Bioidentical hormones are compounds of natural plan hormones that your body can release and absorb on its own schedule
Mood Swings
Trouble Sleeping
Night Sweats
Fatigue
Brain Fog
Weight Gain
Hot Flashes
Irritability
Vaginal Discomfort
Low Sex Drive
No daily treatments or weekly visits
No painful quick-release injections
Up to 6 months of long-term relief
Irritability
Low Sex Drive
Muscle Loss
Fatigue
Brain Fog
Increased Body Fat
High Blood Sugar
Anxiety
High Cholesterol
Decreased risk of side effects
No irritation from creams or gels
Reduces the risk of some diseases
AS WE START OUR 4TH YEAR of publishing the PULSE, under its different names, our goal has always been to provide our readers, advertisers and TEAM members a publication that meets their needs.
Information on needed health services available in our area, events of interest to our communities, companies’ involvement in their community, articles that cover the history & culture of our High Desert and showcasing the awesome work that many of the groups-associations-service clubs provide.
We, the PULSE TEAM, is active within our market areas. As members of local chambers, networking groups, service clubs and events, such as the Home Show & County Fair.
Gaining your trust and support is never taken for granted, be you a reader or an advertiser. One of our themes is Shop Globally but BUY LOCALLY.
Check out our NEW addition to the TEAM on page 17. “Motor Mama’, also known as Tanya Inglis. She will be sharing insights on the auto industry.
In this issue you will find on page 27 a list of our partner locations where you can pick up your copy of the PULSE.
Let’s make 2025 the BEST year of our lives.
Conkle
Desert Dreams and Coffee Beans: Meet Crave Kaffee Haus Owner Yvonne Butticci
IN THE HEART OF BARSTOW , Yvonne Butticci steps behind the counter of Crave Kaffee Haus and not only makes delicious drinks, but works to build the community hub she always imagined her hometown needed — one cup at a time.
A true daughter of Barstow, Butticci's roots run deep. Her journey from the halls of Barstow High School, where she excelled in band and soccer through Barstow Community College, and on to Kansas Wesleyan University, where she earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology, always led back home.
Growing up in her Mexican-American household, cafecito con pan wasn't just breakfast, it was tradition, comfort, and family wrapped in the steam of her cup — enjoyable at any time of the day. These cherished memories of coffee and bread, shared across generations, kitchen tables, and quick meet ups with friends, inspired the soul of Crave Kaffee Haus.
Picture this: a coffee shop that feels like your coolest friend's living room, but with better drinks and zero judgment if you can't pronounce “cortado”. "This is a space where old friends reconnect, new friendships bloom, and every customer can find their perfect drink." Butticci says. Crave’s menu features craft beverages that tell stories of their own, each recipe carefully developed to surprise, delight, and make both coffee novices and aficionados feel at home.
But Crave isn't just about coffee — it's about fulfilling a family dream. Following in the entrepreneurial spirit her parents always dreamed of Butticci has transformed Crave into a cultural hub,
already planning the next chapter. Soon, Crave will house its very own coffee roaster, allowing customers to experience the full journey of their coffee from raw bean to finished cup. It's just another way she's pouring her heart into every detail of the Crave experience. Whether you're a mom in need of a little "sanity sauce," searching for the perfect Instagram-worthy spot, craving a delicious cup of coffee, tea, or pastry, or an adventurer passing through town, Crave Kaffee Haus serves
At Crave Kaffee Haus, we deliver expertly crafted coffee and g your cravings. Planning an event? Let us elevate your gathering with tailored catering options, featuring fresh, locally sourced coffee and delicious treats for any occasion.
DURING THE DAY, she’s the mild-mannered, President of Boss Moms, cranking out ideas for women starting a business in the High Desert. At night, however, she puts on her cape and morphs into a goodhearted Cookie Monster.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, she can be found dispensing good cheer and good food to the guests at Better Days, a beer and wine bar on Apple Valley Road, where Open Mics are conducted. Singers and musicians entertain lively crowds with choice selections of popular or original hits, while poets and writers from the California Writers Club provide restive and contemplative pauses by reading samples of their work. It’s like a New York City after-hour club except the performances here start at 7:00 pm.
It is here, in the dim light, among an awesome selection of wine and beer that the largest and tastiest chocolate-chip cookies in Apple Valley are the centerpiece of Suzan Hobby’s exotic offerings of soups, entrees, salads, and sushi. The money earned goes to Boss Moms, the
non-profit she started in 2015 in Orange County, and eventually moved to the High Desert because a “ . . . a shack [down there] costs a million bucks.”
While the sale of food has paid the rent the last three months for her non-profit, the goals of the High Desert Boss Moms, as she explains it, “ . . . .is to help women get their businesses up and running and launch them or, if they’re failing, we help them turn them around and get them back on track. We’re a business development services for women entrepreneurs.
“I have a full board of directors and I’m the president and owner, [There’s] a vice president, a secretary, [and] a personal assistant. [I also] have a committee. Most of our staff are volunteers.” Suzan pauses and smiles. “I have a joke: if you want to know who your true friends are start a nonprofit and ask them to all help out.”
Suzan had been single back when she started Orange County Boss Moms. Her and a friend met for breakfast and exchanged ideas which “. . . we thought was kind of fun. So, we invited other friends [to breakfast] and we started doing little recommendations, like ‘Hey why don’t you try this,’ or ‘What do you know about social media marketing,’ and a lot of people had no clue how to do any of that. My goal, then, was just to help and educate people.”
Back then, Suzan was worked two jobs, and her sons worked as well as they all wanted to live in a nice house and “. . . we just wanted to elevate our lives. And [then] I got sick of being broke. I really struggled with saving and allocating funds and paying myself first. So my son is actually my mentor. He’s the financial planner, and
By J.P.Garner
he sat me down and said, ‘Okay, let me see all your debts.’ I was really embarrassed. I was like $30,000 in debt. I didn’t want him to know because for me, that was a lot of money. It still is. Well, I paid it all off in just under 10 years.“
But when she started out in Orange County, she began by contacting some networking groups. They were, she recalled, very cliquish and not very nice. As soon as she mentioned financial planning, they shunned her. She then joined the Orange County Chamber of Commerce but the fees were expensive. The $1,000 was not in their budget, and she had to pay for breakfast every month and the people had their little cliques.
It was all very frustrating, so she attempted to operate a franchise which also proved difficult, so she decided to go it alone. “I’m just going to start my own and I’m going to start it for free,” she vowed. “So I did an ad on Facebook. I had this dream of what to call it: High Desert Boss Moms.”
“Boss Moms because we’re women and we’re business owners. And moms too. Ninety percent [of us.] but we try to fit anybody in. We want to be all inclusive . . . and we are. Okay. So from there, we grew very quickly. And [when] I was trying to rent an office. I couldn’t find any. It was really expensive. So we met at Chick-fil-A and had a breakfast meeting every Friday morning.
Marcy’s Musings
Wild West Days Year Three
EXCITEMENT was in the air on Saturday January 25, as the cowboys and cowgirls, good guys and bad guys, card sharks, shake oil salesmen, and gunslingers, all descended upon the Victor Valley Museum for the third annual Old West Days Celebration, a throw back to the early history of the area. The shared Mohahve Historical
Society- Apple Valley Legacy Museum display area attracted a large number of visitors throughout the day, anxious to learn a little local history and perhaps purchase a book or other memento to support the cause. Cowboys Delvin and Mike, and Cowgirls Kellie, Meera, Patty, and Marcy were happy to oblige. Right around the corner MHS members Griz and Shelly Drylie were all set up to share Hesperia history as well.
In addition to checking out the various historical societies, prospectors, and authors, visitors could enjoy the music of Orange Town Revival, create a Westernthemed arts and crafts project, join a game of Faro, or get swindled out of their hardearned money by the shady characters hanging around.
