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Listen To Your News		Thursday, November 17, 2011		News Archive

PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DISCUSS DOWNTOWN TWENTYNINE PALMS PROJECT
The first of two Public meetings on ambitious plans to transform the downtown area of the City of Twentynine Palms will be held tonight. Reporter Dan Stork says the public is invited to find out all about "Project Phoenix". There will be two community meetings in November to discuss Project Phoenix and the proposed improvements for downtown Twentynine Palms. The meetings are open to the public and will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, and Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Community Services Building, 74325 Joe Davis Drive, next to Luckie Park in Twentynine Palms. Project plans include a 39,000-square-foot community center with recreation and special event space, including a theater stage and auditorium, along with public parking, infrastructure improvements, and 40 housing units. The site area is 15 acres, from Highway 62 south to Cactus Drive, bounded by Cholla Avenue on the east and Tamarisk Avenue on the west, plus a portion of Desert Queen. Also part of the $15.6 million project is a civic plaza, commercial façade improvements, a package treatment plant, undergrounding of utilities, blight removal and upgrades to the fire station property on Adobe Road. Detailed information about the project can be seen at www.29palms.org.

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REPEAT OFFENDER HELD FOR FELONY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A Johnson Valley man, who was charged with battery in October, was arrested Tuesday for beating up his girlfriend. According to a Sheriff's report, Richard Puckett, 25, of the 51900 block of Desert Daisy Drive, told police he arrived home about 7 a.m. to find his girlfriend beaten up, and he thought it was done by someone named Jason. After an investigation, the Deputy determined it was actually Puckett who had beaten his girlfriend. The woman was brought to Hi-Desert Medical Center for treatment of a possible concussion, black eyes, a swollen neck, and a damaged larynx. Richard Puckett was arrested on suspicion of felony spousal abuse, booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with bail set at $50,000.

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HI-DESERT WATER DISTRICT WASTEWATER SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN
The Hi-Desert Water District unveiled the results of a survey taken on support for funding a sewer system, mandated by a state ban on septic, last night. Assignment Reporter Derwood Andrews was there and said the survey results were not exactly a mandate. The results of the public survey were in and presented at the Hi-Desert Water District meeting last night. CFO Frank Luckino stated he wished the results were better, however "we're not stopping." The survey was to determine whether property owners are willing to support Proposition 218 benefit assessment to fund a portion of the Wastewater Treatment and Water Reclamation Project. The cost of the Project was the major factor that limited support, said over 60% of people who did not "Definitely" support the proposal. It was explained that this wouldn't be a one person – one vote situation, the weight of the benefit assessment would be determined based on a three-tiered system on all three phases with the largest percentage of vote going to the property owners most benefiting from the sewer system. The numbers right now are, $2,000 for connection, between $20 and $40 per month on the assessment, and $36 a month sewer bill. All these can change as more grants come in, and a possible 0% interest rate on the loan is secured. Based on the survey results, a benefit assessment between 40 percent and 45 percent of the entire amount could reach a majority of support from Hi-Desert Water District property owners for the measure.

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FREE THANKSGIVING MEAL OFFERED IN TWENTYNINE PALMS
Every year Food for Life in Twentynine Palms sponsors a free Thanksgiving meal for people who are in need of a meal. Following the death of long-time supporter Betty Garrett, the Thanksgiving meal was named in her honor. The Betty Garrett Thanksgiving Meal will be held on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, from 1 to 4 at the Little Church of the Desert Community Hall in Twentynine Palms. On the menu is turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and all the trimmings.

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TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION KICKS SOLAR BACK TO THE COUNCIL
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission kicked the solar requirements can back to the City Council last night, asking to seek public input. Reporter Dan Stork says they also heard comments about street vendors and questioned the cancellation of a bicycle race. The sole item on the agenda of the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission was another study session about a potential ordinance governing commercial alternative energy developments. Chairman Bill Easter started the session by reading into the record a letter from former city council member Steve Spear. Spear urged city officials not to proceed with drafting of regulations without getting prior public input on its desirability. All five commissioners agreed with the sentiment, and declined to discuss the regulations that had been drafted by city staff. Instead they directed staff to ask the City Council to direct the Planning Commission to seek public input as the first step in the process. Before taking up the commercial solar question, the Commission heard public comment on existing rules about street vendors, and on the importance of carefully considering GPAC comments on the General Plan update. Commissioner Steve Whitten questioned Development Director Charles LeClaire about the reported cancellation of a bicycling race in the city. LeClaire said that city agencies had extensive discussions with the applicant for the event, during which public safety concerns were aired, and advised Whitten that the applicant had not completed the application process.

