The Joshua Tree Tortoise Telegraph, April, 2016

JT Music Fest gonna funk up the hi-dez

In this issue: The tortoise talks with Joshua tree music festival founder, barnett english

T

he 14th annual (Spring) Joshua Tree Music Festival dances its way into town May 12 - 15 out at the Joshua Tree Lake Campground. The familyfriendly global music experience features musicians from around the globe (Ukraine, South Africa, Morocco, Puerto Rico, India, Pakistan, Canada, Colombia, Australia, and Germany), as well as all around the U.S., including quite a few local hi-desert acts— Tomas de la Noche, TryStates, Megan Hutch, Adobe Collective, Desert Rhythm Project, Cactus Wine Experience, Gene Evaro Jr., and 3rd Ear Experience).

In addition to a great musical line up Thursday through Sunday, there’s Kidsville, Family Camp, yoga and healing classes, the Positive Vibration Station (including hi-dez locals Phillip Rosenberg and the JTMF Kazoo Orchestra, and Mojave Shakti), Catherine Svehla, and Jewels & Johnny). The Joshua Tree Astronomy Theatre will be there as well, to share our desert night sky with festival folk.

See our story inside for more on the festival!

Death Valley Jim tracks down the people of the pinto basin

The tortoise talks with reach out morongo basin’s own robin schlosser

3rd Ear Experience

He’s our favorite alchemist and political revolutionary, the founder of the LA Free Press, and one of the most interesting hi-desert folks you could ever meet. Happy (slightly belated) 88th birthday to Art Kunkin. Looks like the Philosopher’s Stone works!

Have a photo you’d like to share with our readers?

Send it to us at: tortoisetelegraph@gmail.com.

willie boy’s re-opens, joshua tree national park programs, tortoise facts, nascar driver kyle petty rides through 29 palms, hi-desert events & more.

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Tortoise Talk

Robin Schlosser: reaching out to those in need

By Steve Brown There are some folks in the hi-desert who appear by all accounts, to be normal, everyday sort of people, but who are accomplishing truly great and wonderful things for our community. People like Tender Loving Christmas/ Cause founder, Mara Cantelo, who doesn’t spend a lot of time drawing attention to herself, but rather just makes sure thousands of people get fed and feel the true spirit of Christmas every year—for more than three decades. The woman’s a saint, and a determined one, at that.

I am literally in awe of people like Mara, and for those like me out here in the hi-desert, there is another strong-willed, determined hi-desert woman you should know about: Robin Schlosser.

Robin is the executive director of Reach Out Morongo Basin, a group of a few (under)paid employees and a lot of truly wonderful hi-desert volunteers, who work hard to care for our senior and disabled neighbors across the hi-desert. Reach Out 29 (as the organization was initially established in 1998), was formed as an interfaith volunteer caregiving program with a mission to fill the gaps between traditional paid service providers, both governmental and private.

While I interviewed Robin about her own personal history, and how she became executive director at Reach Out Morongo Basin, this story is really about everyone who gives and participates in fulfilling the organization’s mission of grass roots caring for each other. A heartfelt “Thank you,” goes out to each and every Reach Out employee and volunteer for living a life of giving. Thanks for all you do for all of us!

JTTT: Give us a little family background.

RS: I was born in Texas. My mom’s family is from Texas.

My mother’s Mexican American. She comes from a small town called Presidio, which is right across the border from Ciudad Ojinaga in the state of Chihuahua. If I remember correctly, the town of Presidio was originally founded in 1672.

My family has a ranch there called La Cienda or La Ciendita. It has been in our family for over 300 years, and it remains in the family to this day. The family cemetery is there. My sister, my grandparents, everyone is buried on the ranch. It was a land grant from the king of Spain and they have traced the history all the way back. A very proud heritage.

My father is German and Irish and was born in Chicago. Loved life there. We have a pretty varied history.

I was raised in Texas. My parents were dancers.

They were both professional dancers. They both taught and owned an Arthur Murray studio in San Antonio. They had trophies, they won all-American trophies. My mom actually won a trip to Cuba with one of her students before the embargo for dance competition.

My parents were very active in civil rights when I was growing up. I remember being a little girl in a sandwich board in front of the Safeway stores and going, “Don’t buy grapes, don’t buy lettuce!” So I had a really interesting childhood growing up.

At the ranch they raised cattle and horses. That was my Mexican side of my heritage, my Latina side. My father fell in love with a Mexican woman and married her and has half Mexican children. He’s also very much of the belief that every person has value.

I’ve marched for civil rights, and did a lot of things. Farmworker’s rights, civil rights. It made me very tolerant and very understanding of people, different life-

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Reach Reach Out Morongo Basin 29 Palms 760-361-1410 Yucca Valley 760-369-8671 reachoutmb.org styles. I was always one, I valued people for who they are inside. Not for what they have or what they can give or how they look or what they can do. But what kind of a person are you inside? Are you kind? Are you soft spoken? Are you generous? That’s what I value.

We moved to California. We lived in the San Fernando Valley and went to school. I got kind of crazy and wild. Unfortunately the 70s in the San Fernando Valley, I started doing wacky things, doing drugs and then settled down for a while, met my husband, owned a construction company, worked for about 18 years. I was a licensed contractor. We lived up in Santa Cruz. My son was born, I was 21, we lived on 485 acres for about 15 years.

I first came down here because we bought a house in 1994, because it was affordable. Where we lived up in the Bay Area, we couldn’t afford property even then.

We moved down here and worked and started to do our construction. My husband was still up in the Bay Area doing construction there.

Unfortunately, things kind of fell apart between us. We wound up getting divorced. I had kind of battled addictions and alcoholism for many years. I was what you would call a functioning addict, I guess. I held jobs, worked for the Internal Revenue Service, had my construction company. I was productive, but when we got divorced, I went off the deep end.

Sadly, I put my head into a bag of dope and a bottle of tequila and three years later went to prison.

That was like a downhill spiral. All of this comes together though into where I am now. I spent several years going in and out (of prison). My offenses were drug related.

Finally I had gotten arrested again and they were talking about sending me away for eight to 10 years. I took a real hard look at myself and took a plea, and wound up getting the Prop 36 drug treatment program. Being an addictive personality, I almost hung myself. I wasn’t being compliant in doing what I was supposed to do and almost got myself sent away for 10 years.

