Images Victor Valley 2011 by Journal Communications

2011 | imagesvictorvalley.com ®

Victor valley, california

SUNNY DISPOSITION Alternative energy powers the Valley

THEY WERE FRAMED Home prices remain affordable

Here’s the Dirt on Recreation sponsored by the victorville Chamber of Commerce

2011 edition | volume 4 ÂŽ

Victor Valley, California co nte nt s F e atu r e s 10 SUNNY DISPOSITION

Alternative energy powers the Valley

14 THEY WERE FRAMED Home prices remain affordable

18 High Desert Gives Global Access Shuttered base being reborn into an international business center

44 Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Dirt on Recreation

d e pa r tm e nt s 8 Almanac 22 Biz Briefs 26 Chamber Report 27 Economic Profile 28 Photo Essay 32 Local Flavor 34 Arts & Culture 36 Education 40 Health & Wellness 47 Community Profile 48 Through the Lens on the cover Photo by Kevin Young Dirt-bike racing at Wheel 2 Wheel Raceway

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

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Victor Valley, California Project Manager mitch Kline Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editor Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Dan Hieb, Joe Morris Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams Graphic Designers Rachael Gerringer, Taylor nunley

Digital Edition

Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, lance Conzett Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web designer II Richard stevens Web developer i Yamel Hall

It’s Better in

Web Account Manager Lauren Eubank Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf

the Valley

Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond Senior Accountant Lisa Owens

HOME PRICES REMAIN AFFORDABLE

Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN

eal estate broker Caroll Yule heard about a man from Tucson, Ariz., who traveled to Victor Valley in 2010 to visit a friend. The man liked Victor Valley so much that he toured an open house in his friend’s neighborhood, then the man returned home to Tucson and sold his own home. He moved to Victor Valley two weeks later. “That man purchased a beautiful home in one of our nicest communities, buying a fourbedroom house with two baths and 3,000 square feet for under $200,000,” says Yule, who owns Shear Realty that operates six offices throughout the High Desert. “Victor Valley has some of the best home prices in all of California right now.”

color imaging technician Alison Hunter Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton V.p./External Communications Teree Caruthers

Brighten People’s Moods Yule says it’s no secret why people would want to move to Victor Valley. There is an abundance of blue skies and sunshine that brighten people’s moods, and the region is near all Southern California attractions but doesn’t have the traffic problems. There is also the beauty of the San Bernardino Mountains. “I just visited Boston where all the houses look the same – they’re all brown brick, but our High Desert cities of Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto and Apple Valley have many housing styles,” she says. “The options here range from ranch-style homes to mansions, to rural estates and more. I live in Spring Valley Lake right next to Victorville, and that

Left: A home in Spring Valley Lake near Victorville

little community actually has a man-made lake that allows residents to water-ski right in the heart of the desert.” Now at 2002 Prices Yule says buyers today interested in the Victor Valley can get a lovely 5-year-old home measuring 1,500 square feet, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms in a nice neighborhood for $120,000-$130,000. “During our real estate boom years back, the median home price here was $367,000, but then real estate values dropped throughout the nation,” she says. “Homes are selling right now at 2002 prices, so turn back the clock and come to Victor Valley.” Cecil Volsch, president of Victor Valley Association of Realtors, says

PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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I M AG E S V I C T O R VA L L E Y. C O M

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Images Victor Valley is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Victorville Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com. For more information, contact: Victorville Chamber of Commerce 14174 Green Tree Blvd. • Victorville, CA 92395 Phone: (760) 245-6506 • Fax: (760) 245-6505 vvchamber.com Visit Images Victor Valley online at imagesvictorvalley.com ©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member

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Victor Valley in action

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just take our word for it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; see for yourself how great the Victor Valley is in our quick videos at imagesvictorvalley.com, highlighting a little bit of everything that the Victor Valley has to offer.

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What’s Online imagesvictorvalley.com

Photos & Videos Visually explore the Victor Valley in our online photo and video galleries

2011 | imagesvictorvalley.com ®

victor valley, california

sUnny disposition Alternative energy powers the Valley

they Were framed Home prices remain affordable

Facts Get the most up-to-date info on cost of living, top employers, schools, population demographics and more

Living here Learn the basics about local neighborhoods, schools and health care providers

here’s the dirt on recreation sponsored by the victorville chamber of commerce

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Almanac

Welcome to the Victor Valley An introduction to the area’s people, places and events

Start Your Engines Racing enthusiasts have plenty to do in Victorville, as the city provides several places perfect for those who feel the need for speed. A major destination for ATV riders is El Mirage Dry Lake, which features an off-highway vehicle recreation area. It’s part of a 24,000-acre tract of public and private land that also includes the El Mirage Dry Lakebed, the Shadow Mountains, El Mirage Basin and the Twin Hills area. Johnson Valley OHV also offers trails ideal for riders, with plenty of open space and easy to moderate terrain. Located at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, Wheel 2 Wheel Raceway features a banked oval dirt raceway that serves as the home track for Speedway Sprint Cars.

Get Your Kicks Located in Old Town Victorville, the California Route 66 Museum is a popular destination for tourists cruising the famous stretch of road who are interested in stocking up on T-shirts, mugs and other Route 66-related souvenirs. It also serves as home to a growing exhibition of historic Route 66 memorabilia, as well as the major remnants of Hula Ville, which was once one of the Mother Road’s most interesting attractions. In addition, the museum is the base for an increasingly popular auto show, which serves as the major fundraising event.

