April 2022 - Issue #2
THEPULSE OF THE HIGH DESERT Serving the seniors, families and businesses of our area THE BARSTOW CHAMBER TOURISM committee and local community leaders from the Daggett, Barstow and Newberry Springs areas had the pleasure of showing some of the many hidden treasures of our areas, to an international travel writer, Jonathan Berg. Check out his blog, TheRoyaltourblog.com Participants were Rose Breadshear, Jane Laraman-Brickhurst, Mark Staggs, Daryl Schendrl, myself and many local folks. All of us saw many unknown projects in the work’s and learned more of our local history. Plans are being made to offer these tours to the public within the next year. One of our first stops was at the internationally famous BAGDAD CAFÉ. Where we spent some time with the owner, Andrea Pruett. There are many local groups involved in the preservation, history and culture in all of our outlaying areas of the county. If you are looking to get involved or just want information on any of them please contact me at jim@motherroadenterprises.com or 1 760 617 3991
Inside: Hollywood Film Shoot Coming to the High Desert - page 4 High Desert Pirate Faire - Page 5 How to Help Your Senior Parent Adjust to Assisted Living - page 7
You Are Not Alone in Your Cancer Journey - page 12 Use These Scam Tools to Spot Fraud - Page 17 Meet Betty Blunt - the High Desert’s newest centenarian - page 20
Check out the events going on in our area this month.
POSTAL CUSTOMER
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The PULSE of the High Desert
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The responses generated from our first issue has been overwhelming The many phone calls and e-mails with suggestions, advice as well as encouragement means a lot to our TEAM here at The PULSE of the High Desert. We have added many new friends, connections and resources. Our mission is to provide for our readers and advertisers, which is our communities, a dependable source for education, entertaining and informative news. Our goal is to share with you how our communities all work together to make the High Desert a GREAT place to live and work. There are a number of ways that YOU too can add to making our areas better places to live. Join a local chamber, senior or veteran’s group, or a car club. Support your local libraries, schools, churches and youth organizations. Attend a meeting being held in your community, any meeting. Shop globally but BUY locally, visit our museums and local attractions. Spend time enjoying your lives by being active in your communities. Make a new friend, say hello to your neighbors, offer assistance to a senior and find something to make you laugh every day. Stay in contact with your family, friends and co-workers. The word TEAM, Together Everyone Achieves More, is more than just our slogan. It is our goal to do our part in making all of our lives better.
Two t r e s e High D
To Better Serve YOU!
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Victorville
Dr. Nayyar
Dr. Kalra
Barstow
Erika Franco, NP
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Dr. Surdyka
Dr. Shenoy
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Editorial IT IS MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR TEAM’S. First is the folks that are members of the Mother Road Enterprises TEAM and PULSE Custom Magazines, they are also on PULSE newspaper TEAM. • • • • •
Jorge Leandro Rodriques John Kafides Ilene & Cliff Bandringer Len Nordmann Lori Weston
WE ARE LOOKING FOR STORIES OF OUR HIGH DESERT AND ITS PEOPLE, past and present. Do you belong to a group that is involved in your community or just have an interesting story to share? Get in touch with us and we will help you share it with our readers. Here is a collage of photos of folks enjoying themselves by attending events and our museums.
The PULSE of the High Desert TEAM • Donna Drover • Dana Mauer • Marcella (Marcy) Taylor (This list will grow every month as we add folks that contribute to the publication) If you have ever heard the saying ‘You are only as good as the people that support you and are part of your TEAM’? Then you understand how important each and everyone of these folks are to our success.
Jim Conkle
THEPULSE OF THE HIGH DESERT P O Box 290066 Phelan, CA 92329-0066
James Conkle
John Kafides
Publisher 1 760 617 3991 jim@motherroadenterprises.com
Military/Veterans Liaison 1 760 987 1600 66jkafides@gmail.com
Donna Drover
Len Nordmann
Marketing & Advertising Sales 1 909 331 2644 Donna.thepulse@gmail.com
Artist 1 951 678 5555 lennordmannartist@gmail.com
Jorge Leandro Rodrigues Graphic Designer 55 16 99991 0229 leandro.works@gmail.com
4468 Phelan Road Suite C Phelan, CA 92371 OF THE THEPULSE HIGH DESERT
3
Hollywood film shoot coming to the High Desert HOLLYWOOD IS COMING TO THE HIGH DESERT, Rich Artie Pasquale from the Sopranos and Robert Miano from Rossi Films LLC has chosen several locations for the upco- Donnie Brasco , all of which have been in hundreds of feaming feature film shoot- italian cowboy. ture films . The crew has already shot at the bowen ranch in Apple Valley along with recruiting Brent Gaddis of Channel 36 to play a role in the film and is scheduled to shoot at mr& mrs Bennets High Desert Oasis Ranch in Pinion Hills soon, and will also be shooting at the Roy Rogers Ranch. 14433 Roy Rogers Ranch road. Oro Grande, Calif on april 9, sat. 2022 between 8 am and 1pm, Roy Rogers Ranchs Jim Heffel who is also a real life cowboy and is in the film along with event planner Denise Mraz expressed their joy and are proud to Rich Rossi a Hollywood actor who has been in many fea- be hosting Rich Rossi films and if that isnt enough they ture films previously before taking on this project, he has will be open to the public as the ranch is also taking part in played oppossite Al Pacinio, Robert Deniro, Tom Sizemore the Oro Grande days celebration and is welcoming people and has been is such movies such as the Godfather 3, latin to come out to the ranch not only to take part in all the festivities but be extras in the movie. hitman and a host of other films to many to mention. He contacted his long time friend, actor and High Desert Mike Shanto another long time Hollywood actor who resident Randal Massaro to search out areas that would be plays Machine Gun Mike in the film expressed the oveperfect sites for shooting this mafia film with a western fla- rwhelming outpouring of support for this film from the re, but what is unique about this film is that rich wanted to people of the High Desert. give a chance for High Desert residents with no previous For more information you can go to the Roy Rogers Ranacting experience to be in a feature film and yet a film with ch website or call Roy Rogers Ranch or Randal Rassaro at big Hollywood celebrities like Eric Roberts, Tom Sizemore, 1-760-596-9665
You can request a complete pdf copy of this historical article emailing us at
jim@motherroadenterprises.com 4
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High Desert Pirate Faire
HERE IN THE HIGH DESERT, we’re all too familiar with the unpredictable winds. Undeterred by a weekend of wilder weather than usual, the Eighth Annual High Desert Pirate Faire was held at Hesperia Lake March 19th and 20th. The pirates steadied themselves against the wind and secured their camps. Still enthusiastic and eager to enjoy the celebration, they pulled out some warmer gear and pushed through. Hosted by Thomas Blackbeard, the High Desert Pirate Faire offers a look into the past, as well as a chance for the whole family learn about the unique variety of hobbies involved.