Then I finally said to myself, take a good hard look and decide what you want in life. I didn’t want to be locked up behind bars and get the phone call that my mom or dad had passed away. I didn’t want to get a phone call that something happened and there’s nothing I can do—for 10 years.

I wanted to be clean and sober. I’ve got a little over 10 years clean now. It was a battle. I wound up going to St. John’s in Victorville. I went through their program. I had almost a year clean when I got out.

They hired me to run their social outreach program. It was a program where we helped with utility assistance, food pantry, had the largest food pantry in the Continued on Page 6 Victor Valley.

Nathan Rivera and Jesse Andra Smith entertaining the crowd at the third Annual Art Auction fundraiser, top. James Picklefimer, Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient, is one of the disabled homeowners assisted by Naval Chiefs from the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital at MCAGCC, above.

Reach Out Morongo Basin supporters perusing artwork and the third Annual Art Auction benefit at ArtFx & Furnishings in May, 2015, below.

Reach Out volunteer Mr. Larry Poore preparing to take clients to doctors appointments, bottom.

Senior Jack New of Twentynine Palms enjoys a game on the computers at the 29 Palms Senior Center, above.

Reach Out Morongo Basin staffs the center so it is accessible to seniors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

WWII Veteran Mr. Richard Krekemeyer was one of the senior’s assisted with yard work in January, 2015, below.

Longtime volunteer Barbara Phillips of Twentynine Palms donating her time to call senior shut-ins and family caregivers, bottom. Her reassuring calls help our neighbors know they are not forgotten.

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Tracking Down the People of the Pinto Basin

Story & Photos

by Death Valley Jim

I

t isn’t often that I use the word “exploring,” I find the term is over used and holds little meaning. I avoid calling myself an “explorer,” having opted for the title of “adventurer.”

Why? Because to “explore” or to be an “explorer” one must venture into places that have never been seen before, or have had little in terms of research, or recent research.

Let’s face it, there are few places in North America that fit that bill. I do however believe that the eastern Pinto Basin is worthy of such a title due to the lack of documented exploration in the past 50+ years.

In the 1930s the husband and wife team of Elizabeth and William Campbell, both amateur archaeologists, performed extensive research of the very remote eastern corner of the Pinto Basin. The artifacts they found were the cornerstone of research on a people that they dubbed the Pinto Basin People.

Along the shore line of an ancient river, the Campbell’s found the traces of entire village sites. Metates, and Manos, pestles and hammerstones, scrapers and knives made of obsidian, slate, and chert. Leaf-shaped points flaked from rock crystal, jasper, quartzite, chert, chalcedony, and obsidian. Then of course the points (arrowheads), made of obsidian, jasper, rhyolite, milky quartz, and rock crystal. Based on this evidence archaeologists have been able to place these early humans to the basin between 4,000 – 8,000 years ago.

In addition to the discovery of an ancient human civilization the Campbell’s also found fossilized remains of both horses and camels from the Pleistocene Epoch. The Pleistocene Epoch spanned from 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. It was the last Ice Age.

Today one would have a very difficult time surviving a day, let alone a lifetime in the harsh Pinto Basin environment. Water and food sources are scarce, and temperatures in the summer top 100 degrees on a daily basis. During the time of the Pinto Basin People, the basin had at least one flowing fresh water river, the climate was more temperate, and food was readily available. The now bare Pinto Mountains to the north were forested, and full of life. During the Pleistocene Epoch, the basin was a swampland of lakes and rivers with large, now extinct mammals roaming the land. A stark contrast from the modernday basin.

Recently I came across a copy of the Campbell’s 1935 map of the Pinto Basin.

The map highlighted the shore lines of the ancient river, and the camps of the Pinto Basin People. Knowing the extensive collection of artifacts that the duo managed to amass from these camp sites I was curious what I could find 80 years later. (NOTE: I am not an artifact collector, whatever I find is left where I found it. It is against the law to remove anything from a National Park, or anything 50 years or older from BLM land. It is also important to note that digging for artifacts is against the law.)

On a hot September day, with the Campbell’s’ map in hand, I set off on a trek through the eastern portion of the basin. The night prior, I camped and enjoyed the night sky at the national park boundary, allowing for an early start to take advantage of cooler temperatures in the morning hours.

I spent several hours wandering along the sandy shores of the ancient river bed, trying to utilize the 80 year old map, but found that over the years the shore lines, and washes that the Campbell’s had meticulously mapped have been altered by erosion.

On the north shoreline I finally found a small cache of lithic scatters. Lithic scatters are essentially prehistoric garbage, the wasted flakes of stone from chipping arrowheads, spear points, knives and other stone tools. The lithic scatters were from an assortment of stone, mostly the same types that the Campbell’s had reporting finding in the 1930s. There was obsidian, jasper, rhyolite, and rock crystal. The hunk of rhyolite was likely a ‘core piece’, which would have been broken into smaller pieces then fashioned into tools.

Mid-day was soon upon me, and with it came the heat. The temperature quickly climbed above 110 degrees, and I was drenched in sweat. In the dry river bed there was a plethora of willow trees which made for the perfect place for an early afternoon cat nap.

The nap was essential, and after 20-minutes I was back to combing the shore line for any traces of the long abandoned Pinto Basin People’s camps. I walked, and

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walked, and walked some more. I was now five miles into the basin, and hadn’t found any additional artifacts. Despite the inconsistencies with the map I knew that I was on the right path, having passed over several mapped camp sites. It is likely that any surface artifacts that had been there have been covered in a thick layer of sand.

With the heat, and now a dwindling water supply it was time to head back. I worked my way over to the south shore. It was there where I came across an old ‘cowboy’ camp site, a rock ring with a few rusty cans half buried in the ground beside it. Nearby were dozens of interesting rock alignments, with stones placed an equal distance apart from each other. I had remembered reading in the Campbell’s paper about rock alignments and ancient hearths along the south shore. I indeed had just walked into the very camp that they had described. The rusty cans were likely from an old prospector that had hijacked an ancient hearth.

Rock alignments are tricky, as nobody knows what they mean or were used for.

Some archaeologists speculate that alignments could have been star maps, or part of a game. Whatever their meaning, they would be one of my better discoveries that day.

Hiking back along the Eagle Mountains and the southern shore line, I soon found myself walking across a bed of cracked clay, and then lacustrine (lake-deposited) mudstones and siltstones. I looked down to find a fossilized rib bone. I took a few more steps, and there was another. A few more steps, and a third. The fossils appeared to be of varying age, one was very dark in color (probably the oldest), another a brownish/orange, and the last whitish/gray. The fossils found in the Pinto Basin have been attributed to miniature horses and camels from the Pleistocene Epoc.