Outdoor Opportunities It’s easy to enjoy the great outdoors in Victor Valley; the hard part is deciding what to do first. Located in the Mojave Desert, Mojave Narrows Regional Park offers a variety of recreational activities, including camping, fishing and hiking. History buffs may be drawn to Calico Ghost Town, which was founded in 1881. Once a booming mining town, Calico has become a county regional park where guests can take guided tours. Those eager to play a round of golf can check out Spring Valley Lake Association, home to a course designed by world famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones. Visitors can also ride horses at Equestrian Estates.

Flying High Since 1970, the Apple Valley Airport has been the gateway to the Victor Valley for many travelers. The airport, located east of Victorville, has more than doubled in size and provides hangar space for 170 aircraft. More than 40,000 takeoffs and landings occur here each year for private and corporate aircraft. The airport is owned by the County of San Bernardino and a new master plan calls for a runway extension and expansion of general services over the next 20 years.

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Fast Facts

Winter Wonderland

n Open road and clear, blue skies create perfect conditions for leisure motorcyclists, and the Victor Valley is home to an active Harley-Davidson Owners Group. Victor Valley H.O.G. #0362 has rides throughout the year.

California may be known for its warm temperatures and sandy beaches, but it’s also a great place for those more interested in slicing through snow on a pair of skis. Just up the road from Victorville is Mountain High Resort, a ski area with 59 trails and 16 lifts. In addition, Wrightwood offers snowboarding and snowshoe hiking, as well as resort lodging. For more snowy adventures try Big Bear Mountain which has two of the best ski resorts in the state Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.

n The Mojave River flows through Victorville, and the city’s elevation is 2,875 feet above sea level. n The cement industry has historically provided the firm foundation for Victor Valley’s growth, and it remains an important industry today.

Victor Valley At A Glance POPULATION Victorville: 107,539 San Bernardino County: 2,035,210 LOCATION Victor Valley is in southwest California, at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert, 84 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

BEGINNINGS Incorporated in 1962, Victorville – the largest city in Victor Valley – was founded in 1895 and originally named Victor after Jacob Nash Victor. The name was changed in 1901 to avoid confusion with the town of Victor, Colo.

n Several people claim to have encountered ghosts while visiting the High Desert Center for the Arts, a facility that provides entertainment options, such as improvisational comedy shows and burlesque to children’s theater, concerts and film screenings.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Victorville Chamber of Commerce 14174 Greentree Blvd., P.O. Box 997 Victorville, CA 92393 Phone: (760) 245-6506 Fax: (760) 245-6505 www.vvchamber.com

What’s Online Take a virtual tour of Victor Valley, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesvictorvalley.com.

127

SAN BERNARDINO

Victor Valley

Adelanto

247

Hesperia 30

Lake Havasu

Apple Valley

Victorville

138

San Bernardino

247

n An Abengoa Mojave Solar Project, which is currently under construction, will be situated on 1,765 acres near Hinkley and will have the ability to power an estimated 80,000 homes.

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Powering the Valley Alternative energy powering the High Desert

Victor Valley Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solar field on Bear Valley Road photo by antony Boshier

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kevin young

Story By Dan Hieb

resident Barack Obama’s vision for a green energy future is finding one of its fullest expressions in the Victorville area, where a pair of world-class solar power projects are set to join a huge wind farm in redefining the way the High Desert gets its power. The projects are bringing jobs and innovation to the area, as companies race to tap into two things that the Mojave Desert has in abundance: sunshine and wind.

Victor Valley College’s Solar Leadership The first project to come online is at Victor Valley College. The school’s one-megawatt concentrator photovoltaic power plant, which started generating power in May 2010, is the nation’s largest deployment of a technology developed by Mountain View, 12

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Calif.-based SolFocus Inc. The plant uses mirrors and prisms to point sunlight at 650 times strength onto power-producing photovoltaic cells. The project, which cost the school $4.7 million, provides about 30 percent of the campus’ power. It also serves as a learning lab for students interested in California’s burgeoning solar energy business. Al McQuilkin of Irvine-based gkkworks, who managed the project on behalf of the school, says “the college has had a number of student groups tour the facility to learn about solar energy. It offers an opportunity to create programs to help train students.” Mojave Solar The next project, which is expected to come online in 2013, is the Mojave Solar project, which is being developed by Spanish company Abengoa Solar.

Abengoa expects more than 1,200 jobs to be created during the construction phase of the project, which will be located about 40 miles north of Victorville. Once complete, it will employ about 70 people who will earn an average of $92,600 a year, according to estimates by the Sacramento-based Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. At 250 megawatts, the project will produce enough energy to power 90,000 homes, Abengoa says. The energy will be sold to Pacific Gas & Electric, which is under pressure to meet California guidelines requiring that 33 percent of power be renewable by 2020. Wind Will Also Power High Desert The final large-scale project is Granite Mountain Wind. Coloradobased RES Americas plans to begin

Job Creation and Local Expertise The projects come at an opportune time for San Bernardino, which lost a lot of construction jobs after the collapse of the housing bubble. Andy Silva, who is an energy analyst for county supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, says that the projects will put some builders back to work while the broader economy recovers. But the big projects aren’t the only source of green jobs. Several

Photo Courtesy of D. Jones

Antony Boshier

construction of 28 wind turbines in 2012. The wind project will produce 185 megawatts, which will be sold to Southern California Edison. RES Americas expects the project’s construction to create 80 to 100 jobs, and for it to provide $25 million in tax revenue to San Bernardino County over the life of the plant.

