By PETER DAy

Senior reporter

One-by-one they came in, each taking one of about 100 avail-

able chairs. But when last Monday’s Lucerne Valley “A Winter Celebration of the Arts” officially got underway in the Bryan Walker Gymnasium, it was decidedly standing-room-only.

A rough estimate put the crowd at between 300 and 400 music-hungry guests who had crammed past a pre-designated perimeter, forcing orga-nizers to put out as much seating as possible.

The audience applaud-ed loudly for a wide range of music, from a forma-t ive performance of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”

By PETER DAy

Senior reporter

It’s official: Carmen Fox is now a member of the Lucerne Valley Unified School District’s governing board.

Fox was sworn into office last Wednesday along with incumbents Jim Harvey and Dawn Turnbull.

Fox, a Lucerne Valley

resident who is office manager of Center Water Co., ran unopposed for the seat vacated by John Buchanan. Buchanan decided to not to run for reelection after serving a four-year term.

Harvey and Turnbull also ran unopposed.

The school district honored Buchanan with a plaque, words of grati-tude and a small farewell party. The event was attended by his wife and infant grandson, Henry.

“Even though there were hills and valleys, you made a difference, John,”

Wednesday, December 17, 2014 • Serv ing Lucerne Va l ley s ince 1955

lv leaderLUCERNEVALLEYLEADER.Com

Briefs �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� 2Calendar �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� 3Classifieds �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� 7opinion �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� 4religion �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� 6

News tips: 760-248-7878 Editor@LucerneValleyLeader.com

Advertising: 760-256-4140 BLint@DesertDispatch.comiN

DE

x

CO

NTA

CT

US

iNSiDE

>> Crossroads Chapel to host annual live nativity

Page 2

>> Letter to the Editor: Due process for project?

Page 4

The Lucerne Val ley Leader uses recycled

newsprint.

>> Recipe: Eggnog fudge is a tasty alternative

Page 6

CRiME

Email senior reporter Peter Day at pday@vvdailypress.com.Twitter: @peterdaynews

See BLOTTER • pAGe 5

SHERIFF’S BLOTTER

Fox, Harvey, Turnbull sworn into office

The sound of musicLUCERNE VALLEy HiGH SCHOOL

Hundreds attend school’s first high school music event in years

Tuesday, Dec. 94:08 p.m. A Blake Road resident

reported a burglary.3:56 p.m. A stolen vehicle was

recovered in the area of Powerline Road and Crystal Creek Road.

10:10 a.m. Deputies were called to handle a 5150 situation in the area of Green Rock Mine Road and Old Woman Springs Road.

Monday, Dec. 87:12 p.m. A person was arrest-

ed for brandishing a weapon in the 32000 block of Highway 18.

4:34 p.m. A drug-related arrest was made in the area of Old Woman Springs Road and Barstow Road.

1 p.m. A drug-related arrest was made in the area of Old Woman Springs Road and Oracle Road.

10:03 a.m. An Emerald Road resi-dent reporting a trespassing inci-dent.

Sunday, Dec. 710:52 p.m. A disturbance was

reported in the area of Highway 18 and Ox Bow Road.

Saturday, Dec. 611:01 p.m. A Calada Road resident

was arrested on suspicion of domes-tic violence.

10:13 p.m. Criminal threats were reported by a Custer Road resident.

4:05 p.m. A Clark Road resident reported losing property.

2:57 p.m. Trespassing was report-ed in the area of Haven Rest Road and Highway 18.

2:25 p.m. A Richard Street resi-dent reported someone was tres-passing. The person was gone when deputies arrived.

8:51 a.m. A Haven Rest Road resi-dent reported a theft.

7:43 a.m. Trespassing was report-ed in the 9000 block of Mesa Road.

Friday, Dec. 511:47 p.m. A drunk in public situa-

tion was reported in the 8000 block of Mesa Road.

7:04 p.m. Deputies were called to a crisis in the area of Barstow Road and Gobar Road.

9:57 a.m. A vehicle was broken into and items stolen on Haven Rest Road.

Residentcatches

illegaldumpers

By PETER DAy

LeAder editor

Millie Rader, a lifelong resi-dent of Lucerne Valley, had seen an increase in illegal dumping. But when she recently caught someone in the act, her blood boiled.

“You guys know better,” she told the two local men who were unload-ing construction trash on a dirt stretch of road near the Gem Tract. “You’re from Lucerne Valley.”

The men, who Rader was

Lucerne Valley Youth Project back pack pick up

Lucerne Valley YOUTH project Christmas back pack pick up for those who have signed up is at the Moose Lodge in Lucerne Valley 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 20. Please have your current I.D. with you at that time.

The Ladies of the Moose will have a Christmas hot dog luncheon for the dids of Lucerne Valley with Santa Claus from noon to 2 p.m.

Bring your children and cameras!

THE JOLLY SEASON

CAroLine LieBer / For the LeAder

CHRISTmAS SPIRIT: tommy orozco Lucerne Valley, right, meets Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Lucerne Valley Leader Market and hardware store last Saturday. A line of eager children waited patiently for their chance to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus and tell them what they want for Christmas.

Outgoing school board member John Buchanan

applauded for his years of service

peter dAy / the LeAder

outgoing school board member John Buchanan’s grandson, henry, holds the plaque Buchanan received from Supt. Suzette davis, right. the district honored Buchanan for his four years of service during last Wednesday’s school board meeting.

See DUMPiNG • pAGe 4

See BOARD • pAGe 5

new music teacher Brigham Welch is credited with igniting a new passion for music at the high school.

GiViNG

peter dAy / the LeAder

Lucerne Valley high School principal patricia Courtney addresses the sizeable audience during last week’s event.

See CONCERT • pAGe 5

Calvary Bible Christmas events

Calvary Bible Church is hosting several special Christmas events.

T h e f i r s t w a s a Christmas play last Sunday. A Christmas skit will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 21. The Christmas Eve service will be held on Dec. 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Calvary Bible Church is located at 10099 Crystal Creek Road, Lucerne Valley. For more information, call 760-248-6100.

Toy sign ups have moved to Senior Center

The toy sign up loca-tion has been changed from the Lucerne Valley Chamber of Commerce to the Lucerne Valley Senior Center.

The Senior Center is located behind the library at 10431 Allen Way.