A big thank you to the staff of the San
Local Mining Part II From Borax to Limestone
THE MORNING AFTER Ted Faye's "Twenty Mule-Team Borax" talk, the follow-up fieldtrip took us to the Mitsubishi Cement Plant in Lucerne Valley. We were fortunate to book long-time tour guide David Rib to lead us on his last tour before relocating permanently to Arizona. We climbed into two company minivans, with MHS member Indran Subramaniam loading the "overflow" into his SUV, and were off to our first stop at one of the huge limestone quarries.
After posing for a group photo and hearing a bit of mining history from our guide, it was time for the countdown to the blast. The workers moved a safe distance away, and we got our cameras ready. KAPOW!! A plume of ash from the explosion rose into the air. We had just witnessed the first step in turning natural limestone into cement and concrete.
Stop 2 was the lookout point, where we could see the whole operation on the 128 acre property. David pointed out the original towers, pictured in our 1957
Bernardino County Museum for inviting us back for the third year, and we hope to see you again in 2026. COWBOY UP!!
issues of two local newspapers, that covered the stories of the grand opening of the then Kaiser Cement Plant, and the
completion of the railroad spur all the way out to Lucerne Valley. This was real big news! From our overhead location we could see where the desert and mountain
ecosystems meet, and had a good view of the train track and the huge piles of wood and tires used for fuel.
Our third and last stop was the control room, where the operation is monitored 24 hours a day. By this time our guide David had given us so much information in our 2 1/2 hour visit, that we couldn't possibly digest it all. But everyone on the tour learned one thing for sure. There's a lot more that goes into producing high quality cement than mixing a little limestone with water! Lots of science and chemistry is involved.
Thanks to the Mitsubishi Cement Plant for sharing your operation with the
public, for supporting so many community events, and for giving generously to local schools through the Mitsubishi Cement Corporation Education Fund.
Trying to Stay Alive in Death Valley
OUR JANUARY 23, 2025 , MHS speaker, who came all the way from Las Vegas, apparently has a reputation for giving presentations in his "true Ted Faye Weird Tales style." Having developed a fascination with Death Valley at a young age, he dreamed of someday seeing this hot and sandy desolate land covered with mounds of bones! After surviving freezing nights in a tent without the proper clothing or blankets, as well as a long hike
through the windy, hot, unforgiving desert to get help with a disabled jeep, he lived to tell about it, learned to love it, and wrote three wellresearched books on the subject, which, of course, were available to purchase.
Ted's most popular for-sale item was the "Twenty Mule Team Route Map," which really paints a picture of the importance of the early 20-mule teams, and later the railroad, to the California mining operations stretching from the Harmony Borax Works north of Furnace Creek, down to Boron and Mojave.
The 34 members in attendance certainly learned a lot of fascinating history, and
apparently greatly impressed our speaker with their enthusiasm. He is now anxious to learn more about the history of the Lone Wolf Colony where the meeting was held, as well as our local area, and to present to us again in the future. Thanks to Ted Faye and the MHS members who assisted in making our first meeting of 2025 a roaring success!
Celebrating Black History Month in Style
MARIA OKPARA, President of the Apple Valley School District Board of Directors, was the featured speaker at the California Retired Teachers Association, Tumbleweed Division 74. The meeting rook place Feb. 6 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Victorville.
Born in Nigeria and schooled in Europe, Maria taught at several locations overseas for ten years before coming to the states to complete her BA and MA degrees. Her final destination was Apple Valley High
School, where she taught for 17 years before retiring in 2008. However, she is far from retired from the field of education,
as she continues to teach classes at three area colleges, and is serving her second four-year term on the Apple Valley School Board.
Maria found out that her role as the first Black teacher hired in the Apple Valley School District, and later the first Black elected school board member, did not come without problems. For example, speaking seven languages can be an advantage or a disadvantage. She shared some humorous stories about a non-native speaker translating American expressions
literally, leading to some confusion. Yet, When some parents decided to withdraw their children from her classes because of her ethnicity, the students stood their ground, insisting on staying in a class they enjoyed with a teacher who cared.
Guided by God, Maria worked through and learned from these problems. In her mind, America is not a "melting pot" where everyone blends together, but rather a "salad bowl" of diverse individuals all working together for the good of the whole, just as the tomatoes, avocadoes, and dressings all add to the taste of the salad.
Act II of the presentation was entitled "Fashions From the Motherland." Several
Cal RTA members modeled beautiful colorful dresses and wraps, most handmade in Nigeria. There the women dress tastefully and modestly, with young and old females wearing the same types of utilitarian fashions. Some pieces serve multiple uses, such as sashes, hair coverings and baby slings. What a wonderful way to celebrate Black History Month, learning about the customs and clothing styles of Nigeria, an African country with a proud heritage.
A big thank-you to a beautiful and exceptional local educator, who succeeded in teaching a roomful of retired teachers a thing or two they didn't know.
The Active Charitable Apple Valley Shrine Club
ALOT OF PEOPLE in the High Desert may not be aware of our outstanding local Shrine Club. But anyone who attended the Apple Valley Happy Trails Parade, the Victorville Veterans Parade, or the Victorville Christmas Parade saw them in action, wearing their signature maroon fez hats with the black tassels, doing donuts all up and down the street in their little red cars. In fact, they spent the whole month of December racing around, also performing in Christmas parades in Downey, Redlands, and Helendale.
Now, besides their entertainment value, the club has several important objectives: to continue the tradition of the Shrine organization since its formation in 1872, to support the Shriners Children's Hospital in Pasadena, to make possible the operations and specialized medical care needed by children of all races, creeds, and colors, regardless of their family's ability to pay, and to keep their little red cars in tip-top running condition.
to Pasadena. Los Angeles also boasts the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, which is Apple Valley's home region.
I was honored to be invited to speak at the club's monthly gathering on January 28 at the Rusty Bull Roadhouse at the invitation of current President Jesus "Gonzo" Gonzales. In addition to all of the work that he does for the Shriners, he generously donated his time and expertise to help the Mohahve Historical Society complete the final step in the Helendale monument reconstruction project, attaching the "Point of Rocks" plaque. A great big thank you to Gonzo and David Olivas for getting the job done! And a bigger thank you to all the Apple Valley Shrine Club members, and the important contributions you make to the children and their grateful families. You are the best!
I was interested in learning more about our local Shrine club, as my grandfather was a member of the Moolah Shrine Club of St. Louis. I remember, as a child, how exciting it was to get to attend the yearly Shriners Three-Ring Circus under the big top! I did a little research and learned that, even though the Shriners International is an American Institution, the Oriental signs, tokens, and costumes were adopted by the originators for the sake of pageantry. But it is not all for show. Their work supports 193 Shrine Centers and 23 hospitals, known as Temples of Mercy, that stretch from Boston to St. Louis,
UpcomingCommunity Events
Mar. 1 - "Murals and More" driving tour of Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia murals- meet at 10 AM at Victor Valley Legacy Museum 15492 7th St., Victorville. Call (760) 985-1918 to sign up;
Mar. 11 - Friends of the Apple Valley Library- 11 AM, Bass AV Library "Garden Club" presentation;
Mar 15 - Rededication of "Point of Rocks Historical Monument"- hosted by MHS, 10 AM, Vista and Helendale Rds, Silver Lakes;
Mar. 22 - 11 AM- Reopening of Rt 66 Mother Road Museum at Barstow Harvey House;
Mar. 27 - Mohahve Historical Society meeting 7 PM Tony Winkel, "Native American Settlements along the River," doors open 6:30;
Mar. 29 – Sunsetters Car Club huge car show, 8-2 Vista Rd at Helendale Rd., Silver Lakes
April 11, 12, 13 – Apple Valley Legacy Museum 10th Anniversary weekend – Museum visits, auction, raffle ongoing, 20601 Highway 18 cottage 153, Sat. evening event 4-7, live music, hayrides, dinner, entertainment, see flyer (760-985-1918)
ad could be here! Let PULSE be the voice and the door knocker for your business!!