A Victor Valley home featuring a solar array from Desert Solar

small businesses have been leaders in the renewable energy push. Guasti Wind and Solar of Oak Hills, Calif., has been installing residential wind projects since 2000, with enough success to be featured in the U.S. Department of Energy guide How to Build a Small Wind Energy Business. Co-owner Beverly Guasti explained that local utilities’ tiered rate structures, which charge higher rates the more power a customer uses, coupled with the air conditioning demands of summer in the desert, have made wind projects a money-saving solution for many customers. Joe Guasti has wind records stretching back 10 years that prove the suitability of the valley for wind power. The company’s 170 residentially installed wind turbines are “like a wind sock that shows to anyone

who looks that we have wind,” Beverly says. Scott Mazzola’s company focuses on solar, and has seen rapid growth over its four-year existence. Apple Valley-based Desert Solar has completed 90 installs, has a contract to build a 2.8-megawatt commercial project, and is in the process of taking its product to a national audience. Mazzola’s company has thrived by adopting a volume strategy for installations, and attempting to drive down prices. “When we started, our average cost was $8 a watt,” he says. “Now it’s about $5.” He hopes to extend his high volume strategy to a nationwide audience through www.dsenergy solutions.com, a website that allows shoppers to design a virtual system for their home and calculate costs and potential savings. The site was set to go live this summer. i m ag e s v i c t o r va l l e y. c o m

V i c t o r Va l l e y

It’s Better in

the Valley Home prices remain affordable

Story By Kevin Litwin

Left: A home in Spring Valley Lake near Victorville

PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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Clockwise from top left: The Mall of Victor Valley; A subdivision in the Victor Valley; Doris Davies Park; Pelican Lake at Mojave Narrows Park in Victorville; Spring Valley Lake

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staff photo

Attractions Galore Volsch points out that Victor Valley has clean air, low humidity, is less than an hour from an international airport, has good schools and there is plenty of outdoor recreation that includes city and county parks. There are also shopping options such as Dunia Plaza, Hi-Desert Plaza and The Mall of Victor Valley, plus Restaurant Row and a top medical center in Desert Valley Hospital that is adding a new wing. “Also here is Victor Valley Community College and a satellite campus of Azusa Pacific University, and the valley has attractive land that is available for commercial and industrial development,” Volsch says. “Companies would be wise to move here because we have fewer regulations and a ready workforce. If you drive 40 minutes from here, prices for land and homes are three times higher. The Victor Valley is a great place to live and work for many reasons.”

kevin young

young families, senior citizens on fixed incomes, single moms and anyone else can easily buy homes today in the valley. “Monthly payments are often less than a person will pay in apartment rent, which is amazing,” Volsch says. “House prices start at $70,000 and go up to around $400,000 for waterfront homes, and the median price in the Victor Valley today is about $150,000.”

Jeff Adkins

kevin young

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High Desert Gives

Global Access Shuttered base is being reborn into an international business center

Story By Dan Hieb Photography By kevin young

he High Desert is being transformed into a major logistics hub for the entire Southwest, thanks to the redevelopment of a shuttered Air Force base into the Southern California Logistics Airport. In the process, the project is turning a painful loss from Victorville’s past into a huge victory for its future. Reclaiming Old Air Force Base When George Air Force Base closed in 1992, amid a nationwide wave of base closures, it sucked 8,500 jobs out of the local economy overnight. But even though the jobs were gone, the Air Force base’s assets remained. A plan formed to turn those assets into a new jobs engine. The old air base is being transformed into a multimodal

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distribution hub that will allow companies to quickly move products internationally, as well as throughout Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. Located less than 100 miles from Los Angeles, Southern California Logistics Airport sits on 8,500 acres and is expected to eventually employ as many as 30,000 people. The decades-long project is still in its infancy, but “over the long term, without question, the job growth will be substantial,” says Keith Metzler, the director of economic development for Victorville and the airport.

About 60 million square feet of commercial and industrial space is envisioned. At $50 to $120 per square foot, depending on eventual building type, the project will cost $3 billion to $7.2 billion to build. So far, about 3 million square feet of space has been built, and about 2,500 full-time jobs have been created. The project has employed as many as 1,000 workers in a given day. Vito Bello, marketing manager for The Mall of Victor Valley, says that the SCLA project has raised the area’s profile, and he expects retailers to follow the influx of jobs.

SCLA’s Huge Scale Foothill Ranch, Calif.-based Stirling Development is building the project in a private-public partnership with the city of Victorville.

Target Industries Businesses already at SCLA include Boeing, General Electric Company, Verizon, the Dr. Pepper/ Snapple Group, the U.S. Marine Corp., Plastipak Packaging Inc.,

The Southern California Logistics Airport will be home to a new multimodal distribution hub.

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and Red Bull Distribution. Brian Parno, Stirling’s chief operating officer, says he expects SCLA to attract three major industries: aviation companies, food and beverage processors, and distribution companies. SCLA’s two runways are 15,050 and 9,100 feet long, making each one capable of handling intercontinental travel. Boeing has used the airport to test flight its 787 Dreamliner, while the military uses it to test predator drones. The desert climate, which makes for perfect flight weather, also makes it an ideal location for aircraft storage and maintenance since the arid climate prevents rust. Parno says that excellent water and sewage capacity makes SCLA an ideal place for food and beverage companies like Dr. Pepper, which uses SCLA to serve the Southwest, as well as Asian markets. The rail component will be the final prong. As Southern California continues to grow, companies will be able to turn to SCLA in order to avoid congestion and take advantage of lower costs. Together, the three components will give the High Desert a level of economic diversity that it lacked when the Air Force left town. “I think in the long run it will prove to be a reversal of fortune,” Parno says of the rebirth. “It will be an even more positive economic driver for the region than it was before.”

The Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville is an ideal location for aircraft storage and maintenance.

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Business

Biz Briefs

A sampling of businesses – large and small – that helps define the Victor valley’s strong and well-balanced economic climate

Scorecard Business At A Glance

$455 billion Annual retail sales

$12,561 Retail sales per capita

$81 billion Annual hotel and food sales

3,425,818 Total number of firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

Leading Edge Aviation Services Biz: Aviation painting and maintenance facility Buzz: Leading Edge Aviation Services began in 1989 as an aircraft detailing business at John Wayne Airport. Now, the business comprises five facilities, including one in Victorville that opened in 2007. Victorville’s $20 million hangar is home to planes as large as a 747-400, and also includes a remodeled 757-capable, two-bay hangar with fire suppression, environmental and filtered air movement. www.leadingedgecorp.com 22

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Robert A. Martinez AIA Architect & Associates Biz: Architecture firm Buzz: Serving the High Desert area since 1994, Robert A. Martinez AIA Architect & Associates is a full-service architecture firm that designs an array of structures, including homes, commercial sites and medical facilities. The firm, also known as R.A.M. Architecture, provides engineering services. The business owner, Robert A. Martinez, is a member of the American Institute of Architects. www.RAM-architecture.com Marinello School of Beauty Biz: Cosmetology school Buzz: Preparing students to enter the beauty industry, Marinello School of Beauty in Victorville offers programs in cosmetology, esthetics and manicuring. The school has 47 facilities in five states, with several locations throughout California, as well as in Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. Financial aid and scholarships are available to those who qualify. www.marinello.com Victorville Speedwash Biz: Car wash Buzz: As the newest and largest twin tunnel express car wash in California, Victorville Speedwash promises to provide each customer with a clean, shiny car in less than five minutes for an affordable price. Individual washes start at $5 and go up to $10, with unlimited club plans starting at $20 per month, designed for regular customers. www.victorvillespeedwash.com Reflections Catering Biz: Catering company Buzz: Reflections Catering offers services for a variety of special events such as weddings, banquets, parties and conferences. Using fresh, local ingredients, this catering company creates customized menus to fit each customer’s needs, complete with appetizers, entrees and desserts. Reflections Catering also serves those who prefer buffet-style meals, with salads, side dishes, entrees and desserts available. www.reflectionscatering.com

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Business

Chamber Report Chamber nearing its 100th anniversary

retty good for almost 100 years old. Victorville Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1913 and today has 520 members, and specializes in offering services and benefits that support both large and small businesses. Those benefits include networking opportunities, relocation assistance, legislative advocacy, seminars and workshops, and tourism and community promotion. In addition, the chamber gives hundreds of referrals each month for member businesses in an effort to help foster business growth and retention. “We are also community minded, and in fact run a number of events that many cities usually run themselves,” says Michele

Spears, president of the Victorville Chamber of Commerce. “For example, during the holiday season we organize an annual tree lighting ceremony and a Christmas parade, plus we supervise community cleanup days every April and October. We host the cleanup efforts because having a clean city is part of the quality of life we enjoy here.” Business is Pleasure Serving as business builders is what chambers are primarily about, and Victorville is no different. It offers an annual six-month, 10-class Leadership Victor Valley program that helps build business and community leaders, and the program has seen 270 graduates in its 14-year history. “The chamber also hosts a

monthly Victorville Morning Insight breakfast at the Victorville Conference Center that is always well attended – it’s a great marketing and networking opportunity,” Spears says. “One of the monthly VMI breakfasts even features a speed-networking session where you meet with another chamber member for three minutes, then meet with another member for three minutes, and on and on.” Since 2010, the Victorville Chamber has partnered with the Brentwood School of Business & Leadership, a local elementary school, in a program that allows students to interact with business and community leaders. Students are invited to participate in chamber events and started their own junior chamber. The Chamber also assists students in grades four through six at the school organize their own monthly Brentwood Morning Insight breakfasts, helping those students learn more about the business world and careers. Meanwhile, also as a way to further help the business sector, the chamber organizes an annual Business Showcase Expo every July to allow chamber members to diversify their contacts and expand opportunities. We are Four Stars The Victorville Chamber has held accreditation with the United States Chamber of Commerce since 1998 and was recently granted four stars. The group recognized Victorville for several programs that benefit the local economy and community. “We also work for our members as a legislative advocate in businessrelated matters occurring in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.,” Spears says. “The Victorville chamber is still working hard, almost 100 years into our history.” – Kevin Litwin

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economic profile ECONOMIC OVERVIEW Victor Valley has a lot going for it: a strategic location; market access via highways, air, rails and ports; lower operating costs than most of California; and one of the most affordable housing markets in the West.

workforce

Los Angeles International Airport (310) 646-5252 www.airport-la.com

79% White-Collar Jobs

TAX STRUCTURE

Ontario International Airport (909) 937-2700 www.lawa.org/welcomeont.aspx

21% Blue-Collar Jobs

1.5% Local-City/County sales tax

6.25% State Sales Tax

7.75% Total Sales Tax

Southern California Logistics Airport (760) 243-1900 www.logisticsairport.com

education

30%

Victor Valley Transit Authority (760) 948-3030 www.vvta.org

Associate Degree

9% Bachelor’s Degree

TOp industries

Retail Trade: 5,542 employees

Graduate Degree

income

$19,410 Per Capita Income

$50,424 Average Annual Household Expenditure

Government: 4,179 employees

TRANSPORTATION

Health Care & Social Assistance: 3,905 employees

Apple Valley Airport (760) 247-2371 www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us www.sbcounty.gov/airports

Accommodation & Food Services: 3,112 employees

Hesperia Airport (760) 947-0807 www.airnav.com/airport/l26

Administrative & Support & Waste Management: 1,323 employees Transportation & Warehousing 934 employees

STAMP OUT BREAST CANCER WITH YOUR FEET.

