THE PULSE TEAM lost one of our own this past week. Ann Minor, not only one of our writers but a good friend, pass away. The community lost one of our treasures, her bright smile and passion for others will be missed.
On a bright note, we want to welcome a new advertiser, CROSS EYED COW PIZZA. A favorite stop for Route 66 Roadies.
Summer is an exciting time here in the High Desert.
Many communities/cities have concerts in the park, movie nights and other actives for us to enjoy. A big one is Mountaineer Days in Wrightwood on July 12 & 13.
We appreciate all our readers, advertisers and contributors. Without all of you there would be NO PULSE.
Jim Conkle
A Message of Gratitude and Recognition from the President of Today’s Woman Foundation
Honoring Brisa Alfaro – 2025 Stroke Hero Survivor
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS and the entire Today’s Woman Foundation community, I am proud to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our Ambassador, Brisa Alfaro, for being nationally recognized as the 2025 Stroke Hero Survivor by the American Stroke Association
This prestigious honor comes as no surprise to those who have witnessed Brisa’s courage, compassion, and commitment to transforming her personal journey into a beacon of hope for others. Her story is one of unimaginable challenges, and even greater triumph. At age 32, Brisa suffered a rare brain stem stroke that left her with Locked-In Syndrome, a condition so severe and rare it affects fewer than five individuals globally each year. Doctors gave her less than a 1% chance of survival.
But Brisa did more than survive, she defied every odd and reclaimed her life, one pinky movement at a time. Her motto, #PinkyMoves, reminds us that even the smallest intentional actions can lead to remarkable transformation. Today, she stands as a fully recovered stroke survivor, an acclaimed TEDx speaker, a #1 international best-selling author: Limitless: Small Moves to Your Greatest Life after a Paralyzing Stroke, and a resilience mentor whose message has reached thousands.
In the May 2024 issue of Pulse
Magazine, Brisa’s story was beautifully captured, illustrating not just her medical journey, but her powerful emotional and spiritual strength. Through that lens, we see a woman who did not allow paralysis to define her, but instead redefined what recovery and empowerment could mean for others.
As an Ambassador of Today’s Woman Foundation, Brisa exemplifies our mission: to empower our diverse community of women through education, advocacy, and resources that enhance body, mind, and spirit. Whether she is speaking on stage, mentoring survivors, or simply sharing her truth with raw honesty, she carries our values with grace and power.
We especially admire how Brisa continues to advocate for stroke awareness, mental health, and recovery education, not just for patients, but also for caregivers and those who feel “locked in” by any of life’s circumstances. Her signature message: “Small Moves, BIG RESULTS”, is not just a tagline. It is a call to action and a philosophy we at Today’s Woman Foundation hold dear.
Brisa’s presence in our community and on the national stage is a reminder that resilience is not just about overcoming but about lifting others as we rise.
Please join us in celebrating Brisa’s wellearned recognition as the 2025 Stroke Hero Survivor. We are honored to call her one of our own.
With deep gratitude and admiration, Melanie Ajanwachuku, President, Today’s Woman Foundation
SHE’S THE DAUGHTER OF A LEGEND . A former swim coach when Barstow had an indoor swimming pool and more recently, the city’s most effective Mayor, and now she’s the President of the Board of Trustees at Barstow Community College. “It’s like being the Mayor,” Julie Hackbarth says as we sit in the cool and newly redecorated Clubhouse at the Holiday Homes which she manages.
The big room is empty for a Tai Chi class that is taught there on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Julie continues, ”[As the President,] you’re one vote of five people on a elected board. [But] the one thing to know about the President of the Trustees for the college [is that] we rotate every year and we will move somebody else into [the job.] So, [you get] a whole new perspective every year.”
Rotate the President? Get a whole new perspective? What a concept!
“[Basically] I run the meetings and work closely with the college President on the stuff they’re doing.” The “stuff” they’re doing includes a partnership with the Driving 160 Trucking School that teaches its students how to safely operate big rigs.
According to statistics found at Google, “Trucks move over 70% of the freight in the U.S.” The report further stated that the “trucking industry is a major employer and contributes billions of dollars to the economy.” But, currently, that industry is experiencing major shortages of drivers.
Regarding that, Julie adds that the “Barstow program is nationally recognized and gets its graduates licensed.” So, truck driving students can walk into a truck driving jobs on graduating.
Another neat concept. But it doesn’t stop there. The college’s proactive administrators have an eye to the future of the city and how best to serve it. With BNSF planning to expand its operation
at the Barstow hub and increase its work force by an estimated 21,000 new jobs, the college has designed and initiated training programs in the skills the new jobs will need.
“We just became one of seven [colleges] in the country where students can become certified electrical apprentices,” Julie says with some pride. ”So, any veteran that’s been out for five years, or looking to rotate out of the military can come do this school and then the school will place them. Even if they want to go back to where they live like Alabama or wherever.”
This program sounds very much like the trade programs once found in high schools, but it’s even better because they help their graduates get jobs. The program is called CTE for short, but it stands for Career Technical Education, which, according to Julie, translates into specialized training and certification in skills like “welding, diesel mechanics, and warehouse logistics. HVAC, and that kind of stuff.”
High paying “stuff” that everyone needs
and certainly many businesses do as well. It’s the invisible “stuff’ that we don’t notice until something breaks, then who do we call? Not the a doctor or a lawyer, but someone now likely trained by Barstow college in the skills needed in the real world . . . the everyday world.
With this in mind, and in view of the nursing shortages, our little but innovative college is starting a Certified Nursing Assistant program, which Julie is, “. . . really happy with because my mom taught the LVN program at the college. Victor Valley has the RN program. So, if you’re waiting for that, come take the CN program with us while you wait. You can work while you wait to get into an RN program which I understand is very competitive.”
I confess to Julie that I had the wrong impression of the college. Like many people, I thought it sedate; happy to stay in their little cubby hole, cranking out hair stylists, and not daring to expand. But Julie was quick to brag that the current batch of administrators are forward thinkers. The don’t think small, but big in the sense of how they can meet the many specialized needs of our small and isolated community and the new demands of a changing job market.
“We’re trying to get ahead of that curve with the big project coming in. We know everything that’s gonna be needed to just build it and we want to see what BNSF needs. So, we can have [programs] ready to educate, qualify, and get people the skills they will use in that new workforce.
“ It’s a fun, big project,” she adds.
The fun, big project is the BNSF expansion. It will be featured in Part Two of this story. We’ll discuss how our tiny college proposes to take on the big job and how much it has grown since it started thinking outside the box.
