HDLIVING LOCAL DINING | LOCAL MUSIC | EVENT CALENDAR | HD HEALTH | WINE TRENDS
YOUR PREMIER HIGH DESERT LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
THE GYM:
SPRING/SUMMER 2019
OMAR ALFARO
Changing the A Different Kind of Workout
Real Estate Game in the HD
PLUS
Motocross in the HD • Awake Juice Bar PLUS SugarRush • Magician Jonathan Molo THE NEWBakery MUSTANG BULLITT
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V I C T O R V I L L E • S P R I N G VA L L E Y L A K E • A P P L E VA L L E Y • H E S P E R I A • O A K H I L L S
D
r. Ravi Patel is ready to serve you or your loved one as the High Desert’s first and
only highly skilled, fellowship trained Endovascular
NeuroInterventional
Surgery specialist. Dr. Ravi Patel is also the High Desert’s only fellowship trained Vascular (Stroke Specialist) Neurologist. In addition, Dr. Patel practices General Neurology and is a Diplomate of American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Having
served
as
a
general
neurologist to the High Desert community
from
his
Apple
Valley office, Dr. Ravi Patel is ready to offer the latest treatments for Endovascular NeuroInterventional surgery. With Dr. Ravi Patel, you are at the forefront of his concern, and you can rely on his specialized skill set and tremendous knowledge to help you to better health. The High Desert is also no stranger to Dr. Patel. Dr. Patel graduated
from
Victor
Valley High School at the top of his class. He was so determined to study medicine that he left his home and family in Apple Valley to begin his advanced medical studies in Hungary. Upon completion of his medical school, Dr. Patel joined reputed State University of New York
NIVA INSTITUTE OF NEUR OSCIENCES Where Hope Meets Care
15963 Quantico Road, Ste C Apple Valley, CA 92307
High Desert’s First and Only Neurologist with Fellowship trained super specialty of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SUNY Upstate), where he completed his internship
In his role as clinician, Dr.
in Internal Medicine, residency training in Neurology
Patel provides in-patient and
Specialty and sub-specialty training in Vascular (Stroke)
out-patient
Neurology. In addition, he completed mini-fellowship
in
in Neurosonology at Wake Forest School of Medicine,
services,
North Carolina.
General
consultations
NeuroInterventional in
addition
and
to
Vascular
(Stroke) Neurology at all During training, Dr. Patel met Dr. Veena Patel (his wife)
local
hospitals
– also a neurologist.
After her neurology specialty
Desert. In addition, he is
training, together they re-located from New York to
also affiliated with medical
Victorville, which Dr. Ravi Patel calls his hometown.
center
Dr. Ravi Patel and his wife opened up their neurology
California,
specialty clinic, which they together named Niva
NeuroInterventional
Institute of Neurosciences. For many years now, Niva
Surgery,
Institute of Neurosciences has been serving thousands
many intra and extracranial
of patients suffering with neurological diseases.
vascular
at
of
High
University
of
Irvine.
In
he
focuses
procedures.
on In
addition,
he
performs
After four years of private practice, Dr. Patel recognized
minimal
spine
the unmet need of NeuroInterventional surgery services
procedures to aid acute pain
in the High Desert. Understanding the urgent need, Dr.
related to spinal fractures or
Ravi Patel took it upon himself to leave family behind
spine metastasis related to
and acquire advanced skills in NeuroInterventional
cancer.
related
Surgery specialty. Dr. Ravi Patel’s goal is to
Dr. Ravi Patel also has master’s in business administration (MBA) – Healthcare Management. Dr. Patel has achieved the highly regarded designation of Certified Physician Executive (CPE) by the Certifying Commission of Medical Management. Dr. Patel has been awarded the direct Fellowship of American Heart Association (FAHA) and Fellowship of American College of Physicians (FACP). Dr. Patel is also an active member of highly regarded societies such as American Academy of Neurology (AAN), Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN), and Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS).
Dr. Patel joined Super-Specialty Fellowship training
work together with local
with esteemed Neurosurgical Department at University
hospitals of the High Desert in order to serve the
of California, Irvine, working among the most elite
community with the most advanced, evidence-based
Neurosurgeons
surgeons
treatments and stroke guidelines (as published in
in the state of California. Dr. Patel’s dream is to
January 2018), especially with regard to the rapidly
bring specialized services and treatments closer to
changing landscape in Acute Stroke Therapy and many
home for many who are unable to access specialized
other Neurovascular diseases.
and
NeuroInterventional
NeuroInterventional services.
Phone: 760-242-4810 Fax: 760-242-4760
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SPRING/SUMMER 2019
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High Desert Living magazine 5
HDLIVING H.D. Living Magazine Volume 9, Issue 2, Spring/Summer 2019 PUBLISHER/CEO Frank A. Castillo frankc@hdlivingmagazine.com MARKETING/CFO Tiffany Santee tiffanys@hdlivingmagazine.com COPY EDITOR Elisa Urmston editor@hdlivingmagazine.com DESIGN and LAYOUT Everard Strong www.behance.net/whizbangstudios ADVERTISING DESIGN Chris Ackerman | Signify Designs CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Elisa Urmston, Susan Landers, Stephanie Morris, Daniel Hayes, Dr. Brad Hannon, Isabelle Rubio PHOTOGRAPHERS Celia Santee, Frank A. Castillo, Daniel Hayes ADVERTISING SALES (760) 241-8475 sales@hdlivingmagazine.com EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING INQUIRIES H.D. LIVING MAGAZINE INC. 6630 SVL Box Victorville, CA 92395 (760) 241-8475 www.hdlivingmagazine.com editor@hdlivingmagazine.com HD Living Magazine is a quarterly magazine published by HDLM, Inc.
2019 HD Living Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from this publisher. Photographs, graphics, and artwork are the property of HD Living magazine. HD Living magazine assumes no responsibility or liability for claims made by advertisers contained herein. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine or its owners. HD Living is not responsible for typographical errors or omissions. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Subscriptions are $9.95 per year domestically only. To subscribe, please mail payment to address above, or subscribe online at HDlivingmagazine.com.