I reached my vehicle in the late afternoon with just a few drops of water remaining in my bladders. The idea of air conditioning and a cold beverage was exciting after a long day of humping along in the excessive heat.

At the time I felt that the expedition hadn’t turned up much, but after carefully dissecting the details I considering it a success. I was able to successfully identify two camp sites, one by the lithic scatters, and the other by the rock alignments and hearths.

I had also, with blind luck, stumbled upon the fossil beds and found three fossilized rib bones. In all, not a bad day.

Editor’s Note: We learned recently that Jim’s story on visiting Carey’s Castle in Joshua Tree National Park was the cause of the closing of that area to the public by the National Park Service. Evidently, there were so many requests for information on how to visit the site (we did not include specific directions or a map), that the NPS made a decision to close it out of caution. Though a Google search for the site results in more than 350,000 hits, evidently it is rarely visited.

We also need to note that it is illegal, according to the National Park Service, for you (and us) to visit any Native American site, archaeological site, petroglyph or pictograph site, within the borders of Joshua Tree National Park, knowingly or unknowingly.

While we unequivocally support the preservation of, and respect for, all of these sites, we also question the wisdom of wholesale outlawing of sites that the public, the owners of our public lands and employers of our public lands management agencies, may find fascinating, and which may help connect future generations with the need to preserve and protect our public lands.

That said, public access is a difficult issue to address, especially in times of mindless vandalism and moronic “art” installations that have damaged sensitive sites on public lands. Recently, a group of nine idiots were apprehended inside of Joshua Tree National Park, with four of them charged with defacing public property and possession of a controlled substance. They were apprehended after rangers received a tip from other park visitors. We completely support the prosecution of all vandals and thieves found looting our public lands. We will have more information in the next issue of The Sun Runner.

Jim has spent nearly a decade documenting the hidden treasures of the American Deserts, with a focus on Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Mojave National Preserve. He is most widely known for his two book series, “Secret Places in the Mojave Desert” and “Hidden Joshua Tree.”

His specialties include Native American history, archaeological, historic site documentation, and natural wonders. He is well versed in, and active in the environmental preservation of the desert, including having been a consultant to the BLM for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), and a spokesperson for Campaign for the California Desert.

In the backcountry Jim is a minimalist, hiker/backpacker, and an avid supporter of Leave No Trace ethics.

For more odd, interesting, historic and prehistoric places in Joshua Tree and the surrounding area visit the author, Death Valley Jim online at www.deathvalleyjim. com, and pick up his book series “Hidden Joshua Tree” and “Secrets Places in the Mojave Desert.”

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Robin Schlosser continued

Naval Chiefs from the Robert E Bush Naval Hospital cleaning the yard of Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient James Picklefimer.

I started working that program and built it up. The last year I was there we served 26,000 people through our doors, families with children, giving them food, utility assistance, rental assistance. I started writing grants.

Then I was down here visiting my son and saw the position come open with Reach Out for director, and I was like, I want to come back and give back to this community because for a lot of years I was here and I took from this community and I wasn’t good here. I wanted to come back and give back something of myself and help improve the life of people here.

That’s how I wound up as director of Reach Out. I was hired in September of 2011. Almost four and a half years now. I love it. I love the people that I work with. I love the clients we serve. I love the community.

In many ways it’s a very giving place. And in many ways it’s a very hard place. We have a lot of struggles trying to make ends meet with our funding because not only is it a forgotten region by a lot of entities, like government agencies that provide money, but so many of the individuals here struggle to make ends meet so they don’t really have the extra money to donate.

We’ve seen our income from community donations drop drastically. Funding is a huge challenge. In the last few years we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people requesting services. We’ve had a 21 percent increase from 2013 to 2015 in clients. Our funding from 2014 to 2015 actually dropped. We had, I think, about $10,000 to $13,000 less income in that time period.

I believe our budget this past year was $153,000. For everything. We served 1,171 clients. That’s about $140 a year per person.

Reach Out started in 1998 as Reach Out 29. I believe in 2006 or 2007 they wound up moving into a small office in Yucca Valley at the Yucca Valley Senior Center that helped open it up for us to be able to reach more clients in Yucca Valley, Morongo Valley, Johnson Valley, and Landers. We have a service area from Sheephole Pass to Morongo Valley, and we actually have a client way up in Johnson Valley, almost halfway to Lucerne.

It’s a huge service area, like 520 square miles, and we don’t turn anybody away if they need help. We have clients that are 22 miles east of Twentynine Palms that we go pick up to take to doctors appointments.

Our biggest program is our transportation. We provide no cost door to door transportation services to doctor appointments, to the grocery store, to social services appointments, to dentists, we’ll pick up and deliver prescriptions for clients that don’t have transportation.

We do that locally, within the Morongo Basin, and we also take them to San Bernardino. We go once a week to San Bernardino, Loma Linda, to the VA, to Arrowhead and doctors there, and we also go down to the Coachella Valley, all the way down to Indio and Coachella, taking them to doctors appointments. A lot of them can’t access the care they need up here.

Starting last year we began running two vans a week to the Coachella Valley because we had such a need, we were scheduling six and seven weeks out because we couldn’t fit everybody in the van. Even now, running two vans a week for three weeks out of the month we’re still scheduling three or four weeks out because they’re filling up.

We’re the only agency up here that will take clients to those areas. With most of our seniors and disabled people being on fixed incomes, they can’t afford to pay anybody to drive them to San Bernardino.

We do transportation. We also do yard work and home repairs. We help with minor plumbing, painting, new light fixtures occasionally. One of the big projects we got into, three years ago we coordinated with Navy Chaplain William Broderick. He was the chaplain with the 1st Tank Battalion and when he first came here he said, “I want to do something in the community, and I want to do a big project.” He wound up getting several Marines and Naval personnel from the battalion and we went out and did a yard work project.

Well that just started blooming. We did several projects with them. They actually got a letter of instruction from base command to do this with us, which was absolutely huge. It has grown from the 1st Tank Battalion and we have done projects with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance 3/11 and 3/7 infantry battalions, the Naval Hospital, we have lots of personnel coming together and we’re doing large projects two or three times a year now.