By Dana Mauer
From Park to Port
Upon arrival, visitors were greeted at the ticket booth by a friendly group of pirates and a pet iguana. A few steps further, the park had been transformed into an island port full of merchants, food, and entertainment. Offering meat pies, turkey legs, fried fish, ale and more, guests got a taste of themed foods as they were immersed in the atmosphere. While strolling through the park, there was no shortage of family-friendly entertainment. Welcoming pirates engaged visitors, holding cannon and combat demonstrations, and shared a bit about what they do outside of the faire. On stage at the other side of the faire, bands and performances drew crowds. For an extra special experience, curious guests could be locked up and see what it was like to spend some time in the stockade. More than just dressing the part, woodworkers, costume makers, brewers, jewelry designers, and others represented the skilled craftsmanship side of the Pirate Faire.
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Passionate Participation
Era enthusiasts gather at these events to celebrate the Golden Age of Pirates and share their hobbies, knowledge, and passion with others. Small groups called Clans and Guilds set up camps to hold demonstrations, play games, and offer trinkets for purchase. The goods and games are all handmade, showing off impressive craftsmanship and themed souvenirs. Guests could browse everything from corsets and ceramic skulls to detailed treasure chests and crystals. All types of hobbyists contribute to the faire with their own unique perspectives and imaginations. They work together for reenactments, cosplay, and a mutual love of the rich history. Exploring the faire, you might get pulled into a fun game and share some laughs or check out the view from a gigantic rocking horse. Lots of the participants also take part in the Renaissance Faire events, camping alongside an even wider variety of like-minded creatives. The Pandemic stalled the High Desert Pirate Faire the past two years, but it was enthusiastically welcomed back to the park. Despite the wind ripping at the camps and black flags, the pirates and the locals are looking forward to better weather for next year. 5
How to Help Your Senior Parent Adjust to Assisted Living CHANGE IS A CONSTANT; yet, accepting and adapting to change isn’t easy. As a result, many of us aren’t open to change. This is more so in case of aging seniors moving from the comfort of their homes into an assisted living community. Most aging seniors aren’t open to this change as they fear isolation and are unsure of what the new environment will bring. On the other hand, a few seniors take to it from day one and try to adapt to the new environment. They find it thrilling to live in a new community, get socially active, and pursue hobbies. Either way, the first few days (even months) in the new community can be challenging for your senior parent. Hence, it’s important to be around your seniors and offer much-needed encouragement, positive reassurance, and support to help them adjust to the new lifestyle. Here are some effective tips for easing the transition for your senior parent.
Looking for senior housing?
ted assisted living facilities offer a range of activities for seniors and also invite volunteers to help with community Get a FREE personalized consultation today! Call 1-800-757-9718 to speak to an expert senior living work. For instance, several facilities have residents taking up roadvisor, always at no cost to you. les, such as managing the library or answering phone calls. Increased social activity will improve their well-being and 1. Stay in touch The fear of isolation is one of the top reasons why seniors make them realize that the new life isn’t as bad as it seemed earlier. are reluctant to move to an assisted living facility. Don’t let your elderly parent succumb to feelings of isola- At times, take a friend, a former neighbor, or another fation and abandonment while in the assisted living facility. mily member along to lighten the mood and help your elderly parent feel loved. Regular visits can assure them of your love and support. If you live in the same city, visit as frequently as possible. Aim at keeping the lines of communication flowing. Even Introduce predictability in your visits. For instance, block if you think your parent is well cared for, it’s critical to be your calendar for Saturday each week to spend the day with around till they are fully on board which, in some cases, takes longer than expected. your senior loved one. If you have a hectic work schedule, use technology to your Listen! Allow your parent to express their emotions. Giadvantage. Skype and Whatsapp are effective tools to keep ving them time to acclimate to this new living style will go the lines of communication flowing, regardless of where a long way in facilitating greater happiness for them in the future. you are. Be with your senior parent during and after the move-in period to smooth the transition. In fact, stay with them for a 3. Don’t be over-protective Maintaining senior independence is critical as it promotes few days during the move-in phase to help them settle in. a sense of purpose and achievement. This boosts their self-worth and emotional well-being. 2. Lend an empathetic ear Moving to an assisted living facility is often accompanied That’s exactly the lifestyle that assisted living facilities proby mixed feelings of abandonment, inadequacy, fear of the mote. They offer customized care services while ensuring unknown, and loss of dignity and independence. It’s na- your senior’s independence and privacy. tural for your senior to feel distraught and isolated during Though you may be concerned about your parent’s ability to adjust, avoid being overprotective of them. their first few months at assisted living. Stay in constant touch with your parent during this initial Offer necessary and reasonable attention and care but refrain from hand holding them. Doing so will only increase phase. Patiently listen to all that they have to share, even if it’s full your senior’s dependence on you, preventing them from of negative talk. Avoid trivializing the situation by saying adapting to the new environment. things like, ‘It’s just a phase,’ ‘It’s not as bad as you are making it look,’ or ‘You are being negative.’ Instead, hear them out and offer solutions that can help them adjust to Older adult needs to move? Get senior living pricing and availability near you. their new environment. Encourage them to participate in the activities and social Call 1-800-757-9718 to speak with an expert senior events organized by the assisted living facility. Most repu- living advisor today 6
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4. Add a personal touch to the new living space One sure-shot way of helping your aging parent adjust to the new environment is by placing familiar items and keepsakes in their assisted living suite or apartment. For instance, if your parent is accustomed to having a Bible, other books, music CDs, and a family photo at their bedside, do the same in their new living space. Encourage your senior loved one to share their layout preferences and allow them to make decisions pertaining to their apartment decor. Get their inputs on the furniture arrangement and the choice of pictures and keepsakes. Involve them in setting up the room but make sure it’s functional and safe. Cloning the home environment will help them feel at home in the new environment. 5. Connect with the staff The staff at reputed assisted living facilities take a lot of care to make their senior residents feel involved. They often go out of their way to attend to their specific health and entertainment needs. However, since your ward is still adjusting to their new home, it’s wise to meet the staff and discuss your senior’s care needs. This will ensure that the little things that make your parent’s life comfortable are taken care of. Whenever you visit the facility, meet the staff to understand how your parent is adjusting. This will help you work with them towards making your senior’s life more comfortable in the facility. Summing up Your parent has always been there for you, in good and rough times alike. Now, as they move into assisted living, it’s your responsibility to ease the transition for them. Without a doubt, the initial days at the assisted living community are going to be challenging. Use the tips shared in this post to help your elderly parent adjust to their new home and live a happy and healthy life.
Today’s Woman Foundation Announces Gala Fix it up with nothing up front. Sell your home faster, for a better price. The REALVITALIZESM program, powered by HomeAdvisor, is an exclusive offering for Coldwell Banker clients that helps with home improvements and repairs to prep their home for sale.
