Dispatch: Week of October 12
HWY 62 Art Tours' second weekend and California Fish and Game Commission postpones Joshua trees' fate
Hello from California’s high desert, where it seems monsoon season did not adhere to its eviction notice. Lightning, thunder, and a good amount of hail were sighted in southern Yucca Valley Wednesday afternoon and Joshua Tree got some measurable rainfall Tuesday. At least temperatures are low enough that the humidity does not feel nearly as bad as a month ago.
With that, onto this week’s news.
In local news:
Thank you to everyone who wrote in last week about the HWY 62 Art Tours! The Dispatch — aka me — was traveling while writing last week’s edition and wasn’t able to include everything. Luckily, the tours are still live this weekend and next, so we have a chance to make it up!
This year’s Tour features 192 artists at 134 studios throughout the high desert. You can pick up the tour guide from most local businesses or download the app for Android or iPhone if that’s your preference.
Though most opening celebrations have passed, there are incredible exhibitions all around town from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
I will be out visiting studios this weekend, and I hope to see you around!
The California Fish and Game Commission declined finalize a decision on whether to list the western Joshua tree on California’s threatened species list at a 9 a.m. meeting today and instead postponed the decision to February 2023.
The 86th annual Pioneer Days Parade starts at 10:00 a.m. Saturday in Twentynine Palms, per Z107.7.
The route starts on State Route 62 at Split Rock going East to Adobe Road and then north on Adobe to Sun Valley Drive. Z107.7’s Gary Daigneault and Cody Joseph are this year’s announcers and will be in front of the Freedom Plaza near the start of the route.
An accident analysis by Riverside Mountain Rescue found an old, degraded fixed sling around a tree broke as Gavin Escobar was on rappel, causing he and Chelsea Walsh to fall several hundred feet to the base of Tahquitz Rock on September 28.
Roughly a dozen residences on Quail Springs Road near Joshua Tree National Park’s west entrance had no water Tuesday after a construction crew damaged a water line.
Water was restored around 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, roughly two hours after the leak occurred.
The Morongo Unified School District has implemented a closed-door policy after schools in the area faced violent threats in recent weeks.
Doors at all campuses will remain closed and locked for the duration of the school day.
Harrison House Music, Arts & Ecology is hosting a solo concert from Kennedy Verrett, “In the House that Lou Built,” at 8 p.m. on Saturday at 6881 Mt. Lassen Ave. in Joshua Tree. Those interested in attending can reserve tickets here.
San Bernardino County Health is offering a free all-day class on mental health first aid from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Thursday (October 20) at the Joshua Tree Community Center at 6171 Sunburst. Lunch will be provided. More information and RSVP details here.
Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino will be providing USDA surplus food from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday (October 17) at the Joshua Tree Community Center at 6171 Sunburst Ave.
In state news:
The state’s tomato, onion, and garlic crops is expected to fall far short of demand this season due to ongoing water restrictions amid the drought.
Registered voters have started to receive mail-in ballots last week for the upcoming midterm elections next month. The Los Angeles Times has compiled a helpful voters’ guide for statewide races here.
In other news:
The MLB playoffs kicked off last week with some exciting Wild Card games. The playoffs continue this week with the Los Angeles Dodgers facing the San Diego Padres at 5:37 p.m.
We’re rooting for the Braves in my household and we’re not sorry about it. They are facing the Philadelphia Phillies in their round but lost the opener on Tuesday afternoon.
Angela Lansbury, the iconic actress best known for “Murder, She Wrote” and “Beauty and the Beast,” died on Tuesday. She was 96.
Pupdate of the week: I don’t think words can accurately reflect how much Alice loves the rain, which is funny because she otherwise very much does not enjoy being wet or in water. Oliver, on the other hand, is getting his last bouts of sunbathing in before the weather really turns.
Trail tip of the week: Now that camping season is behind us, make sure you are storing your summer gear properly to prolong its life and minimize waste. Hang sleeping bags outside their stuff sack with a clothes hanger, unpack and lay out your tent, tarps, and other rolled up gear, and generally let everything air out over the winter.
Show of the week: Iliza Shlesinger, a Los Angeles-based comedian, has a new special out Tuesday on Netflix called “Hot Forever” that is on my short list this week. Shlesinger is an incredibly clever comedian that brings light and humor to some of life’s more frustrating aspects — her last special focused on some of the sillier rituals and expectations for women who are getting married. As with most comedy specials, recommended viewing is 16 years old or above.
That’s it for this week! I hope you have a great weekend with plenty of chances to get outside.
- Megan
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