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SPRING/SUMMER 2019
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High Desert Living magazine 7
TABLE OF CONTENTS SPRING/SUMMER 2019
26 • THE GYM
28 • DONOVAN HOMES 30 • MOTOCROSS MADNESS
DEPARTMENTS 10 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 15 UPFRONT
Magician Jonathan Molo, Born Country band, Local hero deputy Meagan Forsberg, Victor Valley Protective League, Calendar of Events
17 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Martin Mav Plumbing
21 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 22 HEALTH MATTERS
The curve of your spine
32 LOCAL SWEET SPOT
34
Sugar Rush Bakery
33 HAPPENINGS
San Bernadino County fair.
34 HEALTH BAR SPOTLIGHT
Awake Juice & Superfood bar
36 DINING GUIDE 40 WINE TRENDS
Sipping wine again, naturally
42 SUSAN’S CORNER Choose to offer others kindness and understanding
FOLLOW US ONLINE
8 High Desert Living magazine
SPRING/SUMMER 2019
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High Desert Living magazine 9
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
BRINGIN’ THE HEAT TO THE HD
T
he heat is on! If the last few weeks or so are any indication, then the upcoming summer is going to be a scorcher. As the dry heat of the California Mojave desert rises, the outdoor barbecues, swim parties, and long evenings with our beautiful clear skies become the memories that are made each summer in the HD. Of course, the summer heat means most have been working on their beach bodies, but it’s never too late in the year to get started as our cover story tells you why going to THE GYM is your best bet at attaining your fitness goals. In part two of our three part series on local action sports we bring you the local moto x scene along with a few of the local riders and their stories. In our UpFront we bring you the magic of local magician Jonathan Molo who is making a name for himself not only in the HD but nationally. There’s also our spotlight on Deputy Meagan Forsberg, who was featured on ABC news, when her attempt to brighten a young boy’s life went viral on the social media platform Instagram. Deputy Forsberg’s act of kindness is more of what we need in the HD and the world. Frank Castillo, Publisher & CEO frankc@hdlivingmagazine.com
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SPRING/SUMMER 2019
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SPRING/SUMMER 2019
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High Desert Living magazine 13
14 High Desert Living magazine 16 High Desert Living magazine
SPRING/SUMMER 2019 SUMMER/FALL 2018
The Gin Blossoms
“
ON A MAGICAL MISSION
H
ow did he do that?” is a question HD native Jonathan Molo probably hears a lot. As a young boy, Molo was inspired by David Copperfield’s television spectacle when Copperfield seemed to make the Statue of Liberty disappear. Now, Molo is the one hoping to inspire others with his magic. As a member of the world-famous Magic Castle, he performs for crowds big and small throughout the HD and beyond. A Victor Valley High grad, Molo left the HD for a number of years but returned to raise his three boys near their grandparents. Working full-time at Ft. Irwin like his father before him, Molo thinks often about his boys, the future, and doing his part to leave the world a better place once he is gone. One way that he is doing his part to better
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the world is by using magic to entertain children of all ages. Making kids smile is a big motivation for Jonathan Molo. Embarking on a six-city tour, Molo is also performing with world-class magicians, musical acts, and others at a variety show October 5th at Victor Valley College’s Performing Arts Center. The show will benefit the American Cancer Society’s High Desert chapter. For more information about tickets, check VVC’s PAC website. — By Susan Landers
MAGICIAN JONATHAN MOLO www.jonathanmolo.com
High Desert Living magazine 15
ARTS & CULTURE
Catching Up with Kevin O’Neal Photography by Chuck Dean
W
e are truly fortunate to have so many talented musicians and bands here in the High Desert, and a perennial favorite, Born Country: “The Alabama Experience,” is one of the most fun groups around. According to drummer Kevin O’Neal, their tribute show is packed with nothing but the hits in a beautiful tribute to the most legendary country band of all time, Alabama. Since the formation of Born Country in 2017, they have created a lot of buzz in the tribute band industry, since most tribute bands are covering mostly rock artists from the 70s and 80s, such as Aerosmith or Journey, or solo artists, such as Elvis or Johnny Cash. Born Country breaks out of those boundaries, featuring top-notch live musicianship and four-part harmonies in a high-energy show that covers a wide variety of musical styles, from classic rock to classic country, and their show is one you won’t forget any time soon. Featuring Joe Eiffert on lead guitar and vocals, Teeci Clark on vocals, rhythm guitar, and flute, Michael Cappetta on vocals, bass and harmonica, Tim Forsythe on Piano, keys, fiddle, sax and flute, and of course, O’Neal on vocals and drums, the band is in the studio now, working on a new album that will be released this fall as a followup to their successful remake of the old Joe South song, “Games People Play,” which is available on Apple iTunes, Amazon,
16 High Desert Living magazine
the Google Music Store, and all your favorite apps right now so you can download it to your computer, phone or tablet and support local live local music. While the band is playing a lot of local venues—most notably Cadillac Ranch, Los Domingos, and Wyatt’s in Big Bear, they are currently in tentative negotiations with Popeye’s Chicken and the Waffle House for sponsorships, and are in the early stages of putting together a few out-ofstate tours. They will be playing the California State Fair in October, as well. O’Neal reminds me that they also have a smaller, acoustic version of the band called BC3PO. What does that stand for, you ask? A robot from Star Wars? O’Neal laughs and says it stands for “3” members instead of five, so Born Country 3.0, get it? They play lots of fun acoustic country, rock, Southern rock, and blues, with three-part harmonies. In this version of the band, he plays guitar instead of drums—a very fun and different sound, to be sure. By Elisa Urmston
BORN COUNTRY On Facebook and http://borncountrytribute.com
SPRING/SUMMER 2019
HD LOCAL PERSONALITY
Photo by Daniel Hayes
Local Hero
M
eagan Forsberg is a deputy sheriff for the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, assigned to the Victorville City Station. Officer Forsberg has been a deputy sheriff for almost three years, and has been assigned to the Victorville City Sheriff’s Station for two years, where she works as a school resource officer for the Victor Elementary School District, assisting in any child abuse cases, safety and security of the campus and the students, as well as assisting with any school functions they may need. About a month ago, a man emailed Officer Forsberg, and told her this wonderful story of his 14 year old autistic son, Kenny. Kenny and his father live in New York, and Kenny is a huge law enforcement supporter and patch collector. Kenny did not have any patches from California, so his dad asked if Officer Forsberg would send him a patch from her department. Moved by his request, she reached out through her
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Instagram and Facebook accounts, as she has many friends all over the nation in different agencies and roles. Within the past month, Officer Forsberg has gathered over 300 patches from all over the globe— Switzerland, The British Royal Air Force, our own military branches, DEA, FBI, The White House, as well as many state and local law enforcement agencies. She continues to receive approximately 3-6 packages of patches and memorabilia everyday for Kenny. Officer Forsberg says she is so thankful to have met this family and believes law enforcement can use all of the positivity and support they can get! This story shows the positive side of the internet and social media, and how people can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Lets all try to emulate Officer Forsberg’s kindness and make a positive difference in the world.