THE COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT IN HESPERIA will host this years Black Dress Affair Gala fundraiser. The event will be held on Saturday, October 1st at 5:00 PM, so save the date. Today’s Woman Foundation is accepting nominations from the community for candidates in several age groups demonstrating excellence in the areas of Leadership, Health & Wellness, and Education. “This will be the 5th year we celebrate local “Women of Excellence” at the Gala, and it is always a very special part of the evening to meet them and hear their inspiring stories of impact,” says Executive Director, Cindy Bostick. If you’d like to nominate an individual, the form is available online at Todayswomanfoundation.org during the month of April for the following age groups: Future Leader (age 14-19), Young Professional (20-30), and Mentor/Leader (age 40+). Cindy adds, “This year, we will be awarding scholarships for honorees in the Future Leader category to help with tuition, books, etc., so please take the time to review the nomination criteria on our website and nominate someone you feel demonstrates excellence of character, work ethic, and service.
We cover the upfront costs and get paid back when the home sells. No hidden fees, interest charges or markups.
Apple Valley
Barstow
760.242.6000
760.256.1033
Jess Ranch
Phelan
Victorville
760.247.6460
760.868.8000
760.684.8100
CBHomesource.com
Hesperia 500487 _ HOME SOURCE
760.244.1921
DRE #01902736
The work of Today’s Woman Foundation is diverse and centered around it’s mission to provide resources, education and tools for high desert women and their families. Visit Todayswomanfoundation.org to learn more about the meaningful work the organization does in the community.
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High Desert Auto & Bike Show THE MONTHLY HIGH DESERT AUTO & BIKE SHOW had a great turnout Saturday March 20th despite the cold windy weather. Automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts enjoyed the sounds of the live band playing, food & snack vendors. There were vendors selling parts, diecast, collectibles crafts and more! The swap meet will continue monthly, throughout the year. It is free for spectators and to display your cool rides. Held monthly at Inglis Classics for information on reserving a space call: 281-601-2713. See the flyer in this publication for dates and details.
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Meet the Future Queen of the Hesperia Wranglers and her court. From left to right: Cameron Yates (Jr. contestant) Elizabeth Robinson (Young contestant), Valeria Durantes (Tiny contestant) Sydney Webb (Miss contestant) Sage Halterman (Tiny contestant) Shea Schwinning (Petite contestant)
SAGE HALTERMAN IS THE 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER of Sharvel Gretzner and Scott Schwinning of Phelan and Daniel & Rena Halterman of Apple Valley. She is in Kindergarten at Heritage Elementary in Phelan. Competition will be held March 26 & 27 with the winner to be crowned on Mar 27th at the Coronation held at Baldy Mesa Middle School in Phelan following 2 days of competing. Valeria Durantes is the 5 year old daughter of Leonela Rodriguez and Daniel Durantes of Hesperia. She is
currently in Kindergarten at Mesa Grande Elementary in Hesperia. Shea Schwinning is the 9 year old daughter of Scott Schwinning and Sharvel Gretzner of Phelan and Madeline and Corey Anderson of Washington. She is in the 4th grade at Heritage elementary in Phelan. Young Miss contestant- Elizabeth Robinson is the 11 year old daughter of Jamie Holmes of Phelan. She is in the 5th grade at Piñon Hills Elementary. Our reigning Junior Miss has graciously agreed to stay
on this year and fine tune her competitive skills, Cameron Yates is the 15year old daughter of Sophi and Patrick Yates of Apple Valley. She is a sophomore at The Lewis Center in Apple Valley. Sydney Webb is the 16 year old daughter of Coby Webb and Chris Davis of Cherry Valley. She is a sophomore at Beaumont High School where she’s a member of the Varsity Golf Team, the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (AFJROTC) and part of California High School Rodeo Association District 8.
2016-2020 American Community Survey 5 year estimates. For San Bernardino County, CA Median Age
33.6 years
Mean Travel Time to Work
32.3 minutes
High School graduate or higher
80.7%
Unemployment rate
7.3%
Foreign Born Without Health Insurance Median Household Income Average Household Size Internet Access Below Poverty
20.7% 8.3% $65,761.00 3.3 people 87.5% 15%
Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Census Bureau
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City of Barstow
Earth Day Celebration Friday, April 22, 2022 4pm-7pm at the Harvey House Discover the Desert at this FREE Event Featuring Vendor Booths, Compost Giveaway for Residents, Recycled Art Contest, Raffles, Desert Plants & Gardening Tips, OHV Safety Education, Kids Activities, Music, Food and More!
Coming together to support the health of our environment and our community!
For more information contact 760.255.5126 or email jreed@barstowca.org
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St. Patrick’s Day ST. PATRICK’S DAY COMMEMORATES Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades, festivals ant the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. As the tradition goes, wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day is supposed to make you invisible to leprechauns. Whispering Winds Assisted Living staff and residents celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in great fashion, our residents and staff wore green to celebrate the occasion. There was music, food, dancing, and potato bowling. A great time was had by all.
TIME FOR A
Fresh Start ?
It’s the time of year that signifies new beginnings. It’s time to renew, refresh, and relax in a new home!
THIS SPRING, IT’S TIME FOR: • Picnics with new friends • Spring-themed parties • Outings around town while enjoying the great weather • Feeling your best with the services, care, and amenities that meet your or your loved one’s needs Leave the woes of winter behind and enjoy sunny days with us!
Move in by April 30th and receive your birthday month FREE! Savings applies to rent only, care levels excluded.
Call (760) 979-5485 to learn more.
11825 Apple Valley Rd, Apple Valley, CA 92308 PegasusSeniorLiving.com Facility No. 361880646 A PEGASUS SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY
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You are not alone in your cancer journey THE PANDEMIC PUT A HALT ON A LOT OF THINGS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY.. NOT CANCER! High Desert Cancer Connection originated in 2016 when the American Cancer Society Representative and the High Desert Wig Bank met for the first time. Linda Walker & Liz McGiffin were on a mission to make sure residents of the High Desert would never feel alone and that they were aware of the support and resources available to them. High Desert Cancer Connection is a group of passionate and dedicated volunteers that refer to themselves as CAAT – Cancer Awareness Action Team. Under the High Desert Angels non-profit, they raise money to help local cancer survivors and provide support groups and classes to bring survivors together. “Though Covid stopped us from meeting in person, our HDCC has continued to help cancer patients by providing support via phone/zoom and gifted items to help them through their cancer journey.” Liz McGiffin, Marketing Director Choice Medical Group. “Choice physicians share our organization with their patients at time of diagnosis, in hopes that nobody will feel alone during this difficult and emotional time of their lives.”
