Pulse Publications #52 - June 2026

SENIORS, VETERANS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES

Senior Care Professionals

JUNE HAS ARRIVED, bringing with it graduations, Father’s Day, summer vacations, and longer days filled with sunshine and warm desert breezes. For many of us in the High Desert, this is one of the busiest and most enjoyable times of the year.

Across our communities, residents will gather for concerts, fairs, farmers markets, movies in the park, car shows, and countless other events. These activities do more than provide entertainment. They bring neighbors together, strengthen community ties, and remind us why we are proud to call the High Desert home.

These events do not happen by accident. They are made possible through the efforts of volunteers, local businesses, civic organizations, schools, churches, and public agencies that invest their time and resources into making our communities better places to live.

At Pulse Media, we continue to work on new projects designed to promote local businesses, community organizations, and the people who make our region special. Whether through our publications or public relations efforts, our goal remains the same: supporting the communities we serve and helping local businesses thrive.

As summer gets underway, I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the many opportunities available throughout the High Desert. Attend a community event, visit a local business, support a nonprofit organization, or simply spend time with family and friends enjoying all our region has to offer.

A number of PULSE MEDIA TEAM members will be participating in the Route 66 Centennial Caravan, starting June 5th in Santa Monica and ending on June 25th in Chicago. Their stories of this trip will be featured in our newspapers and NEW 66 Magazine that comes out mid Summer this year. See page 4 for more information. On behalf of everyone at Pulse Media, thank you for your continued support. And as I always like to remind our readers. Support Our Advertisers and Buy Locally. Enjoy your summer.

Jim Conkle

Inside

Pg 6

Pg 12

Pg 14

Pg 20

Marcy's Musings

Barstow Michelangelo - Part 1

How Newberry Springs

Celebrated a Route 66

Centennial Revival

Real Food - Farm to Table

Pg 22 The Garces Expedition

Pg 26 The Big Birthday Bash

Marcy’s Musings

The Daggett / Yermo Adventure

MOHAHVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY folks may remember when, to celebrate our 60th Anniversary in 2024, we honored three outstanding local historians for their many contributions to local history. The first was Joe Manners, Honorary Mayor of Oro Grande, for maintaining and preserving the history of the Oro Grande Cemetery, and giving countless tours of the grounds, as well as the historic railroad / Route 66 town of Oro Grande. The second was long-time Daily Press reporter Rene Delacruz, who painstakingly intertwines Victor Valley and High Desert history into current event articles. The third was our field trip guide, Daryl Schendel, dedicated collector and preservationist of several Calico sites and the entire town of Daggett.

Our adventure took place Saturday April 25, 2026. After meeting at the interesting and informative Daggett Museum, we were off to the side yard of the Old Stone Hotel, where our newly acquired 1927 Ingersoll Air Compressor is now on display. Thanks to Daryl and his team, consisting of Seymore Alf's grandsons Lawrence and Brian Vintus, it was transported from the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands to its new home.

After browsing through the Stone Hotel

Museum at that site, we were off again to the old Visitor Information Center (sometimes known as the Chateau House or Ski Roof House because of its unusual roof.) Next was the recently restored Mugwumps Service Station (a museum in itself), and then another building stuffed full of many many vintage pianos, phonographs, Victrolas, and trunks. That building was a complete surprise to me!

Then it was time for the main attraction, Seymore Alf's Blacksmith shop, where a number of 20 Mule Team wagons were constructed. Time stands still at Alfs, as onlookers are transported back to another century, when a blacksmith operated one of the most important businesses in town. The grounds there are full of hundreds of antique machines and other contraptions, commemorative plaques, and restored wagons. A separate museum house is stuffed with interesting antiques: furniture, lamps, display cases full of beautiful glass bottles, rocks and minerals, even pinball machines, and way too much to see on a short visit.

As if this Daggett tour wasn't enough to overwhelm our brains, we were off to Yermo for two very different experiences. Our first stop was at the "Gateway to Calico" mural, commemorating the mining, railroad, and military history of the area. Our final stop took us to the Liberty Sculpture Park, a "human rights creation," addressing civil rights abuses and atrocities in China and across the world. I recognized Crazy Horse, the Tank Man, and the huge 64 (referring to the June 4, 1989 massacre

at Tiananmen Square, Beijing China), and a few other pieces of art. I was happy to see the CCP virus work has been rebuilt, with the remains of the original, destroyed by fire in 2021, lying nearby. But so many installations making political statements have been added by brilliant artist Chen Wei-Ming since I was last there, a future trip is now in order.

Following the sculpture park, some field trippers were off to Eddie's World or Peggy Sue's for lunch, two other "don't miss" locations if you're ever in the area. In conclusion, never let anyone tell you there's nothing to do or see on the desert!!

Two More Iconic Pieces of High Desert Mining History Preserved

ON SATURDAY APRIL 25, 2026 , the side yard of the Historic Stone Hotel in Daggett was the site of a ribbon cutting, welcoming an important piece of mining history to its new home. The 1927 Ingersoll Air Compressor, originally used for mining operations in the Ivanpah District of the Mojave Desert, supplied compressed air to power drills, jackhammers, and other mining equipment. A double transfer took place, first from the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands to the Apple Valley Legacy Museum at the Historic Apple Valley Inn, and then to the Daggett and Calico Historical Society, in the old railroad and mining town of Daggett.

President Daryl Schendel, along with Vice President Lawrence Vintus and his brother Brian, made the trip to Redlands to transport this extremely heavy piece of equipment, that no longer rolls, to its new home. It now sits happily among many other machines and artifacts of its era, sporting a new plaque and ready for photos.

Meanwhile, a few miles south in another old mining town, the Lucerne

Valley Historical Society members were anxiously awaiting the arrival of a vintage Diesel Pusher, generously donated to their outdoor museum by the Mitsubishi Cement Plant, just up the mountain. After installing a 42-foot section of track, and solving some delivery problems involving fencing and a hanging electrical wire, the big day arrived on April 29, 2026. Excitement was in the air as this important piece of equipment, used to move railroad cars around the plant, arrived on a flatbed and was hoisted into the air by a giant crane. Two workers maneuvered it into place on the track with guide ropes. And there it was, at its new home, among wagons, tractors, plows, and other artifacts of its era.

