While the town finished out 2014 with a new mayor, an inaugural leadership summit for local youth and growing concern over the potential attempt to takeover a key utility district, the year brought lots of music and blood drives, community events and the launch of a pride-based neighborhood clean-up program.
This two-part series — the second installment covering the last half of 2014 — is just a sampling of the stories the Apple Valley Review brought to readers.
July
• The musical stylings of ’80s rockers Neon Nation was just one of many featured events at the town’s annual Freedom Festival on July 4.
Hundreds of local residents cover the grassy landscape at Lenny Brewster Sports Center on Friday and watch the spectacular fireworks presentation to cap off the festival. The afternoon and evening event also featured the popular beer garden that complemented a variety of food booths featuring funnel cakes, kettle corn, fresh lemonade and barbecue.
• A large collection of historical items that trace the town’s storied past has been in the hands of Apple Valley’s appointed Historical Advisory Committee and the High Desert Community Foundation for the past year.
As staffers and volunteers work to digitally archive photos contained in the lot which came from the estate of Margaret “Maggie” Cramer, they’re looking to local residents and community leaders to help identify what and who are in many of the photos.
Cramer, who helped build the Apple Valley community through generous foundations and commitment, died in September 2009 at age 81. In a Daily Press story on Cramer’s passing, Dorothy Harp, then-executive director of the HDCF, called Cramer a pillar of the community.
• The Apple Valley Optimist Club recently announced it’s partnering with BJ’s Health Foods and the Lord’s Table this summer to start a special program for High Desert kids who are fortunate to be served a daily hot meal from The Lord’s Table in Victorville.
Julie Whittingham, club chairperson, said the High Desert is grateful to have a program that homeless and lower income families can go to on a daily basis to be fed a warm and nutritious meal served by volunteers who work tirelessly to provide each person with food that not only nurtures their bodies but gives them hope for their future.
• High Desert residents continue to embrace water conservation as a way of life. The Mojave Water Agency and the Alliance for Water Awareness and Conservation have announced that a total of 6.5 million square feet of turf has been removed since 2008 thanks to the Cash for Grass Program. This has resulted in a cumulative savings of 4,855 acre-feet of water that has helped drought-proof the High Desert region.
The program currently offers 50 cents per square foot for turf removed with a maximum of 6,000 square feet for residential projects and up to 20,000 square feet for commercial and industrial projects.
Beverly Lowry, MWA board president, said the latest program results are an example of the region’s commitment to water conservation.
• Leaders of the city of Missoula, Montana and the town of Apple Valley, met in Missoula to discuss efforts to bring water service to citizens as municipal utilities owned by the public.
In Apple Valley, the town’s water system is owned and operated by Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company. In Missoula, it is Mountain Water Company. Both entities are owned by Park Water Company, which is owned by Western Water Holdings LLC. In turn, Western Water Holdings is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Carlyle Infrastructure Partners, a division of The Carlyle Group. According to a 2011 ranking called the PEI 300 based on capital raised over the last five years, Carlyle was ranked as the third largest private equity firm in the world.
In the face of continuing rate hikes and lack of local control over such an important resource, both communities are exploring options to acquire their respective water systems. They’ve agreed to share resources and collaborate in their efforts.
• The name of one of Apple Valley’s famous cowboys, Earl Bascom, has been placed in the national spotlight.
Out of the many great cowboys and cowgirls from across the country, Bascom was honored as part of the National Day of the Cowboy on Saturday.
The National Day of the Cowboy has been celebrated for the past 10 years throughout North America.
The annual commemoration is held on the fourth Saturday of July in honor of the cowboy, cowboy culture and the cowboy way of life.
August
• High Desert residents have a new dining option at Fat Jack’s Bar and Grill, located at 19123 Highway 18 in Apple Valley. The historical building it is housed in was once home to the popular Drapers’ Sports Bar & Grill, which closed several years ago.
According to Fat Jack’s general manager Dave Sweaney, owner Katherine Hall is a local real estate developer who fell in love with the property and wanted to revive it. She named it after her father Jack Hall, owner of Western State Development and Construction in Victorville.