Victor Valley College Your Future … Our Passion For more information, call (760) 245-4271 Learn more about the Komen Race for the Cure by visiting www.komen.org or calling 1-877 GO KOMEN. This space is provided as a public service. ©2008 Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

18422 Bear Valley Rd. Victorville, CA 92395 www.vvc.edu

• • • • •

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Living His in the High

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Photo Essay

tory Desert

Staff Photo

en miles north of Barstow lies a ghost town and former silver-mining town known as Calico. Calico, founded in 1881 as a silvermining town, was economically strong until the late 1890s, when the value of silver fell drastically. In addition to silver, the area was rich with borax from the Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert, but with the end of borax mining around 1910, the town of Calico was completely abandoned. In 1967, Calico was donated to the County of San Bernardino and since then has been a county regional park, dedicated to preserving the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich history. Today, the park operates mine tours, gunfight stunt shows, gold panning and more. i m ag e s v i c t o r va l l e y. c o m

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Staff PhotoS

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The Wine Cellar

photos by kevin young

Local Flavor

High Desert Rich in Produce, Great Dining Victor Valley grows fruits, vegetables, quality eateries

o ahead, dive into the taste treats that Victor Valley has to offer. For example, every Thursday morning for nearly 20 years, Victor Valley College has been home to the High Desert Farmers Market. There are plenty of California-grown, seasonal produce items for sale year round, along with baked goods, flowers and plants, organic meats and homemade crafts.

Hi, Emma Jean Some of that locally grown goodness winds up on the plates over at Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café, which has been serving up the breakfasts and burgers in bona fide California ambiance for more

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than 60 years. Emma Jean’s sits in Victorville right on Route 66, and has been showcased in newspapers, magazines and TV shows, including Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network. The family-run operation is known for its made-from-scratch biscuits and gravy, kielbasa and eggs Benedict, and chicken-fried steak. The huge portions are evident on the Trucker’s Sandwich, a monster stacked high with roast beef, bacon, chilies and cheese.

Dixie Beer and Wine At Johnny Rebs’, the kitchen staff offers Southern favorites and homemade dishes such as barbecue, catfish, hush puppies

and collard greens. Dessert items include peach cobbler and pecan pie, and there is even Dixie beer available to customers. The popular restaurant is on Seventh Street in Victorville. Mimi’s Cafe in Victorville is known for both its good food and good service. The menu features down-home favorites such as bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy, and bread pudding, plus several items for those of us who are counting our calories. Meanwhile, The Village Grind & Wine Cellar in Wrightwood is home to several breakfast and lunch offerings, along with numerous coffees and smoothie drinks. There are also wine tastings by the glass on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Johnny Rebsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; offers visitors a Southern roadhouse experience from the decor to the food.

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Staff Photo

Arts & Culture

High Desert Draws Special events, places enliven Victor Valley culture

ith everything from a bustling fairground to a haunted arts center, the High Desert and Victor Valley have plenty of interesting cultural attractions for residents and visitors alike.

San Bernardino County Fairgrounds The San Bernardino County Fairgrounds is a prime example. While the fair itself is a marquee draw, the other 51 weeks of the year here are consumed with horse shows, bridal events, family reunions, corporate and business functions, car rallies and much more.

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High Desert Center for the Arts

Indians and an actor in a Hamlet costume.

An equally popular locale is the High Desert Center for the Arts, which dates back to 1943 when it was operated as a USO site. Several troupes that work with children, as well other local theater and music groups, use the 170-seat theater and art gallery. Some former visitors seem to be unable to stay away either, as the centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reportedly got some supernatural fans from its earlier days, and from nearby Old Town Victorville. According to the California Society for Ghost Research, the centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s otherworldly cast includes a Spanish War soldier, Mojave

Old Town Victorville Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot more than ghosts in Old Town Victorville these days, however. The area goes back to the 1850s, and currently the city is actively recruiting new shops and businesses to help recreate a thriving and lively urban center.

Route 66 Museum Helping to keep that traffic coming through Victorville is the California Route 66 Museum, which celebrates that famous route from Chicago to L.A. More than just a stop on the road, the museum is a snapshot of

Victorville history, with exhibits of memorabilia that includes the remnants of Hula Ville, a nowdefunct attraction that featured a 9-foot dancing hula girl sign.

Victor Valley’s always been known for its cowboy culture, and nobody made that more popular than Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, whose philanthropic and artistic endeavors live on. The Happy Trails Children’s Foundation works with abused children from its Cooper Home in Apple Valley, and since 1997 has helped more than 350 children receive shelter, care and treatment services. At Sunset Hills Memorial Park, the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Sunset Chapel has been providing one of the area’s most beautiful backdrops for weddings and special events since opening its doors in 2007. – Joe Morris

kevin young

Happy Trails for Children

Education

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photos by kevin young

Students at Victor Valley College’s nursing school practice taking each other’s vital signs. Left: Student Activities Center on the campus of Victor Valley College.

