Dispatch: Week of June 19
Hi-Desert Pride event round-up, plus Happy Juneteenth
Hello from California’s high desert, and Happy Juneteenth. The Basin has had a smokey week thanks to fires in Hesperia, Palm Springs, and Los Angeles County. More fires in New Mexico erupted on Tuesday, which could further affect air quality if winds pick up.
In case you missed it: I couldn’t get George Packer’s story out of my head, which looked at the current issues facing Phoenix and what it means for the rest of the country. So I wrote about what we lose when we give in to doomerism for last week’s essay. You can read it here.
And now, onto this week’s news:
In local news:
Hi-Desert Pride kicks off this weekend in celebration of Pride Month. Here’s a round-up of events, activities, and everything else you need to know for this weekend:
Protect the California Desert is hosting An Adventure in Chuckwalla: Queens in the Desert, a road-trip-style tour through the proposed monument for LGBTQ+ folks and allies this Friday, June 21, from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Admission is free but RSVPs are encouraged for event planning purposes.
The Desert Split Open is celebrating Pride with a full day of programming from local artists, writers, and an open mic opportunity at Beatnik Lounge in Joshua Tree starting at 12 p.m. Admission is free.
Tiny Pony is hosting an adults-only pride celebration with Jell-O wrestling and Jell-O shots on Saturday, June 22, starting at 6 p.m. The afterparty will feature DJ Dewalt.
Copper Mountain College is hosting an LGBTQIA+ lunch and learn event on Wednesday, June 26, at 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided, and interested parties can RSVP through the steps outlined here.
Desert Chrome Dance is hosting a Pole x Pride fundraiser next Saturday, June 29, from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. The class will be donation based, and all donations will benefit the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert.
Brewja Elixir is hosting a Pride-themed craft fair this Saturday, June 22, starting at 1 p.m. in downtown Joshua Tree.
Speaking of Pride events, Desert Bingo raised at least $1,540 for the ACLU at its Pride-themed event on Monday at Red Dog Saloon. The local fundraiser has officially raised more than $50,000 for non-profits since its inception.
A portion of proceeds raised at all June events will be donated to the ACLU for Pride Month, so the officially tally will be released at the end of the month.
Admission fees at Joshua Tree National Park are waived today in honor of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the official end of slavery in the United States.
A 10-month-old Doberman puppy named Onyx was reunited with his owner Christian Corona after being lost two days in Joshua Tree National Park after running off from a campground in the park.
Two hikers were rescued via helicopter last week from the Ladder Canyon Trail in Mecca after running out of water during their hike.
Fire restrictions officially went into effect on Saturday, June 15, for Joshua Tree National Park and surrounding areas. The full fire ban is in place due to increased fire risks, and will remain in place until October 1.
The ban includes all wood and charcoal fires and smoking within 10 feet of vegetation. Fireworks are always banned in national parks.
The Town of Yucca Valley officially broke ground on its Beautification and Sustainability Project on Monday at Elk Drive between Twentynine Palms Highway and Yucca Trail.
The initial phase of project construction will focus on a paved parking area with electric vehicle chargers, public restrooms, shaded areas, and a public art installation.
San Marino Drive between Santa Barbara Drive and Joshua Lane in Yucca Valley will be closed from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on July 2 and again on July 16 for road repairs.
Some good news for the week! Those last few wet winters have been a boon for Joshua trees’ growth, a reassuring sign after years of fires and declining health among the tree population due to drought.
In state news:
At least six major fires are burning across the state as wildfire season gets into full swing early this year. Officials have expressed concern over all the extra plant growth from two wet winters coupled with recent heat events that have dried the plants out, creating a surplus of fuel for wildfires.
The California Labor Commissioner’s Office fined Amazon for putting warehouse workers’ safety at risk due to unreasonable work quotas at warehouses in Redlands and Moreno Valley.
The California State Fair in Sacramento will allow legal cannabis sales and consumption on-site at the fairgrounds in July.
In other news:
Justin Timberlake was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Long Island early Tuesday morning. The arresting officer was so young that he didn’t recognize the pop star, to the horror of millennials everywhere.
The Boston Celtics won their 18th championship after defeating the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 on Monday.
Daniel Radcliffe, best known for portraying Harry Potter in the film series, won his first Tony Award on Sunday for his role in the revival of Steven Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, and I have to recommend watching his acceptance speech.
Pupdate of the week: Alice doesn’t always have the best instincts, but she does know that rolling in the dirt helps keep her black fur from overheating in the summer months. While I’m happy for her, I’m less happy for the layer of dust now coating the entire house.
Trail tip of the week: ‘Tis the season for sun protection! A reminder that sunscreen is a must even when you’re not on the trail on any exposed skin. A hat and sunglasses are great ways to protect yourself, and I personally love a sun hoodie for easy coverage that I don’t have to reapply every few hours.
Read of the week: I absolutely devoured To the Gorge, Emily Halnon’s debut memoir, over the course of two days, it was that good. Halnon chronicles her journey running the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail, a whopping 460 miles, in the wake of her mother’s death due to cancer. It’s a powerful piece of writing that works through Halnon’s grief, and the respite and celebration running provided her even in her darkest moments. As a runner, I found it incredibly emotional and inspiring, not to mention it left me in awe of the community she gathered to pull off the feat, which ultimately became the overall fastest known time for that portion of the trail for men and women.
Watch of the week: I am eagerly awaiting next week’s premier of season three of The Bear, so in its absence I have been watching the latest season of Masterchef, one of my tried and true reality television obsessions. This season pits members of different generations against each other, and my money is firmly on the Gen X folks to take home the prize.
That’s it for this week! I hope you are staying safe and getting outside when you can.
- Megan