Marcy’s Musings
As the Sun Sets
WHAT CAN BE BETTER than enjoying great live music in a beautiful location as the sun sets on a warm (and sometimes windless) summer evening? Yes, I'm talking about the Apple Valley Sunset Concerts in the Park, when thousands of town locals and folks from surrounding cities pack Civic Center Park every Thursday night in June and July (minus July 3) from 6-9:00. The Town staff, the Library staff, and Park and Rec
leaders provide information and plenty of activities for families and kids over by the swimming pool. The Apple Valley Historic Advisory Committee showcases something of local historic value every week, while the radio station invites folks to spin the prize wheel. The food vendors and Kiwanis beer garden volunteers keep everyone well taken care of. So grab a lawn chair and come on over. There's a lot of summer left to enjoy!
County Fair Honors Rural Roots
THE 78TH ANNUAL SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
FAIR definitely provided "Fun for the Whole Herd." And sculptor Brant Gaddis of Apple Valley, a talented Mohahve Historical Society member, captured a first place ribbon for his themed creation of, you guessed it, a COW! Way to go, Brent! (BTW, he also got second and third place ribbons on his other creations.)
The Pulse Magazine booth in Building #2, staffed by MHS members and Apple Valley Legacy Museum volunteers, offered a large collection of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans memorabilia for sale at bargain prices. And Roy and Dale themselves were on hand to greet fans and pose for photos. The huge 1979 Fair scrapbook is chock full of Roy and Dale memories, from Grand Marshall Roy leading the opening day parade up Seventh Street (Route 66) on a tractor, to Roy and Dale headlining the Grandstand entertainment.
The other half of the booth highlighted the Fair's 78 year history, with 76 years in its present location. Getting its start in 1930 and 1931 with a carnival in Forrest
Park, known as the Fall Festival, it was another 16 years until the 1947 Fair was held at the same location, announced by a giant banner flying over 7th Street at "D" Street, where the Route 66 archway stands today. Two years later the official SBC Fair moved to upper 7th Street, where it was held in huge circus tents, before the original Buildings #1 and #2 were constructed a few years later. Although the Fair has evolved into modern times, shifting its focus to rides and more current entertainment acts, many "Old Timers" have fond memories of days gone by, memories that were
peaked by the scrapbooks, photos, and artifacts on display at the booth. Top of the list was Bingo, the Donkey Mascot created in 1954, along with the live version, who welcomed fair-goers along 7th Street, as the Queens sold tickets and handed out programs. Many also reminisced about the
parades that opened the Fair, the vintage cars that arrived on Oldies night, and the cattle drives that arrived just in time for the rodeo.
Besides the rides, the games, and the sugary-sweet treats, the most popular 2025 attractions for kids seemed to be the free train rides, the FAA (Future Farmers of America) animals, and the petting zoo, where two modern-day Bingos hung out. And don't forget Tadpole the Clown, who's been around spreading joy and laughter for 32 years, and Chazz's wild African drum circles, where participants have madly beat the drums for the past 13 years. Building #4 was filled with all sorts of amazing crafts items, while the Doris Davies building showcased FFA projects and all things agriculturally-related. Many
students said good-bye to their beloved pigs or cows at the auctions, while others happily took them back home to keep as pets.
A big thank-you goes out to the nine history-loving volunteers who staffed our booth, sharing information and greeting the guests, young and old, long-time residents, new arrivals, and out-of-town visitors, while bringing in some bucks to support 3 non-profits: the Apple Valley/ Victor Valley Legacy Museums project, the Mohahve Historical Society, and the Lewis Center for Educational Research Foundation. That's all, Folks, and hope to see you next year at SBC Fair #79, keeping the small-town spirit alive.
New C.O.P.s take to the Streets
MAY IS GRADUATION MONTH , not only for kindergarteners, junior high, high school, and college students, but also for an important group of volunteers- the local C.O.P.s. In case you don't know, that stands for Citizens on Patrol, the "extra set of eyes and ears" out there in the streets and neighborhoods, helping to keep our communities safe.
A proud group gathered at Apple Valley Town Hall on Tuesday May 20 to be recognized for having completed their training and ready to start work in the following jurisdictions: Spring Valley Lake, Silver Lakes, Lucerne Valley, and Apple Valley. Among them were two Mohahve Historical Society members: Eric Mandeson, assigned to Lucerne Valley, and Theresa Munoz Johnson, assigned to Apple Valley. Congrats to all the graduates, and thanks for your willingness to support and protect our local citizens in the High Desert.
Big Bear or Bust
MAY WAS ONCE AGAIN "Big Bear Month" for Mohahve Historical Society members. On Wednesday May 28, returning speaker Ann Rourk took us along for the 1917 car "race" from San Bernardino to Big Bear. It didn't exactly resemble NASCAR. This February winter endurance test involved snow, ice, and mud, and a lack of what we would call actual roads, involving a lot of digging out and pushing of vehicles up the mountainsides.
After her detailed and kind of unbelievable presentation, Ann started off the Q and A session herself, by posing a question to her audience: "Why would any man in his right mind attempt to do something like this??!!" Good question. Well, there are several answers, the main one seeming to involve bragging rights. But beyond that, with these new-fangled motorized vehicles known as "horseless carriages," the idea was to test their power, push their limits, thus leading to future modifications and
improvements. And I'm sure they learned a lot in their eighteen days on the road, accomplishing what we know today to be a one-hour drive.
Big Bear Part 2
TWO DAYS LATER, Friday
May 30, 17 MHS members were back in Big Bear, this time on the lake aboard the Big Bear Queen. And we tried our best to soak up all the information thrown at us by our knowledgeable Captain, Chris Bellows, on that windy ninety-minute adventure. From the cattle ranches to the gold prospectors, and from the grizzly bears to the bald eagles, we heard about it all while circling the seven-mile-long lake with 23 miles of shoreline, the highest lake in California at 7000 feet in elevation.
In 1860, while chasing a grizzly, namesake Billy Holcomb discovered a creek bed full of gold, accidentally bringing unwanted attention to the area, after weighing his find in San Bernardino. 1884 marked the construction of the first dam across Bear Creek, sending water to the thirsty orange groves of Redlands. The first public roads were constructed in 1915, turning Big Bear into the popular four-season resort that it is today. From our vantage point, we saw many rustic vacation cabins, huge lakefront mansions, campsites, RV parks, fishing holes, coves, and mountain peaks, including the highest peak in the San Gorgonian Range, reaching above the tree line.