Are you a student with a passion for storytelling, reporting, or creative writing?
We are looking for youth articles and aspiring journalists to showcase in our publication!
This is a great opportunity for young voices to shine, share their stories, and explore journalism. Whether you are in middle school, high school, or part of a writers club, we want to hear from you!
Why Participate?
• Get published and reach a wide audience.
• Develop writing skills and gain experience.
• Share your perspective and inspire others.
• We encourage teachers, schools, and writers clubs to share this opportunity with students. Let uscelebrate the talent and creativity of our youth!
How to Submit:
Reach out to us at 775-471-2694 or email us at info@pulseofthehighdesert.com with your articleidea or submission. For questions, feel free to connect. We are here to help future journalists succeed.
Let us amplify the voices of our next generation of writers!
TWF Team Spotlight
By Cindy Bostick
ON FEBRUARY 8 , the board of directors and ambassadors of the Today’s Woman Foundation (TWF) gathered for their annual retreat to celebrate accomplishments and outline the direction of their initiatives for this year and beyond. Meet the individuals who are guiding the future of the organization:
Top row: Renee Rincon, Lydia Usry, Edda Aichinger, Brisa Alfaro, Andrea Bell, Jessica Borzilleri, Millie Howard, Heidi Battaglia, Brigit Bennington, and Diana Van Riel
Bottom Row: Shannon Shannon, Margaret Smith, Mona Merrill, Melanie Ajanwachuku, Margherita Leone, and Cindy Bostick
Debbie A. Cannon, Retreat facilitator and CEO of AcademyGo guided the group through an engaging and enlightening icebreaker activity. Debbie asked each person to reveal their earliest memory of what they wanted to be when they grew up and how this has changed or remained the same. Each person had one minute to share. Their contributions included early dreams of becoming a chef, several teachers, a dancer, a jockey, a mother of 24 children, a caregiver, a CPA, a nun, a nurse, a veterinarian, the first female bus
driver, a beautician, and a journalist. The exercise proved quite revealing, emphasizing that the common thread among these professions is service and dedication to others. Each role entails a strong commitment to helping, educating, nurturing, or guiding in various ways. Executive Director Cindy Bostick shares, “It’s truly wonderful to be surrounded by such a group of beautiful hearts and brilliant minds. We can’t wait to introduce several new initiatives to support our community in the months ahead!”
A Chat About Parkinson’s
This partial report comes from the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s. Davis Phinney was an Olympic bicycle athlete when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s years ago. His manuals are invaluable. Go to the website to order one for patients or caregivers or both.
This piece will only share some of the extensive research efforts in dozens of countries worldwide. To get involved in a clinical trial where you are NEEDED, go to clinicaltrials.com/Parkinson’s
THE FINAL 2024 EDITION of What’s New in Parkinson’s features a special year-end review of five of the most significant news highlights from 2024 and a handful of the most important publications from December 2024.
Two important new treatments were approved for Parkinson’s in 2024. In October, the FDA approved Vyalev, the first formulation of levodopa intended for continuous infusion. This follows the FDA’s approval of Crexont, a new extendedrelease formulation of levodopa, in August of 2024.
In September, Science.org released a report that a prominent scientist involved in research of alpha-synuclein and other proteins associated with neurological conditions may have used questionable data in support of arguments about candidates for medication development. In December, a report announced that a phase II trial of a medication related to this controversy failed to meet it’s primary endpoint, but that data associated with the trial suggests that further research is warranted.
•A meta-analysis found that tai-chi, yoga, and weight-training can help with dynamic balance for people with Parkinson’s.
•Tavapon, a new drug being developed by Abbvie showed signs of improving mobility for people with early-stage Parkinson’s.
•Researchers report on the dynamic psycho-social impacts of exercising at home.
SURVEYS, CLINICAL TRIALS, AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
•A PhD candidate at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN is undertaking a study of the impact of group cycling on fear of falling and quality of life. This study involves participation in Pedaling for Parkinson’s classes twice a week for eight weeks.
•A 40-person, open label study will investigate a new treatment candidate to help with Parkinson’s dementia.
•Participating involves following a symptom management protocol for two weeks and completing a survey.
•University of Hawaii’s Digital Health Lab is recruiting participants for two trials assessing keyboard and mouse movements to determine whether these systems can help with Parkinson’s diagnosis and symptom monitoring.
•A team at The University of Calgary is using a new technology to sample and compare the microbiome of people with Parkinson’s to the microbiome of people without Parkinson’s.
•The University of British Columbia is exploring efficacy of the Mediterranean diet as an intervention for Parkinson’s.
•A study in London explores the effect of ballet dancing on motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.
•Researchers in the UK and Australia began recruiting participants for a trial aiming to prevent people with REM sleep behavior disorder from developing Parkinson’s by reducing inflammation.
•Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas is undertaking a study about the effects of Parkinson’s on family functioning.
•Researchers in Holland are enrolling participants in a trial evaluating the use of motivational smartphone apps to increase exercise program adherence.
•A new trial studying Gemfibrozil–a drug that decreases fat production in the liver–is set for a phase two clinical trial in people with Parkinson’s. This trial will enroll people between 40 and 75 years of age who have not begun taking medication for Parkinson’s.
•A new trial examining the possible neuroprotective effect of exercise has been listed by the University of Nevada.
•Researchers at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center are seeking
by Ann Miner
participants for a study exploring the role of immune response in Parkinson’s. Participation is open to those with and without Parkinson’s and will involve donating blood, a questionnaire, a cognitive test, and a neurological examination.
•A trial sponsored by the University of Aberdeen in Scotland is recruiting participants for a study of the effects of constipation and changes in the microbiota in Parkinson’s.
•Staying Connected through Communication Study: The University of Washington SPEAC Lab invites individuals living with Parkinson’s to answer survey questions about their communication experiences. This is an online survey study that will take about 30-45 minutes. (Paper surveys are also available.) People with Parkinson’s and their family/friends/ coworkers will complete SEPARATE surveys, and data are not shared between participants. This study is open to anyone in the US. Participants will be mailed a $25 check upon survey completion.3
•Gamma Wave Trial: Sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this trial investigates the efficacy of a non-invasive method of neuromodulation called Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS) for managing Parkinson’s motor symptoms. GENUS is administered via light, sound, and tactile stimulation devices and has been tested on cognitively normal individuals and individuals with mild Alzheimer’s; the device was found to be safe for use and effective for entrainment in both populations.
You can learn much more about living well with Parkinson’s today through Every Victory Counts® suite of resources. Each manual is packed with up-to-date information about everything Parkinson’s. Online ordering available at DavisPhinney. com.
The support group welcomes everyone on the first Monday of each month, 1:00 at Choice Medical Bldg, 19111 Town Center Drive.
Questions?760-954-2859
A Flight of Fancy, March Air Base Museum
By John Beyer
MUSEUMS ARE ALWAYS INTERESTING VENUES to spend hours while learning a thing or two. That thing or two depends on the museum, but learning is always enjoyable while viewing various exhibits. Well, maybe not art museums –a gentle swipe at an artist friend of mine.
“Check out the Monet,” he would encourage, and I’d start looking around for inexpensive jewelry.
Anyway, one great non-art museum is March Field Air Museum near the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County. It’s right off the 215 freeway just south of Moreno Valley. An easy exit onto Van Buren Boulevard, and you’re there.
There are hundreds of aircraft from nearly every era for visitors to walk around and study. Okay, in truth, there are only roughly 80 aircraft located at the museum but it sure seemed like hundreds.
Walking around on your own is a great way to spend your time viewing the aircraft or the multitudes of individual displays the museum has to offer, but I also recommend the guided tram tour which allows the visitor the opportunity to relax and learn about the air field, narrated by one of the very knowledgeable docents.
And this place has quite a history which draws vast amounts of tourist.
