21 minute read
Legendas are Created
Local Doctor’s journey is the stuff legends are created
NO ONE LIKES TO STAND IN LONG LINES especially while waiting to see a doctor. Dr. Hisham Abukamleh learned that lesson when he was a young boy living with his family in a refugee camp. He remembered the lines of people waiting for medical attention and saw how difficult it was for those with injuries or fevers to wait for help.
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He decided to become a doctor so he could make a difference for people who were in pain. He believed that people forced to wait in long lines for medical help were being underserved. “I believe the shortage of timely medical care is a humanitarian issue,” he said. Eventually he and his family came to the United States and settled in the High Desert.
He attended Victor Valley College and UC Riverside. He went to medical school in the Caribbean, received his medical training in Bakersfield and selected Internal Medicine as his specialty because doctors in this field cover all aspects of the patient’s treatment and care. Dr. Abukamleh recently opened his office in Apple Valley. He is a Paragon Healthy Partner.
He compares his role as doctor of Internal Medicine to being the quarterback of a football team. He sees adult patients first, by referral from another physician or the patients calling his office themselves for an appointment. He assesses the problem, much like a quarterback making a game plan. He can handle general medical issues but may refer the patient to a specialist. As patients progress through diagnosis, testing and treatment, Dr. Abukamleh formulates the next moves.
“Specialists and others send their test results and information to me,” he said. “I collect everything and decide where to go or what to do next.”
With their emphasis on preventative care. Dr. Abukamleh and his team enjoy seeing that patients receive the treatments they need. The best reward is taking complicated cases and removing the patient’s feelings of helplessness. “We want to send the patient home, happy.”
During the current pandemic, Dr. Abukamleh and his staff practice “patientcentered” using “unprecedented precautions.” “We appointments and patient distances,” he said, “and we have hand sanitizers at every station.” Masks and gloves are standard wear for everyone in the office, and all stations down thoroughly after every visit. In addition, patients’ temperatures can be taken enter the office, and patients can their cars as well.
Dr. Abukamleh sees patients Valley Hospital and Victor Valley Hospital in Victorville a Mary Medical in Apple Valley.
To make an appointment, call 760-515-4003. His office is located at 18144 Highway 18, Ste. 140,
Office hours through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
IMAGINE A CALIFORNIA WHERE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN, youth and families is cared for and supported in every aspect of their lives. Thirty stakeholders from the High Desert and other areas of rural San Bernardino County recently came together to share their insight to help make this vision a reality throughout our state.
The goal of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is to reimagine the way behavioral health support is provided to all children, youth and families in California. “We aim to do this by aligning the systems that support behavioral health to create an ecosystem that fosters social and emotional well-being and addresses the behavioral health challenges facing children and youth,” explained Melissa Stafford Jones, Director of the initiative. “The initiative takes a whole system approach by creating cross-system partnerships to ensure that the reimagined ecosystem is child and youth-centered and equity-focused.”
One major aspect of the CYBHI is to hold engagement events throughout the state and assess resident experiences with the current state of our behavioral health system. The California Department of Health and Human Services (CalHHS) hosted events in the larger urban areas along the coast, but wanted to ensure that our rural and inland residents were included in the discussion.
The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative was announced in July 2021 with a $4.4 billion investment to enhance, expand and redesign the systems that support behavioral health for children and youth. This stakeholder engagement gathering was designed to collect feedback, stories, and information about the experiences of youth, parents, and other stakeholders to inform these efforts.
This event was focused on gathering feedback and data regarding the opinions of rural residents of any background, age group, career, or pre-existing relationship with the California youth-serving behavioral health system. The CYBHI team aims to listen closely to the needs of attendees and collectively brainstorm a more equitable behavioral health system.
“I thought it was spectacular,” commented Michael Grabhorn, a Victorville resident and High Desert Community Coalition member who participated in the confidential listening session. “I can’t wait to read the report on the data that is being collected and to see what happens next.”
Please visit CYBHI project for more information about the CYBHI project.
Contact: Sarah Boyer Institute for Public Strategies (760) 843-7003 ext. 146 sboyer@publicstrategies.org
SWIM speakers for November meetings held on Thursday at 1 pm in the Percy Bakker Community Center, 9333 ‘E; Ave, Hesperia
November 03 Margaret Topartzer, Erma White, Juanita Riedell “How did I get here?”