The most interesting sites to me were China Island, the dream home of a local woman after falling in love with Asian architecture while on a trip to China; and the Ridgeway Cabin, built around a huge boulder that is the centerpiece of the house. Probably the most important structure is the Solar Observatory, one of six that circle the globe, allowing the sun to be tracked 24 hours a day, more than 300 days a year. The lake location
For more detailed information and lots of vintage photos, consider purchasing one or more of Anne's four anthologies, all based on old-timers' interviews, and all entitled "When Big Bear Was Wild and Wooly" #1, #2, #3. and #4. They will be available at the June meeting and thereafter.
is perfect due to its high elevation, thin air, and direct sunlight with no obstructing shadows. The next closest observatory sits atop an inactive volcano in Hawaii. (I need to locate the other 4.)
Big Bear Lake is on the migratory route of the giant bird that symbolizes America, the bald eagle. Although we did not get to see Sunny and Gizmo, the two-month-old chicks of Jackie and Shadow, up close, we did see the tall jeffrey pine tree they call home. Thanks to the Friends of Big Bear
cameras, on the day of our voyage, people all over the world were waiting anxiously for tthe eaglets to test their wings and take off. As I write this, Sunny and the Gizmo have done just that, still returning home for dinner, before they take off for good to find their own mates and their own trees to nest in.
Well, obviously this was an exciting day on the lake! If you were unable to join us, just contact Chris Bellows at the Pine Knot Marina, and he'll welcome you aboard.
The Spirit of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Lives On
ALOT OF LOCALS WERE
SAD when the Roy Rogers Dale Evans Victorville Museum closed and moved to Branson, Missouri in 2003. But thanks to former Daily Press editor Don Holland, the spirit of Roy and Dale is alive and well in the Victor Valley, and continues to spread joy each springtime. Don't ask me how he did it, but Don moved an extremely large and prickly cactus from its spot near the foot of the huge Trigger statue at the museum to his yard in Spring Valley Lake, where it continued to flourish, growing and growing and spreading the love.
When Don moved to Nevada a number of years ago, he brought cactus pods, LOTS of cactus pods, to the Apple Valley Museum, which we potted and sold to local gardeners. So it is spring, and the cactus
are blooming again. Two MHS members, Jeff Hardy of Spring Valley Lake, and Eric Mandeson of Lucerne Valley, even sent photos. There are probably lots of other Roy and Dale cactus around the Victor Valley, showing off their gorgeous yellow flowers about now. Some even have names. According to Nancy Fuller, she has one named RD for Roy and Dale, and another named DR for Dale and Roy. Hers
are just starting to bloom. Thanks to all the "green thumb" folks out there keeping the spirit alive. We love it!
When Will People Learn How to Drive?
ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE Monument VS. Vehicle incident occurred over in Landers. This time it was not a Mohahve Historical Society monument that got plowed down, but the Clampers (E Clampus Vitus) Integratron monument that met its fate. Originally placed on the corner of Linn Road and Belfield Blvd. near the entrance to the Integratron parking lot, it had been hit several times before, but not heavily damaged. However, the final collision knocked it down completely, despite its size, weight, and the deep concrete foundation. How fast was this guy going and did he and his car even live through it?
I have an obsession with trying to find the monuments that are listed in the
Clampers guide, which covers a gigantic area including all of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. So on my first and second trips to the Landers Integratron, I looked around but to no avail. I didn't see the monument anywhere. So on my third trip down I was determined to find it. A little direction from the nice lady at the desk headed me in the right direction. There it was, lying on its back on the SW corner of the Integratron parking lot, looking very sad and dejected. The owners, who
had agreed to have it relocated on their property, are just waiting for the Clampers to come and stand it upright, so visitors can once again learn the unusual history of the Integratron engraved on the bronze plaque. (Placed May 1, 2005 by the E Clampus Vitus Branch 1069 and the Morongo Basin Historical Society.)
Filmed at the Apple Valley Inn 1956!
MOVIE NIGHTS AT THE MOVIE NIGHTS AT THE APPLE VALLEY LEGACY MUSEUM APPLE VALLEY LEGACY MUSEUM Save the Dates
Filmed at the Roy Rogers Museum1992! Fri, July 18, 8:15pm Fri, Aug 15, 8:00pm
APPLE VALLEY LEGACY MUSEUM
20601 Hwy 18, Cottage 153
Includes Refreshments and Raffle Ticket 7 - 8pm Live Music! $5.00 Donation!
UpcomingCommunity Events
July 4- Happy Independence Day - 9:00 AM- Lucerne Valley Parade 9:00 PM- Fireworks at various locations in High Desert cities
VALLEY
- 11:15- Friends of the Apple Valley Library- general membership meeting, guests welcome , 17, 24- 6-9:00 PM - Sunset Concerts- Apple Valley Civic Center Park - free and open to the public
MOVIE NIGHTS AT THE MOVIE NIGHTS AT THE APPLE VALLEY LEGACY MUSEUM APPLE VALLEY LEGACY MUSEUM Save the Dates
July 12- 6-9 PM - Concert and car show- Helendale Community Park - Mohahve Historical Society will be there **
July 14- 6 PM - NAACP Branch 1082 General membership meeting - Victorville Branch Office- everyone welcome
Filmed at the Apple Valley Inn 1956!
July 18- Apple Valley Legacy Museum Movie Night- 7-8 live music, 8:15- "There's Always Tomorrow" $5 admission Includes movie, popcorn, snacks, and raffle ticket
Your banner ad could be here!
Let PULSE be the voice and the door knocker for your business!!
APPLE VALLEY LEGACY MUSEUM
20601 Hwy 18, Cottage 153
Includes Refreshments and Raffle Ticket 7 - 8pm Live Music! $5.00 Donation! Filmed at the Roy Rogers Museum 1992! Fri, July 18, 8:15pm Fri, Aug 15, 8:00pm
Save the Date: Aug. 15- Apple Valley Legacy Museum Movie Night- 7-8 Live music, 8:15 "King of the Cowboys" $5 admission
Bottle Trees in the Desert Wind: The Legacy of Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch
By Tiffanie Williams – Pulse of the High Desert
ON ROUTE 66 between Victorville & Barstow just east of the Cross Eye Cow Pizza, you’ll find a magical forest of glass and metal. It doesn’t grow leaves or bloom flowers. Instead, it hums with the wind, glimmers in the sun, and tells a story of creativity, family, and legacy.
This is Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch—a High Desert landmark built not by a corporation or city planner, but by one man with a welder, a dream, and a love for the strange beauty of discarded things.
A Folk-Art Forest Is Born
Elmer Long was a welder by trade, but an artist at heart. He and his father spent decades wandering the desert together, collecting glass bottles from ghost towns, junkyards, and dry washes. After his father passed, Elmer was left with hundreds of bottles—and a head full of ideas.