According to head of security, Mikey Diaz, “We get over seventy-five thousand visitors a year and it’s growing quickly. New additions are added constantly to make the museum that more interesting.”
It is one of the oldest, but still active bases in the United States, founded in
February, 1918 as the Alessandro Flying Training Field. It was renamed in March of that same year for Second Lieutenant Peyton C. March, a pilot who was killed in an air crash in Texas. March had only been a Lieutenant for fifteen days prior to that
fatal air crash. His father also happened to be the Army Chief of Staff at the time of his son’s death.
Rather ironic that the base’s name was changed to March during the month of March.
The base was a necessity for the Army. This was prior to the formation of the United States Air Force as a separate branch of service, and the Army needed to build a number of facilities across the country due to the entrance of the United States into World War I in 1917.
Major General George O. Squier, one of the forces behind the beginning of the Aeronautical Division of the Army (later the United States Air Force), stated, “Put the Yankee punch into the war by building an army in the air.”
In 1979, with just a few aircraft on display for visitors to view, the museum opened its doors to the public. In the following four
Rosie the Riveter, or Norma Jean, prior to becoming Marilyn Monroe
decades, this little museum has grown into having one of the largest collections of aircraft on the entire west coast.
The vastness of the museum is awe inspiring, as are all the planes, military uniforms, plaques, mementos, weapons, and all the other memorabilia that illustrate the importance such a place has in our country’s history.
Stephanie Young, a volunteer at the museum, stated, “I’ve heard so many nice comments from visitors. They marvel at how large the museum is – much larger than they had imagined and that the exhibits are so true to history.”
I asked her what that meant. True to
history.
“Our curators, Jeff Houlihan and Greg Custer, want to ensure that every exhibit is authentic. Many of our guests are active or retired military and they know what is correct and what is not. Jeff and Greg make sure everything is as it should be. I’ve seen some vets actually cry when they view an exhibit.”
There’s something for everyone – even a poster depicting a young woman working as a ‘Rosie the Riveter.’ Her name was Norma Jeane Doughtery, later known as Marilyn Monroe. She worked ten hour days inspecting pilot-less planes, the early prototype of drones, during WWII. That’s
before she became a holiday icon.
One special item on display, I am very proud to say, is my father’s flight jacket from WWII. George T. Beyer was a gunner on a B-24 Liberator, stationed out of England during the war. Among the dozens of missions he was involved in, there was one in particular of which he was most proud. Though he rarely spoke of war, despite serving in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, he was quite proud of being in the skies above Normandy on D-Day, June 6th, 1944.
It’s always nice to see his jacket.
There is so much to say about this museum – that’s because there is so much to see. Besides the aircraft, there are over 30,000 individual artifacts, each with a story of its own. The way it has been set up allows the visitor time to stroll and take in the history of not just military but also civilian aviation triumphs. Exhibit after exhibit explains the journey from the beginning of flight through the planned flights of tomorrow.
One large exhibit which is particularly forceful, is an exterior site that replicates a Vietnam era forward operating area called, Firebase Romeo Charlie. Here you can walk around viewing an AH-1 Cobra gunship, two UH-1 Iroquois, and other helicopters that either transported or protected the troops fighting in Southeast Asia. Camouflage netting over a command center adds a more realistic feeling to the area.
A very powerful exhibit.
The museum is currently working on a new exterior exhibit honoring the service of those who have or are serving in the Middle East. The Iraq/Afghanistan display is needed to tell the story of a military conflict that is generally misunderstood and under-represented in most museums.
Visiting a military museum puts into perspective not only the overall greatness of our country, but also a reminder of all those men and women who have made such a sacrifice to keep us safe each and every day. Always remember to thank a vet for their service – it never gets old saying that.
For further information: https://www.marchfield.org/
John can be reached at: beyersbyways@gmail.com
John R Beyer posing in front of his father’s, George T. Beyer, WWII flight jacket
VietNam era Army helicopter on display
⭐BUNCO⭐
Friday, March 14, 2025 1:00pm – 5pm
BINGO
STARTING March 8 & March 22, EVERY 2ND & 4TH SATURDAY
Exercise: Monday-Thursday 10am-11am
Line Dance: Monday & Thursday 11:15am-1:30pm
Poker: Tuesday 10am -3am
Soul Line Dance: Wednesday 9:15am
Bid Whist: Thursday 11am-2pm
Pinochle: Friday 10am-3pm
IHSS: A Lifeline for Individuals with Disabilities
By Melissa Mischka, PsyD
THROUGHOUT MY YEARS
in the field of psychology, I have been exposed to many resources that are available to help individuals and families who are affected by disabilities. One of those resources I have learned that I feel many people are not aware of is IHSS. In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a California state program that provides in-home care services to eligible aged, blind, or disabled individuals who are unable to care for themselves.
The goal of IHSS is to help people remain safe in their own homes. IHSS is designed to help aged, blind, or disabled individuals who are unable to care for themselves remain safely in their own homes by providing in-home care services. These services can include assistance with personal care tasks (like bathing, dressing, and grooming), meal preparation, light housekeeping, and errands.
To be eligible for IHSS, you must be aged, blind, or disabled, and unable to care
for yourself. You must also meet certain income and resource requirements. IHSS does not have a list of specific qualifying disabilities. Instead, eligibility is based on an assessment of the individual's functional limitations and their ability to perform daily living activities.
If you are eligible for IHSS, you will be assigned to a social worker who will assess your needs and develop a care plan. The social worker will also help you find a qualified IHSS provider. You can hire your own IHSS provider, or you can choose one from the IHSS registry. The IHSS program pays for the services that you receive. The amount of payment will depend on your needs and the provider's hourly rate.
IHSS can help families in a number of ways. Caring for a loved one with disabilities can be physically and emotionally demanding. IHSS can provide respite care, giving family members a much-needed break from caregiving responsibilities. Or for those who want to be the qualified
IHSS provider who cares for their family members, IHSS can help augment the loss of employment income you may have when needing to care for your family member. Many individuals I have spoken with, who are IHSS providers for family members, have reported that prior to becoming an IHSS provider, they would often have to take time off of work to provide care, which resulted in loss of income.
IHSS also makes it possible for families to stay together, even when a loved one needs assistance with daily living activities. This can help preserve important family bonds and relationships.
By providing in-home care services, IHSS can help families avoid the high costs of institutional care. Knowing that their loved one is receiving quality care from a qualified IHSS provider can give families peace of mind.
If you think your family could benefit from IHSS, contact your local county social services agency to learn more about the program and how to apply.
Dear Readers,
ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. My name is Tanya Inglis, a.k.a. “Motor Mama.”
I’m the Owner & Operator of SoCal’s largest American classic auto restoration & repair shop, Inglis Classics. My husband and I have dedicated our lives to the preservation and restoration of “rolling” pieces of American history, bringing hundreds of beautiful pre-1980 American vehicles back to life. From Mustangs to Cadillacs, Packards to Corvettes, Cords to Camaros, Studebakers to Buicks, Shelbys to Impalas, and more!
I met Brian Inglis while living in Austin, TX, and took a leap of faith by joining him in Houston, TX, to build his dream of becoming a well-known classic car builder, fabricator, and technician. Little
did I know, this would reignite the passion I once had for classic cars and take it to the next level. My knowledge of American restoration and my enthusiasm grew over the years, and before I knew it, what began as a dream to support our little family—and allow Brian to do what he loved—turned into a successful business and lifestyle. It even brought us back to SoCal, where I was born and raised.
Throughout our journey, we’ve met
By Tanya Inglis
thousands of industry professionals, auto enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs. Now, I’m excited to share with all of you the passion, culture, and community we are part of. Motor Mama’s Chrome & Classics will bring you cool insights into car and pinup culture, car shows, DIYs, automotive tips, die-cast collections, custom builds, interviews, and more!