High Desert Living magazine 17
HD LOCAL BUSINESS
MAV plumbing
F
rom its humble beginning, MAV Plumbing has become a special addition to the high desert community. After immigrating to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 17, the founder, Jose Martin Diaz, worked as a plumber for about twenty years in Los Angeles. During these years, he developed his skills in plumbing and professionalism. In 2000, he began his own company under the name of MAV Plumbing. After much growth and success, in 2013, Jose Martin Diaz made his son, Martin Diaz, the president to continue the family legacy. For Martin, MAV PLumbing had always been a part of his life as he had been involved with the company for as long as he could remember. Since Martin Diaz gratefully accepted his position six years ago, he is happy to report that they recently attained a new, big client. Their business just continues to grow, making a once-small business even bigger and more successful. There are a lot of characteristics that make MAV Plumbing as special as it is. For one, the company’s family values and involvement inspire Martin Diaz, along with others, to push himself and continually make MAV Plumbing better. Indeed, Diaz believes that the fact that the company has been in his family for so long creates a certain level of pride that drives him in his work. In addition to being a booming family business, MAV Plumbing values its relationships with its customers above all else. While other companies may focus on recruiting more clients, MAV Plumbing focuses on and builds the relationships they already have. Because of this commitment, Diaz notices that the clients they have worked with before are more likely to start more projects with them based off of the trust and quality that MAV Plumbing has provided on previous projects. Moreover, they are improving their relationships with their clients every year and can happily brag that they have never had a problem with a client that couldn’t be resolved. Obviously, as a company that is driven by family and highly values its relationships, MAV Plumbing is a great part of the High Desert community and has much to offer. In terms of what MAV Plumbing can provide for the High Desert, Diaz is ecstatic for the upcoming growth and development of the company. According to Diaz, even though MAV Plumbing is currently based out of Apple Valley, 95% of their work is actually done outside of the town. Because of this, Martin Diaz was excited to announce that they will be beginning more work in town. Their first commercial project in Apple Valley is a Chase bank that will be located on the corner of Bear Valley Rd. and Apple Valley Rd. This project is very exciting for MAV Plumbing as Diaz believes that the High Desert has so much potential for developing and he would like to be involved in its growth. MAV Plumbing is a unique company that caters to its current clients and is driven by family values; they will continue to make our High Desert a better place as they continue to grow together. — By Isabelle Rubio
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HD LOCAL PERSONALITY
Furbaby Photographer Extraordinaire
S
usanne Roy is the Social Media and Rescue Coordinator at VVAPL Humane Society here in Apple Valley. She first caught the attention of the community because of her wonderful photos of dogs in need of adoption at VVAPL Humane Society that she posts on social media. How I wish I could take them all in! She is doing important work because the main stumbling block, I think, to going to the shelter to adopt a pet is the fear that going there, you won’t have any idea what you might find. The photos Roy posts are remarkable in that she really captures the personalities of her four-legged subjects. VVAPL’s mission is to provide and maintain a safe, clean and humane environment for unwanted animals in the Victor Valley communities. They are not funded or controlled by any government or national welfare organization. Their programs and low-cost services are funded through donations, fundraising events, grants, endowments, and service fees. Roy first started there as a volunteer in 2015, and was officially hired in February of 2018 as the Social Media and Community Outreach Coordinator, and now, in her new role as Social Media and Rescue Coordinator, she works with several rescues to place dogs in need, including two rescue organizations in Canada, where she sent four small-breed dogs last week, and three more this week. Once they get there, she notes, they get adopted very quickly. Roy tells us her favorite part of the job is seeing dogs get a second chance at life. Her favorite story is that of a bonded pair of older schnauzers, whose beloved owner had passed away. They were picked up by a a rescue group in Canada
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called Thank Dog I’m Out, but never made it to Canada, because they were adopted by a woman in Bel Air and are now living the good life in a mansion. The best news is they got to stay together. Roy calls them the Princes of Bel Air. I asked Roy what her secret is to getting such great photos of the dogs and cats. She said she takes the photos on her iPhone, and takes many photos, and bribes them with treats, and then hopes at least one shot is good. Roy would like to remind us to please spay and neuter our pets, and to remember that with July 4th around the corner, it will be their busy season. Remember to microchip your pets, so that if they get lost, they stand a better chance of being reunited with you. VVAPL provides this service Tuesday thru Saturday. Just come in during normal business hours; no appointment is necessary. The regular price is $20, but sometimes they have specials where the cost is only $10. The staff is always willing to go above and beyond to help as many animals as possible. Susanne Roy suggests everyone to volunteer if at all possible, even coming to walk the dogs is a great help. Finally, Roy reminds us, there are many wonderful furry friends waiting for us to adopt them at VVAPL. — By Elisa Urmston
VVAPL HUMANE SOCIETY 21779 Zuni Road, Apple Valley (760) 247-2102 Facebook: @vvapl.humanesociety
High Desert Living magazine 19
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SPRING/SUMMER 2019
HD UPCOMING EVENTS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS JULY 26-4 YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU www.vcu.edu/offices/performing_art/events You Can’t Take It With You is a madcap, idealistic comedy that reinforces the idea that you can only live one life to the fullest by doing whatever makes you happy.