“We are excited to announce that we are bringing back an in-person Cancer Support Group in April. Melinda Marcus, 30+cancer survivor and volunteer will be mentoring and obtaining answers for the group.” Says Linda Walker, “the meetings will be on the third Wednesday of each month at the Senior Lounge 18564 Hwy 18, Suite 107, Apple Valley at 2pm.” High Desert Cancer Connection strives to make the ‘connection’ of helping cancer survivors and reaching out to the community for solutions/answers. If you know someone going through cancer, be sure to let them know of this organization. They have two locations to try on wigs and pick up needed items: Bella Mia Salon – 16727 Bear Valley Road, Hesperia 760.947.2712 Choice Medical Group – Senior Resource Center 18564 Hwy 18, Suite 106, Apple Valley 760.338.0914 To learn more about High Desert Cancer Connection, visit their website at www.hdcancerconnection.com or contact them at 760.887.3427
April 2022
April Events: Understand your benefits! Stop in for donuts/coffee and meet your Anthem BlueCross Representative April 20th * 8:30am-10:30am Senior Lounge
Tai Chi
8:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
9:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
3:30 Town Center
Tai Chi
8:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
9:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
8:30 Senior Lounge
Tai Chi
10:00 Town Center
Craft
1:00 Senior Lounge
Yoga
8:30 Senior Lounge
Tai Chi
10:00 Town Center
Yoga
Tai Chi
8:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
9:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
3:30 Town Center
Tai Chi
8:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
Look Good - Feel GREAT!
Tai Chi
10:00 Town Center
Meeting to learn more about your Medicare benefits April 26th * Noon Senior Lounge - RSVP Required
Yoga
10:00 Town Center
Tai Chi
8:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
9:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
8:30 Senior Lounge
Tai Chi
10:00 Town Center
Yoga
8:30 Senior Lounge
Tai Chi
10:00 Town Center
Craft
1:00 Senior Lounge
Yoga
8:30 Senior Lounge
Tai Chi
10:00 Town Center
Yoga
Medicare 101
1:00 Senior Lounge
Tai Chi
8:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
9:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
8:30 Senior Lounge
Tai Chi
Choice Medical Group membership not required to attend classes and utilize the Senior Resource Center services.
Yoga
Tai Chi Yoga
9:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
5 tips for Longevity! April 27th * 12:30pm Town Center - RSVP Required
RSVP required on Craft Classes & Workshops! 760.338.0914
10:00 Town Center
10:00 Town Center
8:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
fun seminar
Senior Lounge - 18564 Hwy 18, Suite 107, Apple Valley Town Center - 19111 Town Center Drive, Apple Valley Barstow Senior Center - 555 Melissa Avenue, Barstow
10:00 Town Center
9:00 Barstow Sr Ctr 3:30 Town Center
Yoga
9:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
8:30 Senior Lounge
Yoga
3:30 Town Center
18
Tai Chi
8:00 Barstow Sr Ctr
Yoga
Provided & Sponsored by...
8:30 Senior Lounge
Tai Chi
10:00 Town Center
Yoga
10:00 Town Center
Your ad could be here! Let THE PULSE be the voice and the door knocker for your business!! For rates and advertising information call: 909-331-2644 Email: Donna.ThePulse@gmail.com 12
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NAACP Event
IN HONOR OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH, NAACP Branch 1082 and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority partnered to present the “Martin Luther King Lunch, Learn, and Live, Health and Wellness Event” Sunday February 27, 2022 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Victorville. The luncheon was supported and sponsored by a large number of individuals, as well as local and civic organizations including the NCNW (National Council of Negro Women), Dvine Interventions, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’’s Department, Burning Bush Baptist Church, and the High Desert Masonic Lodge #107. Mayor Debra Jones and Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Irving, representing the City of Victorville, presented a procamation to NAACP President James Campbell. The two outstanding Keynote Speakers, Linda Titus, PA, RN,
and Blessing Unlimited HD Health and Wellness Coach; and Terance Stone, Founder, President, and CEO of Young Visionaries Youth Academy, and CEO of Stones Consulting, Inc. not only kept the group’s attention with dynamic messages,but had audience members on their feet and participating. The afternoon was rounded out with information on scholarship opportunities for area youth, as well as a drawing for beautiful donated gift baskets. Our thanks to NAACP President James Campbell, Membership Chairs LaKeisha Kidd- Campbell and Linda Titus for organiizing the event, to all the others who worked together to make it a success, and for all attendees committed to the goal of unifying our community, and working together to keep ourselves and those around us active and healthy, with a positive “we can do it” outlook on life.
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April events by Staff Reports TRADITIONALLY, WHEN THE WEATHER STARTS WARMING UP IN THE HIGH DESERT, various organizations begin hosting car shows, concerts, markets and other events. April will kick off with the 38th Annual High Desert Home and Garden Show on April 1 at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville. The three-day spring home show will include four buildings filled with home improvement ideas. Visitors can meet vendors, watch demonstrations, chat with contractors and be inspired. Scheduled showtimes are from noon to 5 p.m. on April 1, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 2 and 3 at the SBC Fairgrounds, 14800 Seventh Street. Entry for adults is $6, seniors are $1 and children under 18 are free with an adult. For more information, visit highdeserthomeshows.com.
Apple Valley
The Church for Whosoever in Apple Valley will present its annual stage-production of “The Whip, The Hammer & The Cross.” The live stage show tells the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on April 15 and 16. The church is located at 18628 Seneca Road. For more information, call 760-242-3191 or visit tcfw.org. Hosted by the Town of Apple Valley, the “Bunny Run 5K and 10K” is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on April 16 at James Woody Park and Community Center 13467 Navajo Road. For more information and to register, visit AVRecreation.org.
Hosted by the Hesperia Recreation and Park District, the “Kids Easter Egg Hunt” is scheduled at 10 a.m. on April 16 at Hesperia Community Park 10200 Datura Road. The event includes an egg hunt, bounce houses, carnival games, car show, vendor booths, food trucks and photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny. Rock’n Our Disabilities is hosting the “3rd Annual Superhero Walk & Roll” from 7:15 to 10 a.m. at Hesperia Civic Plaza Park, 15833 Smoke Tree Street in Hesperia. The event will include food, vendors and the walk. Adults are $25 and kids $15. To register and for more information, visit rocknourdisabilitiesfoundation.org.
Victorville
The Excelsior Performing Art group will present the Broadway Musical of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at the Victor Valley College Performing Arts Center at 18422 Bear Valley Road in Victorville. Showtimes are 6 p.m. on April 8, and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on April 9. For tickets, visit https://gofan.co/app/school/CA18817 Hesperia The City of Victorville will host a “Spring Festival” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 16 at Hosted by Rock’n Our Disabilities Foundation, the “6th Annual Eggxtra Special Egg Trunk Hook Park located at 14973 Joshua Street. The event will include a kids zone, prizes and for Special Needs Families” is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 2 at 17508 Her- vendors. Egg hunts for kids 3 to 9, and special needs, are scheduled every 45 minutes. For cules Street in Hesperia. For more information, visit rocknourdisabilitiesfoundation.org. more information and to purchase tickets, visit VictorvilleCA.gov/SpecialEvents.