The sign up loca-tion at Lucerne Valley E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l remains the same.

You must be a current resident of Lucerne Valley. Also needed is current proof of residency. It is required. No proof, no toys.

Sign up is until Dec. 18. No exceptions.

Santa Claws at the Zoo

Santa Claws is com-ing to town and he is coming to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo. This is not your ordinary Santa but a very special one. Our Santa will be available for a visit on the first three Saturdays in December: Dec. 13 and 20 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Santa

Claws is anxious to meet

as many children as pos-

sible and loves to have

his photo taken with you

and your family. So bring

your camera, iPad, etc.

and enjoy the holiday in

the zoo.

Admission rates are:

Adults $12; children 3

to 10 years and seniors

60+ $9; under 3 years are

free.

The zoo’s winter hours

are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday

and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on

Saturday and Sunday,

weather permitting.

To learn more call 909-

878-4200 or email info@

fobbaz.org or visit our

website at www.Friends

oftheBigBearAlpineZoo.

org.

What’s Happening submissionsAny not-for-profit group or

organization in Lucerne Valley

is welcome to submit a What’s

Happening brief to the Leader�� The

preferred method is by email at

editor@lucernevalleyleader��com��

Submissions may also be faxed to

760-248-2042 or mailed to What’s

Happening, Lucerne Valley Leader,

P��O�� Box 299, Lucerne Valley, CA��

PAGE 2 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 The Leader

This newspaper is dedicated to being an indispensable source of information and entertainment in our town while promoting the spirit of freedom��

EXECUTIVEPresident Barack Obama (D)The White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave�� NW,Washington, D��C�� 20500Phone: 202-456-1414

U.S. SENATEBarbara Boxer (D)112 Hart Office BuildingWashington, D��C�� 20510Phone: Inland Empire Office — (951) 684-4849Sacramento Office — 916-448-2787

Dianne Feinstein (D)331 Hart Office Building,Washington, D��C�� 20510Phone: 202-224-3841

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESPaul Cook (R)1222 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, D��C�� 20515Phone: 202-225-5861Fax: 202-225-6498Apple Valley District Office14955 Dale Evans ParkwayApple Valley, CA 92307

STATE OF CALIFORNIAGov. Jerry Brown (D)State Capitol Building, Suite 1173Sacramento, CA 95814Phone: 916-445-2841

STATE SENATEJean Fuller (R)Represents 18th Senate District (includes LucerneValley)

District Office5001 California Ave�� Suite 105Bakersfield, CA 94248-0001Phone (661) 323-0443Capitol OfficeState Capitol, Rm�� 3063Sacramento, CA 94248-0001Phone 916-651-4018

STATE ASSEMBLYTim Donnelly (R)Represents 33rd AssemblyCapitol Office (includes Lucerne Valley)PO Box 942849Sacramento, CA 94249Phone: 916-319-2033Fax: 916-319-2133District Office15900 Smoketree St��, Room 100,Hesperia, CA 92345Phone: 760-244-5277Fax: 760-244-5447

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTYSupervisor James RamosEmail: SupervisorRamos@ sbcounty��govCounty Government Center385 North Arrowhead Ave��, Fifth FloorSan Bernardino, CA 92415-0110Phone 909-387-4855Fax: 909-387-3018Joshua Tree District Office63665 Twentynine PalmsHighway, Joshua Tree, CA92252Phone: 760-366-1488Fax: 760-366-1489Big Bear District OfficePhone: 909-866-0140

MAKiNG CONTACT

WHO WE ARE

WWW.LUCERNEVALLEYLEADER.COM

HOW TO CONTACT US

Martial Haprov / Editor

Peter Day / Senior Reporter

Angie Callahan / Advertising Director

Harry Pontius / Operations Director

Robert Cabrera / Finance Manager

Todd Bradshaw / Circulation Director

Retail advertising��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������760-256-2257

Deadline for retail advertising is noon Thursdays

Classified advertising��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������760-241-7733

Deadline for classified advertising is 2 p��m�� Mondays

Editorial ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������760-248-7878

The Leader (USPS #321700) is published weekly by Victor Valley Publishing Company, PO Box 299, Lucerne Valley, CA 92356��

Periodicals postage paid the the Lucerne Valley CA Post Office�� POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Lucerne Valley Leader,

PO Box 1389, Victorville, CA 92393��

WHAT’S HAPPENING

BRiEFS

PART 2

Pear Harbor remembered

This is the conclusion of reporter Rene Ray de la Cruz’s story on a local resident who survived the Pearl Harbor attack during World War II. Pearl Harbor Day was on Dec. 7.

By RENE RAy DE LA CRUZ

StAFF Writer

“He told us that by the time the war was over, half of us would be dead,” said veteran Jack F. Carey, 94, of Hesperia. “He told us to fight hard and to be brave to the end. I guess I was one of the lucky ones because I’m still alive and here talking to you.”

After 73 years, Carey still believes that the attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy on Pearl Harbor was not a surprise.

“We got caught with our pants down, but we knew in advance that they were coming,” Carey said. “Our communication guys told us that they heard suspicious activity about 150 miles away and coming toward us. We were told that it was our ships and to go back to sleep.”

After the bombing runs stopped, Carey said the rumor mill went into full action, with stories spreading that Japanese troops had landed and were taking the island.

Carey said the U.S. was so overwhelmed that the Japanese could have easily taken the entire island, set up base and mounted an attack on the U.S. mainland, about 2,500 miles to the east.

“We actually fought two wars in the Pacific,” Carey said. “We fought the ruthless Japanese mili-tary, and the mosquitoes that were so thick in the air that you could cut it with a knife. And if the mosquitoes didn’t kill you with malaria in the Pacific, they infected you with it and you got sick

See PEARL HARBOR • pAGe 5

LIVE NATIVITY: this year’s live nativity in front of Crossroads Chapel features live animals and nativity characters in cos-tume on december 17, 18 and 19 from 6 - 7:30 nightly at Crossroads Chapel, 32525 highway 18. refreshments served.