Join us March 15th at the Inyokern “Classic Burger” Classic Car Show! This event benefits the Ridgecrest Animal Shelter. Come meet Miss Inglis Classics 2023 and enjoy a day in the sun with cool rides, great food, and amazing people! Cruise into the local ghost town of Randsburg, CA, and hang out with the car community. We’d love to have you!
Be sure to pick up your copy of Pulse Publications and don’t miss out on the fun! Thank you, and see you at The Pulse!
Community Service and a Little FUN too!!
THE HIGH DESERT Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. continues to honor its mission of community service. Recently, the sorority donated books to a Special Education class at Mesa Linda School. Ms. Long’s classroom was the recipient. The sorority also distributed health care information during a health fair at Victor Valley College. It was sponsored by S.C.O.R.E. (Securing Communities of Racial Equity). Delta Sigma Theta sponsored the first High Desert Masquerade Ball Fundraiser at the Holiday Inn February 8th. The High Desert Alumnae Chapter would like to thank the community for continued support of their programs and fundraisers.
NEWBERRY SPRINGS PISTACHIOS
By John Wease
NEWBERRY SPRINGS ’ economy has been agriculturally based since the earliest years. Apricots, alfalfa, chickens, turkeys, and even catfish were all commercially grown here on a large scale. In 1979, with the fall of the Shah of Iran, the world’s supply of pistachios became a concern. The U.S. pistachio industry expanded to meet the demand for this healthy, nutritious nut. Native to Persia, now Iran, it was a logical crop to grow right here in Newberry Springs.
The first pistachio seeds were brought to California in the 1850s. It was in the 1880s that the first pistachio nuts were imported to sell to Persian immigrants. To hide the generally poor quality of these imports, the nuts were dyed red. As the popularity of the pistachio grew, so did the interest in producing them here. It was a long process of testing varieties and methods of growing and processing. A very long process. The first commercial crop was produced in 1976. Ninety-eight percent of U.S. pistachio production is in California, primarily in Kern and Fresno Counties. In the early 1980s, a lot of people planted pistachios here in Newberry Springs. The trees are planted as root stock. Later, male or female pistachio trees are grafted to this root stock. The male trees are strategically located in the orchard. Pollination is done by the wind, much like corn. Big Al, of Big Al’s Pistachio Farm was one of the first growers here. He performed
grafting services for the growing number of producers. His processing equipment was used by many of the small growers to ready their crops for market. The first Pistachio Festival was held at his barn in 1998.
The Pistachio Festival moved to the community park and continued every year. It has grown to be a regionally known attraction attended by thousands. Although the festival has grown successfully, the pistachio industry is struggling. The same water use restrictions that brought the end to our apricots and alfalfa are now affecting the pistachio farms. Each year, the allowable water use is “ramped down.” As the owners of the older farms cut back on water, their trees are producing less and becoming susceptible to insect infestation and diseases.
Some of the newer farms are using drip irrigation with electronic sensors to restrict water use to only when needed. Some of the older farms are converting to drip systems. Some are searching for ways to save their trees. A radically different approach is being suggested by local resident Keller Horton, PhD. Doctor Horton is a permaculture expert and believes with permaculture he can triple crop production while using half the allowable water and
bring the suffering trees back to good health.
Permaculture is really nothing new. It is sustainable farming that mimics natural ecosystems. Nature doesn’t grow in long straight lines of single plant types. Those are the inventions of commercial farmers to allow tractors and other equipment to drive down the rows to dispense chemical fertilizers or spray the crops with insecticides. And, by crops, I mean the chemical-laden vegetables and fruits we buy at the grocery store. Permaculture uses nature’s way of combining different types of plants that work together to meet the needs of all.
Poly crop, or companion planting, is not new. The ancient indigenous people of the southwest famously planted the “three sisters.” The three sisters were grain corn, beans, and squash. The corn grew tall and provided a trellis for the climbing beans. Beans are a nitrogen fixer. That means they take nitrogen from the air and put it into the soil through their roots, thus feeding nitrogen to the corn plants. The large leaves of the low growing squash shaded the soil helping to keep it cool and reducing evaporative water loss.
Our little farm is a hobby farm compared to the pistachio farms. We grow fruit for
our now county permitted cottage food operation jam business. When I met Dr. Horton at a Desert Gardeners meeting, I arranged for a consultation to set up the latest fifteen fruit trees I planted using permaculture. The trees all have spirals of water tubing with drip emitters. I will plant each of these circles as “tree guilds.”
The first recommendation was to heavily mulch these circles. Next, I will plant daffodils that are used to suppress weeds as well as to deter gophers and other animal pests. Nitrogen fixers like lupines and clovers will feed nitrogen to the trees. Nasturtiums are used as an edible cover crop that attracts beneficial insects
and acts as a trap crop for insect pests. Harmful insects are deterred by planting onions, garlic, chives, leeks and mint as well. Between each of these tree guilds I will plant mesquite, palo verde, or acacia trees. These are all nitrogen fixers that send their roots down deep to where the ground stays moist and provide dappled shade to keep the orchard ground cooler. Permaculture plantings are “closed loop” systems. All plant waste or trimmings are used as mulch or compost.
Permaculture has been proven to work for the home garden. Convincing the traditional pistachio farmer, the “we’ve always done it this way” crowd, that
planting the right plants under their trees will improve the soil and the health of their trees while using less water may be a hard sell. Dr. Horton is working with a couple of pistachio farmers who are willing to try permaculture on small test areas of their farms. Some of the plants are edible and could become secondary crops. Permaculture may be the answer to solve the water issue facing the Newberry pistachio industry. It makes sense to use nature’s own method of biodiversity to ensure success. It does not address the lack of local processing facilities or the high cost of shipping pistachios to the central valley for processing.
NOIZEMAKERS: Chris Geiger
IWAS AT CORKY’S IN APPLE VALLEY, coming out of the Men’s Room, when I saw a man seated at a table to my left, wearing an “OU” baseball cap, so being the good Okie that I am, I yelled “BOOMER!” That’s what you say to someone wearing Oklahoma gear and the customary reply is “SOONER!”
The exchange, heard most often in the fall at football games in Norman, and hollered enthusiastically by 90,000 fans, stems from the land rush in 1889 that made the territory a state. People eager to lay claim to some of the uncharted land, lined up at the border and waited for a cannon blast to start the race. Those who waited for the cannon to go off were called “Boomers,” and those that snuck in before were called “Sooners.”
Basically, they were land thieves.
The man, not knowing who I was, was slow to reply, so I introduced myself and explained my connection to the Sooner state, and that’s how I met Chris Geiger, guitarist extraordinaire and a regular to the weekly gathering of the Noizemakers. Once that bridge was crossed, we discovered that we were each a jubilant fan of the girl’s softball team at Oklahoma . . . which is why he was wearing an OU baseball cap.
Chris got into music for the same reason that skinny boys lift weights: to meet girls. “I was in fifth grade when I heard Tommy James and the Shondells.[They had] that song Crimson and Clover. I remember the girls used to bring the 45 to school and play it, and they just swooned over Tommy James. And I thought, man, I need to do some of this. So, yeah, honestly, that was the reason I picked up a guitar.”
There was no YouTube instructional videos back then, so the only thing that he had to learn from was TV. According to the affable guitarist, “I stole everything I could get.” Not walk-out-of-Walmart type stealing but copy what he saw. He had no classical training on a guitar and he can’t read music, but he’s been playing since he was ten and he currently plays lead guitar for Lonnie and the Lug Nuts. “We play a lot of car shows. Things like that. And I’m
By J.P.Garner
still not very good, but I have fun with it,” he admits as he laughs at himself. He’s not one to take himself seriously.
His love affair with guitars, their shape and ability to produce a unique sound, comes from his mother owning albums by the surf-rock band, The Ventures, who, ironically were formed in Tacoma, Washington, and whose music helped to popularize the electric guitar. “I remember the Ventures. Their albums had a picture of a guitar, and I used to take paper and just trace that thing over and over again. I would paint it different colors and stuff and do different things with it.