President Chelsea LaGrange, Vice President Michael Raspberry, Treasurer Frank Castillo, Parliamentarian Brenda Smith, and Past President Rusty LaGrange gave a collective sigh of relief, as the months of anticipation and long wait were finally over. An official ribbon cutting and grand re-opening of the outdoor museum is on the radar.

Thanks to Daryl Schendel and the Daggett crew for energetically tackling project after project to restore the old mining/ railroad town of Daggett. Thanks to the Lucerne Valley Historical Society, the Mitsubishi Cement Plant, and the San Bernardino County Museum for preserving these important implements of the mining history of the desert, and for making it possible for future generations to view and appreciate our local history.

The Busiest May Ever!!

THE MONTH OF MAY was packed with local events just inviting us to share our excitement of local history! The first Thursday night Concerts in the Courtyard band break featured Apple Valley Songs and Artifacts. Did you know that your lunch tastes better when served on a bowl made of horse poop or a plate made from a dirty diaper?? Only in Apple Valley! Roy Rogers cactus, Roy's golf boots, and Bingo the original SBC Fair mascot were also big hits.

Our members and volunteers also staffed booths three Saturdays in a row at different desert locals: the Apple Valley Flea Market, the Victorville Crafts Fair, and the Barstow Museum BBQ. These followed April's Oro Grande Round-up, an IE event in San Bernardino, and a ribbon cutting in Daggett. So six cities and/ or towns in two months. Now that's doing it! Thanks to all the volunteers who made these events possible.

Riding the Rails in the East Cajon Valley

MOHAHVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Vice President Delvin Harbour, also a member of the Camp Cajon Team, joined the "Summit Station and Descanso Tour" on Saturday March 28. Led by Mark Landis and Dick Donat, the energetic group visited four areas off of the 138 in the East Cajon Valley to get a dose of local railroad history of the 1940's through 1970's era.

At location one, participants took a walk along the Summit Depot area, which once included the Operator's House, Agent's House, Foreman's House, Garage, and Bunkhouse. Part two involved a hike to the former site of the 10-degree turn and the left-hand TRAIN sign. Then it was back east to the Summit Post Office, conveniently located near the train tracks, so the Postmistress could "hang" the mail to be "caught" by the pick-up arm, as the train sped by. The final leg of the journey was a hike to the site of the Descanso, the famous funeral trolley that was retired at that location. Chard Walker, L.T. Gotchy, and others from the Pacific Railroad Society were able to preserve this interesting piece of railroad history.

Fieldtrip participants received a 19-page packet containing maps, diagrams, and lots of vintage photos from the L.T. Gotchy collection, recently acquired by the San Bernardino Historic and Pioneer Society. These included shots of the trains, buildings, landscape, and the hearty souls who lived at the Summit and operated the facilities there. The mid-century era at the Summit played an integral part in transportation history, when trains transported people, goods, cattle, and the all-important mail.

Thanks to our members Mark Landis and Nick Cataldo, and the other members of the Camp Cajon team, for once again putting together an "on location" local history lesson. If you happen to be driving down the 138 from Hesperia towards the I-15 freeway, you may notice on your right Hesperia Monument #8, "Summit Train Station," 1.4 miles west of Summit Valley Road. (Be careful if you stop to read it, as traffic is flying in that area.) More information can also be found in Scott Johnson's "Hesperia: Gateway to Southern California," published in 2001.

Senior Care Professionals

Barstow’s Michaelangelo Part 1

By J.P. Garner

HIS SISTINE CHAPEL are the stucco-covered walls of Barstow businesses that line Main Street. They serve as the blank canvasses on which he draws and paints scenes from Barstow’s long history . . . scenes that with one quick glance connect us to our rich past.

Valley from Los Angeles. That was around 1990. He doesn’t recall exactly when, “But I met a good friend back then and he was an okay artist. But he airbrushed. And I was like, wow! That looks interesting. And he goes, yeah, I'm going to start my own business. And he was only like thirteen and I was twelve.

come home. We did it the next weekend and the weekends after that.”

We look with awe and appreciation at the skill needed to create the paintings and wonder at the stillness of the hand that manipulated the brush that fashioned the dramatic artwork. It is his imagination and eye for detail that, like Michaelangelo of old, guides the tedious application of color to the scenes of the desert vistas that surround Barstow or to caricatures of the people who either founded our small town or made it renown.

And now he is presented with a new challenge: to draw and paint a mural on our water tower that will broadcast to the millions traveling the interstates that Barstow—the small town that Hollywood loves to hate— was a state champion last year,

The first ever in football in the High Desert.

But Raymundo Valles is more than an extraordinary artist. He has a rich past of his own and it started when he was in grade school. “I had a God-given talent,” he explains. “I could paint portraits at the age of eight or nine.”

He could do portraits at age eight or nine? Portraits? Many kids at that age can’t even do cursive, but Ray who says he was already seeing things at that age, was doing portraits of people. He continues. “I could [even] do my own comic books and stuff like that”

Stuff like that. Comic books!

He says it so nonchalantly, as if it’s no big deal. It’s not boast or hubris that prompts Ray to share this remarkable gift. To look at him, you’d think he’s in construc-tion— he’s done that too—or maybe he’s just an average joe who, each morning, puts his trousers on and does his 40 hours at Fort Irwin as a Carpenter Lead. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that. So many in Barstow do.

But Ray started earning money long before he landed a job at the Marine base at the age of eighteen. Back when, as he puts it, he and his parents migrated to Lucerne

“And he goes, yeah, I'm going to start airbrushing shirts. Jackets and sweaters. too. They still kinda do [that] at the swap meets,” he inserts before he continues with his description of the airbrush business. “Well, with his mom's support, we bought shirts and the airbrush machine. And we would hustle during the summer breaks at the outdoor swap mates in Victorville. We had our own little booth.”