The establishment offers gourmet burgers and other entrees, specialty drinks and a large selection of craft beers. It also features live music, a dance floor, lounge and sports bar.
• In years past, the Apple Valley Golf Course has played host to countless celebrities in the sports and entertainment world. Singers Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra, as well as golf legend Arnold Palmer, were frequent guests on the facilities’ fairways, as well as in its restaurant.
Although there haven’t been any star sightings of late, food server Henry Santos says the course continues to hold the reputation of being the High Desert’s premier spot for golfing, tennis, dining and special events.
To uphold its lofty standards, owners of the course recently remodeled its dining room with an air of sophistication and class, according to Santos. It also is now operating under the name “Roydale’s Bar and Grill,” which is in honor of legendary actor/singer Roy Rogers and his actress/singer wife, Dale Evans.
• The High Desert Branch of the California Writers Club, a local division of writers who taught high school students creative writing and then connected them to High Desert senior citizens to write their memoirs, announced that the Central Board of the organization has approved funding to help complete another such project for 2015.
• While public health officials have prodded residents to eat better and get more exercise for years, California residents are growing increasingly overweight or obese.
St. Mary’s Medical Center, Community Health Action Network, Apple Valley Unified School District, and the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health’s Nutrition Program developed a Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention (CX3) High Desert Action Team. The CX3project — developed and funded by the California Department of Public Health — has provided this team with resources and tools to take a ground-level look at low-income neighborhoods in neighborhoods in the High Desert Area (Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Victorville) of San Bernardino County to understand the dynamics shaping health behaviors.
• The March of Dimes took a big step forward in their efforts to help ensure stronger, healthy babies after the non-profit received a large donation by a local fast food franchise group.
“Envision Foods and its Jack in the Box group blew us away when they told us that they raised $41,000,” said Chris Huyett, executive director for the Inland Empire March of Dimes. “We were shocked, thrilled and bouncing off the walls screaming when we found out. Envision completely rocked it.”
• With funding for the arts being nearly non-existent in the public school system, youngsters are truly missing out on a well-rounded educational experience, according to Apple Valley resident and acting coach Melanie Myers.
To help remedy the problem, Myers said she recently began offering affordable acting classes through the Town of Apple Valley’s parks and recreation department.
Along with her aim to teach character development, improvisation and other theater basics, Myers says she strives to give her students an outlet for self-expression and creative inspiration.
• St. Mary Medical Center was recently recognized as a top ranked Community Value Provider by Cleverley & Associates. Cleverley & Associates, a leading health care financial consulting firm specializing in operational benchmarking and performance enhancement strategies, released the findings as part of its new publications: State of the Hospital Industry — 2014 Edition.
• For many singers, the opportunity to perform at New York City’s Carnegie Hall would surely be the chance of a lifetime. Next March, 38 students in Granite High School’s chamber singers choir in Apple Valley are hoping to seize that dream. They will join choral groups from all over the United States for a classical music concert at the prestigious venue.
Granite Hills High choir director Shane Churchill said his ensemble earned the privilege of performing at Carnegie Hall after receiving a Gold rating last April at the WorldStrides Heritage Performance Festival competition in Las Vegas.
September
• Town officials announced the locally popular Concerts in the Courtyard program was returning for a September run. The free music performances, hosted by the town and sponsored by Lewis Retail Centers, are perfect opportunities to connect with friends, family members and neighbors.
Performing for the autumn run included folk comedy quartet the High D Boys, pop/dance group Caliente Duo, blues/acoustic act Pegleg Slim and Americana artists The Littlest Birds.
• A no-holds-barred attitude pretty much sums up what’s behind Hesperia art instructor Joan Sowinski’s success at bringing out the creativity in her students. Sowinski, owner of Burning House Art Studio in Apple Valley, said when it comes to making great art, the artist must believe there are no limits to what their imagination can dream up.
Sowinski said she opened her studio in 2008 with the intention of giving artists a place to create whatever their hearts might desire. The Hesperia resident offers pottery lessons, which includes techniques in hand-building, molding and potter’s wheel spinning.
All the projects include glazing and firing, which is done on the studio’s premises, Sowinski said. The cost for a block of 12 classes is $45 and there is an extra charge of $12 for a 25-pound bag of clay.