JULY 11-28 SISTER ACT • Creative Arts Theater 15615 8th St., Victorville • www.creativeartstheater.com When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in creative custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent, Deloris brings new life into the church and community.
JULY 11, 18, AND 25 TOWN OF APPLE VALLEY SUNSET CONCERT SERIES Civic Center Ampitheater • 14999 Dale Evans Parkway, Apple Valley www.applevalley.org/services/public-information/special-events Dance the night away to live entertainment at the concert series voted “Best in the High Desert,” by Daily Press readers 4 years in a row! Bring your blanket or chair for lawn seating. Food vendors and beer garden.
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EVENT SPOTLIGHT Fourth Annual High Desert Book Festival The High Desert Book Festival returns with their fourth annual celebration of all things literary! The festival takes place on October 12 at the lovely Hesperia Civic Plaza Park. Located at 15833 Smoke Tree Street in Hesperia, the park offers winding paths and green spaces to enjoy the many writers, artists, and other exhibitors who cater to both veteran and budding bibliophiles. Speakers will include T. Faye Griffin who has written for Steve Harvey and was a member of the writing staff for the TV show In Living Color. Featuring a children’s pavilion, the festival is family friendly and will feature a poetry tent and an “artists’ village,” as well as food venders. Come celebrate all things literary; buy books and meet the authors. For the full schedule of events or for information about becoming a vendor, see the High Desert Book Festival’s website http://highdesertbookfestival.org — Susan Landers
High Desert Living magazine 21
HD HEALTH MATTERS
All About the Curve
S
orry baseball fans this is not the curve you are likely thinking about. I am talking about the curve of your neck. The spine is made up of 24 moveable vertebra bones, while the neck specifically is made up of 7 cervical vertebra, surrounding, and protecting, the brain stem, spinal nerves, and spinal cord. If you were to look at babies when they are in the womb from the side, their spine is shaped like the letter “C”, think the fetal position, which we call kyphosis. Our head is at the top end of the kyphosis curve, while our pelvis is at the bottom. After birth we learn to lift our head and this begins to completely reverse the neck part of the kyphosis curve into what we call a lordosis (at this point our spine shape would be similar to that of a mirror image of a “S” from the side profile). Later as we begin to walk we reverse the lower back part of the spine into a lumbar lordosis, similar to that of the cervical
22 High Desert Living magazine
lordosis; the mid back, or thoracic spine, will however maintain some amount of the original kyphosis curve. Being that spinal curvature is formed early during childhood there is a critical window of opportunity to develop these healthy curves; giving opportunity to not properly developing these curves and possibilities of a life time of challenges as a result. As for adults, our job is to support and maintain the health of these curves in our spine. Proper spinal curvatures gives us flexibility, mobility, force or shock absorption, weight distribution, reduced disc pressure, and structural support. Abnormal loss of cervical lordotic curve, otherwise know as straightening, cervical spine kyphosis, military neck, cervical hypolordosis, reversal of cervical curve or straight neck is associated with degenerative changes in the muscles, ligaments, discs, and bones of the cervical spine which in turn will cause an effect on the nervous system.
What is the most common causes of loss of curve in the neck? Hands down poor posture and whiplash are the most common. Other possible causes of the loss of curve in the neck could be degenerative changes, osteoporosis, birth defects, car accidents, slip and falls, sports injuries, head injuries, poor sleeping habits, poor ergonomics, poor posture, and text neck. Did you know the average human head weights about 12 pounds? That is about the weight of a bowling ball! As we loose curve in the neck the head starts to move forward on the shoulders. Understand that for every inch of forward head posture, this increases work load on the surrounding soft tissues, due to leverage, by an average of 10 pounds. This is why poor posture is such a huge problem. Think about all those hours spent hunched over looking down at your Smartphone or tablet, driving while slouched, etc. Want to test this out? Get a 10 pound weight, bag, or bowling ball and first hold it with both hands near your chest. It’s not to bad right? Now hold the weight out in front of your chest a few inches, and then at arms length, feel the difference? More work isn’t it. Now you understand one reason why that drive can make you so stiff and sore in your neck and shoulders, or how after writing that paper on the computer your neck and shoulders feel so fatigued. What are the most common symptoms with loss of neck curve? Neck pain1, neck stiffness, arm pain, lack of concentration, headaches, nerve pain, radiating pain numbness or weakness into arms, fatigue, back pain, dizziness2, poor posture, reduced range of motion, disc injuries, pinched nerves, increased injuries during a car crash if you had loss of cervical curvature prior to the crash3, thoracic outlet syndrome, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, reduced range of motion in the neck, shoulder pain, reduced range of motion in the shoulders, difficulty eating or breathing, upper back pain, and more.
SPRING/SUMMER 2019
HD HEALTH MATTERS
What can you do to support, and/ or restore the curvature of your neck? In this situation it is best to employ the expertise of a trained healthcare professional to guide you through the process; like a chiropractor or physical therapist. First of all, loss of neck curve is generally diagnosed from radiographs, or x-rays, of the neck. Neck curve can be supported, maintained, and restored but it takes effort and time. You will need to asses, and correct, your movement patterns and ergonomics of your everyday life; including driving position, reading position, workstation ergonomics, sleeping position, standing position, cooking positions, cleaning positions, etc. You will need exercises, stretching, foam rolling, cervical spine manipulation and mobilization, possibly a cervical orthotic devise, and likely cervical spine traction. It takes a complete regimen to restore and maintain the cervical curve, but
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it is worth it. Appreciate that much like an orthodontist with correcting the alignment of teeth using external fixation like braces, this takes time to first correct and then requires effort to maintain and support, much like what an orthodontist would refer to as a retainer. So don’t take your curve for granted and get out there and correct, support, and maintain your curve. Catch you next time in the next issue of HD Living.