Community as Classroom Victor Valley College expands throughout region

ictor Valley College has a long history of being there for the community it serves. And with a growing roster of degrees and certification programs, cutting-edge training facilities and strong relationships to the business and professional communities, those ties are deeper than ever before. The college has about 40 major courses of study and supports a planetarium and performing arts center, as well as multiple men’s and women’s athletic programs.

Expanded Nursing Program The college also continues to beef up its nursing program,

which draws several hundred students per year. It works with the area’s hospitals to ensure that students have plenty of real-life training opportunities, and also utilizes its own technologically advanced simulation lab. VVC has built other programs literally from the ground up, including an Eastside Public Safety Training Center and a solar project on the main campus.

Eastside Public Safety Training Center A $32 million Eastside Public Safety Training Center, located about 15 miles northeast of the VVC main campus, will train

students for firefighting, paramedic, police and corrections careers, and will be available for use by public safety agencies across the region. The LEEDcertified facility will feature a five-story fire tower and a nine-lane indoor shooting range with virtual and live-fire training simulators when it opens in early 2012.

Solar Plant/ Training Facility The VVC solar plant, a project in tandem with SolFocus, is the largest plant in North America to use concentrator photovoltaic systems. The one-megawatt plant meets about 30 percent of the college’s electricity demand, i m ag e s v i c t o r va l l e y. c o m

FREE ONLINE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL NOW OPEN IN VICTOR VALLEY!

WHAT IS ECC? ECC is a partnership between Barstow Community College and the Victor Valley Union High School District. Students already enrolled in high school can earn college credits toward a Career Technical Education certificate or Associate’s Degree.

Earn High School and College Credits While in High School ECC will help you soar to greatness and earn college credits while attending high school. With technology at your fingertips, imagine learning a skill that will help you get on a career pathway to your chosen career field. Imagine saving two full years toward your Bachelor’s Degree! ECC can do that, too. Students who successfully complete the ECC program receive both their high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree from our college partner.

The Advantages: Students have the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and up to an AA or AS degree during their high school career. ECC is a significant cost savings toward the expense of your college degree. College and high school classes are in the same buildings at Silverado.

What Can I Learn? • College Preparation • Health Careers • Teaching Occupations • Culinary Careers • Administration of Justice & Criminal Forensics • Engineering & Technology • Video Game Design Careers • Business Careers • Automotive & Diesel Technology • Construction Electrical

In order to better serve the individual needs of students and families throughout our community, the Victor Valley Union High School District is excited to announce the opening of Victor Valley Virtual High School (VVVHS). Victor Valley Virtual High School is a free, online public school that is committed to providing a quality and rigorous education. Under the supervision of both credentialed teachers and a credentialed counselor, VVVHS offers opportunities for accelerated learning, Advanced Placement courses and recovery. Students attending our virtual high school will be required to complete two units a week by attending campus at least once a week in order to submit work and take tests, however, students may come more often for additional support and tutoring. Students are able to complete their coursework in our Virtual computer labs or at any offcampus location with Internet access, including home. As students can access their coursework 24/7 and email teachers for support, school can be completed anytime or anywhere. Testing appointments can be adjusted to fit each student’s needs (for family vacations, work, etc.). Students from the virtual campus are encouraged to participate in clubs, after-school enrichment activities, dances, CIF athletics and field trips that are sponsored by Victor Valley High School.

What Can the New Victor Valley Virtual High School Offer You? • Free • Campus Electives & ROP Courses • Flexible Scheduling • College Prep & AP Courses • Credit Recovery • Tutoring Available • College & Career Guidance • Military Approved Diploma • CIF Sports • California’s Only Student-Run TV Station, Odyssey TV

VicTorVille Valley Union HigH ScHool DiSTricT 16350 Mojave Dr. • Victorville, CA 92395 (760) 955-3201 • www.vvuhsd.org

Who Should Apply? Anyone who is interested in a non-traditional high school setting should apply to ECC, especially those who are willing to do the extra effort in order to reap the reward of a college certificate or degree. It’s a new high school and college all rolled into one campus that’s ready for students! PAID ADVERTISEMENT

VVUHSD BoarD of TrUSTeeS President – Barbara Dew Vice President – Evelyn Glasper Clerk – Dr. Duneen DeBruhl Member – Ensen Mason Member – Judy Munoz Superintendent – Elvin Momon

plus acts as a teaching facility and learning lab as curriculum develops around solar energy technology.

Other top higher education institutions in Victor Valley include Azusa Pacific University, which ranks among the best Christian universities in the nation, and Brandman University, where almost all students earn their degrees while working full time. The valley is also home to Cambridge College, Four-D College, Pioneer University, San Joaquin Valley College and the University of La Verne.

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Other Top Colleges, Universities

Since 1958, Brandman University has been serving the unique needs of adults by providing students access to a quality education consistent with the needs of their busy lives. Brandman University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, teaching credentials, and extended education programs online and at campuses throughout California and Washington. Brandman Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Victor Valley Campus has been serving the High Desert for more than 35 years. We have been dedicated in providing a high-quality education combined with innovative learning and a rich academic heritage for working adults. We offer individualized service, personal academic advising, highly qualified faculty, individual executive coaching, accelerated degree

For more information, call 800-581-4100 or visit us online at www.brandman.edu/victorvalley

completion, reasonable tuition and financial aid services to name a few.

photos by kevin young

Health & Wellness

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Long on Care, Short on Distance Top-ranked hospitals, physicians provide quality care throughout Victor Valley Take a deep breath and relax. With major hospitals and plenty of physicians and specialists within the community, Victor Valley residents know they have access to good health care. For example, Desert Valley Hospital recently underwent a $35 million expansion and upgrade to add patient rooms, two catheterization labs, two operating suites, an open-heart surgery suite and a new digitalradiology system. The hospital, which opened in 1994, also added educational and conference rooms, and a chapel. DVH also continues to receive awards and recognition from such groups as the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists for its laboratories, as well as the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals Awards, the HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award and the Premier CareScience Select Practice National Quality Award.

