Dispatch: Week of December 14
Holstege concedes in tight District 47 Assembly race and Yucca Valley approves Black Bear Diner proposal
Hello from California’s high desert, which has cooled significantly and already seen an early dusting of snow and morning frost. Reminder to bring your pets indoors in the evenings during the winter.
Onto this week’s news:
In local news:
Democrat Christy Holstege conceded to Republican Greg Wallis in the ultra-tight race for State Assembly District 47. Wallis won by just 85 votes and there will not be a recount.
The Yucca Valley Planning Commission approved the Black Bear Diner project and is waiting for sign and color change applications, Z107.7 reports.
The report also states that Chipotle has been slow to respond to the Commission’s requests and has until January before the project is considered abandoned.
The Onaga Trail Pedestrian Improvement Project broke ground this week. The project includes adding sidewalks with ramps and gutters to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Chris Shiflett, the Foo Fighters lead guitarist, is playing AWE Bar in Yucca Valley on Friday, December 16. You can still purchase tickets to the show here.
Joshua Tree National Park and the Twenty Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians will sign a stewardship agreement to involve the tribe in the park’s management and development, beginning with a new trail connection, park officials announced.
Set Free Wonder Valley is hosting a toy giveaway on Sunday December 18th, at 10 a.m. To register, please call Pastor Nick or church staff at 760-361-1339 with your children’s names and ages by December 17th.
In state news:
The recent set of storms that swept through the state caused a rockfall on Route 120 near the entrance of Yosemite National Park. The road will remain closed for several days while the damage is cleared.
COVID cases are again on the rise across the state, along with instances of the flu and RSV. Officials are urging folks to wear masks when in public indoor spaces.
In other news:
The World Cup final match is set between Argentina and France. Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to advance, and France beat Morocco 2-0. The final match is on Sunday, December 18, at 7 a.m. PT.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of cryptocurrency company FTX, was arrested and charged with counts of fraud earlier this week.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law at a White House ceremony that codified the right to same-sex marriage in the U.S.
Pupdate of the week: I’ll give you one guess as to which dog refused to come inside while it was snowing earlier this week and which refused to go outside.
Trail tip of the week: If you’re hitting the trails during this crisp temperatures, be sure to layer appropriately with a non-cotton base layer (top and bottom!), a snug-fitting fleece, and water resistant outer layers. I also add a disposable heat pack like Hot Hands to my boots to keep my toes warm.
Show of the week: I mentioned The White Lotus when it premiered a few weeks ago, but I am back post-finale to remind you that this might be one of the best shows on television to date. The second season follows a group of well-to-do tourists at a high-end resort in Sicily and, as one friend put it to avoid spoilers, “chaos ensues.” It is a tour-de-force of writing, acting, and beautiful camerawork and I will be rooting for it in every awards show coming up. If nothing else, the title cards and opening music is worth a watch alone.
This is my last edition of the year. Thank you all for reading, I am truly grateful that I get to help spread the news in this corner of the world on a weekly basis for a great set of neighbors. I hope you have a great holiday season and a fantastic New Year. See you in 2023!
- Megan