We help hundreds of seniors. We do personal business assistance, we help them fill out forms, make doctors appointments, we help them in homes with housekeeping, cleaning, and sometimes we just call and say, “Hi, how are you?” and visit with them over the phone, or we go visit with our seniors in person. We do swamp coolers. I can’t tell you how many roofs I’ve been on and how many swamp coolers I’ve gone out and fixed myself.

We do caregiver respite. We do family member caregiver support services for someone caring for a family member with Alzheimers. Peer counseling. A lot of things.

We don’t actually run a food program ourselves, we coordinate with them. We do oversee the senior nutrition program that serves out of the Twentynine Palms Senior Center because we oversee the management of the Senior Center for the city in exchange for our office space.

Continued on Page 12

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Naval Chiefs bundling up yard debris from a disabled senior’s home during a coordinated yard work project, top. Volunteers from 1st Tank Battalion removing tree stumps and yard debris from WWII veteran Richard Krekemeyer’s home, bottom.

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Barnett English & the Joshua Tree Music Fest

by Steve Brown

W

hen the first Joshua Tree Music Festival was announced, I remember wondering who was the clearly crazy person trying to launch an event of that size and scope out here in the hi-desert? I’ve organized events before and there’s an awful lot more to producing them than most people realize. So much so, in fact, that they’re daunting to even contemplate.

Barnett English was the crazy man, and I’m happy to note that his madness has caught on, with the now bi-annual fall and spring Joshua Tree Music Festivals celebrating the 14th anniversary of the original spring festival in May. Barnett and his experienced crew of staff and volunteers, has made the festival one of the very top cultural events of the hi-desert, equaled really, only by the annual Hwy 62 Art Tours in scope.

The first few years of the festival established the look and feel that has become its hallmark. It’s everything Coachella is not: smaller, informal, relaxed and relaxing, friendly, accessible, and fun without long lines, ticket fees the size of mortgage payments, and people on stage the size of ants. It’s far more like someone from Joshua Tree is hosting a party out in the desert, than what Coachella is—LA hosting a party for LA out in the suburban desert.

That’s not to knock Coachella. They’ve done a great job doing what they do, but hey, this is Joshua Tree, and this isn’t some giant corporate shindig. This is the dream of one driven man and those who love the dream along with him. And as a result, Barnett’s not making quite as much money as Goldenvoice, and his festivals aren’t packed with 100,000 people either.

“It’s an organic growth. I never had any money to speak of. Ever. I still don’t.

Which is kind of good. It kept me from ruining it at the beginning,” Barnett explained. “If I had a bunch of money I would have advertised everywhere, had a bunch of people that didn’t know each other come out and make a mess and had all these things I didn’t need.

But this way, the crowd has really, a lot of festivals say it, but this one this really is the case, this crowd has grown organically. It’s made it amazing.”

As far as Coachella goes, Barnett puts his festival on the other end of the scale.

“It really is just the antithesis of it, he said. “I started the festival initially because I love music, but the main thing is when people get together outdoors for music over three days, it really does make a magical experience. Like you leave on Monday saying, ‘Oh my God, I just met three of my best new friends, ever.’ It’s really about connecting with people, in this shared experience of being outdoors, that lifts it up.

“That you can’t really get at Coachella,” he explained. “You go to Coachella and you’re with your one group of four people and then you’re texting each other every five minutes because you’re lost. So it’s not really a, hey, let’s go meet Steve and hang out with him all day, go back to his camp, cook dinner together thing. That doesn’t happen.

That really is the main thing. It really is about an experience with people together.

Barnett’s system of finding bands from around the world for the festival has evolved, and while the festival isn’t big enough to fly bands over to perform from around the world, he brings in a significant number of international acts while they are on tour in the United States. I remember watching a band, from Nigeria I believe, eating broken glass on stage while performing, and thinking they had come a long way to get to Joshua Tree to eat glass and play music in front of a few thousand people.

“Now at Coachella I see bands we had years ago,” Barnett said, explaining how he finds the bands for the Joshua Tree Music Festival. “There’s always four or five I know from another festival. I’m constantly listening to music. During the winter, I wake up at 4 a.m. and sit here listening with my headphones on. Now I’m getting 50 or 60 e-mails a day from artists that I don’t know, on top of all the ones I already know.

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festival founder and manifester in chief, Barnett English, left, photo by Steve Brown.

All other photos for this story by the incomparable JTMF lover, Mike Smalley.

Gene Evaro Jr., in concert, above. Piper Robison of Gene Evaro Jr. and the family, below.

A group shot of cactus wine experience, bottom, after their performance at the joshua tree music festival aptly named, “SHake me all night long.” Indeed. Oh my.

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“Or reading blogs, or looking at every other music festival in the world. Looking at their line ups.

“It’s kind of what I’ve been doing since I was 12 years old buying albums with my brother, sharing the cost, collecting albums, making tapes, all through growing up,” he noted. “It has evolved into a live mix tape basically.”

“I got in the habit of it (getting up at 4 a.m.) the last four years and I love it,” Barnett explained. “I get more done between four and seven, and the rest of the stuff I get done during the day is like gravy. It’s become a time of day that’s freakin’ awesome. I love it. You see the sunrise out here. Everybody’s got their times.

The musical styles of the bands that play at the festival are wide-ranging, to say the least. Asked about the enormous variety of music you can encounter at the festival, Barnett said the mix is definitely intentional.

“I’d go to all these other festivals in the last 23 years, I think it’s somewhere between six and seven hundred music festivals, and I’d go to a bluegrass festival, and I love bluegrass as much as the next guy, but after threeand-a-half days of it, I’m not so sure I love it any more,” he explained. “Same with a reggae festival. Or blues festival.

But when you mix it all together throughout the course of the day, it might be awesome to listen to four violins and a cello at 10 a.m. by the coffee bar, but by 9 o’clock at night, there’s a hard hitting New Orleans funk band going.

“It makes sense as it progresses through the day that the sequencing of the music changes,” he continued.

“I put a lot of thought into it. Sometimes it doesn’t work.

Huh, heavy metal at two in the afternoon when everybody wants to nap? Not so great. It’s definitely intentional to try to make it diverse. It’s much more fun that way, I think.

“It’s really kind of funny, I heard Trampled by Turtles, a really good bluegrass band, and I had a 20 year-old come up to me, ‘I had no idea you could dance to bluegrass.’ He’s exhausted. They go hyper speed.”

One thing about the Joshua Tree Music Festival that makes it unique is its setting at the Joshua Tree Lake Campground, and the relationship between the festival and the campground.