“Before that I was playing a yardstick. I had a yardstick that was my guitar Anything that was on TV, I would take my yardstick and play guitar. My best friends across the street [and me] decided to get a band together. A dream come true. I asked my mom and dad for a guitar for Christmas and told my friends to get a bass guitar and drums. So, when Christmas Day came I was so excited. I got my guitar, [but they didn’t get their instruments.] So my whole thing was blown.”
Chris, who was born in Victorville and
raised in Oro Grande, later formed a band with his cousin and two other guys. They never played anywhere, but they were officially a “garage band.” But after much persistence and a love of the guitar, Chris got to play with some pretty big names in the industry and was in a band that opened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Chris starts laughing as he looks back, “We were not good and the whole time people were booing us. We want the Dirt man, they were screaming. So, the Dirt Band came out and they were fantastic but they invited us back out to do Mr. Bojangles but none of us knew that song. We didn’t know how
to play it, so . . .”and Chris starts to laugh a little harder, “we all have our guitars turned down. We were faking the whole thing.”
I then ask Chris the question most often asked of him: who is his favorite guitarist? He doesn’t have to think about it. “Stevie Ray Vaughn,” he says. “I saw Eric Clapton somewhere between nine and eleven times and then Stevie Ray came along and blew me away. I just kind of study what he does and who did what and stuff, especially in the 60s and 70s.
“There’s a lot of music that moves me. Songs I find to be incredible and I really study up on those songs, but there’s also a lot of great music there in my opinion. My granddaughter listens to stuff and I’m what is this? I wasn’t a big Beatles fan until later in life and then I became a huge Beatles fan. The same [can be said] about The Cars. I liked them when they were famous, but now . . . oh my gosh! They’re one of my very favorite.
“[But my absolute favorite,] I’m gonna say is The Beatles. And my second choice is Leonid and Friends. They’re a Russian
band. They play cover songs. They’re incredible. We saw them in Montclair. But I would say the Beatles. I can’t get over how genius they were with the limited equipment and technology they had back then. Yeah, that was incredible in itself. You know they recorded my four tracks. Amazing when I think about how we now record on unlimited tracks at my house.” Chris lapses into silence. Thinking maybe about the Beatles or about the garage band in Oro Grande. I ask him how he got involved with the girl’s softball team at Oklahoma. “I accidentally watched a game,” he said. “I was like, wow these girls are good. I couldn’t believe it and how exciting the game was at that level. Then I watched another game against Oklahoma State and that game was not even close. I was hooked it.
“It didn’t matter who they were playing either. They had the same intensity They’re hitting was crazy too. Everybody’s gunning for them. They’re getting the best from everybody they play. They’re an amazing group of athletes. Just amazing.” Chris is retired now. He hangs with other musicians who meet each Tuesday at Corky’s, and he does some oil painting and writing. “I used to race speedway motorcycles too,” he recalls. “And that ended when I broke my wrist in fifteen places. That has hampered my guitar playing.” When he said that, I could detect a bit of nostalgia in his voice. His eyes twinkle when he talks about guitars, music, and Oklahoma softball. It’s not the miles he traveled from Oro Grande to Kansas and back that defines his journey, but the different music he has embraced, from Christian to hard rock, and much in between.
And it started with wanting to meet girls. What have any of us done for the same reason?
How I Accidentally Graduated College at 68 Years Old
By Jaylyn And John Earl
SOMEONE RECENTLY ASKED me before I graduated, “How long have you been working on your degree?” I responded, “Fifty years!” Laughter ensued. I hadn't meant to wait that long. Yet, I had graduated high school in 1974. I took my first college course in 1988 when my first son was three months old while I was still on maternity leave from Prince George’s County Sheriff Department, where I was a full-time deputy in Maryland. I chose Introduction to Psychology. I had purchased the required textbook on campus prior to the class. I was already awake at dawn with a newborn and watched an hour and half lecture on public television twice a week and mailed in my assignments. They would be graded and later returned. The class was interesting but a little monotonous, primarily because there was no engagement. It would be my first and last college class for many years to come.
I would not step onto a college campus again until 2001, after I relocated to California. At that time, college credit cost only $11 dollars a unit, and most classes consisted of 3 units. Through the years, college tuition kept rising but so did my determination. I earned a 19-unit POST certified Forensic Identification Certificate at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, California. Half of my classes were on campus, but online classes were gaining popularity. Although some may argue a student cannot learn as much online as they can in a traditional brick and mortar school, the opposite is actually true, as they require selfstarters a to maintain a high degree of organization and self-discipline, without the distraction of other students, indoctrination and commuting.
I eventually completed 60 college credits which allowed me the minimum credits needed to attend Abraham Lincoln University School of Law, a non-ABA hybrid law school in Los Angeles for their four year program. After a successful year of Criminal Law, Contract Law and Torts, I decided to readjust my sails once again, quit school and became a private investigator. I continued taking community college classes over the years. After reviewing my transcripts, a counselor at Barstow College, the last junior college I attended, recommended I become a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Life continued to remain busy for many years to come and school once again took a hiatus, although the dream of finishing one day lingered.
One day in September 2023, I happened to stumble upon a YouTube channel called College Hacked hosted by Clifford Stumme PhD., a former UMPI instructor. By then, I had been retired for years, however completing a degree still intrigued me. The video focused on completing college the quickest way for busy adults by transferring as many college credits as possible to a university, then finishing the remaining credits required at that school. Some colleges like Purdue Global, University of Phoenix, and Liberty University even generate college credits for life experience. Various online universities were compared and contrasted, as well as different models for obtaining undergraduate ACE credits, which students could accrue for transfer credits. Best of all, an accredited college degree could be earned 100% online. I binge watched the entire channel. Dr. Stumme currently teaches at Liberty University.
I found a free website called Online Degree Forum mentioned in a video that helped me formulate a plan from others who had skillfully negotiated the twists and turns of online higher education most efficiently. Students also advise which classes to avoid at different colleges and classes that can be substituted. I decided to apply to the University of Maine at Presque Isle, all the way across the nation from California. First, I needed to beef up my transcripts to whittle down the classes, time, and money spent at UMPI to just ten mandatory residency classes. So in October 2023, I signed up with Sophia Learning for $99 a month to fulfill my goal. Sophia offers discounts to first-time subscribers. Sophia even has free classes to try out first before you buy. Sophia is open-book, offers many classes and you can complete as many classes as you want. There were no proctors, or time limits on length of membership nor are there grades; Sophia is pass/ fail. Instructors offer helpful feedback in many classes, such as Workplace Writing II. Finals are timed. You must obtain a minimum score of 70%, however most of my classes were in the high 90%. You can take practice exams and retake the final exam for better scores. Sophia offers free tutoring when needed. Some classes, like foreign languages, require students to videotape themselves speaking the language.
When tallying up my credits, I came up short on essential core credits for science, math and foreign language. I was able to fulfill most of them from Sophia. One critical class I needed to take was a oneunit Human Biology laboratory. You may wonder how anyone can complete a lab online. It is like a video game. You control actions with your keyboard, answer questions, and write lab reports about your projects. Once you get the hang of it (I am not at all video game savvy), it was not bad. Although challenging, I cannot say it was not fun at times too. And, as in all my Sophia classes, I learned a lot. The classes literally opened my eyes to a whole new world. UMPI accepted all 16 college credits I transferred from Sophia via Credly
UMPI, the acronym the university is referred to, accepts 90 transfer units to go toward completing your degree. You can of course submit more, but only 90 of them will apply, as a minimum of 30 units have to be fulfilled at UMPI. I initially was contacted by an enrollment specialist, but found out later they were a third party entity, and was not necessary. You can go directly to UMPI's online application and apply. It took several weeks to get back to me, so in the interim I continued with my Sophia classes. When all was said and done, I transferred 88 units to UMPI from multiple colleges and Sophia and UMPI accepted every one, even the ones I earned for my certificate. You will need to have a grand total of 120 credits for conferral.