In 2000, he welded his first bottle tree: a sturdy steel post with branches stretching out, each one holding colorful bottles like blossoms. And then he built another. And another. By 2002, Elmer’s yard had transformed into a glimmering grove of over 200 bottle trees, wind chimes, rusted tools, hubcaps, and even a vintage boat or two.Where once you could see his home from the road it was now lost in the forest.
“I just started putting them up,” Elmer once told our publisher Jim Conkle, “And people started showing up.” And they never stopped.” Over the years Elmer and
Jim become good friends, after all they were both Marines & Roadies. Jim used to lead tours on the Mother Road and this was one of the most poplar attractions on the road. Folks loved meeting Elmer and were in AWE of his art.
From Roadside Oddity to Global Destination
For two decades, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch became a must-see stop for Route 66 tourists, photographers, and High Desert locals. Travelers from as far away as Japan and Germany would pull over to explore this ever-evolving outdoor gallery—often greeted by Elmer himself, who loved to share stories and pose for photos.
Admission was always free. Donations went into a homemade wishing well, and if you were lucky, Elmer might send you home with a small bottle as a keepsake. Each tree was a living sculpture, made from salvaged treasures: old typewriters, license plates, tools, broken signs. But
beneath the whimsical exterior was something deeper—an expression of connection, memory, and the beauty of what others throw away.
A Loss, But Not the End
On June 22, 2019, Elmer Long passed away after a battle with cancer. For a time, the ranch sat quiet—bottles still gleaming, but the voice behind the vision silent. But just like the trees he built, Elmer’s legacy was rooted deep.
His son, Elliot Long, stepped forward to carry the torch. Today, the Bottle Tree Ranch is once again open to the public— still free to visit, still humming with wind and wonder, still welcoming curious souls looking for a bit of magic along the highway.
A Treasure in Our Backyard
In a world moving at full speed, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch reminds us to pause. To find beauty in forgotten things. To share stories. To leave something behind that matters.
For those of us in the High Desert, it’s more than just a roadside attraction— it’s a reminder of what makes our region special: resilience, creativity, and the kind of people who build forests from glass and steel.
So next time you’re driving down Route 66, bring sure to stop and enjoy the Bottle Tree Ranch. And remember Elmer—a man who turned the desert into a gallery, one bottle at a time.
Slice ofLife
The Next Big Thing
IWAS LUCKY AS A KID growing up in the middle of Oklahoma City, back in the 50’s and early 60’s with my mother. I never got caught stealing newspapers which I sold on the corner of 3rd and Robinson, across from the YMCA where I learned to swim and shoot pool. The profits I earned from my criminal enterprise I used to buy hamburgers and milk shakes at a nearby Katz Drug Store or I’d venture into the heart of the concrete jungle and attend matinee showings of first run movies. I’d do this especially in the summer when it was sweltering hot and you could see the heat rising in waves from the streets.
On those days, I’d watch the same movie twice just to stay cool.
But now, sixty years later, I have been reformed by way of a stern stepfather and 20 years of military service through which I was imbued with a code of conduct . . . or maybe, a code of honor. In truth, I’m
not sure which. There’s just some things I won’t do . . . or, at least, try not to do like steal, cheat, or lie.
But I’m human and certainly no saint. Some weeks ago, I lied to my friends about a woman I had asked to lunch. When she did not call me back, I was ashamed to admit it, so I fabricated a piece of fiction to conceal what I had wrongly interpreted as a failure. In a matter of a few hours, though, the false narrative ate at me until I finally confessed to them that I had lied. Their response surprised me: I was forgiven.
I hadn’t expected that. In fact, I felt remarkably renewed when one friend basically said, “No sweat,” because I was her friend. She not only excused my trans gression, but elevated me in a way that only forgiveness can.
I mention it now because I did it again. I lied when I said I quit the club. Hubris had clouded my judgment. But, in a moment
By J.P.Garner
of crystal clarity, I saw I was wrong and when I confessed my sin of pride, I was again saved—and renewed—by a friend who simply said, ”welcome back.”
Welcome back . . . the sentiment repeats itself in my head, and I feel so foolish. I’m not sure where I went, but it wasn’t a good place. Certainly not like Corky’s on a Thursday morning. Now that I’m back, I fess up to impress on you the purging power of forgiveness. It is perhaps that most needed by people because we are, after all, human.
After love, it is, I think, the next best thing.
Médico especialista
Senior Care Professionals
Have you ever seen a Lowrider Bicycle?
THESE ARE ROLLING PIECES of art & craftsmanship, on wheels!
The Lowrider Bike emerged in the 1960s when Mexican American Youth, that could not drive real cars, decided to emulate the Lowrider Cars their adult, family & friends were driving at the time.
So the Customization began! From custom paint, airbrushing, pin-striping & engraving, to stretching handle bars, chroming, upholstery & dropping them low.
The time & skill, put into these works of art, evolved & has grown over the decades. By the 1990’s Lowrider Bicycles, were being featured in magazines & movies like, “Blood in Blood Out”, “American Me” & “Mi Vida Loca,”where they were used to portray a part of “Chicano” culture in America.
All of you, Auto Enthusiasts, Artists, Bicycle Lovers & Craftsmen, can all find something to amuse you, at a Lowrider Bicycle Show, where you can admire the work & skill invested in these builds.
For many it’s an escape from the hectic World and something they can focus their talents on. It can be a stress relief tool channeling positive energy, into its construction.
By Tanya Inglis
“Chrome and Classics” can be found in more than just cars.
Building these bikes, can help teach the next generation of our youth, to use their hands, learn a trade, or use their design & building skills. It also will give a sense of accomplishment & pride when sharing their completed work with others.
Cost & Investment depends on how many customizations you would like to do & what bike you choose to start with. Major Bicycle manufacturers like “Schwinn” & “Micargi,” joined the Lowrider Bicycle scene, decades ago. Beach Cruisers are also very popular for modifications.
With “Chrome & Classics” there’s always something fun to do! Be sure to check out “The Pulse’s” event calendar for information on the High Desert’s largest Bicycle, Pedal & RC Car Show coming September 27th.
See you there!
20” Bratz Lowrider Bicycle, with “Warren Wong” body. Called “Purple Haze.” Owner: Andres Ocampo
The Desert May Look Dead But It’s Actually a Fragile Ecosystem
By Jaylyn And John Earl
www.thedesertway.com
TIME AND THE DESERT waits for no man. Lots of things have changed since we wrote this article nine years ago. The presidential administration has changed three times since President Obama. Senator Dianne Feinstein, and David Myers of the Wildlands Conservancy have passed away. A constant remains. Jim Conkle is still a passionate desert defender. We appreciate the hard work of these dedicated individuals that benefits us all.