November 10 Richard Rorex Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
November 17 Norman & Bill The British Bands – Part Two
November 24 Thanksgiving No Meeting
David Stedman
13782 Bear Valley Rd Ste D3 Box 321 Victorville, CA 92392 Cell: 909 838 6298 Email: stedmandd@yahoo.com
PULSE OF THE HIGH DESERT
LUCERNE VALLEY EDITION
We’re proud to offer “Student Stringers” articles from our Lucerne Valley Middle/High School students who are earning community points in their Helping Hands graduation program. These students are mentored by staff teacher David Prouty, who has an English/Journalism background. Each story is vetted and then passed along to LV PULSE edition Editor Rusty LaGrange before moving on to The PULSE of the High Desert publisher, James Conkle.
This partnership is approved by LVUSD, Co-Principal Kelly Boeing, Helping Hands program, Rusty LaGrange, founder of the project, and owner/publisher of The PULSE of the High Desert, James Conkle. For further information call 760.646.2661.
Pride and Esteem in the Halls Offered by New Military Science Class
By Riley Rodriguez & Diego Juarez
ANEW CLASS IS CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED to students at Lucerne Valley Middle/High School. For the first time in the school’s history, students can now enroll in Military Science. The course encourages students to be both prideful and knowledgeable about the traditions and heritage of the United States military. Students also get a new opportunity to learn the ways of using tools in the military and of accomplishing everyday tasks of U.S. soldiers.
Students will participate in an eight-week boot camp that will be used to teach the physical aspects of the military and also to encourage discipline. In addition, the class has an in-depth history component with focused lessons and discussions occurring frequently.
So far, the new class has been received well. One student noted, “The class is fun and it provides structure; the discussion has an in-depth groundbreaking approach with complete participation.”
Another student described the class as “providing a framework for success” and “a good balance of hard work and cerebral evaluation.” From what has been observed, students and the instructor have and will continue to enjoy this class.
The individual responsible for teaching and leading the innovative program is U.S. Army veteran SGT. Klinger. His decision to become a Lucerne Valley educator is much appreciated by the school’s staff and students. According to SGT. Klinger, “With the collaboration of the students and the staff we hope this newly established program will flourish into a program that can manifest the ideas of military pride, prestige, direction, and show beyond a doubt the importance of military ideas and values in our beloved valley.”
Exciting New Teachers, New Changes at LV Middle/High School Campus
By Yesenia Cazales and Nathan Bhojwani
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EXCITING NEW CHANGES this school year at Lucerne Valley Middle/High School. Students and parents had the surprise of starting the year with some new faces and new learning environments. One of the new changes this year was that the school experienced a surge in new teachers. One of the new teachers, Vanessa Jones, said “I have felt very welcomed by all the students. They are very hardworking and motivated, and I plan to continue working here until I retire.”
Another teacher new to the campus, David Prouty, said “I am very impressed with how positive the environment is and how well everybody works together. It is a great community and I am extremely happy to be here.”
In addition to new teachers, the site also started the school year with several new classrooms. Students are excited for these new changes. According to junior Thomas Grandjean, “The classrooms have opened new opportunities for students to learn new things and the new classrooms are formatted in an organized way.” Spanish teacher Rene Jamie said, “I am adjusting to my new classroom, and I like that the new classrooms have smart boards. I find it helpful to have my fellow colleague next door so we can help each other and find new ways to teach our students Spanish.” Another teacher, Steven Gaskell, stated, “It’s nice to have my own classroom. I really appreciate having my space.”
