The Chamber is preparing the 2008 calendar for mixers. If you are interested in hosting a mixer please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 760-367-3445.

May Mixer

The May Mixer will be at Archifacts in conjunction with Sky's the Limit, 5770 Adobe Road, May 15, 2008, 5PM-7PM. Come and network with other business owners and members of the community.

May-June Events

Choose and Buy a Franchise that's Right for You

May 1, 2008

Are you're thinking of starting a business and not sure which business is right for you? How about a franchise? The Choosing a Franchise that's Right for You seminar will be presented by Vic Scimo, a FRANNET Consultant, who will cover topics such as:

	What to look for in a Franchise Opportunity
	Individual and Standard Selection Criteria
	Your Financial Needs
	How Much Will it Cost?
	Increasing Chances for Success

The event will be held at the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center

1201 Research Park Drive, Suite 100

Riverside, CA 92507

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

There will be no charge to attend this event.

Artist Reception for Makoto Hashigami

May 2nd, 2008

Meet & Greet Open House featuring Japanese Artist Makoto Hashigami artist of the proposed mural at the historic 29 Palms Inn, next to the Oasis of Mara. Join them for cheese and wine as you preview the works of this special guest.

The reception will be May 2nd, 2008 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at 453 East Tahquitz Canyon Palm Springs, CA. Please RSVP to (760) 327-8402

“DIGIVANGELIST” CHRISTOPHER COPPOLA BRINGS HIS MiniPAH DIGITAL FESTIVAL TO THE CALIFORNIA HI-DESERT

May 2-4, 2008

Christopher Coppola, filmmaker, “DigiVangelist”, nephew of Francis Ford Coppola and the brother of Nicolas Cage is bringing MiniPAH, his groundbreaking digital media festival to the HI-DESERT.

PAH-FEST is a weeklong, free digital media festival that travels to cities throughout the US and internationally. MiniPAH is a scaled down version held over a weekend. People from all walks of life, ages 9 – 99, with stories to tell, are provided with digital equipment and a professional “helping hand” enabling them to create their own short digital film. MiniPAH: HI-DESERT offers participants the opportunity to discover “the artist within us all,” and to provide entertaining, quality content to the general public. The finished work is posted on the www.pahnation.com online theatre, where the public and a pool of celebrity judges review it.

Coming from a storied Hollywood family, and having directed movies himself, Christopher has one foot in the studio filmmaking system and the other on the frontier of new media storytelling. Christopher calls himself the “Pirate” of the Coppola family because his main goal is to “bridge the gap between Hollywood and the heartland.” Believing that great productions – whether short films, cell phone art, or cell phone films – come from everyday people. He created PAH-FEST (Project Accessible Hollywood) to give voice to those individuals. The concept is simple – put a digital video camera or a cell phone in the hands of someone with an idea and let them create art. Then put the finished project on the Internet for all to see.

MiniPAH: HI-DESERT categories include, 1) Cell Phone Art - a 1 minute or less video created on a video-enabled cell phone, 2) DigiPortraits- on a video-enabled cell phone, participants create a 2 minute portrait of themselves or another person, and 3) Circus Vision Challenge - using a smart phone, children ages 14 and under, gather a list of visual ingredients at the same, specific location -- they will shoot and edit a 90 second piece on the phone; and 4) Cellular Tone Poem - musicians, songwriters and composers shoot a 2 minute video to portray their original music.

The schedule is available at www.29chamber.com.

Turtle Days Festival

May 3, 2008

The Turtle Days Festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Joshua Tree Community Center. There will be food, drinks, pet parade and much more! The Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce is offering FREE booth spaces to all Joshua Tree Chamber Members - so hurry and reserve your space now. You can contact Estey to secure your space at 760-366-3723.

Spring Art Auction - Call for Art, Donations, and Bidders!

May 3, 2008

A Spring Art Auction will be held on Saturday, May 3, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Twentynine Palms Art Gallery. Organizers of the event are currently seeking donations of fine art from Morongo Basin artists and collectors, ranging from framed paintings and watercolors to mixed media works and sculpture. Quality items like small art pieces, prints, custom jewelry, antiques and collectibles are also needed for the silent auction tables.

Twentynine Palms Art Gallery, 74055 Cottonwood Drive (off National Park Drive), Twentynine Palms. For more information, call the gallery at (760)367-7819 or Vickie Waite at (760)217-8839, or visit the gallery's web site at www.29palmsartgallery.com.

An art show in remembrance of Noah Purifoy.

May 4, 2008

This is the second show that Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council (MBCAC) has done in honor of Noah curetted by Suzanne Ross. The first was in 2005 after his death in 2004. A percentage of sales from the show will benefit the Noah Purifoy Foundation to help preserve his work.