Ray pauses and smiles as he thinks back to that time. “I was thirteen,” he finally says. There’s a note of pride in his voice, mixed with some mischief like he got away with something. Like he’d have to stay after school.

The business didn’t make it to the New York Stock Exchange, but Ray estimates that they broke even after all their hard work. Not bad for a couple of young kids. The principle objection with the business was the sun. Working out in it was too hot and miserable. "Yeah, we kinda had a tent, but it was still hot. So, we started banging our heads, thinking there's got to be a better way to make money than being in the hot sun.

“And it was my friend’s Mom who said that in Fontana there is a big old ware-house where they have a comic book convention every weekend. They just sell, trade, and whatever, and it’s nice and cool. So, we shoot down there on Saturdays and come home that night, then go back Sunday”

That plan worked for a short while until the friend’s Mom calculated the cost of gas. “You guys are gonna have to pay for it,” she declared. Ray leans back a little from his breakfast. We are meeting at Los Domingo’s and the waitresses know him from his Fort Irwin co-workers who show up there regularly. He laughs lightly. “So we had a bright idea. We asked the owner, at the age of fourteen, if we can stay the night? In the swap meet.

“We had our own little booth.where we would sleep. And Jack in the Box was across the street and there was a security guard. We’d go there Friday night, do Saturday, stay the night till Sunday night, and then

The change in logistics resulted almost immediately in an increase in profit. Smiling broadly, Ray says, “I started realizing that there's money to be made in art. And this was small time, but at least I knew that we could use our talent. And, like I said, my friend—Tracy Quillan—wasn’t a good artist, but he was a hustler. He was the one that got me going.”

At the same time, life intruded upon his plans and his parent’s were forced to move. First, to Apple Valley because they couldn’t afford the rent in Lucerne Valley. Then, as he’s entering 10th grade, they move again to Barstow where the rent is cheaper. He knew nothing about Barstow,. Did he experience any culture shock? Kinda, he said, because he had started a band in Lucerne Valley.

According to Mr. Multi-Talented, “I played everything,” he joked. Except it’s true. He does. Drums, guitar . . . anything. He was a natural musician. And still is. Like art, playing musical instruments came easy to him. “I even teach guitar now,” he comments.

“My first band was called Black Rose,” he says. It sounds cool. Too cool for a 14-yearold. But he’s not bragging. It’s a fact. “We played heavy metal,” he boasts because that was the thing back then. Rock ruled. “I was in the Kiss Army . . . a big fan of Kiss.” Me too . . . in a way. So, we talk rock music for a short while, then he glances to the side as if he can see through the walls of the restaurant, back to those days he was shredding a guitar. It’s that scene in my head of him reflecting on days past that makes me realize now, that what he was as a teenager was simply a foundation for what he’d become as a man. It is a story common to most people. But Ray Velez’s path to a painter of murals would first take him to the front door of a church

From rock and roll to the rock of ages.

How Newberry Springs Celebrated a Route 66 Centennial Revival

By Jaylyn And John Earl www.thedesertway.com

THE MOJAVE DESERT has always been a place where ideas arrive quietly. They drift in like heat shimmer, settle into the sand, and wait for someone stubborn enough, or visionary enough, to pick them up. In Newberry Springs, one such idea took root four years ago: revive a forgotten stretch of Route 66, restore its landmarks, and turn a sleepy desert community into a destination again. What followed wasn’t just a plan. It was a movement.

Tucked twenty miles east-southeast of Barstow, Newberry Springs stretches across roughly 150 square miles of sun-washed desert, an expanse shaped as much by the rails as by the wind. Its story begins on February 19, 1883, when the Southern Pacific Railroad pushed

through the region and established a construction-site post office called Watson, honoring its first postmaster, Josiah Watson.

The railroad, however, had its own ideas. It christened its nearby station Newberry, and when the Watson post office closed, the railroad’s name slowly took hold as the identity of the growing settlement.

The post office returned briefly on March 11, 1899, this time under the name Newberry, only to be discontinued again just three months later. The community’s identity continued to shift with the desert winds: on October 12, 1911, the name changed to Wagner, recognizing landowner, grocer, and soon-to-be postmistress Madge Wagner.

Then came the railroad’s most utilitarian

rebranding. On July 9, 1919, the Santa Fe renamed the station Water, a nod to the astonishing 300,000 to 500,000 gallons pumped daily to fuel steam locomotives crossing the Mojave.

Route 66, the legendary Mother Road established in 1926, stretched 2,448 miles

across the American landscape, carrying travelers from the skyscraped bustle of Chicago all the way to the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985.

In 1936, author John Steinbeck coined the phrase “The Mother Road” in The Grapes of Wrath, a name that has defined the highway’s mythology ever since.

Finally, on February 1, 1967, the community embraced the name it carries today: Newberry Springs. Older maps still show “Newberry” floating nearby like a ghost town that never quite existed, evidence of a place whose identity evolved with every era of the American West.

By 1973, all California segments of Route 66 had been reassigned to new highway numbers, and by 1984 the historic road had been completely replaced by Interstate 40 and portions of Interstate 15. The surviving original stretches were later redesignated as SR 66.

The stretch between Needles and San Bernardino was first constructed in 1914, following the railroad corridor because water was available roughly every ten miles. Over time, the route accumulated a variety of names: National Trails Highway, Old National Trails, Will Rogers Highway, America’s Main Street, The Mother Road, Route 66, Old Route 66, US 66, and SR 66, each reflecting a different era in the life of America’s most storied highway.

In more recent times, the resurgence of Newberry Springs began with a simple dream, to restore the 1929 Armstrong House into a visitor center, launch Route 66 Tours CA, and build lakeside wedding and event venues that could draw weekend travelers deeper into the desert to Newberry Springs. Armstrong Rock Shop was owned and operated by Ruth

Armstrong in the 1950s and '60s. The vision gained early momentum when its organizer, Karla Claus, received a $2,000 Extraordinary Women Grant, a spark that signaled the universe was paying attention.