• Pets of all kinds were primped, pampered and put up for adoption at the Town of Apple Valley’s Paws N’ Claws Pet Fair at Civic Center Park.
According to the Town of Apple Valley’s animal services manager, Gina Schwin-Whiteside, the pet fair was founded in 2005 as a way to offer a safe environment for pet owners to help their furry friends learn how to interact with crowds of people, as well as other animals.
• While ballroom dancing may be reserved for people who are graceful and light on their feet, square dancing is pretty much for anyone who can walk, according to Ken Havenstrite, president of the Thunderbirds Square Dance Club in Apple Valley. Havenstrite, a longtime resident of Apple Valley, said all one needs to participate is an enthusiastic attitude, an ability to follow instructions and a comfortable pair of shoes.
For those interested in giving it a try, Havenstrite’s club began offering square dance lessons at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the James A. Woody Community Center, 13467 Navajo Road.
Line dance classes were also planned for 6:30 p.m., Havenstrite said.
• Medical treatments have come a long way but so have natural healing modalities, according to Susan King, the organizer for the Hi-Desert Center for Spiritual Living’s 7th annual Healthy Spirit Festival. The purpose of the event, held in September, was to give the community a chance to learn about the evolution of holistic medicine and its profound, therapeutic effects on the mind, body and spirit.
• In celebration of 15 successful years as dancing school owners, Linda Hanley and Pam Cambridge decided to redecorate their Apple Valley studio, A Dancer’s Pointe. The women, who purchased the business in the late 1990s from its founder, Amy Workman, were busy as bees painting the interior walls and sprucing up the place.
As good as it looks, Cambridge believes it’s her dancers and instructors who bring out the real beauty of the studio in Suite A at 18355 Highway 18. She said their dedication to dancing, along with a positive attitude and a desire to give back with their talents, has truly been a sight to behold.
• Inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s best-selling book, “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference,” High Desert residents Leah Maldonado and Kim Carter set out on a course to make one of their big dreams come true.
The real estate professionals unveiled their new Apple Valley bar and nightclub, The Tipping Point, which is located at 21860 Outer Highway 18.
Prior to the opening, Maldonado said the establishment would feature a sports bar, fine wine and craft beer lounge and a small concert venue where local bands and solo acts will perform. Additionally, The Tipping Point planned toshowcase the artwork of area artists in a variety of mediums.
• Apple Valley Unified School District Police Chief Walter VanOosbree after nine years of service and Cesar Molina was appointed as interim police chief.
Molina was sworn in during a short ceremony at the AVUSD Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 4. He was the first officer hired by Dave Landry, the first chief for the district, according to Superintendent Tom Hoegerman.
• Things are perking up in the Village area for one locally grown business.
Tonyan Coffee Roasters are about to throw their doors open quite a bit earlier in the morning and keep them opening a bit later into the evening in an effort to reach those residents who want an organic cup of joe but have an early clock-in or late clock-out time.
The roastery, which has been brewing since 2007 when it was a simple roasting operation in the home of John Tonyan, has been open in its Nomwaket Road suite for the last three years.
And after seeing the success of its kiosk at St. Joseph Health, St. Mary, which opened in 2013, the Tonyan family decided a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday schedule could reach even more Apple Valley residents.
October
• Following a creative path has led Apple Valley native Jasmin Stewart-Harbin to many exciting opportunities, including an internship a few years back at Universal Studio’s costume shop in Los Angeles. But the imaginative 32-year-old admits she never expected to be chosen as a competitor in TNT’s upcoming television cooking contest, “On The Menu.”
The program, which premiered Oct. 3, pits home cooks against one another for a chance to win $25,000 and create a signature dish for restaurants such as Chili’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Planet Hollywood, Outback Steakhouse and several other popular eateries around the country.
• Nearing the end of their eighth-grade school year, eight local girls were selected, through an interview process, to be recipients of $800 scholarships, providing the opportunity to attend week-long science- and math-focused programs on either the Irvine or San Diego campuses of the University of California.