Housing Report January 2022 High Desert Overview
$385,000
MEDIAN SOLD PRICE
median sold price & avg. psf
ADELANTO
APPLE VALLEY
$360,000 $221 PSF
$385,000 $208 PSF
BARSTOW
HELENDALE/ SILVER LAKES
50%
10%
3%
33%
355
HOMES ON THE MARKET
261
HOMES SOLD LAST MONTH
22.2%
PRICE INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR
$214.00
AVERAGE PRICE SF
Call or email a Coldwell Banker Home Source REALTOR® to receive a complete copy of the Housing Report for the High Desert. Data from HDAOR MLS is deemed reliable, however not guaranteed. Nominal monthly transactional volume in various communities may not represent cumulative year-over-year performance.
APPLE VALLEY 760.242.6000 JESS RANCH 760.247.6460 CBHOMESOURCE.COM
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Info@CBHomesource.com
$240,000 $174 PSF
$300,000 $185 PSF
JESS RANCH/ DEL WEBB
HESPERIA
46%
33%
$440,000 $238 PSF OAK HILLS
$349,500 $216 PSF PHELAN
37% $556,000 $185 PSF PINON HILLS
36% $408,000 $206 PSF SPRING VALLEY LAKE
37%
29%
$391,000 $248 PSF VICTORVILLE
$435,000 $229 PSF WRIGHTWOOD
$401,000 $216 PSF
$375,000 $276 PSF
27%
BARSTOW 760.256.1033 PHELAN 760.868.8000 @CBHomesource.com
6%
HESPERIA 760.244.1921 VICTORVILLE 760.684.8100 DRE# 01902736
S.W.I.M. SENIORS WITH INQUIRING MINDS (S.W.I.M.) was formed in 1993 by seniors who wanted to keep their minds active and alert. We meet each week to hear an invited guest speaker or one of our members present on various topics. Like most groups because of Covid-19, S.W.I.M. has been on and off again for the last 15 months. Happily we were able to move to the Percy Bakker Community Center in October of 2021. Seniors With Inquiring Minds meet every Thursday at 1:00 pm in the Percy Bakker Community Center, 9333 “E” Avenue, Hesperia, just ½ block south of Main Street. Visitors are always welcome. • April 7 James Quigg – Photo journalist • April 14 Thurston Smith (Smitty) - 16th Assemblyman serving the 33rd District of California • April 21 Miranda Mulhall – Representative of the San Bernardino County Fire Department • April 28 Eric Scott – Prehistoric horses in the High Desert Any question call Leah (760) 985-0508
The High Desert Marines The High Desert Marines is a non-profit organization, made up of Marines and Navy Corpsmen non longer on active duty, that supports local military, veterans and community organizations. They meet the 4th Thursday of each month at the Oak Hills Brewery at 1800, 6 pm for you non-military people. If you belong to a group, military or civilian, that you would like to share let us know. Especially if your group is dedicated to seniors, health issues and veterans.
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City of Victorville awards contract for Phase One of Wellness Center Campus Construction Construction of low-barrier homeless shelter and medical clinic to begin in April
TODAY, THE CITY OF VICTORVILLE ANNOUNCED it awarded a contract for phase one of its Wellness Center Campus construction to Angeles Contractor Inc. in the amount of $4.8 million. Earthwork and installation of underground utilities for the low-barrier homeless shelter and medical clinic will begin in April. Construction of the Wellness Center Campus, which is expected to be complete in December, is being funded through a $28 million Homekey Grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. “Envisioned with the assistance of our Homelessness Solutions Task Force, the Wellness Center is critical to our strategy to reduce homelessness in Victorville,” said Victorville Mayor Debra Jones. “By increasing access to shelter, health care, and supportive services, the Wellness Center will help our community’s most vulnerable stabilize their lives.” Combining a low-barrier emergency shelter, recuperative care facility, medical clinic, interim housing, and wraparound support services; Victorville’s Wellness Center Campus will be the first facility of its kind in San Bernardino County. The Wellness Center will be located on 4.5-acres of City-owned land at 16902 First Street. The Wellness Center Campus has been planned with a housing first approach with low-barrier or minimal requirements for entry. It will offer interim housing and supportive services for homeless and those who are at risk of becoming homeless. The non-congregate design of the modular housing units will offer 110 separate units with a minimum capacity of 170 beds. Along with interim housing beds, the Wellness Center Campus will include community space and offer a wide variety of support services such as a medical clinic, recuperative
care, substance abuse counseling, job training and placement, public benefits assistance, pet care and housing navigation. Additional amenities such as a community garden, recreational sports courts, dog kennel and landscaped open space have been incorporated into the design. Altogether the housing units and support service buildings will comprise 25,920-square-feet of new construction. Future phases of the Wellness Center construction include the modular shelter and bathroom units, the 9,600 square feet of community buildings, installation of the modular units, and remaining site work such as pavement and lighting. The City of Victorville was awarded its Homekey Grant in December 2021 making it the first jurisdiction in Southern California to benefit from the second round of the state’s grant program, which was created by the Governor and Legislature “to make real progress in addressing homelessness.” The City of Victorville has the second-highest concentration of homeless persons in San Bernardino County. More information about the City of Victorville’s homelessness solutions strategy is available online at VictorvilleCA.gov/HomelessnessSolutions. Located in Southern California at the high-point between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Victorville is the leading city for both industry and retail in the High Desert region. Victorville is a growing, vibrant community that is home to approximately 135,000 residents and some of the area’s largest employers. Clean air, abundant mountain vistas, family-friendly recreational activities, spectacular sunsets and breathtaking night skies entice locals and visitors alike to fall in love with this city that is within a few hours of SoCal beaches, National Parks, mountain retreats, and other major attractions. Ontario International Airport is less than an hour away. Learn more about the City of Victorville at VictorvilleCA.gov.
Seniors to Benefit from New Homeless Village in Goshen BY SPRING OF NEXT YEAR, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA is expected to have its first ever master-planned community that will provide dignified homes, jobs and services for those experiencing chronic homelessness. That community will be in Tulare County. Groundbreaking is scheduled in early August for the Neighborhood Village, a community on West Riggin in Goshen that will have 49 residences for the homeless, each equipped with kitchen and bathroom amenities. The community will feature a coffee shop and marketplace, chapel, picnic area, library, social hall, organic garden and parks, and provide job opportunities to its residents – such as maintenance and gardening – as well as opportunities to create and sell their arts and crafts. Neighborhood Village will also offer mental and physical health services, coordination of benefits and case management, wellness and financial literacy classes, and Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. When the Neighborhood Village opens next year, many of its residents are expected to be seniors. The homeless population is rapidly aging. According to the Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance’s A Point in Time report, the number of seniors (those 55+) who were homeless in 2021 was 213. Six years ago, it was 85. Currently, one out of every four individuals who are homeless are 55 or older, and the number of homeless seniors is expected to increase, partly due to the high costs of housing and health care. Those who are most vulnerable will be the first provided with new residences, according to Adrianne Hillman, founder and CEO of Salt + Light Works, the organization behind the Neighborhood Village. “Most vulnerable and seniors tend to fall into this category,” she said. “Older adults who are homeless face unique challenges and often require special support,” said Hillman. “People experiencing homelessness age more rapidly than others who are housed, and older adults with extensive histories of homelessness typically pre16
sent as much older than their biological age reflects. They may be more challenged with activities of daily living, with poor eyesight, balance and hearing challenges. “Older adults are also more likely to suffer from cognitive impairments and are more likely to present with depression,” she added. “They may require more medical interventions, compared to the general population of people experiencing homelessness.” Despite the special accommodations for seniors, such as ADA ramps to make mobility easier, Hillman noted that residents of Neighborhood Village “have to be able to live independently.” For more information, visit http://www.saltandlightworks.org. Reprinted with permission of THE GOOD LIFE Publisher’s Byline Although this project is not in our area it is the kind of projects we would like to see happen here too. It benefits seniors, homeless, veterans and the communities.