Then came the crown. In 2024, she entered the Route 66 Pageant and emerged as queen, a title she wielded not for glamour but for service. She greeted VIPs at the Bagdad Café, supported its

post-COVID restoration, and hosted a fan meetup for YouTube creator Sarah Jane Woodall, known popularly as Wonderhussy. That gathering became the catalyst for something bigger: a full-scale Route 66 centennial celebration.

The idea was bold. The Chamber of Commerce debated it. But ultimately, the answer was yes, and the Newberry Springs began to shift.

According to historian Joe De Kehoe, author of Silence and the Sun, the beloved Bagdad Café in Newberry Springs has no historical connection to the long-vanished town of Bagdad or its original café. For anyone serious about Route 66 history, he stresses, the two should not be conflated.

The confusion began in Hollywood fashion. When the 1987 cult classic Bagdad Café was filmed, the production didn’t head to Bagdad at all. Instead, cameras rolled at the Sidewinder Café, a modest roadside stop along old Route 66 in Newberry Springs. The film became an international sensation, and the name “Bagdad Café” clung to the building like desert dust. The owners eventually embraced the fame, adopting the movie’s title as their own.

Meanwhile, the real Bagdad Café— located in the once-bustling railroad town of Bagdad—slipped into memory. Nothing remains of the original site; the town itself was erased by time, demolition, and the shifting fortunes of the Mojave.

Today, the Newberry Springs café stands as a cinematic landmark rather than a historical one: a place where movie magic reshaped a desert diner’s identity, even as the true Bagdad faded into the sand.

The remodel of The Barn, a local bar now the beating heart of the event grounds, unfolded in tandem with event planning. The timing became the catalyst for a surge of volunteerism rarely seen in the region. People appeared out of nowhere, offering time, tools, equipment, and creativity.

Wonderhussy returned to perform Route 66 wedding skits in costume, including her own mock ceremony, adding a playful, celebratory tone to the launch.

The event also served as the launchpad for a trio of new tourism ventures that are already reshaping how visitors experience the desert. Route66Weddings. com introduced travelers to the charm of Mother Road–themed ceremonies, while LakesideParties.com unveiled four scenic lakefront properties now available for celebrations and gatherings.

Rounding out the expansion, Route 66 Tours CA debuted as a guided experience offering travelers a deeper look at the region’s history, geology, and culture; introducing a new way to explore Newberry Springs beyond the highway’s edge.

The planning for Route 66’s Big Birthday Bash began unfolding in unexpected, almost enchanted ways, as if the desert itself were scripting a modern-day Mother Road fairy tale.

A man delivered multiple loads of gravel for gas money alone. James, a local volunteer, worked daily during the final week and donated boxes of Beanie Babies for children. A construction team worked day and night to build stages, fencing, and new exterior paneling, supported by a SavingPlaces.org grant. The long-awaited Monument Sign nearly didn’t make it, until Rose Beardshear pushed, prayed, and persisted. It was installed and lit just in time,

with partial funding from Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s office.

A stranger arrived with a full tram-train car, unannounced and unforgettable. A resident opened their property for helicopter tours, giving the event a literal lift-off. Eagle Well Drilling rolled in with a massive rig, a giant flag, and floodlights that transformed the grounds into a frontier-style festival. A friend loaned a commercial generator. Locals contributed sound systems.

The County of San Bernardino stepped in with generous support for the Barn. The American Legion Post 751 took charge of the car show. Pastor Charles and Gwen Patrick became shuttle drivers for guests. Cyber Odyssey USA, the Tesla Wagon travel group, arrived in support. Local talent coordinator Jane Laramore B organized children’s activities and performances.

Behind the scenes, a creative team transformed the Barn into a whimsical, photogenic landmark. Artist and musician Dano Thompkins crafted the now-iconic installations: the wishing well, the tire-worm, the minions, the well cover, and a gold-panning station for kids. He also performed, adding music to his list of contributions.

Dano teamed with Ton Forbes and Jackie McKaye to build a full cardboard train, a crowd favorite. Ton and Joe Cruz made multiple trips to Hawthorne to retrieve an estimated $40,000–$50,000 worth of props from a closing entertainment company. Funding came from Renee, the Chamber, and the organizer, who provided her boxcar and trailer for transport. Their work didn’t just decorate the event. It defined its identity.

When the day finally arrived, Newberry Springs didn’t just host a celebration, it hosted a phenomenon. Karla counted 84 vendors. Forty-two cars entered the show. An estimated 4,000 people came to the Big Birthday Bash.

Among them was popular Wasteland

Firebird himself, John Binns, all the way from the land down under, Australia. His much-anticipated Great Route 66 Convergence that began on the Mother Road in Chicago to Santa Monica had just wrapped up with great fanfare on April 30, 2026 at Santa Monica Pier. We highly recommend picking up a copy of Wasteland Firebird’s Big List of the 434 Best Things on Route 66, a travel guide. Binn's clever book highlights standout roadside attractions and memorable stops along the Mother Road, each paired with a QR code that lets travelers instantly map the location with their GPS. You will see many suggestions of quirky and interesting places along the route overlooked in other guides. It’s a modern companion for exploring America’s most iconic cross-country route. As of this writing, the voluminous little book is free while supplies last!

Another appreciated Route 66 luminary at the celebration was Jim Conkle, known as the Will Rogers of Route 66, Pulse Magazine publisher of Mother Road Enterprises, along with his lovely wife, Frances. Jim dubbed us happy wanderers years ago when we first met. Jim said we reminded him of the show starring Slim and Henrietta Barnard. We had never seen the show ourselves but liked its premise. The name fit and we've used it as an homage ever since.

Also attending Newberry Spring's event was YouTuber Art Torres from Drag It to Daggett fame with his daughter, Jennifer Torres-Cunningham.