School board preSentationSSeveral presentations were

made during the regular monthly meeting of the Lucerne Valley Unified

School district’s govern-ing board on Wednesday, dec. 10. Above, longtime

Lucerne Valley Lions mem-bers Jimmy (center) and Linda James, right, were presented a recognition

plaque by Superintendent Suzette davis, left. over

the years, the Lions have been instrumental in school activities, donating service

hours, money and good food. right, LVhS students

James Sausser, left, and ian roberts, right, show

the results of the school’s new 3-d printer. the duo

is scheduled to give an in-depth presentation during next month’s school board

meeting.

Wrestlers surpass expectations at tournament The Mustang wres-

tling team traveled to Santa Ana last Saturday to attend the Scott Davis Invitational at Mater Dei High School. This was a 24-man double elimina-tion individual tourna-ment.

Being one of the tough-est tournaments that the Mustang team will attend all season, the coaching staff hoped for good results but did not expect them.

Joseph Salbino (152 lb) earned the first win of the day for the Mustang team by beating his opponent with a pin in the second period. Due to an error in

the second round Joseph wound up wrest l ing against the wrong oppo-nent in the medal round, which knocked him out of contention.

Sara Sullivan (113 lb) earned a win in her first match as well. She hand-ily pinned her opponent in the first period of the match. This was her only win on the day but she fought hard and gave a good performance.

Sam Aguilar (106 lb) won both his first and second matches. Sam pinned his opponent from Foothill high school in the second round and fol-

lowed that up with a high scoring decision against h i s o p p o n e n t f r o m Fullerton high school. Sam Earned a 5th place medal at this huge event and showed he will be someone to contend with in future tournaments.

Oscar Sanchez (195 lb) beat his first opponent with a pin in the second period and went on to win a 5th place medal for the day.

Jason Simonek (170 lb) went into overtime with his first match against Marina high school but unfortunately lost in the final seconds. Jason

rebounded to win the next two matches and brought home a 7th place medal.

Although the placings were not that high for the Mustang team, this is the better than they have done in the past at this event. They fought hard and did not give up on themselves.

The Mustangs will be hosting the Yucca Valley Trojans on Dec. 17 in the LVHS gymnasium at 5 p.m. Then they go to Granite Hills High School in Apple Valley on Dec. 20 to attend the Al Dingwall Invitational.

SPORTS

The Leader Wednesday, December 17, 2014 PAGE 3

after you got back home like I did.”

D u r i n g h i s f o u r years in the Pacific, where he fought battles in Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Luzon and the northern S o lomons , Ca rey s a i d h e wa s shocked by the “ancient equipment” that the troops were given, such as rifles, ammunition and communication gear that were used in World War I.

Looking back at the

day he enlisted, Carey said he was almost sent to the Philippines, where the unit he would have fought with eventu-ally surrendered to the Japanese Army.

“I would have been one of those guys in the Battaan Death March where thousands of Americans and Filipinos were killed,” Carey said. “Let me tell you, I’m no war hero. The guys that died over there are the heroes.”

As the couple’s cat sat on a window ledge, Carey grabbed a large book that listed Pearl Harbor survi-

vors and showed off pho-tos of himself as a young man.

“The publisher got all our information for the book and then sold the book to us for about $25,” said Carey as he laughed. “Can you believe that?”

Carey ’s wi fe sa id the couple moved to Hesperia about 30 years ago from the Los Angeles area, after Jack retired from the Chevron Oil Company.

“We met at a dance and Jack was very nice, except he was 6-foot-5 and I was only about 5-2,” Darlene Carey said.

“Jack’s a good man, but he’s dealing with some heart and thyroid prob-lems.”

With a few World War II books and a Garrison cap sitting on a cof-fee table, Carey said he wished that he still had his American Defense and Asiatic Pacific Campaign medals with him.

”My ex-wife took all my stuff and got rid of it,” Carey said. “I had my uni-form, medals, stripes and a whole lot more. I think she gave my uniform to her boyfriend. Well, at least I’m still here.”

PEARL HARBORFROM pAGe 2

To update your listing, email edi-tor@lucernevalleyleader��com, call 760-248-7878 or mail Lucerne Valley Leader, P��O�� Box 299, Lucerne Valley, CA 92356��

Age WiseThis is a confidential counsel-

ing service for adults 55 and older, operated by San Bernardino County�� Appointments are set up at homes and community buildings in Lucerne Valley�� Call 800-451-5633��

Alcoholics Anonymous Lucerne Valley

The groups meet daily at 32774 Old Woman Springs Road in Lucerne Valley Shopping Center�� Call 760-242-9292 for details�� Following is a meet-ing schedule:

Sunday 5:30 - 6:30 p��m��, 12 x 12 Study��

Monday 6-7:15 p��m��, Family Al-Anon and 7:30 - 9 p��m��, Spanish speaking��

Tuesday 7:30 - 9 p��m��, Podium Meeting��

Wednesday Noon-1 p��m�� Participa-tion Meeting, and 7:30-9 p��m��, Guest Speaker/Birthday Chip Meeting��

Thursday 5:30-6:30 p��m�� Spiritual Maintenance Discussion Meeting��

Friday 5:30 - 6:30 p��m��, Open Participation, and 7-9 p��m�� Spanish speaking��

Saturday 7:30-9 p��m�� Big Book Study��

American LegionMeetings are held at noon on the

third Saturday of the month at the V��F��W�� located at 31861 Highway 18�� For more information, call 951-609-5507��

American Legion Women’s Auxil-iary unit No�� 879 meets on the first Saturday of each month at noon at Jack-o-Landia, located at 32351 Highway 18��

Calvary Bible Church youth group meeting

Calvary Bible Church is hosting a youth group meeting every Tuesday at 5:30 p��m�� at Calvary Bible Church (formerly at Pioneer Park)�� There is live music, a youth lesson and games�� All teens are invited�� For more information, call 760-248-1127��

Celebrate Recovery Hunter Harbor, a community

resource center, presents Celebrate Recovery every Tuesday from 6 to 8 p��m�� and every Friday at 6 p��m��

This Christian-based step study program provides support for those dealing with life’s troubles, includ-ing divorce, abuse, co-dependency, domestic violence, anger/emotional issues and addiction��

The group meets at the U-Turn building on the grounds of the Crossroads Chapel, located at 32525 Highway 18 in Lucerne Valley�� Call 760-220-3287 for details��

Chamber of CommerceBoard of Directors meet at 5:30

p��m�� on the second Monday of each month at the Senior Center��

Mailing address: Lucerne Valley Chamber of Commerce, P��O�� Box 401

Physical address: 32750 Hwy 18/Old Woman Springs Road

Phone: (760) 248-7215Fax: (760) 248-2096

The Chamber’s new websites are http://lvchamber��net/ and http://lu-cernevalley��us/

Email: Crossrd@lvchamber��net and lvchamber@lucernevalley��us

For more information, call Lu-cerne Valley Chamber of Commerce office at 760-248-7215��

Community Hospice (of Victor Valley)

Anyone interested in volunteer-ing should call 760-946-4730��Community Table

Lucerne Valley Community Table is a free dinner for the community every Wednesday from 4:30-6:30 p��m�� at St�� Paul Catholic Church, lo-cated at 8973 Mesa Road in Lucerne Valley�� All are welcome to attend, and donations are encouraged�� For more information, call 760-912-3100 or 760-912-4100��

Community Theater Group in L.V.