Erin Memphis Despain, Whitney Braun, Angela Lee, Flora Cheung, Elizabeth Martin, Hannah Duran, Makaila Iorge and Ailleen Palacios, who were all eighth-graders at Theodore Vick School in Adelanto, Heritage Middle School in Phelan or Sitting Bull Academy in Apple Valley, were selected as the recipients of the Tech Trek scholarship.
• A local man known for his involvement with the Mohahve Historical Society and his connection to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans had a small role in a drama set in the 1830s.
John Bascom, of Apple Valley, said he would appear in “16 Stones,” which was screened at Cinemark Jess Ranch beginning on Oct. 24.
Bascom is the son of Earl Bascom, who is credited as the “Father of Modern Rodeo,” and the nephew of Texas Rose Bascom, was a famous trick and fancy rope artist who toured with Rogers and Evans where they performed at military hospitals and other military installations.
• A local author who recently published a new book hosted a signing with the new literary work.
Zailyn Prada is the author of, “A Girl’s Guide to Greatness: Mystical Paths for Magical Women.” She was signing copies of it on Oct. 25 at One of Life’s Perks Coffee House.
The book is based on a composite of real life characters in a real-life story — one that came together originally as a requirement for Prada’s master’s degree in transpersonal studies.
• Building a better Victor Valley seems to be on the minds of many area residents these days, according to Monica Petersen, marketing coordinator for the city of Victorville. To help facilitate such a worthwhile goal, Petersen said the city hosted Environmental Awareness Day on Oct. 17 at the Mall of Victor Valley.
The event featured more than 19 government and utility agencies from Hesperia, Apple Valley, Victorville and Adelanto, whose representatives will be distributing educational literature, offering utility incentives and talking about ways to minimize pollution and blight in the High Desert.
Petersen said she was inspired to create the Environmental Awareness Day after reading about the recently implemented PRIDE program through the Daily Press. PRIDE — People Ready to Improve the Desert Environment — is a call to action to the community to work together in cleaning up the High Desert.
• Squash4Friends, a local nonprofit that grows fresh vegetables for the needy, unveiled its new Apple Valley produce farm during an informal taco lunch for volunteers and supporters.
The event was topped off by a monumental “ice bucket challenge” where volunteer leaders were drenched with a tractor scoop of icy water.
• Life can deal some pretty difficult hands, but motivational/spiritual teacher Charles Gehrke says we should never allow our problems to be a roadblock to happiness and prosperity.
But he’s not all talk. The High Desert resident has dedicated his life to teaching others how to overcome negativity and forge ahead on the path to their dreams. Along with speaking to youngsters at area schools, Gehrke also holds a periodic workshop he calls, “Toolkit for Prosperity.” He’s hosted similar presentations at the Hi-Desert Center for Spiritual Living on Corwin Road in the past, and he recently began a new session in Hesperia.
• For those who are developmentally disabled, finding enriching and safe group activities can be quite a challenge, according to Lena Quinonez, recreation supervisor for the Town of Apple Valley’s Parks and Recreation Department.
With their needs in mind, the department founded its Special Apples program, which provides sporting and creative activities to kids and adults with autism, Down syndrome, brain trauma and other disabilities.
• Servers dished out some of their craft chili at the 13th annual Happy Trails Chili Cook-off in Apple Valley. Thousands attended the event at Lenny Brewster Sports Center, where several food vendors and other organizations displayed their products.
• A heart for hops drove a budding entrepreneur to start brewing his own brand in his barn about five years ago, a hobby that soon turned into a trade.
Now, it’s that same passion that’s driving Josh Waters’ brewing from his barn to bigger surroundings.
Waters, 33, of Apple Valley, recently began working on plans and renovations in a Hesperia Road in Hesperia building suite in preparation of opening the Desert Barn Brewery. It’s a spot he says will focus on microbrews and a comfortable environment and will welcome families.
• Homeowners and businesses in Apple Valley reduced water use by nearly 10 percent over the summer, Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company announced in a news release.
Apple Valley saved the equivalent of enough water to fill more than 140 Olympic-sized pools, the release states.
• A study commissioned to explore various financing options for the town’s purchase of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company was released in late October.
