Dispatch: Week of August 7
Joshua Tree braces for Perseids meteor chasers, plus a doggy doppelgänger
Hello from California’s high desert. It’s hot, it’s muggy, it’s August.
In case you missed it: Speaking of hot and muggy, last week I wrote a bit about monsoon season, something I hadn’t really experienced until I moved to the desert. Since then, it’s become one of my favorite seasons, for reasons I outlined in last weekend’s essay. You can read it here.
And now, onto this week’s news:
In local news:
Coachella Valley residents, particularly in low-income areas near Salton Sea, face significant health risks from rising dust pollution, exacerbating asthma and respiratory issues, a new study found.
Yucca Valley Town Council Member Rick Denison was selected to serve as the vice president of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority for through 2025. Denison was previously the chair of the county’s transportation committee.
As noted in previous editions of The Dispatch, this weekend is the expected peak of the Perseids meteor shower, and Joshua Tree National Park officials are bracing for an anticipated spike in visitors hoping to see the celestial event from the park. For locals, this might be a good weekend to hunker down or go for a hike in some of our well-kept hidden gem spots to avoid the crowds.
Whitewater Preserve is hosting a star party hosted by the San Bernardino Valley Amateur Astronomers on Saturday, August 10, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Registration for the free event is required.
In other national park news, Joshua Tree National Park officials have added an audio-only park guide for sight-impaired visitors. The audio guide is available via the UniDescription App for iPhones and Android devices.
Last week’s boil water notice was cancelled on Saturday for roughly 400 Pioneertown residents who rely on metered water. The system had tested positive for harmful bacteria, though county officials say the risk has been addressed.
All San Bernardino County library locations are now fee-free, meaning they will not collect late fees for any rented materials, save for DVDs. All existing late fees are forgiven.
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission hosted a public hearing Tuesday regarding Family Dollar’s application to sell beer and wine at its store.
The Twentynine Palms Farmers Market at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center will be closed for the rest of the summer. Its location in Twentynine Palms will continue to operate on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Stray Ceramics is hosting a ceramics workshop at Grnd Sqrl this Sunday, August 11, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Attendees will make “alien artifacts” from clay during the workshop, but it is open to all ages and skill levels.
Tickets are $35 per person before tax and can be purchased here.
The Yucca Valley Animal Shelter is hosting its annual Summer Adoption Event with discounted adoption fees of just $20 for cat adoptions and $40 for dog adoptions. The shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.
In state news:
The Park Fire in northern California has grown to become the fourth largest wildfire in state history, with more growth expected this week due to hot and dry conditions.
Officials are investigating the circumstances that led to the start of the Edgehill Fire in San Bernardino on Monday. The fire is currently 75% contained but forced residents to evacuate quickly on Monday afternoon.
Seven restaurants across the state received one of the highest honors in the culinary world on Tuesday: a Michelin star. In total, roughly 85 restaurants across the state have at least one Michelin star, though 577 are mentioned in the Michelin guide, including several restaurants in Palm Springs.
In other news:
Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 Presidential election. Here’s a good primer on what Walz has accomplished while in politics to date, and what he stands to bring to the Harris-Walz ticket.
It was a big weekend at the Olympics. Some highlights include:
Team USA Women’s Gymnastics took home the team gold. Simone Biles took the individual gold in the all-around competition and the vault, as well as the silver in the floor competition. She was beaten by Brazilian gymnast Rebecca Andrade for the gold in floor.
Sha’Carri Richardson made her much-anticipated Olympics debut in the 100 meter sprint. She secured the silver medal after failing to catch St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred in the short sprint. Alfred won St. Lucia’s first Olympic medal ever.
Noah Lyles, another much-anticipated runner for the U.S., won gold in the 100 meter men’s race by a fraction of a fraction of a second in what might have been the closest race in the modern games.
Katie Ledecky has cemented her standing as one of the winningest Olympic athletes of all time with nine total gold medals since she competed in her first Olympic games. She won gold in the 1500 meter and 800 meter freestyle races.
Pupdate of the week: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ newly selected running mate, has a dog that could have been Alice’s twin. Alice has 12 brothers and sisters, so I had to investigate when Scout Walz was adopted, in the very off chance that they’re related. Sadly, they are not, but we love to see a black pit bull rescue dog in the political spotlight!
Trail tip of the week: I hike by myself fairly regularly, and I’ve honed a system to make sure other folks know where I am, where I plan to go, and when to expect me back to ensure they are as comfortable as I am with my solo endeavors. On bigger trips I take a satellite device, but on smaller trips I will send a link to the trail head or drop a pin on Google Maps just so my people don’t panic when I don’t answer their texts right away. It’s a small thing, but I’ve found it’s a great way to put myself and my friends at ease.
Read of the week: I am devouring — pun very much intended — Zoë Schlanger’s book The Light Eaters, which looks at the history of botany and what we know about plants at a time when the scientific field is going through a tumultuous revolution regarding whether or not plants think, feel, and achieve consciousness. It’s equal parts educational, radical, and spiritual — what is consciousness, really? — that revives my interest in plant biology and the study of them.
Watch of the week: The Olympics marathon races are this weekend, so you know I will be tuning in and cheering my heart out for all the runners at an ungodly hour. This week is also the sport climbing competition for men and women, so if I’m not watching running, that is where I will be.
That’s it for this week! I hope you are staying cool, dry, and safe, even if you’re spending lots of time outside.
- Megan