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YUCCA VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN INSTALLATION MONDAY
Yucca Valley Republican Women invite you to their 2011 installation dinner to be held on Monday, November 21 at 6:00 PM at Evangelical Free Church 6804 Mohawk Trail, Yucca Valley. The evening will feature remarks from installing officer 65th District Assemblyman Paul Cook and vocals from trio "Just Like THAT". Price for the evening is $12 and includes a full-coarse dinner. Reservations need to be made by November 18. Call Betty at 760-365-0500. Officers to be installed are President-L Hilary Slotta, 1st Vice President, Programs-Donna Munoz, 2nd Vice President, Membership-Helen Flint, Recording Secretary-Judy Corl-Lorono, Corresponding Secretary-Vickie Culver, Treasurer-Betty Jensen.

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"BLESS ME FATHER" OPENS FRIDAY FOR A 5-WEEK RUN AT THEATRE 29
Tomorrow is opening night at Theatre 29. "Bless me Father" will run five weekends. Managing Editor Tami Roleff says the gala opening night performance is a benefit for Relay for Life. Theatre 29's latest production, the comedy Bless Me, Father, is the first official fundraiser for next year's Morongo Basin Relay for Life. The opening night gala, set for Friday, November 18, will include dinner and a silent auction. In Bless Me, Father, when a rumor starts that the pope will visit the church to hear confessions, folks line up to confess their sins. But the only John Paul in the confessional box is John Paul Fitzpatrick, the janitor. Fitz has been trapped in there for hours, and what he's learning could blow the lid off the whole town. Doors open for the opening night gala at 6; the play starts at 7. Tickets are $25 each. For more information email Diane Durden at durden_dm@yahoo.com or call Cathy Inscore at 760-898-5979.

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VIBRODRUM CONCERT AT HI-DESERT CULTURAL CENTER SATURDAY
This Saturday the Hi-Desert Cultural Center welcomes world-renowned Duo "Images" for a one-night special event concert. Performing on his invention called the "Vibrodrums", an instrument that integrates a vibraphone, cymbals, bar chimes, various drums, and many other percussion instruments, percussionist Artashes Sinanyan performs with pianist Zhanna Sinanyan as they produce a classical concert experience like none other – appealing to music lovers across many generations and genres. Although somewhat classical in nature, the arrangements performed by this talented duo are uplifted and passionate as the team integrates many jazz elements into each piece. This Saturday's live performance begins at 7:00 pm at the state-of-the-art Blak Box Theater located directly behind the newly renamed Kaye Ballard Theater in Joshua Tree at 61231 HWY 62 in Joshua Tree. The doors (and concessions plus a no-host bar) open at 6:00 p.m. with open seating. General admission tickets are $20. To order tickets, call the Box Office at 760.366.3777 or order tickets online at www.hidesertculturalcenter.com.

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TORCH SONG SOLILOQUY AT GROVE'S THEATRE IN MORONGO VALLEY
The Grove's Theater in Morongo Valley has a unique one-man show set for the next 3 weekends. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says come and see "Torch Song Soliloquy". Torch Song Soliloquy at Groves Cabin Theatre is a one-man show written and performed by Sal Bovoso, a salty bard who's spent the last 50 years charming audiences from Broadway to Bucharest. This is Bovoso's autobiographical account of love's pursuit, the comedy and tragedy. In two acts, he chronicles his journey de amour beginning at age 16 with his graduation from the orphanage where he was raised to his present comeback after a near-death experience after which doctors said he'd never regain the ability to speak much less sing. But sing he does, delighting audiences with such torch standards as "Cry Me a River," Patsy Cline's "Crazy," and Sinatra's "It was a very good year." Between tunes, Bovoso holds attention with his colorful soliloquies, ultimately bringing down a teary-eyed house with his cover of Kermit's "Rainbow Connection" from the original Muppet Movie. Torch Song Soliloquy runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8 and Sunday's at 2:30 through December 4th. Tickets are $10. Call the Groves Box Office at 365-4523 to reserve yours.

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PARENT CONFERENCES AT TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL THIS EVENING
Twentynine Palms High School will be holding Parent Conferences this evening from 5:30 until 8:00. Parents and Guardians may visit their students teachers in their rooms. Appointments are not necessary.

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