I began UMPI's "Spring I" eight-week term that began in January 2024, shortly after my 68th birthday. I chose their Bachelor of Liberal Studies program because it gave me the most electives, and flexibility with my transfers. Although I started off with their Educational Studies pathway in mind for three weeks, I found I really enjoyed a political science class I was enrolled in much better, so I switched minors and never looked back. I opted for two terms, at $1,500 dollars a term. UMPI offers other degrees too, but the BLS met my needs just fine.
A semester consists of two eight week terms, for a total of 16 weeks. After unprecedented student growth, the tuition recently increased to $1,700 dollars a term, still a bargain when compared with brick and mortar schools and most online academic programs. There is no extra out-of-state tuition. Students receive access to online classes and a wide assortment of bells and whistles like orientation, a university email account, Microsoft 365, Turnitin (plagiarism detection software), the college library, tutoring, and other handy tools to facilitate you on your academic journey. You can even get a physical student ID card sent to your address. UMPI's platform is called Brightspace. Please refer to the classes I chose from my screenshot below, including the final grades I received. The Special Topics classes I chose were PalestineIsraeli Conflict and History of Infectious Diseases.
Some of the many other perks of UMPI were receiving my grades in text messages and being able to access classes to read on a cellphone app called Brightspace Pulse. It connected directly to my classes and was convenient to read during lull times such as waiting rooms, and from my parked vehicle. I joined a group for UMPI students on Discord and it was very helpful. Check out Reddit too. In addition, there is a Facebook page called Sophia/ UMPI Advice Group that has a lot of good information on it.
What kind of university is UMPI? The University of Maine at Presque Isle is a small accredited college located in the northern part of Maine. It offers traditional classes on campus, but their competency
based education (CBE) for online students has recently exploded in popularity. UMPI's online program is called Your Pace. Be aware that UMPI's online catalog is not the Your Pace catalog. You can access it through some of the sites aforementioned. Classes are self-paced but have deadlines at the end of the term. All your class materials will be found in your class. No textbooks are required. Although you can take only two classes at a time, they are self-paced so you may find you can finish them incredibly fast.
Each class has built-in modules within the class and each one must be successfully completed before going on to the next module. This requires submitting an essay. Expect lots of reading and writing. There are no finals at UMPI nor are there proctors. Classes are completed with a written essay or completed project. UMPI recommends students submit a draft of their final for feedback from the professor before submitting your final. Professors adhere to their syllabi and are typically responsive with suggestions for improvement. You will have access to a detailed grading rubric before each assignment.
If you precisely follow the professor's instructions, you will pass. This is not a hack because you still have to put in the effort. In addition, you cannot receive below a 'B' at UMPI or the class must be repeated. Due to UMPI's rigorous Honor Code, students cannot use their prior work in a repeated class, nor share their completed work with other students. Once you submit your final you can immediately contact your assigned academic success coach to enroll you in your next class before your grade has been returned. All you have to do is start your new class when you're ready then await that coveted text with your grade.
As with anything of intrinsic value, you get out of something what you put it into it. Go beyond the expected and take a deep dive into you subject matter. In fact, UMPI's school motto is "North of Ordinary." I am happy to report I maintained a 4.0 GPA during both academic terms.
I was able to complete six classes in one 8-week term and finished the additional
residency classes needed for graduation in the next term. If you are an outlier and an overachiever like I pride myself, you will likely be able to complete 10 classes (or more) in one term. On average, most students complete their degree in two or three terms. Some students may take a year to complete their residency classes, depending on their academic requirements, careers and family support. That's why UMPI's program is called "Your Pace." The time commitment will be as intense or relaxed as you choose. Remember, both the hare and the tortoise reach the same destination. That's what's so amazing about UMPI, it fits into your lifestyle, not the other way around.
I was elated to have made the Dean's List, as well as graduate with top Latin honors of summa cum laude. I received an embossed letter from Dr. Rice a few weeks later.
I became enamoured with UMPI school spirit. I bought myself an inexpensive class ring on Etsy, and graduation regalia from Amazon. I purchased a blue cap and gown first, UMPI's school colors, before discovering graduates wore black, thus the difference in my graduation photos. Because I am a tribal citizen, the Cherokee Nation sent me a very nice graduation stole emblazoned with Cherokee syllabary and a congratulatory letter from Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.
There is a national honor society exclusively for online students with a 3.2 GPA and above, called Omega Nu Lambda, Kappa Chapter for undergraduate and graduate students taking a minimum of 15 credits. UMPI does not currently have a chapter, like Liberty University, but if you qualify you can apply on the ONL Global website with an unofficial UMPI transcript for an invitation. You know I just had to.
In addition to my UMPI classes, I took a free CLEP prep class from Modern States for English Composition. The English Comp CLEP exam actually fulfills two required core English classes, English 101 and 201, with a culmulative 6 ACE units, which UMPI accepts. Once you pass Modern States' video series and
exam, Modern States pays for your CLEP exam and even pays for remote proctoring if you choose not to go to a testing site for the two-hour exam. UMPI allows students to participate in the commencement ceremony if they have no more than 9 credits left to complete. In my case, I was able to transfer microbiology from Sophia and my CLEP exam after commencement, which fulfilled the remaining credits needed for conferral.
UMPI students graduate every term but there is only one commencement a year, held in early May. Students can elect to travel at their expense to Presque Isle, Maine, to join in with other graduating students or decide to participate in a virtual graduation ceremony, about a month later. I chose the latter but watched both the live commencement and the virtual one from beginning to end. We were the largest graduating class UMPI has had in its history and the majority were online students. You could say there was not a dry eye in my home.
What a glorious midsummer day it was when I was notified by UMPI that my Bachelor's Degree had been conferred and I was an official alumnus! My Parchment degree arrived a few weeks later and is proudly displayed on my wall, near a framed shadowbox of my graduation cap and gown, tassel, honor cords and Cherokee Nation graduation stole next to my framed honor society certificates. I finally have a real brag wall!
Many thanks for my husband's much appreciated encouragement and support through the process. John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Science at Cal Poly Pomona several decades ago way before online learning was a possibility but still fondly recalled the trials and triumphs of academia. We are both first generation graduates in our families since we have no direct
ascendents in our family trees that graduated from college. My husband had taken my graduation photos on a hot California day in April under our backyard palm trees. Sorry, but there are no palm trees in Maine. California's mountains do receive snow, however.
I highly recommend adults who wish to finish their degree follow a similar pathway or modify it to meet your personal needs. The minimum age UMPI accepts is twenty years old and UMPI accepts international students with a good command of English. I found classes a resourceful way to exercise my mind and it piqued my interests. Although my degree was for personal enrichment and at times challenging, I do not regret one minute I spent pursuing it.
In summation, UMPI was a great bargain for me both timewise and financially compared to other universities in my local area. UMPI charges no mandatory application fees, student union fees, health center fees, student success fees, textbooks or other traditional fees often associated with matriculation. You won't have to worry about a commute because your computer is your destination. While every American college offers online classes, you will be hard-pressed to find one as streamlined and affordable as UMPI.
Do I plan to go for my Master's? I am still researching my options but you can be assured I won't be waiting another 50 years! UMPI offers a Master's Degree program but at this time it is limited to business. UMPI graduates report their successes in being accepted into Masters and Doctorate programs, ABA law schools and medical schools nationwide.
Bonus tip! If you're considering the latter, Baltimore-based Johns Hopkin University School of Medicine currently offers free tuition and living expenses to medical students with incomes less than $300K, thanks to a billion dollar donation by media titan Mike Bloomberg.
UMPI graduates sing the praises of UMPI because their degree qualified them to pursue new careers, or increased their salaries at their present job. There is no doubt a college degree will open new doors otherwise closed to undergraduates without one. UMPI has sent me surveys since graduation asking about my student experience because they are always striving to improve. There are already big plans in the works to expand their undergraduate and masters' programs. Whether for profit or for fun, you may decide an academic challenge at UMPI is just what you needed all along, just like I did. Go Owls!