Local author of The Horseman John Wease also attended Route 66's Big Birthday Bash. John and his wife didn’t just move into Newberry Springs; they let the desert take them in. You can see their fingerprints on the place: the community garden club they keep alive, the festivals where their laughter drifts across the dust and the cottage business where jars

of homemade jam glow like little deset sunsets on a shelf.

The Birthday Bash's music lineup read less like a small-town schedule and more like a mini-Coachella and Stagecoach festival bill, all rolled up into one. The day opened with the warm, easy charisma of country crooner Ryan Bodine, who celebrated his birthday onstage to cheers from locals and travelers alike. His popular song "Barstow to HB" continues to rise on nationwide charts.

The energy surged as Latin Express brought their signature rhythm to the desert air, followed by the vintage-Americana charm of June Cliva and the Ditty Boys.

Crowd favorite Joe Cruz kept the momentum rolling, while Lety Alvarez added soulful vocals that drifted across the festival grounds. Coyote Flats delivered the kind of desert-rock energy that makes people forget how hot the sand is beneath their boots.

Adding a touch of classic Americana, a

troupe of square dancers from Victorville spun and stomped their way across the stage, drawing smiles from every corner of the crowd. Throughout the day, a rotating roster of local performers curated by Jane kept the atmosphere vibrant, proving that Newberry Springs has more homegrown talent than most travelers ever realized.

Inside the Barn, historian Keller Horton and the newly formed Newberry Springs Historical Society delivered talks that turned the space into a living museum.

Outside, visitors explored attractions including Rodney Ruckers Customs, a stagecoach, and the historic Thomas Flyer; a reminder that Route 66 has always been a crossroads of past and present. By the end of the celebration, Newberry Springs had become more than a dot on the map. It had become a beacon, a living example of what happens on Route 66 when a community rallies around a shared dream.

When I admired Karla’s handmade,

bedazzled Route 66 sunglasses, she slipped them off without hesitation and pressed them into my hands, a small gesture that perfectly captures the effortless generosity Newberry Springs radiates. I bought them on the spot.

Volunteers, residents, travelers, artists, musicians, and Route 66 enthusiasts came together to build something larger than themselves. The Route 66 Centennial Big Birthday Bash didn’t just honor the past. It re-ignited Newberry Spring's future.

References

• De Kehoe, Joe, The Silence and the Sun, Second Ed, Trails End Publishing Company, 2012.

• Schoffstall, Patricia, Mojave Desert Dictionary, Second Ed., published by Mojave River Valley Museum, 2014.

Youth Awards Ceremony for High Desert students in military oriented instruction highlights personal achievements.

By Paul Sebastian

IT WAS A NIGHT OF CELEBRATING momentous achievements for student cadets participating in the Youth Awards Ceremony. The event was held at the Elks Lodge on May 1. The event was sponsored by the Mojave Desert Chapter of MOAA led by chapter president LTC Michael W. Moticha, USAR (Ret). Included as presenters of additional certificates of achievement were officials from the state and federal legislative offices representing our districts. Pictured from left to right: Alfredo Miranda - District Representative for State Senator Suzette Valladares’ Office, Iris Gutierrez - Field Representative for Assembly Member Tom Lackey’s Office, Corine Mora Field Representative for Congressman Jay Obernolte’s Office, Jacqueline Escobar - Field Representative for Assemblyman Juan Carrillo’s Office, and Lauar VillaField Representative for Assemblyman Juan Carrillo’s Office.

The Chapter’s Community Project supports all schools who sponsor military oriented instruction. The awards bestowed upon these young people for distinguishing themselves as student cadets in military classrooms, outdoor training, uniform presentment, drill & ceremonies, camping, and state level training for their respective schools. Commendations were awarded by

school grade level and the best in each class received the acknowledgement that they earned. Several senior cadets were awarded scholarships to assist their future studies at colleges or universities. Each cadet, regardless of rank or age, represented exemplary models of young citizens from our community with their parents basking in the glow of their achievements. Please let us celebrate their accomplishments and their hard work to make a real difference for all of us.

• Academy for Academic Excellence, SFJROTC

• Distinguished Senior: Cadet Guardian Capt. Jacob Cardozo received a scholarship and the MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Distinguished Junior: Cadet 2/Lt Sophia Gomez received MOAA Medal and the MOAA JROTC Certificate

• Distinguished Sophomore: Cadet Guardian T/Sgt Alyana Gonzalez MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Sultana High School AFJROTC

• Distinguished Senior: Cadet CM/ Sgt Joanna Arnsdorff received a scholarship and the MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Distinguished Junior: Cadet M/Sgt Roxanne Bender received the MOAA Medal and the MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Distinguished Sophomore: Cadet 2/Lt Audrey Parsons received the MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Desert High School, Edwards AFB AFJROTC

• Distinguished Senior: Cadet CM/Sgt Butch A. Amar received a scholarship and the MOAA JROTC Award

Certificate

• Distinguished Junior: Cadet 1/Lt Karen E. Armstrong received the MOAA Medal and the MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Distinguished Sophomore: Cadet 1/Lt Evelyn A. Miller received the MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Excelsior High Desert Marines

• Distinguished Junior: YM/Sgt Christian Ochoa received MOAA Medal and MOAA Certificate

• Distinguished Sophomore: YM/ Sgt Gabriel Ochoa received MOAA Certificate

• Victor Valley High School AFJROTC

• Distinguished Senior: Cadet CM/Sgt Juan Barrera received Scholarship and MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Distinguished Junior: Cadet Captain Anthony Rios received MOAA Medal and MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Distinguished Sophomore: Cadet 1/Lt Samantha Sanchez received MOAA Award Certificate

• Oak Hills High School USAJROTC

• Distinguished Senior: Cadet Maj Jack Boggs received a scholarship and MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Distinguished Junior: Cadet M/Sgt Madison Horsburgh received MOAA Medal and MOAA JROTC Award Certificate

• Distinguished Sophomore: Cadet SFC Jordynn West received MOAA Award Certificate

• California Cadet Corps, 18th Brigade

• Distinguished High School Officer:

C/1Lt Nicholas Lara received MOAA Medal and MOAA JROTC Award Certificate. student at Riverside Prep

• Distinguished High School NCO C/ Sgt Noah Consecion received MOAA Medal and MOAA JROTC Certificate. student at Cobalt Institute

• Distinguished High School 1st year Cadet: C/CPL Jonathan Aguino received MOAA Award Certificate. Student at Silverado

• Distinguished Middle School NCO/ C/CPL Timothy Aguilar received MOAA Award Certificate. Student at University Prep

• Distinguished Middle School 1st year Cadet: CDT Luke Olson Zavala received MOAA Award Certificate. Student at Riverside Prep.