“In the morning there’ll be someone starting on the Cafe Stage, it’s right there in the bowl still,” Barnett said. “It kind of starts there, then goes to the main stages.

That’s one unique thing about this festival is we have the festival grounds. When I say we, I mean Sally and Ken who own the property, have generously basically gifted me five acres of land and said build what you want, make it cool, keep doing the festival and let’s work together.

“Because they’ve gifted us this land, we are able to build the stage and take our time on it and leave it,” he added. “Other festivals have to have union employees, 500 of them, with lifts, and cranes, doing it all that stuff. I can’t imagine doing all that work.

“It has gotten to the point where we have six or seven folks helping us all year,” Barnett continued. “During the festival itself, there are probably 50 people who are all paid and are managing some aspect of it. Then there’s a 180 volunteers for the weekend, and then 120 volunteers before the festival starts, helping prep and build. Then there’s 150 people out spreading posters around.

“We have some people who have helped so many times now, this will be our 24th time now doing the festival, and there are some people who have been with us all 24 festivals, and others for 15, others for 10,” he added. “With all those people in charge, they don’t really have any questions they can’t answer.

“When you start adding up all those people, and all the vendors, then all the visual artists who have put

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stuff up—that’s another thing that really connects the crowd—all those people feel invested. Even the kid that comes out and paints the wall. He feels ownership of it.

It is kind of community-centric, that’s a lot of people, and most of them are from the greater area here.”

The festival has evolved to the point now that throughout there are all kinds of yoga and healing workshops, children’s activities, art installations, a great roster of vendors and food booths, and more. It has many of the offerings of larger festivals while retaining its small, accessible, casual feel.

“It’s been really cool,” Barnett said of the involvement of the hi-desert community and artists with the festival. “Every time I run into somebody, they say, ‘Hey, I have this idea.’ I’m pretty sure we’ll do it. It’s really great, every time we get more local people saying, ‘Can I bring it out there?’ Absolutely.”

And there’s still room to grow.

“There’s probably 4,000 population total,” he explained. “We still have room to sell more tickets, which would be nice since I basically keep spending everything we get on it. We basically pour everything into it. I have since the beginning. A good friend of mine described it recently, she’s like 75 years old, and she’s like, ‘You’ll never make money on it. You love it too much.’ That’s a good way of putting it. I never heard it put that way.”

Asked whether he had a single favorite festival, Barnett answered with the enthusiasm that has made all these years of the Joshua Tree Music Festival such a success.

“The one we’re having right now,” he noted. “And before that, the previous one. I just enjoy them all. I really do. They’re all their own separate animals and take on their own life.

“The first time I came to Joshua Tree I went to a party, and literally, there were like 25 people there. After dinner everybody picks up an instrument and 23 out of the 25 are really accomplished, and then there’s me with a tambourine.

“This last fall there were so many bands from Joshua Tree and the cool thing was the people in the audience and the other artists were all commenting on that.

‘Where are they from?’ they’d ask. ‘They’re from right behind that rock.’ It kind of blew their minds that all these people live in Joshua Tree. It really is an artist town.

When you’re out at the Joshua Tree Music Festival, keep a look out for this guy. He’s armed—with cameras—and does a great job of capturing images of life at the festival. His name is Mike Smalley and he shot all the festival photos for this story. If you want to get an online feel for what the festival is like, please check out Mike’s festival gallery: www.mikeysphotoart.com/ joshuatreemusicfestival. Thanks Mike!

Barnett English, left. 3rd ear experience’s robbi robb, middle, and amritakripa, right, above, from joshua tree.

Bryana evaro of the desert rhythm project, below.

Amanda davis of gene evaro jr and the family, bottom. festival photos by mike smalley.

Enjoying your park:

Joshua Tree National Park Programs D eepen your experience with Joshua Tree National Park with classes and field workshops, and lectures, from the Joshua Tree National Park Association’s Desert Institute.

April 30: Plein Air Poetry. Jeannette Clough, Jim Natal, instructors, poets.

May 6-7: Citizen Science: Phenological Monitoring in Joshua Tree National Park. Monica Gorman, Ph.D., Biology, Professor.

May 13: Joshua Trees: Mystery and Myths. Lecture.

Chris Clarke, environmental writer. Old Schoolhouse Museum lecture series. 7 p.m., $5 admission. 6760 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms.

May 14-15: Women’s Get-Away Weekend. Laurie Green, Certified Interpretive Guide, Caryn Davidson, yoga instructor.

May 7: Desert Night Sky: Planets to Galaxies. David Chappell, Ph.D., astronomer, professor.

May 7-8: David Muench Photography Workshop.

Full, wait list is open.

May 8: Watercolor Painting in Joshua Tree National Park. John Scahill, instructor, artist.

June 10: Cowboy Poetry and Humor. Lecture. Richard Brewer, cowboy poet and humorist. Old Schoolhouse Museum lecture series. 7 p.m., $5 admission.

6760 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms.

Costs, times, and locations of field classes vary. For more information, visit www.joshuatree.org.

Free National Park Entrance Days

April 16 - 24: National Park Week August 25 - 28: National Park Service Birthday (Happy 100th, National Park Service!)

September 24: National Public Lands Day November 11: Veterans Day

Did you know every fourth grade student can get a free annual park pass through the Every Kid in a Park program, and active duty military and citizens with a permanent disability may also obtain free park passes?

Hike with Superintendent David Smith of Joshua Tree National Park! As part of the National Park Service’s centennial this year, Smith will be leading hikes up five different peaks in the park.

April 30: Quail Mountain. Twelve miles, 5,813 feet, meet at Joshua Tree Visitor Center, 7 a.m., all day.

Call (760)367-5502 to RSVP. Come prepared as this super can hike!

Ranger Programs Through May 15 Footsteps of the Past, Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.. Barker Dam parking area. One mile, 1.5 hours. Explore how humans have learned to live in harmony with the desert.

Joshua Tree Rocks! Mondays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m.

Skull Rock parking area. One mile, 1.5 hours. Examine the geology of this remarkable area.

Wildlife: Desert Tortoise

NPS Photo: brad sutton.

Mastodon Peak Hike. Saturdays at 9 a.m. Cottonwood Springs parking lot. Three miles, two hours.

Discover the early mining history of the park.