A community theater group is forming in Lucerne Valley�� For fur-ther details, call Pete at 760-248-7171��

Desert Crossroads Garden Club

Meets at 9:30 a��m�� on the sec-ond Thursday of the month at the Lucerne Valley Community Center�� For more information call Sara at 760-248-7614��

High Desert Antique Power Association

This club for enthusiasts of an-tique tractors and vehicles meets at 7 p��m�� on the fourth Wednesday each month in Hesperia��

For more information, call Larry at 760-249-4259��

His Closet, His Pantry FREE MinistriesHis Closet His Pantry FREE Ministries offers free gently used/newclothing for the entire family along with houseware items and furniture��

Our hours are 10 a��m�� to 1 p��m�� Thursdays and Fridays, weather permitting��

The ministry accepts donations and is always in need of clothes han-gars, children’s clothes (especially winter wear) and shoes��

The ministry is expanding and will be closed for remodeling from Oct�� 17 through Oct�� 31��

His Pantry will be open on Oct�� 31 for its Community Food Giveaway��

His Closet is located at 34551 Highway 18 at corner of Locust (toward Big Bear)�� For more informa-tion, call 760-248-7070��Hunter Harbor, a Community Resource Center

Workshops offered: Parenting Classes, Parent Project Program, and Anger Management for all ages�� Call 760-220-3287 for details��

Janice Horst Lucerne Valley Branch Library

The Janice Horst Lucerne Valley Branch Library is located at 33103 Old Woman Springs Road in Lucerne Valley and can be reached by phone at 760-248-7521��

Hours are Monday through Wednesday 11 a��m�� to 7 p��m��, Thurs-day 10 a��m�� to 6 p��m��, Friday closed, Saturday 9 a��m�� to 5 p��m��, Sunday closed��

Children’s Story Time is on Wednesdays at 3 p��m�� The Book Club for Adults meets the last Wednesday of every month at 2:30 p��m�� Friends of the Library meetings are held at 10 a��m�� on the second Tuesday of each month��

Events held at the library are free of charge unless otherwise noted��

Jubilee Mutual Water Board of Directors meetings for

the Jubilee Mutual Water Co�� are held at 9 a��m�� on the third Saturday of every month in the Jubilee Water Company office at 8828 Joshua Av-enue in Lucerne Valley, CA 92356�� For more information, please call 760-248-7883�� Email: jubileewaterco@gmail��com��

The Love and Compassion Ministries

The food giveaway program is from 3 to 4:30 p��m�� every second and fourth Tuesday of the month and is distributed from Midway Park lo-cated at 34824 Rabbit Springs Road��

Call Beverly Bethune at 562-688-3436��

Lucerne Valley BusProvides transportation from

5:30 a��m�� to 7:30 p��m�� weekdays, and 8 a��m�� to 4 p��m�� on Saturdays�� $2��25 per ride��

Call 760-948-4021 for more infor-mation��LVDRC – CERT meetings

Meetings of the Lucerne Valley Disaster Readiness Council (LVDRC) and the Community Emergency Re-sponse Team (CERT) are held the 3rd Monday each month in the Commu-nity Center at 7 p��m�� A potluck dinner begins at 6 p��m�� which includes a disaster response training session at 6:30 p��m�� For more information call Bryan 760-248-2915 or Ron 760-248-2466�� The e-mail address is - LVDRC@yahoo��com��

Lucerne Valley Community Table

Lucerne Valley Community Table is a free dinner for the community every Wednesday from 4:30-6:30 p��m�� at St�� Paul Catholic Church, lo-cated at 8973 Mesa Road in Lucerne Valley�� All are welcome to attend, and donations are encouraged�� For more information, call 760-912-3100 or 760-912-4100��

Lucerne Valley Domestic

Violence Outreach, inc.Call 760-248-2064 if help is

needed�� For assistance with temporary

restraining orders, marriage, family and anger management, counsel-ing is available by appointment�� A batterer’s intervention program is also available��

Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association

LVEDA holds meetings at 5 p��m�� on the first Tuesday of each month at the Lucerne Valley Senior Center, 10431 Allen Way,

off Highway 247 in Lucerne Val-ley, behind the library�� Meetings are open to the public�� For more information, call Jean Magee at 760-953-1513��

Pacific Clinics Club House food give-away

The Pacific Clinics Club House (also known as A Place to Go) holds a food give-away on the first Thurs-day of every month��

The food give-away is sponsored by the Community Action Partner-ship of San Bernardino Food Bank Program and USDA Surplus Com-modities��

Lucerne Valley Elementary School Booster Club

Local residents have created a non-profit organization to help bring money back into the elementary school for teachers and students�� They plan to take care of all the fund-raisers such as Box Tops for Education, Campbell’s soup labels and many more fun projects��

They plan to raise money to help with field trips, school supplies and other classroom needs��

Meetings will be held on the first Monday of every month at 3:30 p��m�� at the cafeteria at Lucerne Valley Elementary School��

Anyone can be a booster member for an annual cost of $5 To be on the board you must have a child enrolled at LVES�� Contact Keri Lindner with any questions at 760-248-2322��

Lucerne Valley Lions Club

The Lions club holds dinner meet-ings at 7 p��m�� on the first and third Thursday of each month at Lions Pride Park�� Follow signs from Rabbit Springs Road and Highway 18�� Call 760-248-7670��

What’s Happening/Calendar Content

What’s Happening and Community Calendar items are placed

in The Leader free of charge�� Priority will be given to non-profit

organizations and events, but for-profit events may be included if

they hold significant interest for the community��

We cannot guarantee that every item we receive will appear in the

paper every week�� Submissions may be edited for length or clarity��

To have your announcement considered for publication, submit it at

least one week prior to the paper’s publication�� E-mail it to

editor@lucernevalleyleader��com, fax it to 760-248-2042 or drop it off

at The Leader office��

cALENdArLucerne Valley Lions Pistol, Rifle and Trap Range

Open to Public�� Rifle, Pistol range open at 8 a��m�� every Saturday - $8 per shooter, all day�� Trap range open at 8 a��m�� Saturdays - $5 per round (a round is 25 clays)�� Trap range open at 5 p��m�� Tuesday under the big lights - $5 per round�� Follow signs from Rabbit Springs Road and High-way 18�� Call 760-248-7670��

Lucerne Valley MuseumThe Lucerne Valley Museum will

be open the last Saturday of each month from April through October�� Hours will be 10 a��m�� to noon�� Any donations can be made at that time as well��

Lucerne Valley Senior Citizens

Meetings are at 12:45 p��m�� on the second Wednesday of the month at the Lucerne Valley Senior Center�� Center is open from 9 a��m�� until 1 p��m�� on weekdays��

Lunch is served at 11:30 a��m�� for senior citizens and guests, Monday through Friday�� Call 760-248-2248��

Lucerne Valley TOPSLucerne Valley TOPS No�� 1066

meets every Monday at the Lucerne Valley Community Church located at 10375 Ladera (behind the fire station)��

Weigh-in 8:15-9 a��m��, meeting 9 -10:15 a��m���� For more information, call Esther at 760-248-9320 or Sharon at 760-646-3690��

Lucerne Valley Unified School District

Meetings are held at 5:30 p��m�� on the second Wednesday of each month at the district offices on Aliento Road just south of Highway 18�� Call 760-248-6108 for details��

Lucerne Valley/Johnson Valley Municipal Advisory Council

Meetings are held at 5 p��m�� on the third Thursday of the month at the Lucerne Valley Community Center�� The public is encouraged to attend��

Agendas are typically posted in the What’s Happening section of The Leader the week before each meet-ing�� For further information, call 760-248-7048��

Moose LodgeThe Moose Lodge is open from

11 a��m�� to closing every day�� Meet-ings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p��m�� in the newly renovated Moose Lodge�� Guests welcome to call for information�� Monday night burgers, Wednesdays is taco night�� Friday and Saturday dinners call first�� Contact the Moose Lodge at 760-248-6164

for more information��

Outriders Equestrian Club

Meetings are at 11 a��m�� on the first Sunday of the month at the Moose Lodge�� Persons interested in joining are welcome to attend�� For more information, call Marie Scafidi 760-220-2834 or Mary Daugherty at 760-333-5483��

Parents Growth GroupThis parenting group meets the

second Thursday of each month at the Crossroads Chapel on Highway 18 in Lucerne Valley��

Call Heather Otwell at 760-248-9211 or e-mail otwellfam@gmail��com for details��

Pet Overpopulation Coalition

Residents of San Bernardino County are eligible for help, to spay and neuter pets��

Receive $50 per dog and $25 per cat�� Limit of three vouchers at one time per family��

Call P��O��P��C��O at (888) 767-2550 or 760-248-7848��

RoadrunnersThis women’s charitable organi-

zation meets on the first Monday of the month at 10 a��m�� at the Lucerne Valley Senior Center�� No lunches will be served��

The group is involved in many charitable events for children throughout the year��

Call 760-248-7215 or 760-248-6176 for additional details��

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5551

The Lucerne Valley VFW is look-ing for new members�� Members enjoy savings on cell phone service, education, hotel and car rentals, real estate and mortgage services, healthcare services, commercial merchandise and more�� DD214 required��

Contact the post between 8 a��m��

and noon by phone at 760-248-7484,

by email at VFWPost5551@yahoo��

com or by mail at P��O�� Box 2012, Lu-

cerne Valley, CA 92356�� You can also

stop by the physical location at 31861

Highway 18��

Meetings are held on the third

Saturday of each month starting at

10 a��m��

Hamburgers and tacos are no

longer available��

County’s lack of judges top in stateSHEA JOHNSON

StAFF Writer

The San Bernardino County court system currently maintains 86 judges, but the county’s caseloads justify it hav-ing 143, according to the 2014 Judicial Workload Assessment present-ed this week in San

Francisco to the state Judicial Council.

The report under-scores what many may already know: The county here is the most under-served judicial system in California.

“We’re redlining it,” Presiding Judge Marsha Slough said last week, comparing the system

to a ship that is barely afloat.

An updated Judicial Council assessment is released every two years. The most recent report indicates that the judicial need here is “so acute,” the county occupies three of the top seven priority rankings — including No. 1 — for order of receiving

new judgeships among all

58 counties in the state.

Rivers ide County,

which occupies the sec-

ond, fourth and eighth

priority spots, is the sec-

ond-most underserved

in the state, according to

the report. It needs 51.4

more judgeships.

By KAthLeen pArKer

It is probably too soon to declare a feminist ref-ormation, but a few signs here and there give one hope.

Hold it, sirs, don’t stop reading yet. I realize that seeing the F-word in the first paragraph is like dis-covering that your bride is wearing pantyhose, but bear with me.

This week in the nation’s capital, female leaders in government, business and media gathered for the second annual “Women Rule” summit, sponsored by Politico, the Tory Burch Foundation and Google. One panel (moderated by yours truly) was com-posed entirely of con-servative women under the title “Conservative Feminists: Why It’s Not an Oxymoron.”

Only in Washington would anyone ask this question: Can a woman be both feminist and con-servative? Why, yes, she can!

But the question does deserve a more serious answer so that women can stop fussing over labels and litmus tests to determine whether a woman who doesn’t fall in line with feminist ideology can be useful to society. Specifically, is a female politician worthy of women’s support in public office even though she may be pro-life or might have spent her

younger years at home raising her children?

This may seem an absurd question on its face — because it is. But in reality, conservative women face far greater obstacles to public ser-vice than their more-liberal counterparts pri-marily because of repro-ductive issues. EMILY’s List, for example, anoints women candidates for public office (Translation: Are they pro-choice?) and has clout in the polit-ical realm. Conservative women needn’t apply.