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Use These Scam Tools to Spot Fraud Dawn Bystry, Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
ON MARCH 10, WE HELD OUR ANNUAL NATIONAL SLAM THE SCAM DAY to raise We encourage you to watch the replay below of our Facebook Live from March 10 about awareness of Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams. In case Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams. Please share these you missed it, here are our top tools and resources for this year: scam resources with your friends and family—and help us spread the message on social 1. Check out our Fraud Prevention and Reporting page to learn about Social Security media. Let’s continue to Slam the Scam together! fraud – and how we fight scammers. 2. Read our Scam Alert factsheet to learn what tactics scammers use and how to protect yourself. 3. Create your own personal my Social Security account to stay one step ahead of fraudsters. Please read our blog post for more information about creating or signing in to your personal my Social Security account. 4. Learn about other types of fraud on our Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) Scam Awareness page. You’ll also see how to report these scams to our OIG and other government agencies. 5. Read our blog post to learn how to guard your Social Security card – and protect your personal information. You can also check out the Federal Trade Commission’s page, Avoiding and Reporting Scams, for additional scam-related information.
California Writers Club Celebrates Women’s History Month THE HIGH DESERT BRANCH OF THE CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB members met recently in the Hesperia Library Community room for a Read-in of works by women writers for their Fourth Annual celebration of Women’s History Month. Master of Ceremonies was author Emmalisa Hill who began by announcing that the evening was dedicated to writers and poets of the Ukraine. The room was filled with sunflowers, their national flower. Reader Judith Pfeffer began by reading a selection by the renowned Agatha Christie. Lorelei Kay read “My Grandmother Plaits my Hair at the End of the World,” by Shivanee Ramlochan. Linda Boruff read an abridged Polish folktale, “The Jolly Tailor Who Became King,” by Lucia Merecka Borski, and Debbie Joy Rubio did a powerful performance reading of a poem by Anastasia Dmitruk, “Never We Will Be Brothers.” Poet Robert Keith Young read Loralei Kay
HDCWC President Dwight Norris
poems by his mother, Bonnie Young, a former Poet Laureate of San Luis Obispo County. He also read from Linda Pastan’s work. Rita Wells, in addition to setting up the refreshment table, told facts about sunflowers, symbols of optimism and nuclear disarmament which actually absorb radioactive toxins from the environment. Ann Miner read from the club’s state Literary Review, and President Dwight Norris read a poem by Meg Wheatley, “I Want to be a Ukrainian,” written in 2005 to honor the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. Mary Langer Thompson read a short love poem by Lina Kostenko, a wildly popular poet and novelist in Ukraine who was censored for a number of years but is currently publishing. All that was missing seemed to be music until Anita I. Holmes sang a Ukrainian lullaby, partly in Ukrainian and partly in English. It was an evening to be long remembered. The High Desert branch of the California Writers Club meets the second Saturday of each month at Jess Ranch Community Church in Apple Valley. Visit www.hdcwc.com for more information.
THEPULSE OF THE HIGH DESERT Serving the seniors, families and businesses of our area. OF THE THEPULSE HIGH DESERT
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8 Sources of Low Cost Internet for Seniors Low cost internet services help seniors stay connected THE INTERNET IS A VALUABLE TOOL FOR SENIORS. It helps them stay connected with family, friends, and community services. This helps prevent social isolation, which can seriously worsen health. An internet connection is also needed to use helpful services like Amazon Echo, free caption phones, free videos (like exercises to reduce fall risk), on-demand music, streaming movies, and more. Having internet at home also allows the use of safety services, like fall monitoring, automated temperature control, home security, and more. But monthly access fees can be expensive. Fortunately, federal government programs and some internet service providers are helping seniors get online with low-cost services, typically with no monthly contracts and free or low-cost equipment. We rounded up 8 sources of low-cost internet for seniors. Availability depends on location and financial situation, but these programs are well worth checking into
5. EveryoneOn EveryoneOn is an organization that works with a variety of internet service providers to offer low-cost plans. See offers 6. Spectrum Internet Assist Spectrum Internet Assist offers special rates on internet internet service and discounts for those participating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program. Check availability in your area 7. Google Fiber In some neighborhoods, Google Fiber offers high-speed plans for $20/per month. Check for availability and find out to $9.25 off the cost of phone, internet, or bundled services. Participants in Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, Veterans benefits, more and other federal, state, and tribal assistance programs will 8. Internet First be eligible. Find out more and sign up The Internet First program offers high speed internet service to qualifying low-income households in RCN, Grande, 3. Comcast Xfinity Eligible individuals can get home internet service for $10/ and Wave serviceable areas. Check for availability and find month, in-home Wifi, option to buy a discounted compu- out more
ter, access to free internet training classes, and access to Xfinity Wifi hotspots. Free access is available for those parti1. FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program cipating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program. Find Most internet providers participate in the FCC’s Affordable out more and apply online Connectivity Program which allows eligible households to save up to $30 a month on internet service and get a one- 4. AT&T -time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop Access from AT&T provides free or low-cost home internet computer. Find out more and check eligibility service to qualifying households. Low-cost access is $30/ month or less based on the maximum speed available at 2. FCC’s Lifeline program the address. Free access is available for those participating Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program.Find out of phone or internet services. Eligible customers will get up more and apply online
8 sources of low cost internet for seniors
By DailyCaring Editorial Team
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The Adelanto Visionary by Rene Ray De La Cruz
OVER A CENTURY AGO, ONE MAN HAD THE VISION to develop his High Desert property into the greatest healing and agricultural development in the Victor Valley “Adelanto Folk Greet Visitors” boasted a May 1922 edition of the San Bernardino County Sun, which shared highlights of a new project in the “growing colony 5 miles west of Victorville.” The Chamber of Commerce Trade Commission of Southern California made a trip there to visit the development by Earl Holmes Richardson of Ontario. Richardson, a native of Wisconsin, moved to Pomona in 1895 and later used his scientific know-how and business savvy to helped to modernize Ontario In 1915, he laid the foundation of Adelanto, which was incorporated in 1970 and became a charter cit y 22 years later. In 1915, Richardson sold one of his patents and spent $75,000 to purchase land in Adelanto. His goal was to develop Adelanto into one of the first master-planned communities in Southern California.
