03/23/2023
MIKE’S OWN MEATLOAF
• Johnson Valley has another great menu on offer for next month’s First Saturday Dinner on April 1st. Mike’s Own Meat Loaf Dinner features guest chef Mike Steele’s individual servings of his special recipe meatloaf, with delicious mashed potatoes and brown sugar carrots on the side, plus dessert. All this for only 10.00 per person, kids 12 and under plate, 5.00.
Doors open at the Community Center at 5:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:00. Invite friends and neighbors!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ELECTION OF JVIA BOARD 2023
All are welcome to stay after dinner for the latest news and announcements. Saturday, April 1st is Election Day for the Board of Officers and Directors of the Johnson Valley Improvement Association for 2023.
They will serve for one year term, and be up for re-election next year.
Just in case the Johnson Valley Journal arrives in the mailboxes of voting members next week, the slate of nominees on Page 5 has changed since the Journal was set up. (See Journal update in FAQ below)
Nominees are:
President – Arlan Hawthorne
Vice President – Reiner Kruger
Secretary – Sandra Colletti
Treasurer – Michelle Zumstein
Director #1 – Ken Cash
Director #2 – Don Minnix
Director #3 – Court Prittie
Director #4 – Paula Mattecheck
Director #5 – Daryl Nustad
Director #6 – Linda Walsh
Nominations may also be made from the floor during this meeting.
If your dues were paid by January 31, please come and VOTE.
JVIA needs you!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THE WINDS OF SPRING
• Johnson Valley has dodged most of the ferocious weather lately – the wind sideswiped us big time, but little rain and no snow fell. No doubt more shingles went flying but after watching footage of our neighbors up in the mountains digging out from under roof-deep snow, you can only count your blessings.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
EYES ON EAGLES
The famous Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow (they have their own YouTube channel) have weathered the storms well. However, the two eggs they were protecting in a deep bowl of snow in their huge nest were past their hatch-by date.
Their fans were sad, but not the eagles. They have already begun remodeling the nest, 5-1/2 feet wide and 6 feet deep, 145 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine, getting ready for hoped-for fertile eggs. They did seem puzzled when they returned to find a fresh mound of snow covering their new sticks.
Watching the 24-hour live cams gave us a view of the mountain winds, rain, and snow that’s better than any weather cam.
Log on to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
STAMPING GLAMPING
• Rave reviews for all community members who traveled for miles to the March 9th Planning Commission meeting in San Bernardino and to the teleconference center in Joshua Tree. Speakers came from Homestead Valley communities and Lucerne Valley. Organizations and citizens promoting the conservation of our desert described in no uncertain terms the problems with this Conditional Use Permit. Several mentioned the HVCC public meetings.
Opposition to the project was unanimous!
The Commission did not vote, and the proposal was denied without prejudice. Robott Land Co. then had ten days to appeal this decision to the Board of Supervisors. We do not know the outcome as of this writing.
Leading the fight against these offensive resort projects, the Homestead Valley Community Council (HVCC) and the Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association (LVEDA) have made great efforts to spread the word among our sparsely-populated rural communities.
Of great importance to residential landowners – Cumulative Impact: already more developers have applied for similar commercial “glamping” permits in Rural Living Zones! We just heard about yet another project to set up in Joshua Tree! NOT rural living; basically a hotel.
GOOD NEWS: The Planning Commissioners voted down the Wonder Valley Inn project as "not compatible with land use." Wonder Valley residents have been battling this project and observing HVCC and LVEDA protests against Flamingo 640.
Maybe the overreach of the Wonder Valley Inn scheme made it plain what rural landowners foresee if these commercial resorts spread over desert lands zoned for Rural Living.
????????????????????????????????????????????
FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS updated
To new readers: the JV NEWS e-mails every week or two, expanding on items published in the neighborhood column in the Hi-Desert Star. Other notices of particular interest to Johnson Valley residents and property owners also circulate to this list.
If you do not wish to receive these notices, just reply and tell me to remove your name.
JVIA ADDRESS & DIRECTIONS:
The mailing address is:
JVIA
50567A Quailbush Rd.
Johnson Valley CA 92285
Directions to the Community Center:
From Hwy 247, between mile markers 21 and 22, turn onto Larrea Road at the big red highway sign and go 1-3/4 miles to Quailbush Rd. The Community Center is on your left at the corner.