The three women pan-elists — Reps. Marsha Blackburn and Susan Brooks and Rep.-elect Barbara Comstock — spoke of their experi-ences dealing with media bias and facing down Democratic opponents who seemed only to want to talk about reproduc-tive issues. These are important, obviously, but abortion doesn’t define every woman’s life, nor is it necessarily paramount to Republican women’s interest in public service.

A rhetorical question Why should smart

conservative women essentially be blackballed by liberals based on whether they are liberal or conservative enough on this single issue? Please, this is a purely rhetorical question.

Bottom line: As a lit-mus test, whether one is pro-choice is ultimately counterproductive. With

women at each other’s throats, the patriarchy can pop another brew and hang on to the remote.

This fact was pointed out to me by the chief jus-tice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, Jean Toal, whom I had the honor of interviewing at a gathering of the state’s women lawyers. Toal was the first female Supreme Court justice in the state and the first female chief justice. She is a lifelong Democrat and fits no Southern stereotype.

Grounded in reality Tough, feisty, out-

spoken and usually the smartest person in the room, she is a tiny package of intellect and energy. She is also kind, motherly and firmly grounded in reality. The mother of two grown daughters, Toal, 71, has been an activist all her life, including as a civil rights worker registering African-American voters and later as a successful legislator. No shrinking violet, in other words.

When I called her for a pre-interview, Toal opened the conversation by saying, “I loved that column you wrote about that Com-something woman in Virginia. I stood up in my office and cheered!”

She was referring to a column about none other than Comstock, whose Democratic opponent suggested during the

campaign that she had never held a real job. Comstock is a lawyer, smallbusiness owner and mother who also has served in the Virginia Legislature.

The larger point But the larger point

of the column, which dovetailed with Tuesday’s panel discussion, was that only certain women are deemed accept-able for public office. Comstock would never make the cut because she is, alas, pro-life.

So is Toal.“I was one of the few

right-to-life Democrats that there ever has been, but nobody ever held it against me,” Toal told me. “My colleagues and even my constituents respect-ed me for those views and they didn’t punish me for those views. Now being pro-choice is a litmus test for women and we’ve got to get over it. We need to not be ashamed that we are who we are. We are different. We need to honor difference of opinion. That’s the only way we’ll ever reach criti-cal mass.”

Yes, women are differ-ent — as different as men are from one another. And until women accept those differences, they will remain minority play-ers in a world that pats them on the head and sponsors summits where women rule, if only for a day.

PAGE 4 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 The Leader

VIEWPOINT / NEWS

Feminism sees the right

LETTER TO THE EDiTOR

Landers concernsNote: This letter was received late last week.

Although it discusses deadlines prior to publication, we feel the information is valuable to Leader readers.

A Sonoran tribal member calls this “the place of creation,” we call it Landers.

It was brought to my attention just a few days ago that a company called “S-Power” has begun construction of a 35-acre solar power facility in Landers on Bowman Trail. It apparently obtained a conditional approval of the project from the San Bernardino County Planning Commission on Dec. 4, but began construction even before that.

Apparently, “public” notice of the meeting to approve the project was sent to immediate neigh-boring plots (within 1,000 feet), but not to the com-munity at large; very few attended.

Whatever you may think of commercial solar power facilities, I personally think there has been a failure of due process — the community should have been provided an opportunity to discuss the details of this commercial project at a public forum to which all neighbors in Landers would have been invited.

We can appeal the approval of the County Planning Commission by Monday, Dec. 15 before 5 pm- the filing fee is $1,192.

The day after I talked with the responsible per-son at the County about this, I was called by Garrett Bean a geologist working for S Power. He said that they want to avoid an appeal process and proposed an informal meeting to clear things up.

Mr. Bean has agreed to meet and discuss any concerns this Saturday, Dec. 13, noon at Belfield Hall, 58380 Reiche Road, Landers. We will still have time for an appeal if we’re not happy.

Please forward this to others in our community who may be interested.

moira FainLanders

DUMPINGFROM pAGe 2

MiLLie rAder / For the LeAder

A convertible couch was discarded on a dirt stretch of Agate road.

By SteVe WiLLiAMS

It’s a curious thing that when gasoline prices (well, the price of a barrel of oil, which is the same thing) took a huge tumble beginning a couple of months back, the stock market took note. How? It fell, which seems to us to be just the opposite of what ought to have happened.

After all, cheap — relatively speaking — gas means Americans get a concomitant boost in their discretionary income, leaving them with more to spend on things they can do without but would rather have.

A great many economists and other types who pay close attention to such things compare falling gasoline prices to tax cuts. The end result — rising discretionary income — is the same.

A gallon of regular now costs $2.64 on average (add 30 or 40 cents to that in California, where poli-ticians have been bleeding motorists for decades). According to Stephen Stanley, chief economist of Amherst Pierpont, every penny that gas prices decline puts about a billion dollars into Americans’ pockets. So the fall from a year ago in gas prices of about 62 cents a gallon means we’re getting an injection of $62 billion into the economy. That works out to about $500 per household. Stanley says.

Is this good news for retailers? You bet it is, par-ticularly as it comes in the final days of America’s biggest shopping spree. Christmas. It’s even better news for Victor Valley motorists, a disproportion-ate share of who commute five days a week or so to jobs in the Los Angeles Basin, and thus use a lot more fuel than the rest of us. Their savings are much more significant.

Is there a downside to this? Isn’t there always? The American shale energy boom, for instance, which has been a huge driver of the economy since the recession, will ease up because lower prices for oil and natural gas means less profit for energy companies, that will back off exploring, drilling and pumping until prices start to rise again. Which they will.

The biggest hike in gasoline will come in California, and that hike is independent of the world’s improving energy market. That’s because the environmentalists and their pawns in Sacramento (need we tell you which party those pawns belong to?) are about to have their wish list for penalizing users of carbon products come true. That would be in January, when the fallout from AB 32 kicks in.

