Rains May Unlock An Enduring Mojave Mystery
A Joshua tree flower cluster | Photo:
“It’s make or break time. If we don’t get any rain in the desert between now and March, it’s not gonna happen. But if enough precipitation leaks over the mountains to give the Mojave Desert a few good showers or a blanket of snow, then we might just see one of the desert’s least-understood phenomena take place, as Joshua trees work to create a new generation of themselves.
Don’t get me wrong: we understand the basics quite well. In years where the Joshua trees have gotten enough winter water and a good freeze, some of the leaf buds at the ends of those ungainly branches will turn into flower buds. Between late February and April, those flower buds will open into big, tight clusters of cream-colored flowers.
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Banquet honors local 4.0 seniors
Jill Rutan Hoffman speaks to local high school seniors about how education has allowed her to achieve her dreams, especially in aviation. (Courtesy photo)
“5/1/2013 – EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The Mojave Transportation Museum and the Mojave Chamber of Commerce held their 11th Annual Excellence in Academics Recognition Bangquet April 24 at the Mojave Veterans Building. The banquet recognizes high school seniors who achieved a 4.0 Grade Point Average from five East Kern County high schools, which includes Desert Junior Senior High School. Col. Lawrence Hoffman, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School commandant, along with his wife Jill, were guest speakers at the event. Both Hoffmans talked to the aspiring teenagers about how “education is the key to unlock your future.” Both Col. Hoffman and Jill grew up around the Antelope Valley (graduating from Desert High School and Quartz Hill High School respectively) and both attributed their success and being able to follow their aviation dreams through their educational achievements.” (Read article Edwards Air Force Base)
Who are the Ninety-Nines?
“THE NINETY-NINES, INC., is an international organization of licensed women pilots from 35 countries – we currently have thousands of members throughout the world. We are a non-profit, charitable membership corporation holding 501(c)(3) U.S. tax status. Our International Headquarters is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Although there are other female pilot organizations in various states and nations, virtually all women of achievement in aviation have been or are members of The Ninety-Nines.
The organization came into being November 2, 1929, at Curtiss Field, Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. All 117 American female pilots had been invited to assemble for mutual support and the advancement of aviation. Louise Thaden was elected secretary and worked tirelessly to keep the group together as we struggled to organize and grow until 1931, when Amelia Earhart was elected as first president and the group was named for the 99 charter members.
Today Ninety-Nines are professional pilots for airlines, industry and government; we are pilots who teach and pilots who fly for pleasure; we are pilots who are technicians and mechanics. But first and foremost, we are women who love to fly!
Our Headquarters, located in a two story building complex on six acres at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is home to our large archival records, video oral histories, personal artifacts, collections and memorabilia, and biographical files on thousands of women pilots from around the world. This is also the site of our 99s Museum of Women Pilots.
Please stop in if you are in the area. Our business hours are 9:00 AM to 5 PM Monday – Friday or by appointment.” (Read article The Ninety-Nines)
San Andreas Fault marker
“Inscription. One of the most outstanding geological feautures in California, extending for over 650 miles from Point Arena, North of San Francisco, to south of San Corconio Pass. Between twenty and thirty miles deep and more than a mile wide in some locations. The faulted sandstone and shale, contorted and sheared may be seen by looking northward from this point, where the Antelope Valley Freeway cuts through the upthrusted ridge to the north. This fault is responisble for two of the greatest earthquakes in California history. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the 1957 Fort Tejon earthquake. The giant shear was named in 1892 by the noted geologist, Andrew Lawson.” (Read article Historical Marker Database)
Judy Cooperberg, “The Commish”
“Judy Cooperberg, our Antelope Valley executive director, was appointed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich to the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission to serve a three-year term. Along with 15 other commissioners, Judy is tapped to advise the Board of Supervisors and the county’s mental health director on various aspects of local mental health programs.
The County’s Fifth District is a vast area which includes all or parts of the San Gabriel, Pomona, San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys. “Judy brings over 30 years of mental health advocacy experience to the commission. She is a problem solver and will be a great asset to the commission,” said Antonovich.
“I am honored to be appointed to the Commission. It is a tremendous opportunity for me to advocate for the Antelope Valley community’s mental health needs and ensure that they are taken into consideration,” Judy commented.