The Apple Valley Town Council authorized the release of its “Financial Feasibility Analysis for the Acquisition of the Apple Valley Ranchos Water System.”
The town is pursuing the purchase of AVR in order to gain local control over the town’s water resource and stabilize the ever-rising rates the town has experienced over the last decade.
• Illegal dumping doesn’t pay, but reporting it can. At the Oct. 28 Town Council meeting, Burrtec Waste Industries presented a check for $500, a reward that was given to a local citizen for reporting the illegal dumping of materials on commercial property.
November
• Dr. Sheri Wilkins and Carol Burmeister, educational professionals from Apple Valley, presented at OCALICON 2014, a gathering of national leaders, educators, parents, self-advocates, scholars, policy-makers and service providers.
Those in attendance were scheduled to examine common concerns and share proven solutions that address issues faced by individuals with autism and low-incidence disabilities across their lifespan. The conference was planned for Nov. 19 to 21 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
• After years of honing his political activism skills in Orange County, one Granite Hills High School graduate is now working for Internet giant Google Inc.
Scott Loenhorst, 25, joined the ranks of about 48,000 Google employees at the Googleplex in Mountain View where he serves as a recruiting coordinator for the Internet-based company.
• Voters signaled their approval with the status quo in final Election Night returns, re-electing incumbents Barb Stanton, Scott Nassif and Curt Emick.
Rick Roelle, a former councilman and mayor, finished in fourth place, about two percentage points behind Emick.
• As the High Desert continues to expand with people and new businesses, it’s becoming much more difficult for horse owners to find placesto ride, according to Ray Sims, chairman of the Town of Apple Valley’s Equestrian Advisory Committee (EAC).
Concerned about the dwindling areas of open land in Apple Valley, the EAC created the Apple Valley Rider Challenge earlier in 2014 with the aim of encouraging greater equestrian usage in designated areas.
• A dog may be a man’s best friend but Fido can become his worst nightmare without proper training, according to Apple Valley resident Jason Rae, an animal behavior specialist.
Rae, owner of the High Desert-based Inside Out Dog Training, said he has dedicated the past 10 years of his life to teaching dog ownershow to permanently tame their unruly pooch’s behavior.
His company offers several customized training packages for dogs of all breeds and even puppies. Rae said his methods are centered in positive reinforcement and lots of love and attention.
• Local water companies are hoping that money from the passage of Proposition 1 will benefit their infrastructure programs and benefit ratepayers.
The $7.5-billion statewide bond issue, called the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, was passed by California voters on Nov. 4. Its funds are designed to offset customer costs for critical water infrastructure projects like recycled water, groundwater cleanup, water-use efficiency and safe drinking water for smaller systems in economically disadvantaged communities.
“We are celebrating this important accomplishment for our state and our Apple Valley community because for the first time ever in a statewide bond issuance, private water utilities will be eligible to receive funding just like government-owned utilities,” said Tony Penna, vice president and general manager of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Co.
• In the spirit of love and gratitude, several High Desert based religious organizations joined together Nov. 25 for a pre-Thanksgiving spiritual celebration. The event, which has been presented annually since 1997 by the Interfaith Council of the High Desert, took place at the Hi Desert Center for Spiritual Living.
• Over its six-year history, the Wine Seller in Apple Valley has become known for its vast array of high-quality wines, micro-brew beers and wine accessories. The establishment, at 19341 Bear Valley Road, Suite 201, changed hands in July and is now owned and operated by Victorville resident Wendy Miller.
Miller said she has worked as a bartender at the Wine Seller since it opened in 2008. When the previous owners, Paul and Arlene Bruinsma, decided they wanted to sell, they approached Miller about purchasing the business.
• High school students throughout Apple Valley recently got the opportunity to make a difference in their community by participating in the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Summit.
This inaugural event, held on Nov. 14, drew 33 high school students who got a behind the scenes look at how local government works. In addition to a tour of Town Hall, students from Granite Hills High School, the Academy for Academic Excellence, Apple Valley Christian School, Apple Valley High School and High Desert Premier Academy experienced the roles that managers and staff play every day in their department.