AB 32, remember, was signed into law eight years ago to fight “climate change,” and on Jan. 1 will add about 70 cents a gallon to this state’s gasoline prices. Democrats touted AB 32 as a job-creation program, but last month reality overcame their claims, and they issued a letter calling on the California Air Resources Board to suspend portions of AB 32 that would hike the taxes on gasoline. But all indications are that their will be no suspension. So enjoy those extra dollars while you can. At least in California, they’re going to vanish down the maw of the ever grasping, ever greedy tax-and-spend-and tax Democrats. As usual.

COMMENTARy

Lower gas prices about to vanish for

Californians

NEWS

acquainted with, said their construction fore-man told them to dump the refuse in the location. She drove to the con-struction site and talked to the foreman, who con-firmed that’s what he had told the workers.

Rader later spoke with a local sheriff ’s depu-ty who said he couldn’t arrest illegal dumping perpetrators unless he caught them in the act. However, he said Rader could make a citizens arrest, but she would need to go to court and testify.

Next, Rader called the county code enforcement office and asked what could be done. A depart-ment representative said the county could fine the property owners where such refuse was dumped. But that option didn’t

seem fair to Rader who feels the property owners are the victims not the perpetrators.

“That’s not good to the property owners.”

Millie and her hus-band David, a longtime

employee of Mitsubishi Cement, are event orga-nizers of the annual Ride in the Rocks event, which benefits local schools. The Raders are especial-ly concerned when trash is left on their course’s

single-track or anywhere else in the pristine des-ert.

“There are so many people that ride their horses, their bikes and walk ian the area,” she said.

The Leader Wednesday, December 17, 2014 PAGE 5

NEWS

CONCERTFROM pAGe 1

The Leader publishes the names of those who are arrested in Lucerne Valley as well as Lucerne Valley resi-dents who are arrested elsewhere in San Bernardino County, along with the reason for their arrest. All information comes from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

•DRUNK IN PUBLIC (BooKING): On

Dec. 4 at 9:05 p.m. in Phelan, Kira Lynn Palmer, 39, of Lucerne Valley was arrested on warrants for being under the suspicion of drunk in public and drug possession. She was booked, bail was set at a total of $75,000 over three charges and released the next day.

•

DomESTIC VIoLENCE (BooKING): On Dec. 6 at 11:52 p.m., 54-year-old Patrick Dean Turner of Lucerne Valley was arrested on suspicion of domestic vio-lence. He was booked into the High Desert Detention Center and bail was set at $50,000.

•mETHAmPHETAmINE PoSSESSIoN

(BooKING) On Dec. 8 at 7:45 p.m., Daniel Sosa Raygoza of Lucerne Valley was arrested on a total of $160,000 in warrants for being under the suspicion of methamphetamines possession. He also was charged with being under the suspicion of resisting arrest. He was booked into the High Desert Detention Center.

WEEKLY BOOKING LOGSThursday, Dec. 4

6:59 p.m. A public dis-turbance was reported in the area of Highway 18

and Ox Bow Road.2:14 p.m. Deputies

helped to keep the peace at a location near North Side Road and Barstow Road.

7:57 a.m. A Blake Road resident reported a petty theft.

Wednesday, Dec. 36:53 p.m. A burglary

was reported in the 30000 area of Bullrush Road.

5:30 p.m. A Blake Road resident reported a petty theft.

BLOTTERFROM pAGe 1

CRiME

peter dAy / the LeAder

A clarinetist from the period 6 Band stands up for a solo.

peter dAy /the LeAder

Collin Campbell, right, is joined by Sara Sullivan in a ren-dition of the classic “hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen.

peter dAy / the LeAder

SWoRN IN: From left, Jim harvey, Carmen Fox and dawn turnbull were official sworn in by Supt. Suzette davis.

BOARDFROM pAGe 1

A wide variety of student artwork was show and avail-able for purchase during the arts celebration.

to an expert treatment of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” by teacher Mr. Warnock and new music teacher Brigham Welch, whose expertise and enthusi-asm has been heralded by school district adminis-trators, students and par-ents.

T h e e v e n t f e a -tured performances by Alexa Walkovitz, Jackie Andrade, the Period 6 Band, Dylan Nimmo, Coll in Campbell and Sara Sullivan, the Period 2 and 4 Bands, Angelica Delgadillo, the LVMS/HS String Ensemble, Samantha and Sara Sullivan, Nathan Lee and Mariah Harris, the Druml ine, Courtney Turnbull, Period 1 and 2 music class, Emma Garcia and the choir.

The Lucerne Valley

said Superintendent Suzette Davis.

Later in the meet-ing, the school board performed its annual reorganization. Harvey, a resident of Johnson Valley, was named president for another term. Tom Courtney, who was first elected to the school in the 1990s, was named vice-presi-dent with newcomer Fox assuming the clerk position.

“I’d like to nominate Jim Harvey again,” Courtney said. “I can’t believe how he’s lead-ing us.”

T h e n o m i n at i o n w a s s e c o n d e d b y board member Jodi Collingham.

“I would be glad to serve another year,” Harvey said. “It would be my honor.”

Davis also had posi-tive words for Harvey’s leadership. She cited the board’s governance handbook, which was largely due to Harvey’s hard work on the draft document. As a result, Davis said, “You have a board that really knows what it’s doing.”

During Wednesday’s meeting, Chief Business Official Billy Wessell presented the first interim fiscal report for

the school year 2014-15.“We are positive,”

Wessell said.The “positive” cer-

tification — others are “qualified” and “negative” — means, “We are pro-jecting that we can meet our obligations,” he said.

Davis credited the school district’s conser-vative fiscal management for its sound financial situation.

The high school report was given by advisor Annamarie Garcia. She was especially excited about the recent choir and band concert and art show.

“It was amazing,” Garcia said.

“He just loves the kids,” she said about new music teacher Brigham Welch.

Garcia also comment-ed that the D.C. Trip stu-dents’ “Boot Scoot and Boogie” event was a tre-mendous success.

Keagan Weis gave a presentation on the FFA, and Justyce Rollins gave a report on the elemen-tary school.

LVHS students Ian Ro b e r t s a n d Ja m e s Sausser show their 3-D modeling projects.

Middle/High School art department and Regional Occupation Program Restaurant Occupations and Baking classes, which

provided an array of holi-day-themed goodies.

Original artwork and greeting cards were avail-able for purchase.