Cottonwood Canyon Walk. Sundays at 9 a.m. Mile Marker 33, south of the Cottonwood Visitor Center, park in roadside pullouts. One mile, 45 minutes. Nature walk.

Cholla Garden Chat. 9-10:30 a.m. Sundays and Fridays. Cholla Cactus Garden. Drop by for casual conversation with a ranger. Bring your questions about the Pinto Basin and Cholla Cactus Garden (hint: don’t get too close to the cholla, they like to make new friends).

“I Speak for the Trees” Walk. 2 p.m. Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Saturdays. Cap Rock Nature Trail. Only .4 miles, 45 minutes. Take a walk with a ranger and discover the park’s namesake.

Patio Talk. 10 a.m., daily at the Oasis and Joshua Tree visitor centers, 2 p.m. daily at the Cottonwood Visitor Center. 15-30 minutes. Learn about one of many fascinating aspects of the park.

Desert Reflections. 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, 2 p.m. Saturdays. Oasis Visitor Center. One hour. Interactive discussions on issues facing the park.

Oasis Walk. 3 p.m. Tuesdays. Oasis Visitor Center.

One-half mile, one to 1.5 hours. Explore the history and ecology of a desert oasis.

Jr. Ranger Discovery Walk. 11 a.m. Sundays. Oasis Visitor Center. One-half mile, one to 1.5 hours. For families and kids! A short hike helps kids on their way to earning a Jr. Ranger badge.

(Gopherus agazzisii)

T

he Desert Tortoise is one of the iconic critters that is occasionally encountered in and around Joshua Tree National Park (unfortunately, we encounter their remains more than live tortoises, a sad sign of the times).

While tortoises are adorable, in their own tortoisy way, please do not run over and pick them up. Not only is that illegal under the Endangered Species Act, but if they become frightened, they may empty their bladder, which could have terrible consequences for them if they’re unable to replenish the water they lose. In short, you could kill one by moving it, and you don’t wan to kill these wonderful desert creatures.

Watch for them on roadways (and snakes too!), and help ensure they are able to cross without being squashed, but don’t put yourself in danger in the process. Out here, we brake for all sort of critters —even tarantulas crossing the highway! Be prepared, and be patient when driving through the park or on desert roads. The person up ahead may have stopped or slowed because there’s a tortoise crossing (they do tend to amble...), or there could be other wildlife in the roadway (snakes love the asphalt when it gets all nice and toasty).

If you have questions on tortoise ettiquette, ask for more information at the park visitor centers.

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We recently ran into, OK, we were dragged from the Joshua Tree Farmers Market by, our good friend and photographer, Paul Morehead, to see the Desert Spring exhibit on display through May 1 at Gallery 62. Paul is the Signature Artist of the Month during Desert Spring, and is in good company with works by Suzanne Ross, Esther Shaw, Tony Milici, Laurie Schafer, and Marjorie Franklin. You can see more of Paul’s work at his website in online galleries at www.paulmorehead.com.

Gallery 62’s new location is at 61607 29 Palms Hwy. in downtown Joshua Tree, just behind the Joshua Tree Art Gallery (JTAG).

Gallery 62 is hosting a session taught by Lenne RosenKabe on writing an artist’s statement on Sunday, May 22, at 3 p.m. There is limited registration, and a $5 donation is requested.

Robin Schlosser continued

Editor/Publisher/telegraph operator: Steve Brown

Assistant to the editor: Juliet, the cat

Adventures Editor: Death Valley Jim Photos by: Steve Brown, Death Valley Jim hi-desert living page coordinator: shaun kruse - 800-680-0952 Submit story ideas, photos for consideration, dining/shopping/lodging/favorite places and event photos to: tortoisetelegraph@gmail.com advertising inquiries: sunrunnerads@gmail.com or 760-820-1222 see the advertising page at www.jttortoisetelegraph.com for pricing and specs. distribution inquiries: tortoisetelegraph@gmail.com join the tortoise telegraph online at: www.jttortoisetelegraph.com, on facebook at: www.facebook.com/jttortoisetelegraph on instagram at: www.instagram.com/jttortoisetelegraph join the sun runner, the journal of the real desert, online at: www.sunrunnersw.com on facebook at: www.facebook.com/TheSunRunner join southwest stories with steve brown online at: www.southweststories.us on facebook at: www.facebook.com/RealDesert 12

thanks for joining us!

I have four staff that are all part time. Two of them are 20 hours a week. I have my driver whose hours vary, but roughly 25 to 30 hours a week. I have my administrative assistance who is 32 hours a week, and I, well, I average about 70 hours a week.

We have volunteers that come in and I figured out last year we had 195 volunteers and 9,875 hours of service. Of the volunteers, the community volunteers did 7,984 hours. My staff and myself donated 1,891 hours.

We’re going out and doing any of our fundraising events.

When we do community outreach. All of this, we donate our time. Anything over 40 hours a week, I donate. My administrative assistant donates every Friday, eight hours every Friday. My driver does the same thing. Because we believe in what we’re doing.

It all comes down to funding. When we leave here, we can be driving 22 miles out Highway 62 to a client’s house that lives four miles down a dirt road.

It’s also making sure we have the safety net for that client. They’re way out there. We need to make sure we continually contact them to make sure they’re safe.

We lose seniors all the time—when you’re working with an older population that’s just a fact of life. It’s sad, but a lot of clients have no one else. They don’t have family here. They live so rural out in Wonder Valley their closest neighbor is half a mile down the road. They can’t walk half a mile down the road.

It’s us trying to fill all these gaps and not having enough money and wishing we could hire more staff to oversee more. Those are the biggest challenges. The biggest need is we would love to be able to hire a driver for our Yucca Valley office. We have volunteer drivers. It would be amazing to have someone there for a full time driver.

Currently, one of the most pressing needs I have is I have been trying to get one of our little vans fixed. We put thousands of miles on our vans every month. One of our vans, the motor gave out on it and we need to have work done on it. It’s bad. If we take money away for this, some of our seniors don’t get services, however without the van we can’t provide services, so it’s a catch-22.

We had a senior, and sadly he has since passed away, but we used to give him rides to the doctors, he’d come down and play bingo.

He started to lose his vision. We wound up taking him down to the VA hospital, and there was nothing they could do for him. He started to isolate himself, and we continued to talk to him and call him and he came out a little bit. We started taking him to the Braille Institute.

That’s one of the things we do. He started having classes and services. We transported him for about two more years then he started feeling sick. He had cancer.