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• Richie’s Diner
• Sol Radiology Hesperia Rd.
• Sol Radiology Business Ctr. Dr.
• Sterling Inn
• VA Clinic
• VV Library
• VV Senior Center
Helendale
• Community Center
• North Lake Liquor
• Silver Lakes Market
• Thrift Store
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CALIFORNIA DAYS 2025
CALIFORNIA DAYS AT CALICO GHOST TOW n is a celebration of California’s rich mining history. Sponsored by Equinox Gold, Mitsubishi Cement, and Raising Canes. There were plenty of mining related information booths, games, and other activities to entertain all ages. Typically, I spend my time hurrying from one game or event to another, taking photos for an article. This year I decided to concentrate on the hardworking performers, or “reenactors,” that put so much time and effort into bringing to life the characters you might have met back in the early days.
One of the most popular groups is the Calico Mountain Volunteers, better known as the Calico Gunfighters. They perform several times a day during special events. They must have period correct attire, authentic weapons, and pass background checks. I spoke at length with Sheriff Ricochet. He has been with the group twenty-six years. They are paid by the county for the days they perform only. Sheriff Ricochet drops by to visit Ghost Town visitors on non-event days as well. Just part of being a volunteer in his opinion and a way to add enjoyment for the visitors.
One thing I noticed this year was somewhat disturbing. I have seen enough of their performances to state that their gunfights and shootouts are all comedic and all in fun. This year, before each performance, a spokesperson explained that although they used real weapons, they fired only blank cartridges. Only air was discharged from the barrel. They demonstrated this by blowing an empty soda can off a platform by firing a blank round. Really? Have we come to the point we need “trigger warnings” before simulated gunfights? I’m guessing this is something San Bernardino County came
up with to avoid upsetting the snowflakes out there.
Speaking of snowflakes, California Days replaced a long-running, hugely popular, and extremely well-attended Civil War reenactment event. You probably have heard of the Civil War. It was a terrible thing. Some 620,000 were killed. Partly it was fought to preserve the state’s right to continue slavery. That was another terrible thing. Erasing history, pretending it never happened, is, in my opinion, another terrible thing. The county was afraid the Confederate flag was just too offensive. Before history is completely erased, and all the statues are removed, look up which side won. I met two generals, a Reb and a Yank, walking together in uniform, peacefully protesting the loss of their reenactment.
If I had to pick a favorite reenactment group, it would have to be Pico Pistolero and his Snake Pit of Scoundrels. Dressed in appropriate 1880s period attire, these professionals deftly deal cards as they explain the popular games of the era. Calico had twenty-two saloons during its heyday. You can assume each one had some type of card game going. Each dealer generally rented a table from the saloon owner to set up his game. He had to skillfully play and tell entertaining jokes and stories to keep the locals coming back while limiting outright cheating to strangers and travelers not likely to return
Pico is a faro dealer. Faro was the most popular game as the odds were nearly fifty-fifty. With those odds a dealer needed to cheat to make money. Carefully, of course. An unhappy customer had twentyone other games to choose from. By the 1890s it was estimated there were no honest faro games in the country. Wyatt Earp, made legendary by Hollywood, was
By John Wease
only a sometimes lawman. In real life he followed the boom mining camps operating saloons and gambling. Two of his brothers were faro dealers in Calico saloons.
Other games were demonstrated as well. Vingt-et-un was quite familiar as we played it a lot when we were kids. We called it “Twenty-one.” Maybe if you lost your money playing a French game it was more exotic or acceptable. Grand Hazard was a game like roulette but with numbers from a rotating cage like bingo. And, in my opinion, the game with the worse chance of winning was Mexican Monte.
Mexican Monte came home with U.S. soldiers returning from the 1848 war against Mexico. The dealer turns over two cards. You bet on one. The dealer turns over another card. If it matches the one you bet on, you win. It is played with a forty-card Spanish deck that has
coins, swords, horseman, and clubs. A historic photo shows three men stopped to play Mexican Monte on the ground, with their horses waiting. The three men are a cowboy, a vaquero, and a native American. This game was so popular with Native Americans that decks of Mexican Monte playing cards were valuable trade goods. If they didn’t have decks of paper cards, they made them from horse hide. It is believed that the popularity of Mexican Monte led to the name selected for the completely fraudulent game of Three Card Monte.
Jeff Smith demonstrated the age-old favorite sleight of hand game played with the pea under one of three walnut
shells. Jeff is the actual great grandson of the infamous Soapy Smith. Soapy was perhaps the best-known conman and general scoundrel of the 1800s. He was more famous by far than that Wyatt Earp guy. He was finally gunned down in the streets during the Alaska Gold Rush days. If he is looking down, or in his case perhaps looking up, at his great grandson, I’m sure he would be proud of him. Nobody ever picked the right shell.
Jeff also demonstrated Soapy’s famous soap bar con. In a small chest-type box he had soap bars wrapped with paper. Now for just one quarter you could buy one of these wonderful soap bars. But, for the sporting men, he folded a twenty-dollar
Happy Saint Patrick's Day
bill and placed it inside a wrapper. For one dollar you could take a chance of winning twenty. But first he slid that bar towards the other bars to mix them up. The bar with the twenty dropped down under the other bars into a hidden compartment. Soapy’s life of crime finally caught up with him. Nobody walked away unhappy at Calico. All games were played for free with chips provided. All of the dealers were happy to pose for pictures. It was a little odd. These talented men, playing the part of the most despicable scoundrels, were the friendliest bunch in Calico. Next time you are there for a special event be sure to look for “The Shaft Room.” You’ll be glad you did. Maybe I’ll see you there.
March
Join us at our B2B Networking Event on 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 7 PM to 10 PM located at The BIG ROCK (1828 CA Highway 138, Pinon Hills, CA).
Get the opportunity to connect with business leaders, participate in Sponsor Spotlight, and explore various booths showcasing innovative local businesses. Whether you’re looking to expand your network or discover new business opportunities, this event is ideal for you!
Choice Medical Group began the SENIOR KICKS CLUB over 30 years ago It was created to bring the senior community together to Socialize, Exercise and make new Friends! The Club has grown to over 2500 members and has evolved to offering additional classes, events, educational workshops, lunch venue and MORE! To Learn more about being a Choice Medical Member and Senior Kicks Club VIPContact our Senior Resource Center 760 338 0914 Today!
Don’t miss out...events are fillin’ up!
Widows or Widowers (WOW)
Meeting place is Trinity Lutheran Church 16138 Molino Dr. Victorville Ca 92395
Mar 01 Dharini Dobbins of The Lions Club Celebrate March birthdays
Mar 08 Celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day, Wear green!
Mar 15 Breakfast at Denny’s on Main Street Near the 15 freeway in Hesperia
Mar 22 WOW Game day Games like Mexican Train and Tripoly
Mar 29 Breakfast at Denny’s on Main Street Hesperia
SWIM February Speakers
Mar 6 High Desert Keepers Scott Brown
Mar 13 Mitsubishi Cement Plant Dave Rib
Mar 20 Surviving My Career as a Psychiatric Technician Mike Raff
Mar 27 Life Of A Civil War Soldier Roberta Smith
Seniors With Inquiring Minds (SWIM) meets every Thursday from 1:00-2:00 PM in the Percy Bakker Community Center located at 9333 Avenue “E” In Hesperia, CA 92345
The WCSD is hosting Public Workshop, it is a strategic planning meeting to gather input from the WCSD Board and the public on their vision for Wrightwood’s future. The WCSD has hired a professional consulting company to facilitate the workshop which will likely take around 6-7 hours. The workshop will shape the strategic plan for the WCSD and identify a clear path to achieving set goals. Public participation is their highest priority for this workshop.