Union General Lew Wallace wrote the novel, Ben Hur a Tale of the Christ, (1880) after thoroughly researching the historical, cul-tural, and geographical backgrounds of his

Biblical subject matter. The Ben-Hur novel begins with preparations for the adoration of the Christ child. The Three Wise Men meet in the desert, discuss their past beliefs, and contemplate God’s star which is guiding them. A few pages later they travel to Jerusalem, risk all by meeting deceptive King Herod, then arrive at Bethlehem. One wise man, the Egyptian Balthazar, and his beautiful but worldly daugh-ter Iras, remain central to the plot.

Ben-Hur revolves around the incarnation of the Son of God. The plot involves Imperial Rome’s brutal power, Israel’s longing for a political savior, Judah Ben-Hur’s lust for revenge, and the power and grace of the true Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The scene-descriptive, culturally revealing, and dialogue-filled book soon surpassed Uncle Tom’s Cabin as #1 in sales. Then Ben-Hur gained astonish-ing theatrical success. By the early 20th century, live horses raced chariots on stage on giant “conveyor belts” with moving background scenery--while facing the audience! It was stunning. In 1925, MGM’s silent film, Ben-Hur, became the most expensive film pro-duction of that era, and established MGM as the lead-ing studio in Hollywood.

Charlton Heston’s 1959 MGM Ben-Hur won the most-ever, 11 Academy Awards, and Heston con-sidered it his career-best performance. To this day, the four horses per chariot, public stadium revenge race scene is still astounding! Is anything on film as spectacularly beautiful, dangerous, spellbinding and unnerving? After Heston’s Ben-Hur performance, book sales surpassed Gone with the Wind, as the best-selling novel up to that time. It is now estimated to have sold 50 million copies.

Ben-Hur was never out of print from 1880-1980, and is considered the greatest Christian book of the 19th century, helping re-unite the North and South following the Civil War. Literary critics sniffed at it, but the average reader loved it. Wallace significantly transported his readers to ancient times, places and events biblically familiar to many, and which involve man’s eternal destiny. Soon, in 2015, another Ben-Hur movie will be released! Wow!

Oddly enough, Lew Wallace started writing Ben-Hur as a way to investigate the claims of Christianity. On a long train-ride, Wallace conversed with former Union Colonel, Robert Ingersoll, one of the most out-spoken anti-Christian and Agnostic lecturers of his day. After Ingersoll had vindictively attacked Jesus and the Bible for several hours, Wallace decided to do his own investigation and write a book in the process. God works in mysterious ways.

A Christmas character is never far away in Ben-Hur. One of the three Wise Men and his daughter serve to put the Ben-Hur character to the test. Judah Ben-Hur must choose either Balthazar’s faith in Jesus or his beautiful daughter’s faith in the Imperial power of Rome.

Why God became man through Jesus Christ, is the crux of Lew Wallace’s story. Ben-Hur shows that the revenge of one man against another’s wrongs, can never repair the injustice that is in every human heart. (This was a needed message for hurting fami-lies following the Civil War.) It also shows that the carnal desire for wealth, power, and empire can never deliver on man’s real need of fellowship with God and his fellow man. Ben-Hur shows that Jesus came to die in order to save Ben-Hur from Ben-Hur (and us from ourselves)! This is the Ben-Hur Christmas gift. Do you have this gift? “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

When you believe Jesus, God’s Son gives you Himself from heaven, in exchange for you and your sin—forever. “She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21 NIV)

Information about Ben-Hur can be easily found on the internet. You can contact Jim Reinebach at jrbach1@msn.com.

PAGE 6 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 The LeaderrELIGION/cOMMUNITY

I’m not an egg-nog lover. It even surprises me, lover of all

things seasonal, that I don’t enjoy eggnog. However, I love this eggnog fudge, if that makes any sense at all.

It sort of just tastes how I imag-i n e C h r i s t m a s would taste if it were a flavor. Sweet and spiced, warm and sensory. It’s decadent, which helps you to keep it to just one piece. But it’s just oh-so-good. This was my first year making this type of fudge and I declared after sampling my inaugural piece that this would be a treat I make each and every year.

iNGREDiENTS2 cups sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter3/4 cup eggnoga pinch of salt10 1/2 ounces white chocolate,

chopped or chips1/2 teaspoon ground nutmega jar (7 oz) marshmallow

creme1 teaspoon vanilla extractextra ground nutmeg to dust

the top

DiRECTiONSUse parchment paper to line a

square 8-inch baking dish.In a large, heavy saucepan melt

together the sugar, butter, eggnog, and salt over medium heat.

Bring all ingredients to a roll-ing boil, stirring constantly.

Continue to allow mixture to boil, continuously stirring, until temperature reads 234 degrees F.

Remove from heat and imme-diately stir in chocolate and nut-meg until chocolate is completely

melted and smooth.Add in marshmallow creme

and vanilla; stir until completely combined.

Transfer fudge mixture while still warm to the square pan.

Sprinkle additional nutmeg on top.

Transfer to fridge and allow to cool overnight.

Remove fudge from pan and cut into squares. Store in a cov-ered container in the fridge.

Holly Sosa is a Lucerne Valley blogger and

mother. She is a mother of two and step-

mother of three. Holly is passionate about

kid fashion, crafting, and cooking; and

claims gravy is her soul food. She writes

for her own blog, OurHollyDays.com and

contributes to CookedWithLoveByMom.

com where she, along with six other women,

post daily recipes.

LUCERNE VALLEY RECIPES

HOLLY SOSA

Religion

Ben Hur’sChristmas gift

Eggnog Fudge

At their recent Community Connection Breakfast, the Wells Fargo Foundation presented a Grant in the amount of $1,000 to the happy trails Children’s Foundation. More than 50 non-profit organiza-tions from the inland empire/high desert divi-sion of Wells Fargo Bank were recognized with similar Grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation. pictured l to r are: david diCristofaro, Wells Fargo Lead region president, Greater Los Angeles area; Shirli Wolfe, Wells Fargo district Manager; Joel dortch, executive director, happy trails Children’s Foundation; John pimentel, Manager of the local Wells Fargo Bank on roy rogers drive; evelin Martinez, Wells Fargo Area president, Vp inland empire; and Johathan Weedman, Senior Vice president, Wells Fargo Foundation.

RELIGIoNCoLUmN

JAMES

rEINEBAcH

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a vir-gin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:30-35