REFERENCES 1. Does improvement towards a normal cervical sagittal configuration aid in the management of cervical myofascial pain syndrome: a 1- year randomized controlled trial. Ibrahim M. Moustafa, Aliaa A. Diab, Fatma Hegazy and Deed E. Harrison. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 201819:396. 2.The effect of normalizing the sagittal cervical configuration on dizziness, neck pain, and cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility: A 1-year randomized controlled study. European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine 53(1) · August 2016. DOI: 10.23736/S19739087.16.04179-4 3. Stemper et al. Journal of Biomechanics 2005:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/15863116
DR. HANNON Graduated from the Southern California University of Health Sciences’ Doctor of Chiropractic program. Dr. Hannon dedicates his time to his passion of health, exercise, and nutrition.
High Desert Living magazine 23
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Life is motion. Keep moving toward your goals with HUB. When you partner with us, you’re at the center of a vast network of experts dedicated to advising you on how to prepare for the unexpected with: Business Insurance and Risk Services to help protect your organization, brand and assets Employee Benefits that help you navigate change, and support and engage your people Personal Insurance to help you protect your family, your home and more Let’s protect what matters most to you. hubinternational.com Mike Nutter - Insurance Broker | Risk Management Consultant Direct: (760) 221-6156 Email: mike.nutter@hubinternational.com
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Apple Valley’s pro-business leadership, concierge staff, and streamlined entitlement process have cultivated a competitive alternative to the rising costs of the Inland Empire’s industrial market. Companies and their employees are attracted to Apple Valley by the low cost of business and living, available land for both commercial and residential development, an eager workforce, and quality housing. Beautiful parks and sports fields, amphitheater and aquatics facility, and the region’s most extensive trails system combine with safer neighborhoods, distinguished schools and leading health care services to help cultivate “A Better Way of Life.”
Contac t Us Town of Apple Valley
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Economic Development: (760) 240-7915
SelectAppleValley.com
select@applevalley.org
High Desert Living magazine 25
GET FIT!
I
f you are looking for a gym experience that will deliver measurable results with a caring, motivational, passionate staff, look no further than The Gym, right here in Victorville. Locally owned by HD locals instead of some faceless corporation, The Gym has become an international destination, and when you stop in for a visit, you will see for yourself why they are so special. From the lighting to the music to the friendly, welcoming staff, it becomes clear right away you are in for a terrific, fun experience—one that will keep you wanting to come back and not just meet your fitness goals, but to crush them, because your fitness is their passion. The Gym is specially designed for the 9-5er, the factory worker, the first responder, the struggling student, the single parent working two jobs—the program was designed to help us find strength in numbers, because through teamwork, people are able to able to achieve things that once seemed impossible. Through this program, we begin to have a deeper understanding of ourselves. You aren’t just joining a gym, you are joining a team of individuals who are committed to leading strong, fit, and healthy lifestyles and want the same for you. Many of the staff members have been with the organization from the start, and Vice President Jacob Lewis said the patrons form such strong bonds with them that it is not unusual for them to see gifts of flowers and cards every week. Jacob points out that he seeks out employees who have a desire to empower their community, because that is something that cannot be taught. Other gyms have tried to copy their recipe for success, but the secret ingredient is that they strive to create an experience that cannot be replicated. The staff is remarkable, and the atmosphere is top-notch—they were branded Best in the United States for
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Photos this spread by Daniel Hayes
design and style, and have earned the Daily Press’ Best of the High Desert for seven years in a row now. Jacob explained that they offer everything from traditional weight training—with the largest free-weight selection in the High Desert— as well as state-of-theart treadmills and ellipticals, aerobics, cycling, and Status Cycling and yoga, so you can focus on whichever form of fitness is your jam. Jacob points out they also have fabulous amenities, such as the only full nutrition shop in any gym in California, saunas and steam rooms that are in the locker rooms, so they are not co-ed, tanning beds, and personal trainers. They even feature live music for certain events! Come
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visit them at their flagship location in Victorville at 14689 Valley Center Drive, or their other location at 17260 Bear Valley Road. Traveling? No worries, They have locations in Vista, La Quinta, and a world-famous landmark location in San Diego, which is a mecca for famous body builders, actors, and bikini models. So fun! So if you’re looking for a gym where you will get measurable results while working with a passionate caring team in a venue whose ambiance is thoughtfully designed to cater to your sense of aesthetics as well as your fitness needs, don’t let another year go by—meet us at The Gym. — By Elisa Urmston
THE GYM http://the-gym.com VICTORVILLE • 14689 Valley Center Dr. • 17260 Bear Valley Rd. C102 LA QUINTA • 46760 Commerce Ct. SAN DIEGO • 2949 Garnet Ave. VISTA • 2128 Thibodo Ct
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Donovan Homes
D
onovan Damron is an innovator in the High Desert home building market. He first founded Donovan Development in 2010, remodeling and reselling foreclosed homes in the area, carefully honing his design skills, knowing eventually the market would turn around, and he could pursue his passion of designing new homes from the ground up, which he indeed began to do in 2016. Over this relatively short time, Donovan Homes has built a reputation for crafting lovely homes and guiding buyers through the process to make it stress-free and easy. One of the things Damron—Donnie to his friends— started to do early on was travel the West for inspiration. He studied a variety of mid-century architecture styles from Arizona to Palm Springs because of their obvious adaptations to hot, arid weather, but he also drew inspiration from the homes in the Pacific Northwest, where they experience colder weather like we do here. The result is a happy hybridization
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with nods to craftsman style, featuring metal or tile roofs, the sturdy plaster walls of classic desert homes and stone accents—his home designs are elegant, modern, and livable.