Earl Holmes Richardson
In the early 1900s, Richardson was a meter reader for the Ontario Power Company, where he experimented with and improved electrifying flat irons. He convinced his company to generate power all day every Tuesday, which was considered ironing day, so power customers could use his new iron. He reasoned that if more irons were used then more power would be demanded resulting in high rates reduced. By 1904, he left the power company and started up the Pacific Electric Heating Company on Euclid Avenue, where his wife, Mary, suggested he make an iron with a hotter point for easier pressing around buttonholes, ruffles and pleats. In 1905, he made and sold more electric irons under the “Hotpoint” name than any other company in America. Soon, Richardson began utilizing electricity to create the “El” line of household appliances, such as an electric coffee pot, toaster, hotplates, teapots and more Meanwhile, George A. Hughes, a 33-year-old former journalist from Iowa, was experimenting with the first electric range. In 1918, Richardson and Hughes joined forces, merging their companies with the General Electric Company, and creating the Hotpoint brand of appliances. Photo E.H. Richardson: Over 100 years ago, inventor and businessman E. H. Richardson helped to develop Ontario and lay the foundation of Adelanto. (Photo Courtesy Of The City Of Adelanto) Photo Sept 1920 Adelanto: A 1920 ad for the booklet “Adelanto the desert transformed.”(Photo Courtesy Of The Evening Index) He subdivided his land into one-acre plots, which he hoped to sell to veterans with respi- Reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at HighDesertPeople@gmail.com or on Twitter @HighDesertPeeps ratory ailments suffered during World War I. During that time, physicians would suggest people suffering from breathing ailments to convalesce in a dry climate for an extended time Richardson also hoped to build a respiratory hospital, but that dream was never realized. During their trip, the chamber of commerce group visited Richardson’s 250-acre dream, which included land producing pears, apples and grapes. “We have the electric service, telephone service, domestic water system, mutual irrigating water system, post office, grocery store, garage, cement pipe plant (and) adobe brick plant,” said Richardson His land also included adobe brick homes, 175-acre pear orchard, 40-acre apple orchard, 20-acre vineyard, turkey ranch, two concrete-lined reservoirs, eight miles of concrete irrigation pipe, six miles of street trees, three wells in operation with three more planned. They also learned about Richardson’s business, the Adelanto Fruit Company, which was selling 4-year-old “Pear Lands” for $400 per acre. The land deal included an offer to build a “beautiful 5-room house adjoining this property with built-in features and all modern conveniences for $3,800,” according to print ads in several publications. Richardson was outspoken about protecting the water rights of the Mojave River against diversion. He stated that he’d partner with others in the Victor Valley to resist attempts by outsiders to obtain the water. The 62-year-old Richardson died of a heart attack in January 1934 and was interred at Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario, according to the Chino Champion. OF THE THEPULSE HIGH DESERT
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Meet Betty Blunt - the High Desert’s newest centenarian BETTY BLUNT IS ONE OF THE HIGH DESERT’S newest centenarians celebrating her milestone birthday on March 5 with 130 loved ones from Southern California and across the U.S.Blunt’s birthday at the Percy Bakker Center in Hesperia included food, friends, family and the sharing of cherished memories, according to Blunt’s daughter, Becky Otwell. Otwell was proud to say that the first thing people noticed about her mother was “the twinkle in her eyes, her shoulder-length silver thick hair and her big happy smile.” Blunt, who uses a walker for balance, still lives an active and independent life and resides in a home behind her daughter and son-in-law in Hesperia. Blunt said she’s in perfectly good health, but admits she is hard of hearing. As for her secret to longevity, Blunt admits she’s been blessed all her life “I do not know why since I haven’t been that good of a person,” Blunt said. “Some say it is because of my occasional vodka straight up martinis, but I think it is because my grandmother taught me about Bible verses.” Blunt said the biggest change she’s seen over the last century is how individuals communicate with each other. She recalls early radio, rotary phones and television sets. “We also had a plastic cover that we put on the front of our black and white TV,” said Blunt, who joked about having a color set because the TV cover was “blue at the top, green at the bottom, with a pale red in the middle.” She grew up on a farm in Ransom, Kansas, with an estimated population of less than 400 in the mid-1920s, Blunt said, “For our fun, we used to run to catch a cow and pull its tail.” “Betty’s grandparents had a wheat farm, so it comes as no surprise that they had 11 children,” Otwell said. “Betty had ten aunts and uncles, one brother, Gene, and one sister, Vera.” While attending Ransom High School, Blunt was a drum majorette with the school band. She stood 5-feet tall when she played center on the girl’s basketball team. She also sang in the high school choir, which earned a trip to the state championship. Blunt recalled how her blacksmith father built the family’s first flushing toilet and RV, which they used to travel for work. “I’ve been working since I was 10-years-old,” Blunt said. “When times were hard and no jobs to be found, my family became what was then called fruit tramps, which meant we traveled to wherever there was work, picking and harvesting.”
After graduating from high school, Blunt’s family traveled to Arizona, where they picked lettuce. There, she met her husband, Milliard, she said with a twinkle in her eye. After a few short dates, the couple eloped and were married on Christmas Eve 1939. When the couple’s son, Douglas, was born, Blunt stayed in the hospital for 27 days. Her daughter, Becky, was born 18 months later. In the mid to late forties Milliard’s parents, Gilbert and Marie, moved from San Diego to Victorville due to her asthma. Joining them on their westward move were Milliard and Betty, and his brother bud. Also, his sister, Kay, and her husband Herman Schlosser, who both worked for Harris Transportation, Millard’s other sister, Patsy, came to Apple Valley when family member Louie Switzer got out of the Navy. Around 1951, Millard and Betty Blunt moved to Victorville, where she worked at the Nu-way Cleaners & Laundry on the corner of Eighth and C Streets. Betty and Millard also worked at the Brunch House on the corner of Seventh Street and C Street in downtown Victorville. The couple moved to Barstow and opened “Blunt’s Spa” restaurant in Barstow, which was open around the clock and catered to truckers. Milliard and Betty moved back to Victorville and opened Blunt Realty in 1963 on the corner of I Avenue and Main Street in Hesperia. “Back then, there were only four real estate offices in Hesperia,” Blunt said. “Houses were around $10,000 and lots were less than $500.” Millard served as president of the company while Betty played the role of vice president, secretary, notary, treasurer “and the gofer,” she said. “In those days, we had to travel down the hill into San Bernardino to close an escrow,” said Blunt, about the couple who were active with the Hesperia Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge and Kiwanis Club. During a Victor Valley Board of Realtors dinner in 1967, Blunt joined the lineup of entertainers when she sang “Maria Elena,” a 1932 song dedicated to María Elena Peralta, the wife of the late Mexican President Emilio Portes Gil. Millard also joined a community of investors who opened High Desert Community Bank on Main Street. Blunt also shared her time with her Red Hat Society, who she joined with for many trips abroad. Even though Betty and Millard only had two children, their family grew to 10 grandchildren, including Douglas, Timothy, Milliard and Rebecca Blunt; David, Debi, Kelly and Robin Adams. Danny and Michael Otwell. She now has 17 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren, who she enjoys spending time with. Photos Courtesy Of Becky Otwell
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THE LUCK OF THE IRISH was with the residents and staff of Solstice Senior Living in Apple Valley as they were treated to a fun St Patty’s Day celebration full of green, goodies and great entertainment on St Patty’s Day this year.