Vanessa Jones David Prouty Rene Jamie Steven Gaskell
Five Girls Lost Their Lives; Honored by Rock Art and Facebook Memories
Reprinted with permission, Peter Day, LVUSD newsletter
WITHIN ONE CALENDAR YEAR, five Lucerne Valley girls lost their lives in two tragic traffic collisions. The school community continues to mourn their loss and honor their memories. The first tragedy came on the night of Saturday, June 4, 2021 when four Lucerne Valley girls — two of them in wheelchairs — were hit in a hit-andrun crash on Camp Rock Road near Rabbit Springs Road. Three of the girls — Willow Sanchez, 11; Daytona Bronas, 12; and Sandra Mizer, 13 — died at the scene. The fourth girl Natalie Coe was critically injured and flown to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Less than a year later, on the evening of Friday, April 8, Kristy Klaus, whose 16th birthday was that day, and friend Kayden Davis, also 16, died in a car crash. Their driver, Kristy’s grandmother, Christy Rees, was airlifted to an area hospital. The sophomores were in the back seat of the vehicle when a suspected drunk driver ran a stop sign while traveling south on Camp Rock Road at State Highway 247. Middle/High School students have taken a leading role in honoring the memory of the girls. Volleyball team members have T-shirts with photos of Kristy, and Kayden, who was an avid volleyball team member. Landon Lindner, who graduated from LVHS in June, shared the ASB’s ideas for honoring the girls. Kayden’s grandmother Britta Smith has started a Facebook group page inviting people to paint a rock and post a photo of it on their page.
LUCERNE VALLEY— A cozy evening around the campfire sounds good. Join the members of Lucerne Valley Museum Assoc, and special guests for stories shared in the museum’s Open- Air yard on Sunday at 5 pm, November 6. We’ve invited some of our long-time residents to go deep into their archives and share their early days living in the valley. Admission is free and families with children are encouraged to come. Hoyt Morrow worked on our historic 1949 Ford fire department truck with Captain Al Miller. Then there’s Paul Mount and family, the Raders, who managed the museum for decades, and other surprise guests. This evening tribute will have coffee and cocoa available with an assortment of cookies.
By Rusty LaGrange Homeschoolers have shown interest in their historic past, as well as newer residents, who hope to learn more about our rich mining, ranching, and agricultural days. We’ll start with our president’s program showing the early history of loggers and ranchers in conflict with migrating native tribes who fought at Chimney Rock, just west of town. Our new rustic deck at the center loop is our newest upgrade. Since the nights will be cooling off by then, plan to bring coats and hats, and a blanket. You can bring your own chairs but plenty of folding chairs will be available. For more information call President Chelsea LaGrange 760.646.2660 or Rusty LaGrange 760.646.2661 (yes, the numbers are similar).
Cataracts in Your Future? Smoky Eyes
By Rusty LaGrange
AS YOU GET OLDER THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS you’ll notice that will change how you lead your daily life. One of them is your eyesight. It seems that a higher number of age 50 and older adults may be living with “smoky eyes”—another way to describe the haziness in their vision.
This condition can sneak up on you because it’s a matter of slow, nearly imperceptible changes in your vision. Is it becoming harder to see during night driving? Does your TV flatscreen appear hazy, with less contrast? Do you buy several pairs of reading glasses but wonder why they don’t work?
It’s time to go have your vision checked with an optometrist. The eye doctor can test for glaucoma, macular edema, and other signs of eye diseases. However, cataract haziness can quickly be identified and it’s painless.
First, the age of your eyes and the muscles surrounding the eye, as well as the Optic Nerve connections, get a bit slower. They lose elasticity and become sluggish to respond to bright light. The fast reactions you once knew, and the ability for your pupils to dilate when seeing a flash of light, is not working—often making you react by snapping your face away from the light and closing your eyes.
While driving, sparkles and flares off car headlights become too glaring to make driving comfortable. Sometimes you find younger drives to help you, but any way you look at it, you may have cataracts clouding your vision.
Cataract surgery has developed into a 30-minute out-patient process. Something that years ago, would be considered complex and risky, but necessary to keep your eyes healthy. Cataracts are often paid for by basic medical coverage. Check with your health provider for your options. The costs of surgery have also dropped over the years due to advanced technology. Surgery is completed on one eye only with healing time set between operations.
It’s best to learn about your smoky eyes than to worry about the future of your driving and eye health. Seniors who have gone through this surgery often report that they wish they had done it earlier.
Events
Tell Us
Share your next event for November. Hurry! Space is limited. Must be placed by the 20th.
Call Us
Call directly to the Chamber Office 760.248.7215 to place your free entry inside the calendar.
Special Rates with The PULSE
Three ways to pay: a 2-line listing only $10; a square box ½ biz card only $25 onetime; or your full-sized Biz Card placed around as a frame ad $75.