Those unfamiliar with the desert often remark about how dead it looks. Colors of browns and grays. Spindly looking
shrubs and trees. Where’s the wildlife hiding? Let us open your eyes to the hardy, thriving flora and fauna of this magnificent desert we call home.
Drive mile upon mile through California’s Mojave Desert, and you still can see the unspoiled vistas of one of the largest intact ecosystems in the continental United States.
Along Route 66 stretch the same empty valleys and distant mountains that Oklahoma farmers escaping the Dust Bowl saw in their migration west. In the vast swathes of scrub land, scientists are finding new plant species at a rate rivaling that in the Amazon.
Ancient creosote bushes, like one 11,700 years old that miraculously survived in an off-road vehicle playground, live here in soils scientists only now realize are one of the planet’s great carbon sinks,” reported Carolyn Lochhead for The San Francisco Chronicle in an article dated January 30, 2016.
“Six years ago, these lands were on the verge of being bulldozed for industrial solar and wind installations amid an allout drive by the Obama administration and national environmental organizations to boost renewable energy in the fight against climate change.
The only thing standing in the way was Sen. Dianne Feinstein and a small conservation group called the Wildlands Conservancy whose leader, David Myers, had the California Democrat’s ear.
Within days, President Obama is expected to invoke the Antiquities Act, at Feinstein’s request, to create three national monuments preserving 1,380,350 acres of these lands, including a long stretch of Route 66.
The Mojave Trails designation would protect 105 miles of the most pristine extant section of Route 66 and link Joshua Tree National Park with the Mojave National Preserve.”
The March 2009 Smithsonian Magazine recognized Route 66 as one of the “15 MustSee Endangered Cultural Treasures.”
“To industrialize it, to tear it up, to abuse it, to rape it, would be a travesty,” said Jim Conkle, a former Marine known as Mr. Route 66. “People see the Mojave Desert
as this vast wasteland. I see it as an ocean without water. There’s so much there. If we don’t take care of it, it’s gone forever. Scientists have only recently learned that desert soils and plants, whose roots plunge deep into the earth, sequester vast amounts of carbon. “If you bulldoze the soil, you start to release carbon at a rate that offsets the gains of moving away from fossil fuel,” according to James Andre, a UC Riverside plant biologist who directs the Granite Mountains Desert Research Center at the Mojave National Preserve and has been leading species discoveries in the desert. “That’s pretty extraordinary, given that the sole reason used to justify the projects has been dealing with the climate crisis.”
The desert is teeming with diverse wildlife. Nature has its own special rhythm
in the desert. You just have to know where, or more importantly, how to see it. Once you experience it for yourself, you will never see things the same way again. The desert is life itself.
Proposed Desert Monuments
National monuments in the California desert proposed for designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act are:
Update: All are NOW National Monuments
Mojave Trails: 1.2 million acres, including 105 miles along Route 66, to be managed by Bureau of Land Management, plus another 253,000 acres added in Bristol Dry Lake, Cadiz Valley and Sacramento Mountains.
Castle Mountains: 21,000 acres next to Mojave National Preserve to be managed by the National Park Service.
Sand to Snow: 135,000 acres creating a low- to high-elevation corridor linking Joshua Tree National Park to the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The plan includes an additional 6,350 acres of Black Lava Butte and Flat Top Mesa. It will be managed jointly by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.
Resources
Celebrating 30 Years of California Desert Protection – The Desert Way with Jaylyn and John
Mojave Rattlesnake looking for lunch. Also known as the Mojave Green. Not a pleasant fellow.
Imperial Wildlife Area at the Salton Sea, California
Borrego Springs Sunset
Friends of the Victorville Library
ON WEDNESDAY JUNE
18, 2025 , the Friends of the Victorville Library unveiled the newest design on their Little Free Library (LFL), located at Victorville’s Hook Community Center, 14973 Joshua Street. Little Free Libraries are a “take a book, share a book” free book exchange. The new design was created by artist Seon Quinlin and completed by the participants of People’s Care Community Based
The Mayor
Day Program. People’s Care Program Manager, Lala Jones and Friends of the Victorville Library Little Free Library Coordinator, Sharon Cobb, worked together with the artist and participants to beautify the LFL. To learn more about the Friends of the Victorville Library and what you can do to encourage literacy right here in Victorville, visit our website at www.friendsofthevictorvillelibrary.org or email us at foviclib@yahoo.com.
Article written by Debbie Sousa, member of Friends of the Library
Green Vest, Sharon Cobb, Black Shirt LaLa Jones and People’s Care participants.
A real Mayor, Helen Tran of San Bernardino, meets the mayor of Route 66 in name only. A new partnership was formed, and the future of San Bernardino and Route 66 will move forward.
The Distilling Expert Part Two
By J.P.Garner
PAUL SEBASTION THINKS
BACK to a smaller and younger version of himself, back to a time when tidbits from a conversation perked his initial interest in the artistic efforts of different distillers. “I think because, as a kid, I had always seen people drink wine, and they were like, "Oh, this is Chateau Le Fitreux, or Chal Doudoula from whatever place in France. And I was amazed that these guys could just from the taste, pick out all of this detail. And I thought, I need to learn how to do that. It was just fascinating.”
Can you do that with whiskey, he wondered? No. That was one of the first things he learned, because whiskey does not have the same kind of—what they call—terroir. In whiskey production, "terroir" refers to the influence of environmental factors on the raw ingredients, particularly the barley, which ultimately shapes the flavor profile of the final spirit. Now, there are arguments going back and forth about that, but the long story is: grains and grapes are different.
“Grains have good and bad years,” he explained. “You don’t get the flavor of the whiskey necessarily from the grain, [though] grains do influence that. But grains are basically used for the alcohol. So, distillers use two-row barley, because that yields the most alcohol. So the basic element of grain doesn’t really affect the flavor terribly much.”
Paul continues. He loves to talk, “It’s the other stuff involved. The yeast that’s put in there, how that reacts with the distillation process, the shape of the skill. So, that’s why it’s important in terms of trying to understand why this whiskey is good. And then you have to understand who makes it, because you’ve got a lot of people out there that go to Whiskey University. There’s several, like a dozen Whiskey Universities. And when you come out, they all give you a certificate that says Master Distiller.”
Paul starts laughing. I don’t understand what’s funny until he says, “It doesn’t mean crap. The people, the actual distillers who work in the business . . . they haven’t got a certificate. Some of them may not even have a high school diploma, but they know how to put these processes together. They’re very smart.”