Again, one of our seniors. Didn’t have any family, friends, most of his friends had passed away. So we started helping him, taking him to the doctors. He continued using Braille.

One day he said, “I’m not going to go any more. I don’t feel good.”

What this all exemplifies with Reach Out is the fact that we were able to be there for him. To not only help him to navigate treatments and what not, but to be there to support him.

He didn’t die alone. We want our seniors to have a good life, be safe in their homes, and not have to worry about being alone.

Originally, Reach Out was founded by members of various churches here in Twentynine Palms to fill in the gaps in services left by other agencies. The founders joined the National Volunteer Caregiving Network which is a faith-based organization and holds the belief that we should all put our “Faith into Action.”

Over the years, we have grown and welcomed people of all faiths, beliefs and lifestyles who are willing to help our seniors and better our community. We are allinclusive with Christians, Buddhists, those with a personal spiritual belief and athiests, serving on our board of directors, staff and volunteers. We seek people who have faith that each individual act of kindness has a butterfly effect that spreads throughout our community. By making our community a better and safer place we believe that helps make the world a better place.

The Tasty Tortoise favorite plates from around the hi -desert L

ately, the hi-desert has experienced a bit of a dining revival, with more of a variety of great dining options available for locals and visitors alike. Have a favorite? Everyone takes pictures of their food these days, so send a pic of your favorite hi-desert dish along with a description of what it is, why you like it, and where we can find it at tortoisetelegraph@gmail.com. We may publish it, and we may send you a little prize too!

Willie Boy’s Saloon & Dance hall morongo valley

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W

illie Boy’s in Morongo Valley, was recently sold, and the new owners have re-opened the popular western-themed restaurant, bar, and live music/entertainment venue.

While there’s no more karaoke night at Willie Boy’s, there’s plenty of excellent brisket, pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken and turkey, and more. Everything is house-made at Willie Boy’s, and our taste test was delicious.

There’s house BBQ potato chips, onion straws, pickle fries, and chili cheese fries to start you off, with nicely smoked meats to follow. Ribs fans can get beef “dino-ribs” or pork baby back ribs, and for KC style BBQ fans, yes you can get “burnt ends” to your heart’s content.

Cowboy Dan doesn’t just do a great bowl of BBQ baked beans, but he also serves up award winning chili. And of course you can get a host of sandwiches and burgers with either 100 percent Certified Black Angus chuck, or a blend of pork and beef. Toss some pulled pork on top for some burger bliss.

Meats at Willie Boy’s are smoked a minimum of six hours, and the brisket and pulled pork just seems to melt in your mouth, all smoky goodness.

If you’re thirsty, they’ve got that covered as well. They have a decent variety of drinks ranging from the Willy’s Perfect Dirty Martini, to a Dark & Stormy and a Perfect Storm. There’s plenty of wine and beer, both on tap and bottled. Check out the Peachberry Tea, or the Irish Buck.

All in all, great BBQ all KC style, refreshing drinks at two bars, pool and even kid games in house, plus live entertainment. A great addition to hi-desert dining!

Willie Boy’s, 50048 29 Palms Hwy., Morongo Valley.

(760)363-3343, www.willieboys.com

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Hi-Desert Happenings Theatres Theatre 29 73637 Sullivan Road, Twentynine Palms Don’t Hug Me I’m Pregnant plays May 6-June 4, with matinees May 15 & 29.

The Theatre 29 Summer Youth Theatre program is now accepting applications (see www.theatre29. org for applications). The program will include two age groups of 30 students each (ages 7-12, 1217), and will run July 5 through August 7 with performances of Disney’s Alladin Jr. set for August 5-7.

Cost for the program is $60 per student.

Tickets and information are available at www.theatre29.org, or call (760)361-4151.

NASCAR Driver Kyle Petty Makes Charity Ride Pit Stop In 29 Palms, Saturday, April 30

Hi-Desert Cultural Center 61231 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree 1st Fridays Reader’s Theater: Motherhood Out Loud, directed by Howard Shangraw. $7, complimentary drink at the bar. Tickets and information are available at www.hidesertculturalcenter.org or (760)366-3777.

St. Joseph’s Players St. Joseph of Arimathea Church, 56312 Onaga Trail, Yucca Valley Broadway Bound, by Neil Simon. May 14-June 5. Tickets are $9-$11.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/StJoePlayers, or call (760)362-9319.

Art 29 Palms Art Gallery 74055 Cottonwood Drive, Twentynine Palms Michael M. Faitl, Erick Johnson, Regina Kirrillov, Heather Sprague, and Ellen Finan, through April 24.

Sand to Stone: Contemporary Native American Art in Joshua Tree, April 27-May 22. Reception: May 7, 5-8 p.m. Additional site specific installation by Cahuilla artist Lewis deSoto opens at the Joshua Tree National Park Oasis Visitor Center on May 7.

Artist Kathi Klopfenstein hosts a class on making pine needle baskets, May 5, 12, 19. An incredibly talented basket maker and fiber artist, Kathi will teach 12 students the essentials of how to make pine needle baskets, including unique design embellishments. $35. Register in advance online.

Basket maker and gourd artist Helen Matoush teaches a course on making paper beads on May 20, from 4-6 p.m. Finished beads will be used to make jewelry and beaded projects. $5. Register online.

(760)367-7819, www.29palmsartgallery.com 29 Palms Inn 73950 Inn Avenue, Twentynine Palms Hi-desert artists.

(760)367-3505, www.29palmsinn.com

Kyle Petty will be leading 200 riders, including some celebrities, on the 22nd anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, as they make a stop in 29 Palms on Saturday, April 30, around 10:15 a.m. at the Arco AM/PM at 73434 29 Palms Highway.

Petty is leading the ride, from Palm Springs to Biloxi, to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction, a camp dedicated to providing life-changing camping experiences for kids with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. The charity rides are done in honor of Kyle’s late son Adam, who died in an auto racing accident at age 19.

Hi-desert locals will be able to see NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven time champion, Richard Petty, 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Hershel McGriff, NASCAR legends Harry Gant and Donnie Allison, former NFL great Herschel Walker, Allen West, and NBC Sports NASCAR personality Rick Allen. Folks can support the charity ride during their stop by purchasing memorabilia or donating to the ride.

29 Palms Creative Center 6847 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, (760)361-1805 www.29palmsart.com Local hi-desert artists, art classes and art parties.