Call Rusty LaGrange 760.646.2661 or Brenda Anders 480.251.7057
Dental & Vision
Insurance
Karyon40@yahoo.com
SVS lic. #0F86681
What the Inland Empire Resource Network Convening Means to Local Nonprofits
MUCH LIKE A SPECIALIZED CHAMBER of commerce for nonprofits, schools, ministries, public service agencies, volunteers and community-minded businesses, Inland Empire Resource Network Convenings provide meaningful opportunities for regional leaders to learn about funding opportunities, resources and best nonprofit best practices, meet with peers, exchange ideas, and share resources with the aim of fostering higher levels of cooperation, collaboration and community support.
Our vision is an Inland Empire where leadership is strong, collaboration and innovation are the standard communities thrive, and opportunity abounds for all. Academy for Grassroots Organizations™ (AcademyGO) is an independent, nonprofit management support organization working to strengthen community organizations and their leaders.
Each year, AcademyGO works with hundreds of organizations and their leaders to help them learn new skills and best practices, develop resources, and collaborate in order to improve quality of life for the region’s diverse population. Programs include training, networking and collaboration opportunities, information and resources sharing, and technical assistance provided to organizations that address a wide variety of community needs.
Today, with a mission to Convene, Equip, and Guide Community Leaders, “AcademyGO” provides a variety of resources and learning opportunities throughout the region.
AcademyGO began in 2000 in the City of Barstow, California as a networking group aimed at helping a few dozen community groups share information and resources. Today, AcademyGO is a recognized nonprofit leader, trainer, and convener with an extensive network of thousands of nonprofit professionals and volunteers throughout the Inland Empire region. The organization is a critical component of the region’s infrastructure, as well as the nonprofit capacity-building ecosystem in Southern California.
AcademyGO works with a wide variety of community organizations including nonprofits, schools, public agencies, associations, clubs, ministries, funders, and businesses that serve the residents of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Of the more than 10,000 nonprofits serving the region, most are underfunded and lacking resources to sufficiently meet identified needs.
Strengthening community organizations is critical for the Inland Empire and our State. The region continues to be the epicenter of new growth and demographic change in California, yet higher rates of poverty, and poor education and health outcomes, continue to plague the population.
Business leaders are encouraged to attend to connect with the nonprofit sector which contributes more to the gross domestic product and employs more of the nation’s workforce than several industries including utilities and construction.
For more information, visit www. AcademyGO.org.
HDCWC Celebrates Writers Week with Children’s Book Panel
THE HDCWC OPENED A PANEL OF LOCAL AUTHORS discussing children’s books and stories and the different approaches to this genre of writing and editing at the Hesperia Library on October 17th. This free presentation was intended to inform and encourage those wanting to write children’s stories but did not know where to begin. The remarkable thing about this panel was its makeup of such different authors. Andrea Willow’s “The Whole World is Naturally Curly” is an artistic book that can appeal to adults as well as children. Amelia Hansen, at 14 years old, has published nine books about the adventures of a cat saving other animals in distress; Mary Langer Thompson has written “How the Blue-Tongued Skink Got His Blue Tongue” and “The Gull Who Thought He Was Dull” and Mary Ruth Hughes has written a series of books accompanied by a CD of the story plus music.
Moderator Jenny Margotta has edited 162 books during her career, many of which are children’s books. She offered a multitude of tips on getting together specific information and intent before you start writing the book, and advice on how best to think about publishing it.
All participants are members of the High Desert Branch of the California Writers Club (HDCWC) which meets monthly in Apple Valley.
For more information, visit www.hdcwc.com or call 760.221.6367
left to right Andrea Willow, Amelia Hansen, Mary Langer Thompson, Mary Ruth Hughes, Jenny Margotta
Another story has a local gas station that had one tank that held moonshine. This “fuel” was dispensed only to trusted customers through a dedicated pump.
As we reflect on its history, and the fun we enjoyed with Halloween Spirts at our annual Trunk or Treat Festival was all the family fun, foods, and drinks. One thing history has taught us … Lucerne Valley may be arid, but we were never completely dry. And now you know ….
Museum Digs for November: Double Event!!