It was later, when Paul started hearing about French whiskey, and Australian and even Japanese he want to understand why. “I never take anything for granted. I don’t assume that because something’s expensive that it’s bad, or it’s good. I don’t assume that because it’s, let’s say, a darker color that it’s necessarily good either. You have to study it. You have to understand what goes into it. So, you know what Socrates said, the unexamined life is not worth living. Well, to me, the unexamined whiskey ain’t worth drinking”
Choosing the right whiskey isn't just
about grabbing a random bottle from the shelf or ordering it online. It's a process, Paul explains, that should be conducted with meticulous care. Just like selecting the right ingredients elevates a dish, choosing a high-quality whiskey can enhance a person’s drinking experience.
A good whiskey can turn an ordinary drinking experience into a memorable one while, conversely, a bad whiskey can ruin the drinking experience, leaving the drinker with an unpleasant aftertaste. That's why it's important to understand the differences between good and bad whiskey to enjoy the exceptional depth and nuances a quality whiskey offers.
I’m hooked. I want to know what makes a good whiskey? He considers my question with thoughtful introspection. “A good whiskey,” he starts, “should have a balanced and smooth texture. It shouldn't feel too watery or syrupy.”
I interrupt him. “Watery or syrupy?” I ask. “Yes,” he says. “The finish refers to the aftertaste and how long it lingers. A good whiskey should have a long and pleasant finish, not one that is harsh or leaves an unpleasant aftertaste.”
In preparing for this interview, I researched the subject and learned that the age of a whiskey can significantly influence its flavor. As whiskey ages in the barrel, it absorbs flavors from the wood, gaining complexity over time. As a result, older whiskeys tend to boast greater complexity than younger expressions.
Furthermore, they often command higher prices and are perceived as superior. But Paul clarifies that, “old isn't always the gold standard when it comes to whiskey. Over-aged whiskeys can sometimes take on too much oak influence, resulting in an intense flavor profile that people may not like. So, if a person is new to whiskey, they might want to indulge in younger expressions before trying out older ones.”
Choosing a good whiskey involves understanding several factors, including the whiskey's age, ingredients, proof, flavor profile, color, and more. But choosing the best whiskey for you will come down to your what taste right to you. The factors that influence the taste and quality of a whiskey will be examined in Part 3. He speaks of the South as if he was born there. He sure talks like he’s from the South. Especially when it comes to his favorite subject: whiskey. Not “moonshine,” mind you, though there’s some of that in his study of the fine art of distillery. But Paul, affectionately called the Whiskey Guy by his friends in Apple Valley’s writers club, was actually born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
South Albuquerque? I wondered. Maybe? No! “My father,” he explains, “was a Marine. My mom, at that time, had no job. She was just pregnant. And she joined him in New Mexico. [But] he’s from West Virginia and my mom’s from North Carolina. They met at the Marine base at Cherry Point. That’s where I grew up.” So, by way of his DNA, Paul is kind of from the South. He certainly has enough cousins and kinfolk down there for Ancestry.com to prove it.
He smiles too. A lot. That’s kind of a Southern thing. You smile even when it hurts. That’s being polite. “Six weeks after I was born, [we] took a road trip from back. My mom’s father. . . (what we people up North call a grandfather) . . . came out and picked us up. We drove back through Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, a short trip into Mexico, and then back through Louisiana and Arkansas into North Carolina.” I was hesitant to ask what road map his grandfather used to plan the trip back to where he’d live for the next 16 years, up until 1976.
“[That’s] when my mom and dad divorced. My mom, [being a government employee] was stationed overseas, in La Maddalena, Sardinia. There was a big Navy sub-tender there. She started out as a GS-3 and worked her way up to GS-7.
“There was no high school, “ he recalls. “So, we were put up in a dormitory in Zaragoza, Spain. That was the only dormitory that was around at that time. And we had a big mix of everybody. Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines [and kids from different countries].
“But [I remember in] my first year in Sardinia in 1976, we had just finished the bicentennial. And so I remember getting into the hotel, I was so jet lagged, I slept literally almost a whole day. My mom took me to the base support center where she worked at, and we took a liberty boat over to where the ship was. The reason was to introduce me to the base exchange and the commissary which was literally a double-wide train. The exchange was about the same size. You had arrows on the floor that said, "Go in this direction." You couldn’t turn back because you had 50 people behind you.”
He laughs. “I remember very clearly, my mom’s first team assistant, a lady named Rosa who used to a stewardess with Alitalia. Absolutely stunningly gorgeous, statuesque lady, and incredibly personable, she treated me like a little brother the entire time. And one day, [she] introduced me to Italian wine, which was absolutely fantastic. Great with a meal. My mom has a picture of me sipping wine and Rosa giving me tips on how to sip it properly.
Suddenly fearful of where this story was going, I blurted out, “So, you became a wino?” No! Wrong again. But the introduction to wine was the precursor to bar hopping as a teenager. “In those days, the Spanish didn’t have an age restriction on beer. So we’d go down and get a few beers, a few sandwiches and—BOOM!— we were good to go.”
But as far as an avid interest in the distilling processes of whiskey, he had snuck a few sips of bourbon and just love the taste after he got used to the taste of the alcohol. And then, without knowing its effect on her soon, his mother made candies with bourbon in them, so that flavor was always there. He literally liked everything. and as a young boy, would taste stuff. He wasn’t picky, He was, in fact, scientific. He tried to analyze the taste.
“I always liked kind of figuring [things] out,” he explains. “All right, what’s in this? What’s making this good and what’s not? How is this different? My grandfather was a cook, and had been a cook during the Depression. He was a very good cook, and I picked up really some excellent flavors
from that. I kind of learned how to discern what I liked, what I didn’t like . . . and why? Every time I was eating it, I wasn’t just wolfing it down, but I was actually thinking about what I was tasting.
“So when I got to Spain and Italy, it was like, wow, a whole different region of flavors, whole different influences, and I was amazed. Like the way they prepare shrimp in the shell, with the eyes and the antenna and everything else, and I ate it, and it was actually quite good. And then I saw their liquor. They had grappa in Italy. I didn’t know what the hell grappa was, but it was a liquor, a brandy, technically. And so I got curious about it, but I couldn’t drink it there, so I waited until I got to Spain. I fell in love with the liqueurs, but among them was the whiskeys.
“I tried Johnny Walker, and loved it, and then Bushmills. Back in those day, it was the only distillery in Ireland. Had those little red derby hats that were on top. Love that. I thought, ‘Holy cow, this is fantastic.’ And then I tried to drink rum sometime after that, but I didn’t like it. So, I went back to whisky.”
Paul was so fascinated by taste of whiskey, he started reading about how it is made. The distillation and fermenting, and how it was matured. “When I graduated high school, I went to the University of Maryland in Munich and started working concerts. There, I’d talk to British and Irish and Scottish roadies, which helped me get stagehand work when I came back to the States. This was in pre-computer days, so I had to go to the library and read whatever I could find. And then some years later, I discovered single malt whiskey and it lit my fire. Literally. I was just like, "Wow, what the hell is this?"