• Saturday Breakfast: every week, 7:30-10:30 a.m. Lots of choices, still reasonably priced, with the never-empty coffee cup.
Check out the Boutique Table for gifts and Johnson Valley promotional items. See what's new, or donate gently used items for the New-To-You Table (donate whatever you wish for items you want to buy).
Cash, check or credit card accepted. All prices include Sales Tax. All proceeds go toward the operation of the Community Center.
• Johnson Valley Journal: due to circumstances beyond our control, production of the Journal has suffered delays at every step. With any luck, subscribers can expect it in your mail early next week.
• HVCC: The monthly meetings of the Homestead Valley Community Council give you a wealth of information from our County Supervisor's office, the Fire Department, CalFire, the Sheriff's Department, the Marine Base, and other representatives from county, state, and federal authorities.
The Johnson Valley Improvement Association is one of the four associations in Homestead Valley unincorporated communities which established this grassroots organization. Information is circulated among our members and other JV residents and property owners. Citizens present issues in the meetings, the Council follows up with them wherever we see the need.
Plan to come to HVCC meetings at 3:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The location rotates around the four Community Centers; it's Johnson Valley in February, June, and October.
The next meeting is Monday, April 17th at 3:00 p.m. in the Yucca Mesa Community Center, 3133 Balsa Ave. just off Aberdeen Rd, about two miles from Hwy 247.
Hot topic – the new CalFire maps of the State Responsibility Areas, the puzzling fire risk ratings, and HVCC and LVEDA resistance. Proponents claim they used wildfire history in part to establish wildfire risk in the SRA's. They actually appear to ignore it, not consider it.
All this planning happened with a surprising lack of transparency and input from the affected locals.
See HVCC Actions and Comments, as well as meeting agendas on http://homesteadvalleycc.org
See Scenic Highway 247 documents and the Visual Assessment on the website-in-progress www.scenichighway247.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
E=MC2.jpeg
??Keep smilin'
Betty Munson
760-364-2646
MIKE’S OWN MEATLOAF
• Johnson Valley has another great menu on offer for next month’s First Saturday Dinner on April 1st. Mike’s Own Meat Loaf Dinner features guest chef Mike Steele’s individual servings of his special recipe meatloaf, with delicious mashed potatoes and brown sugar carrots on the side, plus dessert. All this for only 10.00 per person, kids 12 and under plate, 5.00.
Doors open at the Community Center at 5:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:00. Invite friends and neighbors!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ELECTION OF JVIA BOARD 2023
All are welcome to stay after dinner for the latest news and announcements. Saturday, April 1st is Election Day for the Board of Officers and Directors of the Johnson Valley Improvement Association for 2023.
They will serve for one year term, and be up for re-election next year.
Just in case the Johnson Valley Journal arrives in the mailboxes of voting members next week, the slate of nominees on Page 5 has changed since the Journal was set up. (See Journal update in FAQ below)
Nominees are:
President – Arlan Hawthorne
Vice President – Reiner Kruger
Secretary – Sandra Colletti
Treasurer – Michelle Zumstein
Director #1 – Ken Cash
Director #2 – Don Minnix
Director #3 – Court Prittie
Director #4 – Paula Mattecheck
Director #5 – Daryl Nustad
Director #6 – Linda Walsh
Nominations may also be made from the floor during this meeting.
If your dues were paid by January 31, please come and VOTE.
JVIA needs you!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THE WINDS OF SPRING
• Johnson Valley has dodged most of the ferocious weather lately – the wind sideswiped us big time, but little rain and no snow fell. No doubt more shingles went flying but after watching footage of our neighbors up in the mountains digging out from under roof-deep snow, you can only count your blessings.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
EYES ON EAGLES
The famous Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow (they have their own YouTube channel) have weathered the storms well. However, the two eggs they were protecting in a deep bowl of snow in their huge nest were past their hatch-by date.
Their fans were sad, but not the eagles. They have already begun remodeling the nest, 5-1/2 feet wide and 6 feet deep, 145 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine, getting ready for hoped-for fertile eggs. They did seem puzzled when they returned to find a fresh mound of snow covering their new sticks.
