to our current exhibits or for things that may be happening locally.”
A chuckwalla is one of the many live small animals on display at the museum.The cockroaches are a favorite for kids (and adults)A closeup of Picture SandstoneOne of the dozens of geology specimens on display
This was from an interview a couple weeks back on the “Up Close Show with Gary Daigneault,” and Gary knew the right questions to ask:
Gary Daigneault: “What’s one of the oldest exhibits that Evelyn had?”
Charlie: “One that is really well known is our globe room. We have some blacklights that show how certain rocks fluoresce under UV light. This is probably the most often asked for exhibit. When people come in, they ask ‘do you still have that UV room?’ Yes we still have it!”
I have to admit, I totally forgot about the UV room. I have to go back and lucky for me and you – the Hi-Desert Nature Museum is completely free to visit, although donations are encouraged. And it doesn’t quite matter yet, but in just a few weeks you’ll be happy to know that the Hi-Desert Nature Museum is comfortably air-conditioned, too.
The current exhibit is a popular returning favorite – Metamorphosis, now its its 20th year. Hi-desert artists repurpose trash to make some really great and fun artwork. Definitely visit the museum before it leaves on May 11th- making room for a new hands-on exhibit that focuses on traveling called “From Here to There” which makes its debut on May 23rd.
I suggest picking up a sticker for a dollar on the way out, and don’t sleep on visiting those glowing rocks and minerals in the UV room – you’ll probably find me in there staring into the iridescent glow.
Don’t miss out on all the native flowers around the museum and the Yucca Valley Community Center, too.
Free health screenings are just a small part of what’s planned for this Saturday’s (April 27, 2024) Health & Community Resource Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center complex. In addition to free screenings, and vaccinations, organizers promise entertainment and activities that will appeal to young kids, teens, and adults alike.
Sponsored by the Morongo Basin Healthcare District and the Town of Yucca Valley, attendees can take advantage of free screenings for blood pressure and glucose, plus determine health indicators like body mass index and A1C. The popular “Ask the Doctor” table will also be featured as will area nonprofits offering resources and information such as healthy eating on a budget. The county will provide free COVID vaccinations.
And LifeStream will hold an on-site blood drive. In the ball field, the Yucca Valley Youth Commission will set up a “Teen Zone” featuring giant inflatable slides, obstacle courses, and free snow cones.
Visit MorongoBasinHealth.org to learn more about Saturday’s free Health & Community Resource Fair.
A celebration event on Saturday will show off the artistic achievements made by the Workshop29 program over the last several months in Twentynine Palms.
The free event will showcase the dancing, singing, writing, and transformational sculpture makinng achieved by the participants of the Workshop29 program. Organized by the Twentynine Palms Public Arts Advisory Committee, the results of the free community workshops will be celebrated at this large scale public event.
Carolyn Pennypacker-Riggs, artist and leader of the High Desert Community Choir, says “a real good time.”
“Saturday’s event is a culmination of all four workshops coming together and sharing the art we’ve made together as a community.
“My part is a community choir that requires no audition or previous experience, and I’m actively encouraging people who think they can’t sing to join.”
Choreographer Ryan Heffington, who led a workshop on ecology explored through dance, said:
“Saturday’s performance is going to be an abbreviated version of what we did in class. Explain what entails an ecology dance workshop, and how the two fit together. and what we created with my two assistants, Kristy and Ben.
We did all the research about ecology in the desert, and we put it on our bodies. We were able to move like animals, we were able to move like insects, and we were able to show and create the symbiotic relationships between everyone and everything.”
Those that come to Saturday’s event, held at Freedom Plaza from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. will have the opportunity to participate, whether it be through singing, dancing, or mantra-making.
Heffington added, “I’m going to lead a warm up, so everyone can get into their bodies and as we warm up, we’re going to be doing the movements we’ve created for the specific animals and insects and that will start it off for the other presentations from the other workshops. “
As to the overall success of the Workshop29 program, artist Jai Knight, who led a transformative paper-making workshop, concluded by saying “It was sweet to see how the community was so open to receiving the process. I wasn’t sure if there was going to be judgment or resistance to the process, and it seems like there was a lot of openness and receptiveness and actual transformation that happened. Especially with several people in the workshop that emailed me.
“I’m grateful and honored to be able to create an experience that facilitates other people to go into their own journey of processing the things that we hold on to. I feel very supported by the Public Arts Advisory Council and their team.”
Come see the work that your community has done this Saturday at Freedom Plaza, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
A dance, film, and performance piece inspired by the natural environment in and around Joshua Tree National Park will be held this Saturday at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center.
The Alchemy Arts Collective presents “Chasing the Light,” a show that utilizes two mediums: a live dance performance and its adaptation into film. The film unfolds within the natural backdrop of Joshua Tree, providing a unique angle on the choreography as it integrates the movement into the environment that initially inspired the project.
Historically, our species have communed together using nature to tell stories, pass down knowledge, and explain the mysteries of life, and gathering in nature is a thread running through every culture. “Chasing the Light” explores the connection between nature and humanity, a scale with intense power that puts our existence into perspective, inviting us to contemplate our place in this vast universe.
Doors are at 6:30, show at 7 PM in the Sanctuary at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, tickets available at the door.
Thought Theatre will be hosting, “Surviving and Thriving: creativity after and during illness” as a FREE community event made possible by a grant from the Public Arts Advisory Committee of Twentynine Palms, exploring the role of creativity in healing after and during illness. Covering such topics as creating awareness of the importance of health care and maintenance, the role of early detection, how creativity can assist the healing process, and the importance of a strong support system.
Resources will be available to those experiencing illness as well as their caregivers. Featured performers at the event include Lisa and Paul, Miri Hunter and Thom Merrick and Paul Mackley. Representatives from the Department of Behavioral Health, San Bernardino County will be available to answer questions and provide information on health and wellness resources.
The free event will be held Saturday April 27 at 3:30pm at the 29 Palms Art Gallery and Sunday, April 28 at 2:00pm at the Wonder Valley Community Center.
The Yucca Valley Airport will be showing off airplanes of all vintages – weather permitting – from 10AM to 12PM this Sunday.
Park in the Copper Room parking lot off Aviation Dr., bring the kids and your camera and take some pictures of some neat planes, talk to some local pilots and take tours of cockpits.