“It was so tasty. I mean, I drank it straight. I did not feel anything other than the flavors and the aroma. And one of the guys there sort of took me under his wing a little bit, because after we got back, we would meet up here and there. He had a huge collection, and each time we’d meet, he’ try something new with me. So we would expand on single malts. He’s the one who kind of got into the details with me about distillation. How whiskey is made.”
His friend was a chemical engineer who understood why they use the stills the way they do. Why they do the fermentation, how that works. So that’s when they started sampling whiskey together and talk about what kind of barrel finishes are used and how to identify them. So what kind of wood was used, all that kind of stuff, which would take hours and hours and hours. And to this day, I threw out all of my crude stuff. And that’s when I seriously began my studies of what makes different whiskeys different.”
Prelude to the Semiquincentennnial of Our Nation
By John Beyer
BIG DOINGS ARE ON THE WAY to prepare for our Nation’s Capital Semiquincentennial in 2026. It seems like only yesterday when Franklin turned to me and whispered that he hoped we could hold onto our republic.
“Ben,” I said. “Of course it will last.”
And I was correct. On July 4th, 2026, this great experiment that is our country will turn 250, and prove the old naysayers wrong.
I was recently contacted by Kyle Deckelbaum, Senior Manager for Domestic Media Relations from the non-profit group Destination D.C. He had complimented a story I had written about spending the 4th of July in our nation’s capital in 2023 for USA Today Network.
I like it when people compliment my writing - it does not happen often.
“John,” Kyle wrote to me. “D.C. is pulling out all the stops for the fourth in 2026. You’ve got to come and see what is planned.”
Don’t ask me twice to visit Washington, D.C. It is a wonderful destination for history
buffs, library buffs, food buffs, pub buffs, and just buffs. And there is a chance to catch a sight of one of our hard-working representatives languishing on the steps of Congress, trying to figure out what more they can do to make life better for their constituents.
That last comment may have been a bit of tongue-in-cheek. My part-time job is writing fictional novels and short stories.
I asked Laureen, my lovely wife, if she was interested in visiting . . . Actually, I never got the full question out.
“Of course, we should visit Washington D.C. this Fourth of July,” she replied to my not-quite-asked question.
How do wives do that?
Turns out that the city is already gearing up for the spectacular extravaganza for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
I was being invited to preview these
Laureen pointing to one exhibit for Route 66 at the National Museum of American History as seen in July 2023
United States Capital as seen in July 2023
exciting things that are going to take place within the streets of Washington, D.C., for the semiquincentennial. One year out, no problem, takes a bit of time to get articles in the queue for publishing, and I considered this as simply a scouting mission to inform my readers what will be in store if they plan
on visiting D.C. to honor our wonderful country.
And what a history this nation has had over the past 250 years. Sure, not a perfect country, but one that I believe learns from its mistakes and moves forward for a better tomorrow for all of its citizens.
George Washington, the reluctant 1st President of the United States, said; The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.
President Washington was pointing out that to be an American was not just a moniker to hang around one’s neck, but to truly honor the fact that America was not a dream but a reality to be held on to tightly. He knew firsthand the sacrifices during those war years from the beginning in 1775 until the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 with the British Empire.
Our nation was a concept that had never truly been experimented on in such a manner and at such a great cost for those
sailing into uncertain waters.
To take up arms against the strongest military force on Earth at that time, Great Britain, was not for the faint of heart.
John Adams, a founding Father and the 2nd President of the newly formed United States, once said; Posterity! You will never know how much it costs the present generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it.
This route to freedom that our founding fathers and mothers fought for should never be underestimated.
Freedom comes at a great emotional and physical cost - just ask a Vet.
So, without wasting a moment, I booked flights, hotels, and a cruise along the Potomac to visit Mount Vernon (I wanted to see if it had changed much since the last time George and I had talked), and I was quite proud of myself.
“I think the last night we’re there, you should take me to the VUE Restaurant on top of the Washington Hotel. As a celebration.”
“Celebration?”
Laureen nodded. “We won’t be there for the two hundred and fiftieth year's birthday, but we’ll be looking forward to it next year.” I looked up the establishment. I would be celebrating if my American Express held out that evening.
So, we hit the ground running at the Ontario International Airport on June 30th, for our latest adventure back to Washington D.C. to learn what all the hubbub Kyle had been discussing concerning the fanfare for our country's monumental birthday on July 4th, 2026.
Knowing Kyle, I’m sure the city built on a swamp had plenty up its sleeves to ensure no one would forget this special birthday party.
And it was my job to investigate, interview, visit, and report back.
The 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon as seen in July 2023
The Cliff House
By John Wease
Qfamous road in the world passes through several of our High Desert communities. I am referring of course to the iconic Route 66. U, S. Highway 66 was one of the first of the numbered highways commissioned on November 11, 1926. With the centennial next year, it is getting even more attention. Decommissioned in 1985, the now “Historic Route 66” is more popular than ever. Tourists, many from all over the world, travel the eighty-five percent of the road still drivable.
The purpose of the numbered highway system was never about getting anywhere fast. The highways connected rural areas
commerce. As most of the route went through the towns’ Main Street, it soon picked up the nickname “Main Street of America.” U.S. 66, most commonly referred to as Route 66, ran from Chicago to Los Angeles. In 1936, it was extended to Santa Monica.
The numbered highways incorporated existing roads, From Las Vegas, New Mexico to Los Angeles it followed the western part of the 1912 National Old Trails Highway, also known as the “Ocean to Ocean Highway” that ran from Maryland to California. The desert sections followed the Santa Fe Railway tracks. The steam trains of that era had to stop to take on
water and generally small communities developed at those water stops. With luck, early automobile travelers could find basic services there.
Imagine traveling across the California desert in 1930. If you were driving a Model A Ford, you could drive twenty miles faster than the old Model T that made owning a car possible for the middle class. Whether the road would allow sixty miles per hour is questionable. Imagine it is summer and the only air conditioning available was to roll down the windows and drive faster. Picture driving across the vast expanse and arriving at what must have seemed like an absolute oasis, the Cliff House in Newberry.
The Cliff House was an early day traveler’s center. Built by Holly Douglas in 1929, it had gasoline, a café, post office, and general store. Travelers could spend the night in one of several cabins. In the 1930s a swimming pool was built to cool down travelers and locals as well. The ninety feet by thirty feet pool was fed by
an artesian well. Until the mid-nineteen fifties, the only telephone in the valley was located at the Cliff House. And, if your old car couldn’t make it farther, the Cliff House was a flag stop location for both Greyhound
Veterans discount
and Continental Trailways buses.