TODAY’S WOMAN FOUNDATION Chosen as a 2026 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Tom Lackey

By Cindy Bostick

TODAY’S WOMAN

FOUNDATION is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2026 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Tom Lackey, District 34.

The organization was among more than 100 nonprofits honored in Sacramento on May 20, 2026, by state senators and assemblymembers in recognition of their outstanding service and meaningful contributions to communities across California. Executive Director Cindy Bostick and President Melanie Ajanwachuku represented the organization at the State Capitol and were honored to attend as guests of Assemblymember Tom Lackey.

Today’s Woman Foundation is dedicated to empowering women and strengthening communities through education, mentorship, advocacy, and access to essential resources. The organization works to inspire confidence, promote healing, and create opportunities for personal and professional growth for women of all backgrounds. Through community outreach programs, partnerships, and initiatives focused on wellness, economic empowerment, and social support, the organization continues to make a meaningful impact by helping

women and families build brighter, more sustainable futures.

“We are deeply grateful to Assemblymember Tom Lackey for recognizing and honoring our organization for the work we do throughout the High Desert. This acknowledgment is incredibly meaningful to our team, and we sincerely appreciate his support, leadership, and commitment to shining a light on organizations dedicated to making a positive impact in our communities,” said Executive Director Cindy Bostick.

“We extend our congratulations to Today’s Woman Foundation for this well-

deserved recognition,” said Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) which sponsors the initiative. “Nonprofits are among our country’s most trusted organizations and an integral part of civil society. There’s likely never been a more important time to lift up the contributions nonprofits make within the communities they serve.”

Real Food Farm to Table

WE LIVE IN UNCERTAIN

TIMES . Nowhere is this truer than a trip to the produce department of the grocery store. We become increasingly concerned about the safety of what we are eating. The mechanized, industrial farms spray pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals to ensure a successful bottom line. With products imported from other countries, we know even less about how they were produced or handled. A growing trend is the concept of “farm-to-table” at high-end restaurants, where produce is sourced locally from small farms. I was pleased to learn we have a farm-to-table restaurant right here in the High Desert. The farm is in Helendale and is owned by Roy Granger. The restaurant is his family’s Cross Eyed Cow in Oro Grande. Roy grew up in Helendale, graduated high school in Oro Grande, and went off to Boston to study jazz guitar. He dropped out and began playing and hosting concerts with friends. He had a venue in Portland, Oregon that closed during the pandemic. He escaped the negative energy during the widespread rioting by spending time in the forest. He decided it was time to find a healthier lifestyle than that of the music world. He had never gardened but found the organization WWOOF-USA, Willing

By John Wease

Workers On Organic Farms.

“WWOOFers” work without pay for hands-on learning at organic farms. Roy worked in Colorado, Oregon and finally in the Virgin Islands. He was living a healthy, idyllic life there but felt a calling to use his knowledge of regenerative farming and permaculture to help others. He returned to Helendale in 2022. He purchased five acres in a remote area where he raises a variety of desert native plants that survive on what little rainfall there is. The plants that grow there produce seeds that can be used for restoration projects. The seeds of plants adapted to survive here are much more likely to grow successfully than seeds purchased from far away growers.

A second five-acre farm grows products for the Cross Eyed Cow. Forty-four apple trees in one orchard supply apples for deserts. All are planted in wide trenches to capture rainwater, and irrigation is supplied through tubes eighteen inches deep. Salt bush plants are planted in the orchard. Salt bush absorbs salt and alkalinity from the soil and is a nutritious fodder for livestock. Roy plans to add sheep to eat the saltbush and provide fertilizer.

Another orchard has 250 Li and Lang jujube trees. Jujubes are a super food not known well here but popular in the orient as both fruits and for medicinal uses. According to Roy, the best jujubes in the

world grow in our desert soil and climate. The jujubes are planted twenty feet apart and he is planting a pomegranate tree between each one. Jujubes grow vertically and pomegranates grow bushy so they should play well together. Both are extremely hardy in our arid environment. In a shade house, Roy grows one hundred species of herbs and vegetables for the restaurant. Growing in a manner

that appears chaotic, it replicates the way plants grow in nature. The long, straight rows of monocrops seen on industrial farms have nothing to do with plant or soil health. Those rows are spaced specifically to allow driving machinery between the rows to spray all those chemicals, harvest, plant, etc. Basil for pesto, cilantro and other herbs, a variety of lettuce plants and salad greens, tomatoes and more were all thriving in harmony.

Regenerative agriculture is holistic farming. All inputs are produced onsite. Fertilizer teas are made in barrels of water. Apples, apple leaves and debris from the apple trees are fermented, strained, and diluted with collected rainwater and sprayed on the leaves. The jujubes make their own fertilizer tea as well. According to Roy, the leaves contain all of the nutrients the trees need to grow healthy. A team of chickens are fed only food scraps from the restaurant. Their pen floor is covered with

straw. They scratch through the straw, eat, and leave their “contribution” to what becomes an organic compost.