St. Mary Medical Center St. Mary Medical Center also is staying at the forefront of new treatments and technologies. In addition to offering pediatric care, open-heart surgery, midwifery,

diabetes services and education, and a robotic-surgery program, St. Mary also has the first local wound care center in the High Desert equipped to perform hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The medical center also has added a chest pain emergency center, robotic surgery program and outpatient surgery center, and is in the process of building a new 100-acre campus and 112bed facility.

Victor Valley Community Hospital At Victor Valley Community Hospital, the focus continues to be on providing a wide range of health-care services, including the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Center, a comprehensive site for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health and services, and upgrades to every department. In addition to a new nuclear camera and upgraded MRI machine, the hospital is expanding its neonatal intensive care unit and is creating a new Orthopedic Center of Excellence.

Choice Medical Group High Desert residents also benefit from the primary- and specialty-care physicians at Choice Medical Group, whose 45-plus board-certified physicians

and 150 specialists take care of a service area that includes Apple Valley, Victorville, Hesperia, Oak Hills, Phelan, Pinon Hills, Barstow, Adelanto and the surrounding communities.

Kaiser Permanente Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente has a four-story hospital on Park Avenue in Victorville that offers services such as mammography, radiology, pediatrics, diabetes classes, physical therapy and an on-site pharmacy. Kaiser officials advocate a healthy lifestyle throughout the Victorville community, which includes fresh fruit and vegetables in neighborhood stores, successful schools, clean air, accessible parks and safe playgrounds.

Healthy Victorville By the way, city officials have recently introduced a Healthy Victorville initiative. Healthy Victorville features an exchange of information among government, business, nonprofit and community partners to promote healthy lifestyles through workplace wellness, healthy eating, active living, and healthy community development policies and programs. i m ag e s v i c t o r va l l e y. c o m

Health & Wellness Gentle, Comprehensive Dental Care for Kids Cavity Free Club Sealants to Protect Your Child’s Teeth Play Area with Video Games

Dr. Brian Chu

TVs in Treatment Room

Board-Certified Pediatric Specialist

Flexible Financing Available

Specializing in infants through adolescents 11941 Hesperia Rd. Hesperia, CA 92345 (760) 490-0790 (760) 990-7373 fax info@all4kidsdentistry.com www.all4kidsdentistry.com

our office has been designed to meet all of your child’s comprehensive dental needs, from routine check-ups and cleanings to emergency care. we strive to make dental visits effective, educational, and most of all, fun!

GrowinG SmileS, From little to BiG!

PHARMACY s ’ t r Cu & United States Post Office Choose a pharmacy that cares!

: HOURS ri. Mon.-F p.m. .-6 :30 a.m

Sat. . .-3 p.m 10 a.m

• Most Prescription Insurances, Work Comp & Cash • Medication Compliance Packaging • Home Health Supplies • Herbals, Homeopathic, Old-Time Remedies • Wound Care, Compression Stockings, Diabetes Shoppe • Complete US Postal Services with Postal Rates • Hablamos Español con Fluidez 14829 7th St., Ste. E Victorville, CA 92395 (760) 245-3518

www.curtsrx.com 42

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Sports & Recreation

Outside Interests Golf, Hiking, ATV trails lure sportsmen to Victor Valley

f youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got game, then the Victor Valley is the place for you. For example, golf courses are amazing, including Hesperia Golf & Country Club that has seen the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead tee off since it opened in 1957. The course is well known to the PGA and highly ranked by California Golf Magazine and Golf Digest.

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Fore Evermore The city of Victorville gets in on the act with Green Tree Golf Course, a former private club that opened in 1963. The tricky par 72, 6,600-yard course is known for tree-lined fairways, water and sand traps. The city also offers Westwinds Golf Course, a ninehole, par 36 venue. In Barstow, Tees & Trees Golf Course is a nine-hole course noted for scenery, tight play and water hazards. Nine-hole play is also available at Ashwood Golf Course in Apple Valley, which has three different courses.

ATV Paradise

staff photo

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for something a little faster than a golf cart, then welcome to ATV heaven. The High Desert offers several places to get off the road, with trails that range from moderate to extreme. Both four-wheel vehicles and motorcycles have plenty

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Top left: Dirt bike racing at the Racetown 395 MX Park in Adelanto

Additional Places to Play Other outdoor interests in the valley include skiing at Big Bear Mountain, where there are two resorts, and Mountain High near Wrightwood. These ski areas offer a full package of snow sports during winter months and solid collection of biking and hiking trails during warmer weather.

Another recreation highlight is an annual Rockin’ The Desert Mud Run, which is a 3.2-mile exercise event in late August to benefit the Sunset Hills Children’s Foundation. The course is full of fun hills to climb, mud pits, rope swings, tire testing and wall climbing. Meanwhile, Racetown 395 MX Park in Adelanto has five motocross tracks, including a stadium track that can accommodate national events. Racing takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, plus practices are held every Tuesday and Thursday. And for bowling fans, there’s Victor Bowl Bowling Center. The facility offers 40 lanes with automatic scoring for league and family bowling. It opens every day at 9 a.m. and stays open until 11 p.m. through the week, then until midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

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to choose from, with specific areas that were set aside for them in the California Desert Conservation Area plan of 1980. A major destination for ATV riders and outdoor enthusiasts in general is El Mirage Dry Lake, which features an off-highway vehicle recreation area. It’s part of a 24,000-acre tract of public and private land that also includes the El Mirage Dry Lakebed, the Shadow Mountains, El Mirage Basin and the Twin Hills area.