Watching the 24-hour live cams gave us a view of the mountain winds, rain, and snow that’s better than any weather cam.
Log on to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
STAMPING GLAMPING
• Rave reviews for all community members who traveled for miles to the March 9th Planning Commission meeting in San Bernardino and to the teleconference center in Joshua Tree. Speakers came from Homestead Valley communities and Lucerne Valley. Organizations and citizens promoting the conservation of our desert described in no uncertain terms the problems with this Conditional Use Permit. Several mentioned the HVCC public meetings.
Opposition to the project was unanimous!
The Commission did not vote, and the proposal was denied without prejudice. Robott Land Co. then had ten days to appeal this decision to the Board of Supervisors. We do not know the outcome as of this writing.
Leading the fight against these offensive resort projects, the Homestead Valley Community Council (HVCC) and the Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association (LVEDA) have made great efforts to spread the word among our sparsely-populated rural communities.
Of great importance to residential landowners – Cumulative Impact: already more developers have applied for similar commercial “glamping” permits in Rural Living Zones! We just heard about yet another project to set up in Joshua Tree! NOT rural living; basically a hotel.
GOOD NEWS: The Planning Commissioners voted down the Wonder Valley Inn project as "not compatible with land use." Wonder Valley residents have been battling this project and observing HVCC and LVEDA protests against Flamingo 640.
Maybe the overreach of the Wonder Valley Inn scheme made it plain what rural landowners foresee if these commercial resorts spread over desert lands zoned for Rural Living.
????????????????????????????????????????????
FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS updated
To new readers: the JV NEWS e-mails every week or two, expanding on items published in the neighborhood column in the Hi-Desert Star. Other notices of particular interest to Johnson Valley residents and property owners also circulate to this list.
If you do not wish to receive these notices, just reply and tell me to remove your name.
JVIA ADDRESS & DIRECTIONS:
The mailing address is:
JVIA
50567A Quailbush Rd.
Johnson Valley CA 92285
Directions to the Community Center:
From Hwy 247, between mile markers 21 and 22, turn onto Larrea Road at the big red highway sign and go 1-3/4 miles to Quailbush Rd. The Community Center is on your left at the corner.
• Saturday Breakfast: every week, 7:30-10:30 a.m. Lots of choices, still reasonably priced, with the never-empty coffee cup.
Check out the Boutique Table for gifts and Johnson Valley promotional items. See what's new, or donate gently used items for the New-To-You Table (donate whatever you wish for items you want to buy).
Cash, check or credit card accepted. All prices include Sales Tax. All proceeds go toward the operation of the Community Center.
• Johnson Valley Journal: due to circumstances beyond our control, production of the Journal has suffered delays at every step. With any luck, subscribers can expect it in your mail early next week.
• HVCC: The monthly meetings of the Homestead Valley Community Council give you a wealth of information from our County Supervisor's office, the Fire Department, CalFire, the Sheriff's Department, the Marine Base, and other representatives from county, state, and federal authorities.
The Johnson Valley Improvement Association is one of the four associations in Homestead Valley unincorporated communities which established this grassroots organization. Information is circulated among our members and other JV residents and property owners. Citizens present issues in the meetings, the Council follows up with them wherever we see the need.
Plan to come to HVCC meetings at 3:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The location rotates around the four Community Centers; it's Johnson Valley in February, June, and October.
The next meeting is Monday, April 17th at 3:00 p.m. in the Yucca Mesa Community Center, 3133 Balsa Ave. just off Aberdeen Rd, about two miles from Hwy 247.
Hot topic – the new CalFire maps of the State Responsibility Areas, the puzzling fire risk ratings, and HVCC and LVEDA resistance. Proponents claim they used wildfire history in part to establish wildfire risk in the SRA's. They actually appear to ignore it, not consider it.
All this planning happened with a surprising lack of transparency and input from the affected locals.
See HVCC Actions and Comments, as well as meeting agendas on http://homesteadvalleycc.org
See Scenic Highway 247 documents and the Visual Assessment on the website-in-progress www.scenichighway247.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
E=MC2.jpeg
??Keep smilin'
Betty Munson
760-364-2646
Johnson Valley Weekly Neighborhood News
by Betty Munson