Damron is quick to credit his team and speaks fondly of his loyal office manager of six years, Lea Ann Ogden, who has twenty years of office experience; his superintendent, Ely
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Jones, who built over 500 homes in the HD before joining forces; and his talented designer, Todd Dondlinger who knows how to magically make Damron’s vision a reality—after all, he has built everything from cost-effective homes to Malibu mansions over the last 30 years. He also feels he would be remiss not to mention his real estate broker, Karen Walker of High Desert Home Source, his
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in-house sales manager Laura Berry, and his field assistant, Tyler Jessen. Damron believes that the most important task in any business is to build a team of knowledgeable folks with a ton of experience and wisdom, and he knows that he has accomplished that. Lately, Donovan Homes is adding something new to their repertoire— small homes! Damron started by
building gorgeous, large homes, but kept hearing the lament from firsttime buyers that while they loved them, they were unable to afford them. He responded by taking the best things about his big homes—the quality, style, touches of luxury and open floor plans, and incorporating them into smaller, more cost-effective homes. Another thing Donovan Homes does that separates them from the competition is their willingness to build a custom home to a specific lot—taking into account the way the view, sun angles and desert wind will affect the homeowner’s experience. Damron invites you to visit their website, donovanhomeshd.com, to see the different floor plans, designs, and styles they offer, as well as homes and available lots that are already for sale right now. There, you can also meet him and his talented staff and see for yourself how easy it can be to live in one of these beautiful homes. — By Elisa Urmston
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All photos this spread by Daniel Hayes
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Moto Madness
High Desert Action Sports—Motocross
T
he High Desert of Southern California is full of life and action—to be more specific, action sports— and over the course of the next few issues of H D Living, we will take a look at three different extreme sports that are thriving here in the High Desert, starting with one that has been steadily gaining in popularity over the past decade or so, motocross. Southern California has long been known as the birthplace of extreme action sports, and the High Desert is no stranger to many of them. Given its climate, geology and relative openness, the High Desert is the perfect place to participate in motocross. With the many trails in the open desert and the local mountains, along with multiple race tracks in the area, riders have many options on where and when to ride. To learn more about the local MX scene, we asked a few local riders from the High Desert about the sport, and what got them started, and here is what they said: Josh Staggs (#18) started out the same way a lot of people did, riding BMX. He had always had an interest in motocross, but it wasn’t until his teens that he actually started riding motocross. Josh believes that motocross is a great sport that the entire family can enjoy together along with friends, even with the inherent dangers associated with the sport. His favorite track is Sunrise/Milestone MX park in Adelanto, which after the closing of Competitive Edge MX park in Hesperia off of the 395, is the only true local motocross track left in the immediate area. Another local rider, Shawn Callahan (#916), grew up around motorcycles. Shawn’s grandpa, father and uncles all rode motorcycles, which sparked his interest in the sport at an early age. like Josh, Shawn believes the most positive aspect of the motocross scene in the High Desert is the friendships that he has forged over the years, which seems to be a common theme. Chris Thompson (#121), moved to the High Desert in the early 90’s and started racing motocross shortly thereafter. His father, Steve Thompson, raced motocross in the late 70’s, sparking the interest of his son to follow in his motocross footsteps. Since the closure of Competitive Edge, Chris’s favorite track is LACR in Palmdale, Ca, about 40 minutes from Victorville. Chris believes as well that the local motocross scene is one that can be enjoyed by the entire family, and the motocross community is very close-knit, adding to the positive friendships in the local scene. Something these riders all have in common is the sense of freedom they experience when riding their two-wheeled
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machines, whether motorized, or in many of their cases, nonmotorized mountain bikes. Being outside, pushing their minds, bodies and machines to the edge, is definitely a fun way to stay in shape. If you or anyone you know is interested in getting started in motocross, reach out to a local rider — they would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have as well as point you in the right direction.
SUNRISE MX PARK 1011 Race Rd., Adelanto, CA ridesunrisemx.com LOS ANGELES COUNTY RACEWAY MOTOCROSS (LACR MX) 7010 E Ave., Palmdale, CA lacrmx.net
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HD SWEET TREAT
Photos by Brittany Panik
Edible Art
C
ake artist Cristina Gavilruta of Sugar Rush Bakery is a one-woman show, creating possibly the most beautiful cakes in the HD. Always learning new techniques, her work is the stuff of Instagram foodie dreams. Unicorns, favorite cartoon characters, and romantic, modern floral wedding cakes are all in her impressive, extensive repertoire, and it seems there is nothing she can’t create. At this point, Cristina says this is a “busy hobby,” but she intends to take this passion and turn it into a full-blown business soon. Gavilruta says she moved here back in 2007 from Orange County, and was only planning on staying here a year or two before moving back to OC, but then the desert worked its charm on her, her three kids started school, and she met some wonderful friends, and that is actually how she started baking—
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a friend had made a birthday cake for her daughter and wanted all of them to have fun decorating it, so they did. However, when they went to eat it, the cake was awful—the store-bought fondant tasted like plastic, she recalls. After some laughs, Gavilruta decided to see if she could make something that tasted better, and before she knew it, she was a word-of mouth sensation, with friends asking her to make her artistic cakes for all of their life events, which gave her a friendly test market. Another friend made a Facebook page for her, and eight years later, she’s still practicing her art and loving it. The biggest reward, she says, is putting everything together and seeing the final product—it never fails to amaze her. You’ll be amazed, too! – By Elisa Urmston
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HAPPENINGS
Photos by Daniel Hayes
San Bernadino County Fair T
his year’s San Bernardino County Fair featured P.O.D. as the concert series headliner along with all the family fun activities including games, rides and of course fair food.
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TIME TO FEEL AWAKE!