12055 Mariposa Rd. Hesperia, CA 92345 760.956.2000

DJs Sports Bar & Grill

24 Flat-Screen TVs – 40" & 46" 18 Beers on Draft Entertainment Seven Days a Week – DJs & Karaoke Pool Tournaments 6,000 Square Feet Outdoor Smoking & Drinking – TVs on Patio

visit our

advertisers AAA Auto Club of Southern California www.aaa-calif.com Advanced Hearing System www.advancedhearingsys.com Alaska USA Federal Credit Union www.alaskausa.org All 4 Kids Pediatric Dentistry www.all4kidsdentistry.com Brandman University www.brandman.edu/victorvalley Burning Bush Church www.bushpower.org Choice Medical Group www.choicemg.com Curtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pharmacy & United States Post Office www.curtsrx.com Desert Valley Hospital www.primehealthcare.com DJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sports Bar & Grill Inc. High Desert Primary Care www.hdpcmg.com Holiday Inn Express www.hiexpress.com/hesperia Meridian Urgent Care www.meridianurgentcare.com Mitsubishi Cement Corporation www.mitsubishicement.com Mountain Pacific Insurance Agency www.mountainpacificagency.com Sonic Systems www.vvsonic.com

6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1

3/22/10 11:40:09 AM

Southwest Gas Corporation www.swgas.com St. Mary Medical Center www.stmaryapplevalley.com The Wine Seller www.thewinesellerapplevalley.com Victor Valley College www.vvc.edu Victor Valley Union High School District www.vvuhsd.org 46

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Living green starts from the ground up. Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green.

Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon

community profile SNAPSHOT Victor Valley is composed of the cities of Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto and the Town of Apple Valley in San Bernardino County. It is the largest metropolitan area between San Bernardino and Las Vegas.

CLIMATE

99°

Marital Status:

$49,002

54%

Median Household Income

Married

$112,833

46%

Median Home Price

Single

$850

Ethnicity:

Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

July High Temperature

31°

household information

January Low Temperature

cost of living

”

Annual Rain Fall (vs. National Average Annual Rain Fall of 37”)

42%

Median Resident Age

47%

land area

7% Black

19 and Under

Pacific

White

Age:

33%

time zone

48%

Hispanic

3% Other

20-54

transportation

73.178

20%

23 minutes

Square Miles (Victorville)

55 and Over

Median Travel Time to Work

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Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced Victor Valley through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit imagesvictorvalley.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

From Our Photo Blog: Victor Valley I was surprised to find so many lakes, rivers and streams in the middle of the Mojave Desert. I was working on a photo essay about desert beauty when I came across this horse in the water at Mojave Narrows Park, which is situated along the ancient riverbed of the Mojave River. In the warmer months, people ride the horses at the park’s stables, but during the cooler months the horses roam around the park. Posted by jeff adkins

More Online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at imagesvictorvalley.com.

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Ad Index 47 AAA Auto Club of Southern California

43 Advanced Hearing System

C3 Alaska USA Federal Credit Union 42 All 4 Kids Pediatric Dentistry

C2 Holiday Inn Express

43 Meridian Urgent Care

C3 Mitsubishi Cement Corporation 23 Mountain Pacific Insurance Agency

23 Sonic Systems

39 Brandman University

4 Burning Bush Church

C4 Choice Medical Group

42 Curtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pharmacy & United States Post Office

37 The Wine Seller

27 Victor Valley College

24 Desert Valley Hospital

45 DJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sports Bar & Grill Inc.

1 High Desert Primary Care

7 Southwest Gas Corporation 2 St. Mary Medical Center

38 Victor Valley Union High School District

MITSUBISHI CEMENT CORPORATION 5808 State Hwy. Lucerne VaLLey ca 92356 (760) 248-7373

Proud to Be Part of The High Desert Community

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A Most Convenient

Choice.

When we are faced with health challenges it is comforting to be close to home and family. Choice Medical Group and Choice Physicians Network offer a panel of nearly 200 primary care physicians and specialists conveniently located in the High Desert. This large panel of physicians provides comprehensive services and are experts in their respective specialties. They are not an hour or two away. They are in your city, your community, your neighborhood. That makes us both the right choice, and the most convenient one. If you have any questions or need help selecting a physician, we are here to help. Call us at 760.242.7777, Ext. 224.

In addition to practitioners of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, Choice offers experts in the fields of … • Allergy • Anesthesiology • Audiology • Behavioral Health • Cardiology • Cardiothoracic Surgery • Chiropractors • Dermatology • Endocrinology • Gastroenterology • General Surgery • Hospitalists • Infectious Disease • Neonatology • Nephrology • Neurology • Neurosurgery • Obstetrics & Gynecology • Oncology/Hematology • Ophthalmology/Optometry • Orthopedics • Pediatrics • Pediatric Cardiology • Pediatric Ophthalmology • Perinatology

www.ChoiceMG.com Apple Valley • Adelanto • Barstow • Hesperia • Lucerne Valley Oak Hills • Phelan • Pinon Hills • Victorville

My Health. My Choice.

• Pain Management • Physical Medicine & Rehab • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery • Podiatry • Pulmonology • Radiation Oncology • Rheumatology • Vascular Surgery • Urology