Dispatch: Week of February 5
"Desert Trivia Night" fundraiser, plus a surprise squatter in Altadena
Hello from California’s high desert, where winter didn’t last very long.
In case you missed it: I decided to run the California Riding and Hiking Trail a few weeks ago. Like any big endeavor, I wrote about how I ended up on the 37-mile trail and the kindness and support that took me over the finish line. You can read it here.
Onto this week’s news:
In local news:
This is an excellent write-up on the local affects of the Trump administration’s proposed spending freeze from the Office of Budget and Management, which has been largely put on hold from multiple judges but is still trickling down to agencies. You can read the Desert Trumpet’s synopsis here.
Local businesses negotiated with SCE over planned power outages to avoid ongoing closures, though it is unclear how long the maintenance projects can be delayed.
The Mojave Desert Land Trust discovered a $325,000 embezzlement scheme during its annual audit, the conservation group said. It alleges the funds were stolen from the non-profit organization in 2022, and the suspect is no longer working with the organization.
Spaghetti Western is hosting “Desert Trivia Night” as part of the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve’s annual fundraiser on Sunday, February 16, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Trivia tickets will be $10.
Local groups are hosting a clean-up event at the Johnson Valley Painted Rocks off of Ghost Road on Saturday, February 22, beginning at 10 a.m.
Participants are asked to email Michelle at jv247@gmail.com or text 714-329-2027 for more information.
Community members are encouraged to attend a neighborhood discussion and project updates meeting for proposed glamping site Ofland Resort on Wednesday, February 5, at 6 p.m. Please email saynotoofland@gmail.com for the meeting’s location.
Salvation Mountain is hosting a work party on Saturday, February 8, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event includes a pizza lunch and stories of the Mountain’s founder, Leonard, in an effort to preserve his legacy in the area.
The Joshua Tree Retreat Center is hosting a fundraiser for those affected by the LA wildfires on Monday, February 17, from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. The Helping Hands Festival will feature live performances, a silent auction, and more. Those interested in performing, donating, or helping out can email bonykev@gmail.com.
In state news:
Roughly 2.2 billion gallons of water have been drained from California reservoirs due to a Trump administration order to “turn the water on” in parts of the state following the wildfires in Los Angeles. One of the affected dams flows into a river that does not travel to Southern California, and the water’s release elsewhere threatened to flood several communities.
State Farm is looking to raise homeowners’ insurance policy rates by 22% across the state due to the pay-outs associated with January’s fires in Los Angeles. The rate hike will have to be approved by the California Department of Insurance before it goes into effect.
A 525-pound bear was found living under an evacuated home in Altadena, a surprise the homeowners discovered after they returned to the area following the Eaton Fire. The bear was too large to be tranquilized, and had to be lured out of the home’s crawl space to be relocated.
In other news:
The Kansas City Chiefs will face the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s Super Bowl game. Kick off is at 3:30 p.m. PT, and the game will air on Fox.
Kendrick Lamar will perform at half-time with special guest SZA fresh off his Grammy win for “Not Like Us.”
Speaking of the Grammy’s, Beyoncé finally took home the coveted Album of the Year award for Cowboy Carter. She also won Country Album of the Year after being snubbed at other industry awards.
Elon Musk is systematically dismantling the federal government, trigging a Constitutional crisis.
Pupdate of the week: The vet told me that Oliver is the only dog she’s ever met that actually enjoys taking the oral vaccine for bordetella, and I feel that interaction explains him quite well. Allie made a new friend this weekend, once she was able to burn off her excitement at having visitors.
Trail tip of the week: Crews are beginning construction on the long-planned West Entrance expansion project this week in Joshua Tree National Park. The construction will affect trails nearby, many of which have been closed off for the safety of hikers and for construction crew access. Be sure to check the status of the trails in the area before heading out.
Read of the week: I will admit this is not exactly an optimistic read, but I always enjoy a deeply human, incredibly reported story about major fires. Enjoy is maybe not the right word — appreciate, maybe? I find them instrumental to understanding what we are up against in these battles and the longer war of the climate crisis, as you see how everyday folks handle decision-making, crisis management, and the grief that comes with losing everything. Abe Streep’s story for New York Magazine is no exception — it is gripping, emotional, and so deeply human that it proves hard to look away. If that isn’t enough, there is a bonus mention of Meryl Street that is worth the price of admission alone.
Watch of the week: If you weren’t able to tune into the Grammy’s live, I highly recommend a rewatch. The performances were all impeccable — many of the artists featured were on tour last year, and you can tell — and some very well-deserved artists were finally recognized. Unlike many other awards shows, I can confidently say that I felt the Recording Academy got it right this year.
That’s it for this week! I hope you enjoy another lovely weekend, and let’s hope for a little rain while you’re outside.
- Megan