Along with fruits, vegetables, and native plants and seeds, Roy is the founder of the non-profit “Seeds of Succession,” or “S.O.S.” S.O.S. is committed to forming local alliances to empower community through regenerative farming. It is an outreach program to solve desertification

and food and water insecurity through sound ecological design and holistic resource management. Roy designs gardens, speaks to schools and other groups, and holds onsite workshops at his farm. He has been a guest speaker at our local Newberry Springs Desert Gardeners group.

An article about farm-to-table would not be complete without visiting the restaurant where the tables are. The Cross Eyed Cow is located on Route 66 in Oro Grande. If you had been driving a Studebaker in the early days of the Mother Road, you might have stopped there for service. It was a Studebaker garage in the 1920s. Now it is a family-owned pizza restaurant and decorated in a style I can only describe as delightfully quirky. There is an outside area with tables and a stage for outside dining and live music. Sauces are made fresh in house as are the breads used for sandwiches. I sampled the pizza and it was incredible. You can taste the freshness of the sauce and other ingredients.

For more information about Seeds of Succession, their website is www. seedsofsuccession.org. The Cross Eyed Cow is located at 19242 National Trails Highway (Historic Route 66). As a dedicated reporter, I plan on returning to sample more of their offerings. I am just that dedicated. I think you would enjoy it as well. Maybe I’ll see you there.

The Garces Expedition

THIS YEAR, 2026, is historically monumental for the United States. A year of celebrations is occurring across the breadth and width of this country, showing the world how awesome this land wrested away from a British Monarch truly is.

It’s been 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, telling King George III that it was too late to say he was sorry for treating the colonists so badly.

It’s been 100 years since the opening of the iconic Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, enabling car-loving Americans to travel 2,448 miles independently and in relative comfort across eight different states.

And, it’s been 250 years since a hardwalking Franciscan missionary by the name of Fray Francisco Garces became the first European to lay eyes on the rushing waters of the Colorado River near Laughlin, Nevada.

Of course, rather than the glittering lights of casinos, only small native villages occupied by the Mohave people greeted his eyes at that time. It was their home. But seeing that this sandal-wearing, robed man meant them no harm, they were eager to assist the explorer.

Garces was on a mission, pun intended, to find a land route between the missions of Sonora, Mexico, and those in California. Any person who has traveled through the

Mojave Desert understands how desolate and lonely it can be. Of course, along Route 40, Route 66, or Interstate 15, travel is not so bad. There are rest areas, highpriced gas stations, interesting eateries, a few motels, and quirky towns to visit. But, in 1775 and 1776, there was nothing but hard-packed desert floor, limited water sources, venomous snakes, and not a Starbucks to be found.

By John Beyer

It was not for the timid.

Father Garces was not timid, nor was the party he traveled with, as they made their way from Mission San Xavier Del Bac, near present-day Tucson, northward through the desert in October of 1775. By the end of February the following year, Garces and his group had reached multiple Mohave villages located near present-day Laughlin and Bullhead City. They marveled at the nearly quarter-milewide river flowing southward.

It must have been a wonderful sight in the middle of the vastness of the desert.

The natives welcomed him to the land that no outsider had seen before. This was the land they had lived in for nearly 800 years - though some experts claim it could have been for thousands of years.

Garces traveled from one village to another, meeting the very people for whom the desert is now named. He was impressed by how they managed to thrive in such an inhospitable world, living on the fish the river's blue, flowing waters provided, and on what they could harvest from the plants in the area. Pinyon pine nuts, mesquite beans, yucca fruit, chia seeds, and cactus fruit were a daily nutritional diet that the desert yielded.

On March 4, 1776, Father Garces and his group were led across the Mojave Desert toward the Pacific Coast along with four Mohave guides. They eventually reached the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel 20 days later.

Garces returned to the Mohave villages in May of 1776, following ancient routes the natives had used for eons to trade with other tribes to the west.

Unfortunately, near present-day Yuma, Father Garces was killed during a Quechan (Yuma) uprising against Spanish forces

on July 19, 1781.

Garces' legacy, besides being a man of the cloth, was one of risking his own safety while exploring the desert wilderness where no European had ventured before. He met many native peoples who found him trustworthy and treated him respectfully, as he did those who crossed his path.

The Mojave Desert is vast, covering nearly 48,000 square miles, depending on the boundaries used, and oftentimes daunting for a traveler even today.

I have had the pleasure of exploring some of it, and what I have discovered is that it is a place full of life and beauty.

Of course, exploring this massive, stark landscape is a little different while tooling around in an air-conditioned four-wheel drive vehicle in lieu of a pair of leather sandals.

It is hard to imagine the fortitude and bravery it took 250 years ago to venture

out to literally parts unknown with little more than the horizon to guide them. Today, we have satellite GPS, and we still get lost.

There is a large sign just south of Laughlin, Nevada, along the Needles Highway, which tells a short version of Father Garces' exploration in the area in 1776.

To the east are the sparkling waters of the Colorado River; to the west are the endless hills, sandy washes, and harshness of the Mojave Desert.

I hiked out about one mile west over that rocky, uneven ground, sporting a nice pair of Keen boots, and realized that was about as far as I wanted to venture.

Whether you are considering our Founding Fathers, who began the grand experiment that became the USA, or the ones who stretched asphalt over two thousand miles from east to west, or a sandal-wearing Franciscan, these were determined and unstoppable individuals.

A lot to celebrate this year, from coast to coast.

John can be reached at beyersbyways@ gmail.com

WOW - June 2026

Meetings at Trinity Lutheran Church 16138 Molino Dr Victorville CA Unless otherwise noted

• June 3: 3PM Happy Hour at LA Casitas At the Lake Victorville

• June 06 10AM

1) Happy birthday celebration for June babies

2) Annual voting for President and First Vice President

3) Speaker Clinical Chaplin Marni Martin about what to expect if we enter Hospice

4) Executive meeting following general meeting

• June 13 10AM Happy Father's Day celebration

• June 20 10AM Breakfast at Denny's on Main St in Hesperia near Hwy 15

• June 27 10AM Game Day

SWIM - June 2026

June 4 Hesperia Mayor

Brigit Bennington

June 11 Today’s Woman Foundation

Cindy Bostwick

June 18 Barstow Football State Champions

John Garner

June 25 Hesperia Fire Dept

Seniors With Inquiring Minds (SWIM) meets every Thursday from 1:00-2:00 pm in the Percy Bakker Center located at 9333 E Avenue in Hesperia, CA 92345

UpcomingCommunity Events

• June 4, 11, 18, 25- Sunset Concerts- Civic Center Park 6-9 pm Free!