29 Palms Visitor Center& Art Gallery 73484 29 Palms Hwy., Twentynine Palms Desert Hues exhibit, through June 30.

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Gallery 62 61871 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree Desert Spring, through May 1. www.hwy62arttours.org/gallery62.php JTAG (Joshua Tree Art Gallery) 61607 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree Equinox, through May 7.

(760)366-3636, www.joshuatreeartgallery.com

Film 29 Palms Military Film Festival Military oriented film festival, May 13-15. Various locations in 29 Palms. For full line up of films and special events, visit www.29palmsfilmfestival. com Health & Healing, Desert Living

Hi-Desert Nature Museum Yucca Valley Community Center, 57116 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley Reduce, Reuse, Recycle exhibit, through April 30. 2016 Student Art Showcase, featuring works from Copper Mountain College and Yucca Valley High School, May 5-June 4. Reception: May 6, 5-7 p.m. (760)369-7212 www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org

Joshua Tree Retreat Center/Institute of Mentalphysics 59700 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, (760)3658371 Intro to Tibetan Spiritual Breath. Tuesdays, 6:308 p.m., Lotus Meditation Building. Donation: $5.

Improves subtle energies of the body by understanding breath and the natural relationship to healing.

Art Colony of Morongo Valley Covington Park, 11165 Vale Drive, Morongo Valley.

April’s Featured Artist: Susan Holloway.

(760)792-1238, www.artcolonyofmorongovalley.com

Rainbow Stew 55509 29 Palms Hwy., Old Town Yucca Valley For event schedule, see: www.rainbowstew4u.com

Fourth Annual Art Auction Benefit for Reach Out Morongo Basin ArtFx & Furnishings, 55836 29 Palms Hwy., Old Town Yucca Valley Art auction, live music, food, beer & wine, desserts, May 7, 2 - 7 p.m.

Bid registration: 2-3 p.m., live auction: 3-5 p.m., with Larry Bowden, auctioneer, live music by the Luminators, 5 - 7 p.m.

Music 29 Palms Inn 73950 Inn Avenue, Twentynine Palms (760)367-3505, www.29palmsinn.com Live music nightly (see schedule).

Pappy & Harriets Pioneertown Palace 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown (760)365-5956, www.pappyandharriets.com Upcoming: Cactus Wine Experience, April 30, Rojer Arnold Band, May 12, Tim Easton, May 19.

Regularly scheduled: Ted Quinn’s open mic on Mondays, The Shadow Mountain Band opening for other acts most Saturdays, The Hot Fudge Sunday Band, most Sundays. For complete calendar: www.pappyandharriets.com.

Joshua Tree Saloon 61835 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, (760)366-2250, www.thejoshuatreesaloon.com Regularly scheduled: Open Jam Tuesdays with Ted Quinn, karaoke Wednesday and Friday nights, live music Saturday nights, Punk Rock Thursday, second Thursdays.

Beatnik Lounge 61597 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree. (760)4754860 In the Round (songwriter showcase with Phil Rosenberg), May 8, 5 p.m., Bob Dylan’s 75th Dream, May 14, 7 p.m.

Online music: www.RadioFreeJoshuaTree.org Art Queen 61855 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree Desert Dharma Dog Rescue Dance Party, May 7, 5-11 p.m. Featuring Jewels & Johnny Nation, Victoria Williams, Ted Quinn, Daytime Moon, Christopher Hawley Rollers, David Macias, exotic dance performances, food available, raffle, bake sale for humans and pooches, thrift store, silent auction, and fur babies on site for adoption and cuddles. $10 suggested donation. All proceeds benefit Desert Dharma Dog Rescue.

Tortoise Rock Casino Mr. Crowley - Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, April 29, Urban skies - Tribute to Keith Urban, May 5, both concerts 8 p.m. Extreme Midget Wrestling, May 14, 7 p.m., $20.

Sky’s the Limit Observatory & Nature Center 9697 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms Evening with the Cosmos, April 30, 8:15 p.m. midnight. Galaxies and Globular Clusters, May 7, 9 p.m. - midnight. Mercury Transit, May 9, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Mars Near Opposition, May 14, 9 p.m. - midnight. Night sky viewing with telescopes. Free. For full information see www.skysthelimit29.org.

Joshua Trees 101 Everything you could want to know about Joshua trees and then some. Hosted by environmental writer Chris Clarke. The class is 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., May 14, for $5. Live music by the Luminators afterward, Indian frybread, nopales, and street tacos.

Cactus Mart, 49889 29 Palms Hwy., Morongo Valley. RSVP for class to (760)363-6076.

Portal to the New Earth It’s called an evolutionary gathering of hearts and minds, to share wisdom and knowledge to birth the New Earth. There’s sound immersions, interactive workshops, lectures, yoga, ecstatic dance, sound healing journeys, and group meals (organic, vegan, of course) out at Garth’s “God’s Way Love” place (any excuse to go to Garth’s is a good one, really).

The line up for this third annual event includes David Starfire, Imagika Om, Heartwurkz, Jami Deva, Itom Lab, Ahee, Samuel J, Elisa Rose, Earthwake, Michael Strauss, Shamanatrix Missy Galore (who will, no doubt, fluff the goodness), and more.

Portal to the New Earth (we’re looking for the passageway to Middle Earth, personally), takes place May 6-8. You can get more info and register at www.portaltothenewearth.com.

Contact in the Desert We wanted to give you a head’s up on this event since it seems to sell out, and it boasts a pretty cool roster of speakers. We can’t tell you much about it other than that though, because they don’t have any kind of media relations that we’ve ever witnessed (we’ve seen more UFOs than we have invitations to cover the event).

But all that aside, they have lots of folks it would be fun to hear from—Graham Hancock, Giorgio A. Tsoukalos (and his hair!), George Noory (who is a lot of fun to interview), Erich Von Daniken, Stanton Friedman, and plenty more, including some local talent, author Robin Maxwell, and historian Barbara Harris.

There’s way too much stuff to list here, so if you’re interested, visit www.contactinthedesert. com for the whole shebang. Contact in the Desert runs June 3-6 and the earlier you register, the cheaper it is. Single rates are $225, with couple rates at $425, through May 2.

Want to be included in our calendar listings? Send event info to us at: publisher@sunrunnersw.com.

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Starting next edition, this section reserved for: Private parties selling their container or Looking to buy a 20’ or 40’ container Contact Shaun: 800-680-0952 for rates and listing information 16