At MHA, Judy is responsible for the development of recovery programs for adults, young adults, veterans and homeless individuals and families in Antelope Valley. She is a certified psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner (CPRP) and sits on many charitable and community boards and committees in Antelope Valley.” (Read article Mental Health America Los Angeles)
Airplane displays in the Antelope Valley
“The Antelope Valley has a rich aviation heritage. Air Force Plant 42 has been the site of the first flights of many important and novel aircraft. Aircraft flying out of Edwards Air Force Base are often seen in the skies overhead. There are several places where you can see vintage airplanes displayed in the Antelope Valley.” (via Air and Space)
City of Lancaster reaches new milestone for U.S.-China business relastions
A former RV factory on the western edge of the Mojave Desert proved the perhaps unlikely location Monday to celebrate a local victory in the battle for foreign investment and job creation.
“It’s a small beginning, a few buses,” said California Gov. Jerry Brown. “But like many things, it holds the promise of something very big.”
An American subsidiary of the Chinese BYD company showed off two completed battery powered buses, assembled in the Lancaster plant that opened last fall.
Visitors given a tour inside saw two more buses nearing completition, the chassis of a third. The re-opened plant marks the first time a Chinese company has established a vehicle factory on U.S. soil, officials said. The current work force of 60 is projected to grow to 200 by the end of next year, said Stella Li, the chief executive officer of BYD Motors.
BTW, BYD says the initials stand for “Build Your Dreams.” The company first made its mark developing and producing batteries for cellphones, and believes its batteries give it an edge over other E-bus manufacturers. (Read article via NBC Los Angeles)
There’s something happening here…
“Butler’s Coffee, the Antelope Valley’s most happening java joint, has music every Saturday night, plus plenty of other music and other activities and entertainment scattered throughout the calendar.
Our music program has been, by almost any measure, a huge success. We’ve already had some great performances from various local and LA area acts since we’ve opened; folks like Tracy Newman, The Willard Grant Conspiracy, Katy Moffatt, John Zipperer & Friends, Shotgun Granny, Chuck Roberts, Men of Worth, Shakeh, Doug Moon, Barn Burning, Allie Taylor, Ian McCartor, Shotgun Granny, Ryan Beuder, Julian Corpeño, Julia Jordon, The Keeftowne Blend, Silent Planet, Laura Browne-Sorenson, Luis Narino and The Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh.
Can’t wait until showtime? Why not check out our very first video? This YouTubeClip shows Allie Taylor and band putting their stamp on a Katy Perry number at Butler’s back (way, way back) in November 2008.
So don’t just sit there at home, vegetating. Check out our Calendar. We have music most Saturday nights and we’re adding more nights (and a few matinée shows) as we go.
Have a club? Meet here…” (Full article via Butler’s Coffee House)
Palmdale Color Vibe | Jan 24, 2015
[Photo: Copyright 2015 by Melinda Rodriguez. All Rights Reserved.]
“Get ready Palmdale for the most colorful fun-filled day of your life! You’ll have more color on you than your happy levels can handle! So get your friends and family stretched out for this amazing color blast event where you’ll get blasted with color while you run the Color Vibe 5K. Color Vibe is here, and you’re about to get tagged!
You’ll be blasted at every color station throughout this awesome 5K run. Sign up fast, because spots are filling quickly and we have a limited number of shirts available. So grab your girlfriends, your bro’s, your friends, and your family cause we’re bringing a color fun experience to your life that you never knew existed! So join us for the Color Vibe 5K run in your city and get ready to be tagged with color!” (via Color Vibe)
Deputies Discover Secret White Supremacist Bunker, Shooting Range, in California
“Three men were arrested earlier this week after Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies uncovered a secret bunker hidden under a house that was filled with guns, ammunition and white supremacist paraphernalia in Littlerock, Calif., about 65 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
Inside the soundproof underground bunker, investigators found a 25-yard shooting range, six pistols, 11 rifles, a World War II-era machine gun, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, over 100 magazines (some high-capacity), Nazi flags and pictures of at least one of the men posing in Nazi attire. Some of the weapons, like the machine gun, were illegal, and others were stolen, authorities said.
“It’s not something that anybody we’ve ever worked with has seen in their careers in law enforcement,” Sheriff’s Det. Julia Vezina told an NBC affiliate in Los Angeles. “When you open up the hatch, you look down and about 10 feet down, all concrete reinforced walls, soundproof with bars.” (Read more via SPL Center)