T
he old adage of “we are what we eat” remains as true today as when it was first uttered, and what we put into our bodies is more important than ever. With pesticides on crops and hormones in animal products, our very food has become suspect. With this in mind, a trip to Awake Superfoods and Juice Bar in Apple Valley may be just what your body needs. Looking and feeling our best begins on the inside, and what we ingest is vital to our well-being. Whether a 3-day juice cleanse to detox is in order or a healthy and quick meal or snack is what you need, Awake supplies what your body craves. It can feel impossible to get all of the whole foods, fruits, and vegetables our bodies need daily, but juicing is a delicious way to help with that. Our busy lifestyles often mean that we sacrifice health for convenience, but a trip to Awake offers you healthful choices to go. Salads, juice blends, smoothies, and snacks made fresh means there is no excuse for not treating your body right. Everyone is on their own health path, and whether you’re just venturing into organic and whole foods or you’ve been a vegan or vegetarian for many years, at Awake, you will find juice blends, smoothies, and ready-made foods plus friendly, helpful people who will assist you on your journey. Stop by to see them today. Check out their website, or find them on Facebook! — Susan Landers
AWAKE JUICE & SUPERFOOD BAR 18855 Bear Valley Rd suite 4, Apple Valley (760) 247-8444 www.awakejuicebar.com
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DINING GUIDE
HD DINING GUIDE The following is a listing of select High Desert Restaurants. These listings are a free service provided by H.D. Living Magazine and are subject to change. This guide also includes wine tasting venues. If you would like your dining establishment considered, send information to frankc@ hdlivingmagazine.com, include your name, the name of the establishment, address, and contact information. Carino’s 11970 Amargosa Rd, (760) 949-2248
Off the Grid Brewing Company 13615 John Glen Rd., (760) 247-5600
Giuseppe’s Restaurant 14309 Bear Valley Rd, (760) 949-5400
Mama Carpino’s 22010 Highway 18 (760) 240-9664
El Pescador Seafood & Mexican Grill 14144 Green Tree Blvd, (760) 245-4860
Marcelinos Mexican Restaurant 21510 Bear Valley Rd, (760) 240-4344
Poncho Villas Fresh Grill & Tequila 11620 Amargosa Rd. (760) 981-1958 Mariscos El Chaka 12174 Hesperia Rd. (760) 513-0005
DOWN HOME GRILL
Victorville
Down Home Grill 12120 Ridgecrest Rd. #101 (760)241-4663 Thai Dawn Bistro 14317 Bear Valley Rd Ste 2 (760) 244-7600 Republic SVL 13261 Spring Valley Pkwy, (760) 596-3971 Paulina’s Mexican Grill 14845 Monarch Blvd, (760) 955-2661 Tokyo Steak 14317 Bear Valley Rd. Ste 2, (760) 956-6888 Yoshi Sushi 14177 Kentwood Blvd, (760) 241-1960 Chateau Chang Restaurant 15425 Anacapa Rd, (760) 241-3040 Steer ‘n Stein Restaurant 12224 Mariposa Rd, (760) 241-0775 D’Vine Wine Bar 14845 Monarch Blvd. suite C, (760) 843-3888 La Casita Mexican Restaurant
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14977 Palmdale Rd, (760) 241-0119 La Casita at the Lake 12170 Spring Valley Pkwy, (760) 843-0440 The Corner Café 15683 Roy Rogers Dr., (760) 900-6676 Poncho’s Salvadorian Restaurant 16427 Victor Street, (760) 843-3336 Golden Gate Restaurant 15208 Bear Valley Rd # B, (760) 245-6189 Tokyo Sushi & BBQ 14741 7th St #A, (760) 955-7123 Marie Callenders 12180 Mariposa Rd, (760) 241-6973
Miguel’s Baja Grill 14480 7th St. (760) 241-3838 BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse 11600 Amargosa Rd, (442) 600-2840
Apple Valley
Di Napoli’s Fire House 17856 US Highway 18, (760) 242-5802 The Wine Seller Apple Bear Center, (760) 961-2500 Las Brisas 21919 CA-18 (760) 240-1051 Mega Tom’s Restaurant 20781 Bear Valley Rd., (760) 240-9022
Outback Steakhouse 12400 Amargosa Rd # B, (760) 962-1003
Los Domingos Mexican Restaurant 17790 Wika Rd. (760) 946-5344
Mimi’s Cafe 12032 Amargosa Rd, (760) 244-6888
Oggis Pizza & Brewing Co 19201 Bear Valley Rd, (760) 240-8977
Original Roadhouse Grill 11940 Amargosa Rd, (760) 949-2308
Linko Sushi 12115 Apple Valley Rd, (760) 240-1125
Viva Maria 20162 Highway 18 #D (760) 946-2087 Linko Sushi 12115 Apple Valley Rd, (760) 240-1125 Ninja Sushi 15850 Apple Valley Rd., (760) 242-3913 Siam Thai Cuisine 18564 Outer Hwy 18 Ste 203, (760) 242-5093 Giuseppe’s Apple Valley 18855 Bear Valley Rd. Ste. 1, (760) 247-1999 The Social HD 13692 Apple Valley Rd, Suite 250 (760) 955-0555 Spirit River Cafe 16000 Apple Valley Rd. Ste. B4, (760) 242-1400
Hesperia
Whisky Barrel Restaurant & Saloon 12055 Mariposa Rd. (760) 244-1115 Desert Barn Brewery 11352 Hesperi Rd. (760) 995-3894 Juliano’s Italian Restaurant 12052 Hesperia Rd., (760) 949-0595 Go Bangkok Thai Cuisine 15800 Main St Ste 200, (760) 947-9029
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Cancun Mexican & Seafood 15550 Main St, (760) 956-7720 Italian Kitchen 16409 Yucca St, (760) 244-7757 Thai-Lotus Restaurant 12027 Hesperia Rd, (760) 949-9362 Los Domingo’s Restaurant 15885 Main St, 92345 (760) 948-6161 Oasis Sushi Restaurant 12719 Main St, 92344 (760) 244-9608 Wood Grill Buffet 14135 Main St. Hesperia (760) 981-4418
Oak Hills
Oak Hills Brewing Company 12221 Poplar St. #3 (760) 244-8278 Kallans Bar & Grill 13330 Ranchero Rd (442) 800-5800
Oro Grande
Cross Eyed Cow 19242 National Trails Hwy (760)241-1987
Barstow
Idle Spurs Steakhouse 690 Old Highway 58 (760)256-8888
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A warm and intimate ambiance in a confortable setting with plenty of tasty and satisfying food combine to make Mama Carpino’s one of the High Desert’s favorite Italian restaurants. Featuring live entertainment on select weekends.