• June 8- NAAPC General Membership meeting- 6 pm Victorville Office- all are welcome

• June 9- Friends of the Apple Valley Library meeting- 11:15 am -AV Library- all are welcome

• June 24- Mohahve Historical Society meeting- Lone Wolf Colony- Jonni Vindioli "Big Bear Movie History" doors open 6:30- all are welcome

• June 27- Mohahve Historical Society Field trip to Big Bear sites- meet at the Zoo- 10 AM Call (760) 985-1918 to sign up

The Big Birthday Bash

By John Wease

ON MAY 2ND, the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted the Big Birthday Bash at the Barn-Route 66. Big didn’t really describe it but I guess “Really, Really, Really Big Birthday Bash” wouldn’t fit on the flier. If you have been to the regionally famous Pistachio Festival, you know the Chamber knows how to put on a festival. The birthday celebration was for the centennial of the iconic Route 66. What better place to celebrate the Mother Road than right on the old highway at the Barn-Route 66. Although the classic roadhouse is only seventy-three years old, it was built on the foundation of an actual barn that later became a gas station that burned down. It is on a large

property with plenty of room for large-scale events. Fortunately, it is owned by Renee Kaminski, this year’s Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce president.

I have heard attendance estimates of between 3,000 and 5,000 people. It is hard to know exactly how many as there was no charge to enter or an entry gate. I know both sides of the highway were lined with parked cars and a shuttle helped get everyone closer to the fun. The Bash had something for everyone. All day there was music, vendors, a kid’s tent, Calico gunfighters, and helicopter rides.

What celebration of the Mother Road would be complete without a car show. Under the dedicated leadership of Kristine Watson and Julie Currier, representing the American Legion Post 751, a very professionally run event drew thirtysix classic cars and trucks and three motorcycles. A fleet of customized Tesla trucks joined the festivities. Rodney Rucker had his unique V-8 powered stagecoach and his 1920 replica Thomas Flier automobile. Swag bags and awards were given thanks to the many generous sponsors. Along with the car show, a costume contest for best dressed in period costumes added to the fun.

If you like music, there was a choice of music all day, and into the evening, performed both on the Route 66 stage and the Maddie Rose stage. The entertainers included June Clivas and the Ditty Boys, Leticia Alvarez, Latin Express, Southern

Spirit, and our own locally grown rising star of country music, Ryan Bodine. Demonstrations by the Thunderbirds Square dancing Group, Route 66 Tappers, Barstow Karate Group, and the Silver Valley USD marching band helped round out the entertainment.

For the younger crowd, a kid’s zone was set up in a large tent under the direction of Jane Lariman-Brockhurst and Main Street Murals. Available all day was gold panning, face painting, balloon sculptures, games and a train ride. For the adults, 74 vendors provided a variety of food and merchandise. Inside the Barn-Route 66,

the movie “The Bagdad Café” was shown. Local resident, Dr. Keller Horton, in period costume, presented Mojave Valley stories. Adult beverages were available inside as well as outside in the beer garden.

A special event was the ribbon cutting ceremony, and the evening lighting ceremony for the Route 66 Monument. It is the second Route 66 monument in California. They will be placed along the Historic Route 66. The Newberry Springs monument was funded by San Bernardino County and the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Except for vendor and car show applications, which were handled by HD Family Events, all the planning, preparation, and just plain hard work was done by Renee and her staff, local music legend, Joe Cruz, and a group of dedicated volunteers. The enthusiasm

was kicked into high gear when Renee, with the assistance of Beth Murray with the California Historic Route 66 Association, received a “Saving Historic Places” grant. The grant helped fund the refurbishment of the exterior of the popular old roadhouse.

The volunteers, of course, included many Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce members. Somewhat amazingly, some of the most dedicated volunteers are not Chamber members or local business owners. Some were new residents, caught up in the joy of life in the country, a life where a community works together. A life much different than that where they came from in the big city. Special appreciation goes to: Jeff Rohn, Rick Parra, Dano Thompkins, Darren May, Ton Forbs, Mauricio Menjivar, Randy Adams, Carlos Diaz Garcia, Chloe Burch, Joe Cruz, and Rebecca Oldenburg.

The Big Birthday Bash would not have been possible without the generous support of donors. Event and car show award sponsors included: San Bernardino County, Hardin Honda, Barstow Community Hospital, The Barn-Route 66, Brinegar Racing, Stewart’s United Agencies, Inc. Insurance, Karla Claus, Robert Shaw, Dawn Helgren, Jonas Yuan Photography, National Route 66 Pageant, Back to Basics Ranch, Dianne Bubier, and Wease Funny Farm. Donors for the car show

swag bags included: Newberry Chamber of Commerce, Fitness MD 24/7, Stewart’s United Agencies, Del Taco, Oggi’s, The Pit Stop, Chiquita Rosita’s, Purdy Clean Car Wash, Barstow Main Street USA Festival. Calico House Restaurant, Calico Sweet Shop, and Calico Photo Studio.

The Barn-Route 66 is located at 44560 National Trails Highway. It is a historic, casual cocktail bar and live music and karaoke venue. It is known for its friendly vibe, cozy atmosphere, cold beer, burgers and pizza. It is a popular stop for Route 66 travelers, foreign and domestic. Renee generously allows local charitable organizations to hold fund raisers there. Stop and visit Renee and her friendly staff if you are passing through. With the hugely successful Big Birthday Bash, I’m sure more grand events are to come at the Barn-Route 66 in beautiful Newberry Springs.