11 /5 Museum Outdoor Yard open from 10 am to 2 pm …We are next to our library and it’s free 11 /6 Hike at Chimney Rock, 10 am followed later with Battle at Chimney Rock presentation at 5 pm in our Museum yard then Stories Around the Campfire. Both events are free.
Lucerne Valley Museum
Located Between Library & Pioneer Park / Community Center 33187 “Hywy 247” , Lucerne Valley 92356 November 2022
DID YOU KNOW WHEN WE PREPARED FOR OUR ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT FESTIVAL this past Halloween with all the spirits, ghosts, goblins, and costumes at the Senior Center (October 31st)— and ready for the coming holidays with all its foods & drinks, there was a time when our “Spirits/Drinks” were outlawed.
In 1919 the eighteenth amendment to the US Constitution was passed which banned the manufacture, transport, and sale of alcoholic beverages. What did our local law-abiding citizens do back then? … bootlegged their liquor. They felt it was none of the government’s business and distilled their own liquor in defiance of the law.
One story in Lucerne Valley, a rancher had his stuff buried in the driveway, hidden. But when the bootlegger had a fight with his wife, she informed on him. Prohibition enforcers came, showed the warrant, borrowed a pitchfork, and went at everything in sight. They pitchforked the haystacks, hay bales, the grain, and around the driveway. They finally gave up and returned to their cars to leave … which were parked over the rancher’s hidden stash.
There were “stills” hidden in Furnace and Arctic Canyons. There was even a still in a mine tunnel which had its entrance hidden by chicken coops. We have an original tub with axe holes in it from a raid found in a tunnel hideaway.
Another story has a local gas station that had one tank that held moonshine.
This “fuel” was dispensed only to trusted customers through a dedicated pump.
As we reflect on its history, and the fun we enjoyed with Halloween Spirts at our annual Trunk or Treat Festival was all the family fun, foods, and drinks.
One thing history has taught us … Lucerne Valley may be arid, but we were never completely dry. And now you know ….
Museum Digs for November: Double Event!!
11 /5 Museum Outdoor Yard open from 10 am to 2 pm …We are next to our library and it’s free
11 /6 Hike at Chimney Rock, 10 am followed later with Battle at Chimney Rock presentation at 5 pm in our Museum yard then Stories Around the Campfire.
Both events are free.
Announcements:
For more interesting historical stuff, see our book “Lucerne Valley: A Wild West Town of Character(s)” now on sale at our market.
MDAQMD funds ‘Car Buy Back and Scrap’ program
THE MOJAVE DESERT AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (MDAQMD) wants to buy your old car.
The District’s Car Buy Back and Scrap program offers $1,000 to residents in exchange for their operable, registered vehicle at least 20 years old or more.
MDAQMD funds the program and contracts Environmental Engineering Studies, Inc. to operate it. Funds are available for the program until they’re exhausted each year.
Aside from the 20-years-or-older requirement, a qualifying vehicle is in working condition; has been registered as operable in MDAQMD’s jurisdiction (which includes the High Desert portion of San Bernardino County and Palo Verde Valley in Riverside County) for the preceding 24 months; and passes a smog check if the vehicle is due for one within 60 days of the surrender date. Other restrictions apply.
Once the local scrapper receives the vehicle and verifies compliance with the requirements, the registered vehicle owner will receive a check for $1,000.
This program is not operated by the State of California. For more information on how to participate and additional requirements to qualify a vehicle, call 800-717-7624.
For more information about MDAQMD and its mission to attain and maintain healthful air quality, visit mdaqmd.ca.gov or find them on social media.
WE WANT YOUR OLD
Voluntary program sponsored by the Mojave
Desert Air Quality
Management District. It is not operated by the State of California.
CAR/TRUCK/VAN
VEHICLE MUST BE 20 YEARS OR OLDER
& WE’LL PAY YOU $1,000
IF QUALIFIED To qualify, vehicle must meet requirements including:
• Model year is at least 20 years old; • Currently registered as operable; • Registered as operable in the
Mojave Desert AQMD jurisdiction for the past 24 months; • In operating condition • Vehicles within 60 days of a required smog check must take and pass smog check.
Partial list of requirements. Some restrictions apply.
For more information
on how to participate, call 800-717-7624