The Cliff House was named for its location at the base of Newberry Mountain. The rocky hill provided shade and wind protection. Ownership changed several times over the years. When I moved to Newberry Springs in 1979, the main building was called Newberry Market. The cabins behind were rental apartments. Several are still standing. Two appear to have been moved together. One side of the pool was washed out over the years. On the west side of the building in the early 1980s there were picnic tables and shade. And for entertainment, there was a pen with peacocks.
Newberry Market closed after the gas stations with mini markets opened at each of the Newberry Springs freeway exits. This was a common occurrence when the interstates were built. Commerce moved from main streets to the offramp areas. For a number of years, Deel Plumbing used the main building as a convenient place to buy plumbing and other hardware as well as feed. The Deel sign is still out front, but
the building is now unoccupied. The remains of the once important Cliff House can be seen at 44544 National Trails Highway in Newberry Springs. Look for the Deel sign. The Cliff House is across the street and southwest from the Barn Route 66.
Don’t miss out...events are fillin’ up!
Friends of the Apple Valley Library
14901 Dale Evans Parkway Apple Valley, CA 92307
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Speaker: Officer Jeb Wheeler, California Highway Patrol
Topic: Driver Safety Tips
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Used Book Sale at the Apple Valley Library 9AM - 3PM Cash & Zelle accepted.
Widows or Widowers of the Hight Desert
Location: TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL 16138 Molino Ave Victorville
WOW rents the room and our policy is "No Religion and No Politics"
July 02 3:00 PM: Happy Hour at La Casita Restaurant 12170 Spring Valley Parkway Victorville
July 05 9:00 AM: Happy Birthday USA, Line dancing, and Members July birthdays celebrated
July 12 9:00 AM: Tracy Stevens will provide information on heart attacks
July 19 10:00 AM: Breakfast at Denny's Restaurant on Main St in Hesperia near Hwy 15
July 26 9:00 AM: Game and Bingo day!
SWIM July Speakers
July 3 Pot Luck - No Speaker
July 10 Flight of the Lucky Lady II - Jim Grayson
July 17 Legacy Planning/Reverse Mortgage - Mike Johnson
July 24 Is CA Falling in the Ocean? - Norman Meek
July 31 Eastern Sierras - Barbara Betterley
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
Piñon Hills Chamber of Commerce
Networking during Chamber meetings, events and online - Be a guest speaker and stand in the spotlight!
Join and Share your Ideas & Goals at a Membership Luncheon on the 3rd Tuesday of each month Where? – The Rodeo Café – 593 Hwy 138 – Piñon Hills - 11am to 1pm
Sign up to Showcase your business products or Services at Summerfest When? First Saturday each June - ALL day Event
Got Talent? – Sign-up for the Annual Art Show – When? 1st Saturday of each October during Phelan Phamily Phun Days. Where? Downtown Phelan.
More Information – reach us at 760-868-7191 or email us: info@pinonhillschamber.info
Laundry Love
THE CONCEPT IS SIMPLE: clean clothes make people feel good. And that’s what Laundry Love is about: making people feel good.
The program, started in 2003 by Greg Russinger of Portland, OR, is about helping people who are struggling financially. People abandoned to the streets like veterans or low-income or no-income persons and families that in today’s economy, cannot make the ends meet. Rents soar, food costs spiral, and utilities spike. In this environment, even the cost of washing clothes is a challenge, if not an impossible burden.
What Laundry Love does is partner with local laundromats and pays for such people to wash and dry up to six loads of laundry the fourth Thursday of every month. According to the non-profit’s website, Laundry Love is inclusive and the laundromats become a safe place where “ . . . the worth of every human being is acknowledged and celebrated.”
Every month, across our country, Laundry
Love makes this happen for thousands of people. In Apple Valley, it is sponsored by the Saint Timothy Episcopal Church and conducted at the Sudsy Laundromat off Apple Valley Road, where Frank’s Barbershop is and where the DiNapoli’s Restaurant used to be. According to Larry Fon, the owner of the laundromat and A Plus Computer, the program gives “. . . people dignity by donating what they need.”
Larry smiles when he repeats when this service to the public is provided. “Laundry Love,” he says, ”happens on the fourth Thursday of every month, between fourthirty and six-thirty. We give homeless veterans and single moms all they need, from dryer sheets to laundry detergent.
Victorville Senior Citizens Club
14874 S. Mojave St. Victorville CA 92395 760-245-5018
ALL EVENTS OPEN TO PUBLIC BINGO
2nd & 4 Saturday of the Month
July 12 & July 26
BUY IN $25, Payout up to $200 Doors open @ 10am / play @ 11am
Inland Counties Legal Service: Wednesday July 16, By appointment only 800-977-4257 / 951-368-2551
Hoe down: July 17 @ 12pm $10 Advance or $15 at Door
Bid Whist: August 30 @ 12:30am
Health & Resource Fair: September 16, 2025
Hall Rental Available: Call for more Information
Exercise: Monday-Thursday 10am-11am
Line Dance: Monday & Thursday 11:15am-1:30pm
Soul Line Dance: Monday & Wednesday 9:15am
Bid Whist: Thursday 11am-2pm
Pinochle: Friday 10am-3pm
By J.P.Garner
They can wash and dry up to six loads.”
Then, with some reflection in his voice, he adds, “We’ve been doing this for seven years.“
Doing laundry doesn’t sound like much, does it? That washing clothes, drying clothes, and folding clothes could not only make people with less feel better about themselves, but give them a measure of the dignity that, however small, we with much take for granted.
Growing up in Oklahoma, I had an aunt who, when it was time for me to shower before going to bed, would remind me that “cleanliness is next to Godliness.”
I was a kid so I didn’t think long or hard on matters of theology prior to a shower. I just thought being clean felt good. And that is exactly what Laundry Love does for a lot of our neighbors: it makes them feel good.
Urgent Care vs ER
When you’re sick or hurt, knowing where to go can save time and stress Urgent care is ideal for non-lifethreatening issues like minor injuries, fevers, earaches, or infections These clinics offer walk-in access, shorter wait times, and lower costs compared to the ER.
Emergency rooms are for serious or life-threatening situations like chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke symptoms, or severe injuries. If in doubt and symptoms are severe, always head to the ER or call 911
Still unsure? Call our 24/7 Nurse Hotline. A registered nurse can help assess your symptoms and guide you to the right level of care It’s a safe, quick way to get peace of mind anytime, day or night.
Road, #600 Victorville, CA
24/7 NURSE HOTLINE 760.946.5888
Open 7 Days a Week 8:00am to 7:30pm cmgUrgentCare com