22010 US Highway 18 Apple Valley CA 92307-3971 (760) 240-9664 Mon: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Tue: Closed Wed, & Thu: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Fri - Sat: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Sun: 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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BEERS & COCKTAILS DOMESTIC DRAFTS$3
PREMIUM DRINKS 6.00
Choose from Bud Light, Coors Light, Budweiser and Michelob Ultra
Choose from Jameson, Patron, Greygoose, Ciroc and Jack Daniels
DOMESTIC BOTTLES 2.50
SPECIALTY SHOTS$4.00
Choose from Bud Light, Coors Light, Budweiser, Miller lite and Michelob Ultra
Choose from Cactus Coolers, Sex on the Beach and Fireball
DOMESTIC PITCHERS $8.75 Choose from Bud Light, Coors Light, Budweiser and Michelob Ultra
PREMIUM DRAFTS 4.00
Choose from Dos Equis, Shock Top, Stella, Hangar 24 and 805
WELL DRINKS 3.00
Choose from Tequilla, Rum, Whiskey and Vodka
Monday ru Friday
Happy Hours
appy Best H In Ho ur To wn
HAPPY HOUR
By Stephanie Morris
12055 MARIPOSA RD, HESPERIA CA 92345 760-244-1115
The Great Getting Together Place
19201 Bear Valley Road Apple Valley, California 760 - 240 - 8977 Sunday - Thursday 11am - 10pm Friday - Saturday 11am - 11pm AppleValleyOggis.com OFFICIAL PIZZA OF
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WINE TRENDS
Sipping Wine Again, Naturally
I
f you’re already drinking certified organic wine, you’re sipping grapes that have been grown without the use of herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals. Organic farmers keep the nasty bugs off grapes by introducing beneficial insects that keep the harmful ones at bay. Sheep and chickens are also helpful, as they enjoy snacking on the bad insects as well as destructive weeds. And, in lieu of synthetic fertilizers, natural compost is used, creating nutrient-rich soil and happy grapes. A certified organic wine won’t contain unnatural yeasts, food dyes, preservatives, and added sulfites—ingredients often found in a lot of conventional wines. Now, sustainable wine is produced by winemakers who are striving to minimizing the negative effects wine production can have on the environment. To get a better understanding between certified organic wine and Sip Certified (Sustainability in Practice) wine, I went directly to the source, sipcertified. org, and discovered this: “SIP Certified goes beyond the USDA Organic process because organic only addresses prohibiting synthetic pesticides and
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fertilizers without considering other resource concerns. While you’ll find organic wines that are also SIP Certified, the SIP Certified process addresses additional farming methods, looking at sustainable practices on every level, from farm labor to agriculture – from energy conservation to water quality.” So, if you discover that your bottle has a SIP Certified seal, “you can be assured that growers and winemakers are preserving and protecting the natural environment, treating their employees and community with care.” If you’d like to dive in a little deeper into SIP, visit http://www. sipcertified.org/what-is-sip. Biodynamic wines are also part of the organic family; however, to receive such a label, they must follow all the USDA’s regulations for organic products while adding biodynamic practices. That basically means they focus on specific soil treatments and have to time their planting cycles so that they coincide with lunar cycles. Now, here’s the drawback to all organic wine. Sulfites (sulfur oxide) play a major role in the aging of wine, as they are added to prevent oxidation.
Because organic wines are not permitted to have any added sulfites (some occur naturally), organic wine has a shortened shelf-life. Sooooo…if you want to skip the pesticides but don’t want to lose the rich flavor that comes with aging, you could always look for wines that are made with organic grapes. They won’t hold the USDA certification, but they’ll have all the flavor of a rich, aged wine and also a longer shelf life. Woot! If you’re feeling skeptical, I get it. But, if you’re curious, hit a few organic wine tasting events and do some sampling. Wine tasting is always a good time and a delightful way to deepen your appreciation and develop your palate. If you like shopping online, check out Natural Merchants Family Produced Organic Wines at https:// naturalmerchants.com/organicwines/toporganic-biodynamic-wines-2019/ for a list of their top 12 organic/vegan wines for 2019. Fun stuff. So, yeah, I went there…and I have no regrets. Will I turn down an offering of conventional wine? Don’t be ridiculous. There’s enough room in my heart for all the wine. Cheers! — By Stephanie Morris
SPRING/SUMMER 2019
DOWN HOME GRILL NEW AD
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SUSAN’S CORNER
STUDYING HISTORY: THE STORY OF US
W
illiam Faulkner famously said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” George Santayana reminds us that, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” And, then there is H.G. Wells, who said, “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” These days we are swimming in information but often lack the context in which to understand, process, or use that information. There is a reason that we teach and study history. History is not merely a list of events, dates, and names. History is a story and uncovers so much more about humans, their motivations, desires, and missteps. Studying history gives us a guide to use as we move through our own time facing our own challenges. For U.S. history, we study the events leading up to the Civil War and the World Wars not merely to memorize dates and places, but to see the signs and patterns, and try to avoid the mistakes made by previous generations. General Eisenhower made a special point to personally witness and document the horrors of the Nazi death camps to ensure that posterity did not discount what happened. He knew the importance of recording information to pass on to future generations as a warning not to head down the same paths. Denying, ignoring, or refusing to learn the lessons of the past is sheer stupidity, and we do so at our own peril. Santayana did not use the word “condemned” accidently. We condemn ourselves if we do not learn the lessons history teaches. Understanding history is not merely knowing the difference between the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement or Martin Luther and Martin Luther King; it is recognizing when we are headed down the wrong path as a civilization. They say hindsight is 20/20. Let’s make sure we are learning from the past and teaching the next generation to do the same. — Susan Landers
If you would like to see something special featured in Susan’s Corner, or if you have a special recipe, drop me a line and let me know about it at: Susan Landers at H.D. Living Magazine 6630 SLV Box Victorville, Ca. 92395, or e-mail me at susanl@hdlivingmagazine.com.
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