December
• Five of the High Desert’s incorporated municipalities have agreed to join forces with Southern California Edison in an effort to promote energy efficiency.
The cities of Adelanto, Barstow, Hesperia, Victorville and the town of Apple Valley have come together with SCE to form the High Desert Regional Partnership, according to a news release last week. The cooperative program is aimed to promote energy efficiency and regional sustainability goals to benefit all residents of the High Desert.
• The Melody Makers of the High Desert have been on a mission since 2006.
That mission, according to June Wood, a member of the 18-member ensemble, is to brighten the lives of High Desert seniors who are living in care facilities.
Every Wednesday, the Melody Makers of the High Desert visit a different institution and deliver an hour of music from days gone by. Wood said the group’s repertoire consists of standards, such as “By the Light of the Silvery Moon,” “Sentimental Journey,” “Camptown Races,” “Side by Side” and “Chatanooga Choo Choo,” to name a few.
• The 13th annual Curly’s Cowboy Christmas took place Dec. 13, benefitting the abused children served by the Happy Trails Children’s Foundation of Apple Valley.
The event was a tribute to the memory of award winning singer/songwriter “Curly” Jim Musgrave, of Lake Arrowhead, founder of the event that carries his name.
The evening starred Belinda Gail, “America’s Western Sweetheart,” one of the most highly awarded performers in the long and distinguished history of western music. Her credits include: seven-time Western Music Association Female Performer of the Year; twice Academy of Western Artists Female Vocalist of the Year; three-time winner of the Group/Duo of the Year with “Curly” Jim Musgrave; and Album of the Year for Red Rock Moon among other awards.
• One segment of cell phone users were expected to see an improvement in reception in December near Town Hall.
AT&T began constructing a new cellular tower between Town Hall and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Apple Valley Station in the fall.
Doubling as a clock tower and standing at 55 feet, AT&T paid for construction costs for the project.
• Illicit affairs and a series of devious deceptions take center stage in High Desert resident Adriana Flores’ first self-published novel, “Flight Tales: First class flights, sex and lies.”
Flores, who writes under the name A.J. Marcs, said her story is a bit of life imitating art but was mostly dreamed up in her own, wild imagination.
Flores now lives in Victorville, but grew up in Hesperia. She graduated from Sultana High School in 2001, and later lived in Apple Valley while attending Victor Valley College. She went on to earn a BA in social science from Chapman University. She is the mother of four children, ages 7, 9, 10 and 12.
• For working parents, finding a safe place to send their children after school can pose a challenge. Perhaps that’s why the town of Apple Valley’s After School Activities Program has become so popular that it now has a waiting list for admission.
According to recreation assistant Jacquelynn Auzenne, there are somewhere between 200 to 300 youngsters enrolled in ASAP and quite a few are waiting for a spot to open.
• A town news release alleged that an executive with Park Water Co., owner of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Co., had refused to deny that current ratepayers would be subjected to rising costs caused by the purchase of troubled Yermo Water Co.
Although the costs of purchasing and repairing Yermo Water Co. will not be included in the three-year rate structure now awaiting final California Public Utilities Commission approval, town officials say AVR refused to guarantee that its ratepayers will not incur these costs beyond that three-year window.
• One of St. Joseph Health, St. Mary’s retired mobile medical vehicles has been rehabilitated and will serve as the new mobile command post and secondary emergency operations center (EOC) for the Apple Valley Fire Protection District.
The vehicle replaces a 1964 converted school bus/bookmobile, that the AVFPD describes as grossly inadequate for its needs and has become too costly to keep mechanically operational.
Apple Valley Fire Protection District Chief Sid Hultquist thanked the medical center in a written statement, calling the donation generous.
• Led by a divine calling, Apple Valley resident Larry “Grizz” Brown and his wife Dawn have devoted their lives to spreading the message of Jesus Christ through their Native American music ministry, Rainshadow Native American Fellowship (NAF). For the past 10 years, the couple has been sharing their original and traditional songs at Native American gatherings around the world.
Brown, who also is the pastor of Apple Valley Four Square Church, said he is continually amazed at how God uses him and Dawn to bring forth powerful messages of hope, redemption and love to a troubled world.