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WE WILL GROW YOUR BUSINESS
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The Pulse Of The High Desert is a locally owned monthly publication featuring High Desert hometown events, local resources, and articles of interest for all ages covering the greater High Desert and surrounding areas. This publication is complementary and available in both print and online versions, the digital format can be viewed from any location making readership potentially unlimited. The 12,000 print copies of this publication are mailed to every resident of the Jess Ranch and Del Webb communities as well as all mailboxes in the Spring Valley Lake and Silver Lakes communities. Additionally, it is distributed in waiting rooms, restaurants, medical facilities, car washes and reception areas in businesses from Newberry Springs/Yermo across the whole HD up to and including the mountain areas of Big Bear and Wrightwood and The TriCommunities. 22
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Black Cowboys at “Home on the Range” This is a guest post by Maria Peña, a public relations strategist in the Library’s Office of Communications.
by Neely Tucker
BLACK MEN WERE AMONG THE FIRST COWBOYS IN THE U.S. They roped, branded and saddled up for cattle drives. Some gained fame, such as Bill Pickett and Nat Love. “I eventually brought up at Dodge City, Kansas, which at that time was a typical frontier city, with a great many saloons, dance halls, and gambling houses, and very little of anything else,” wrote Love, who was born enslaved in Tennessee, in his 1907 autobiography, “The Live and Adventures of Nat Love.”
Nat Love, one of the most famous Black cowboys of the Old West. Photo: Unknown. Prints and Photographs Division.
Pickett, credited with creating the bulldogging technique of bringing a young steer to the ground in a rodeo, was featured in a silent film, “The Bull-Dogger” in 1921. But mostly, as time passed, pop culture erased Black cowboys from the Western milieu, creating a misleading image of the Old West as peopled by white men on horseback, riding the lonely grasslands. The Library’s collections help document a more accurate picture of what cowboy culture, and life in the Western U.S., actually looked like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during the cowboy heyday. They include resource guides, newspaper archives, an American Folklife resource project, a 2020 concert of old Black cowboy songs, books, magazines, photographs and posters that document the role African Americans played, particularly in the 1870s, when many newly freed Black people headed west. “The myth of the cowboy is only one of many myths that have shaped our view of the West in the late 19th century,” reads the Library’s introduction to “The American West, 1865-1900” resource timeline. “The stereotype of the heroic white cowboy is far from true, however.”
Bill Pickett in a detail from a poster for “The Bull-Dogger.” Print: Ritchie Lith. Corp. 1923. Prints and Photographs Division.
One quick example: The origins of “Home on the Range,” the unofficial anthem of the West, are famously muddled, but it’s not disputed that the first recording was by a Black saloon keeper and former cowboy in San Antonio, who performed it for folklorist John Lomax in 1908. In fact, Lomax’s influential publication of 1910, “Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads,” traced several standards to Black cowboys, including “Git Along Little Dogies.” (The Lomax Family Collection is housed at the Library as John and his son, Alan, worked directly with the Library for more than a decade in recording and archiving American folk songs.) But, as much as film stars John Wayne, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry come to mind when “cowboy” is mentioned, the first actual cowboys in the Americas were Spanish vaqueros who introduced cattle to Mexico in the 1500s. Early Spanish missionaries played a major role in establishing cattle country in the West and training Native Americans as cattle herders. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 sent White settlers west of the Mississippi, driven by a sense of “continentalism,” later known as “manifest destiny,” the belief that white Americans should control a vast section of North America from coast to coast. The War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War in the 1840s were fueled by this belief, with settlers marching further west, warring with Native Americans. In these vast swathes of open terrain, where law enforcement was most often nonexistent, cattle were a source of wealth. There was no adequate fencing to pen them in, however. This left cowhands to fend for themselves in open country, keep up with their cattle by horseback and protect themselves from rustlers and bandits. Thus, the romantic legend of the cowboy was born: A quiet man, capable, tough, honest, respectful of ladies and possessed of a poetic respect for the land (and his horse). In the hugely popular Wild West shows of Buffalo Bill in the late 19th century, the cowboy novels of Zane Grey in the early 20th century, then the Western films and television shows in the midcentury, those cowboys were A cowboy competing in the Martin Luther King, Jr., African-American Heritage Rodeo in Colorado in 2016. Photo: Carol M. almost always white. Highsmith. Prints and Photographs Division. It was only part of the picture, though. No history of cowboy culture would be complete without contextualized narratives about the role that Native Americans, African Americans and Mexicans played. No one knows exactly how many cowboys there were (or exactly how that title was defined). But a number of estimates by historians, including Kenneth Porter, estimate that of the 35,000 or so cowboys of the era, about 6,000 to 9,000 were Black. They worked as ropers, trail cooks, wranglers and bronco busters. Some hunted game, sang, played an instrument on the trail or performed other duties for white cattlemen. In Texas, where enslaved Black people had been more than a quarter of the population before the Civil War, as many as one in four cowhands was Black. For Black cowboys, it wasn’t paradise, but it was often better than the harsh racism east of the Mississippi. Eleise Clark, a volunteer with the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center in Denver, said in a recent interview that the West was so vast and difficult that “racism took a backseat to survival sometimes. It’s hard to be prejudiced when you’re hungry and you’re thirsty.” Even in film history, Black cowboys were around, if behind the scenes. James Arthur Walker invented the “Hollywood Hop,” where a rider jumps off to the side of a walking or running horse, lands on the ground and bounces back into the saddle. Today, younger African Americans have been leading efforts to promote and protect the legacy of early Black cowboys in the American West by forming riding groups in many states, organizing parades or competing in national rodeos. The Black Cowboy Parade has been a popular annual event in Oakland, California, for the last 74 years. New York Times reporter Walter Thompson-Hernandez wrote a book about cowboys in Los Angeles County last year, “The Compton Cowboys: The New Generation of Cowboys in America’s Urban Heartland.” The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, which celebrates African American men and women who are keeping the cowboy tradition alive, has entertained over 5, 5 million people since its launch in 1984. Black cowboys, it would appear, didn’t disappear with the Old West.
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