Since 1989, Noah Purifoy has filled 2 1/2 acres of the high desert in Joshua Tree with a sculpture garden that has synthesized the concerns of his life. Working freely with all kinds of materials and at every possible scale, he has pushed himself and his work to create what many of us who have experienced his desert site feel needs to be preserved for posterity. For more information about Noah visit NoahPurifoy.com

Where: 29 Palms Art Gallery, 74055 Cottonwood Drive (off National Park Drive)

P.O. Box 115 Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

(760)367-7819

OPEN Wed.-Sun. 12 to 3 p.m.

When: TRANSFORMATIONS II opens with a reception on SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2008 in conjunction with MBCAC’s Spring Gathering of Artists. 12:00PM to 3:00PM

This is a potluck event. Bring your favorite dish or dessert to share!

CALL TO ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE

One work each consisting of at least one or more found objects within the composition will be welcome. There is no size limit to the art you want to submit. However, space is limited so call ahead to confirm that your piece can be included.

Participation fees for this show is free to MBCAC members and 10.00 for non-members. The sign- in art day is Monday April 28th at the 29 Palms Gallery 9AM – 11:30AM. For more information or to confirm you will be in the show contact Suzanne Ross at (760) 567 1145

Bad checks

May 7, 2008

Bad checks impact negatively on local businesses and the community as a whole. Bad checks affect everyone in terms of higher consumer costs that must be passed on to offset losses, as well as the costs involved in enforcement and prosecution. The District Attorney's Office has instituted a "Bad Check Restitution Program" with two important goals in mind: First, to increase the accountability of those who pass bad checks, without increasing the administrative or financial burden to the taxpayers or the criminal justice system. Secondly, to return to victims that which is rightfully theirs.

This is being accomplished through a unique, cooperative effort combing private and public sector resources to educate businesses in preventative check acceptance measures, and which requires bad check offenders to complete a special eight-hour intervention class in addition to paying restitution.

In partnership with the 29 Palms Rotary and Chamber of Commerce a presentation of the San Bernardino Check Enforcement Program also know as Bad Check Program, will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 12PM at The Little Church of the Desert, 6079 Adobe Rd. Lunch is $10.00, please RSVP at 367-3445.

ITS Improv--Twentynine Palms High School

May 8, 2008

The Twentynine Palms High School Comedy Improv Team is presenting their monthly improv competition, March 20, 2008 beginning at 7:00pm. The cost of the tickets is $3.00 at the door. Come and join in the fun and vote for your favorite team.

Bike Ride through the Park Supports Shoes That Fit

May 17, 2008

On May 17th, 2008 the ninth annual Bike Ride Tour through the Park, named after the founder of the original ride Art Ehrenberg, will once again support the Shoes-That-Fit program. This charitable program is sponsored by the four Rotary Clubs in the Morongo Basin in concert with Reach Out Morongo Basin, provides underprivileged school-aged children with gift certificates for the purchase of new shoes for school.

Last year the event raised funds to provide shoes for over 100 children, and this year's event is expected to more than double in size (so sign up early)! To earn these funds the Rotary, Interact and Rotaract Clubs come together to provide bike riders with a unique tour through Joshua Tree National Park. The Tour is divided into three distances to tempt riders from the complete novice to the seasoned enthusiast. Tour participants will begin at the Yucca Valley High School (7600 Sage Av. Yucca Valley CA 92284 ) at 7:00 am for all distances , with the 65K riders also leaving from this location, and going through the Joshua Tree National Park, 65K (40 miles) 35K (some uphill) 20K (all downhill). Transportation to the 35K and 20K start points within the park leaves from the high school. The ride culminates at Luckie Park in 29 Palms (Utah Tr. and Jo Davis Drive) where a hearty breakfast will be served. For more information and for registration online go to www.bike4shoes.org.

Mailing address: Bike for Shoes; P.O. Box 1545; Yucca Valley CA 92286

Contact telephone number: Jim Nutter 760-366-2357

'Under the Stars' A Benefit for Sky's the Limit

May 17, 2008

Trader Jeff's and The Palms Restaurant with Satisfaction Records presents 'Under The Stars', a benefit for Sky's the Limit, May 17, 2008.

Events begin at 6:30 at Trader Jeff's with a reception featuring the work of Chuck Caplinger. 5% of sales will be donated to Sky's the limit. Chuck Caplinger has donated a piece to be raffled off.

At 8:00pm, the party will move to The Palms Restaurant in Wonder Valley for dinner and music al fresco.

Dinner is a Tex-Mex feast with all the fixin's: corn-on-the-cob, tacos, spicy wings, beans and rice, and bottomless ice tea. The Palms has a full bar.

Ben Vaughn's Desert Classic is a rare treat not to be missed. Comprised of tight, studio musicians, their soulful acoustics are indescribably moving and delightful. The Sibley's and three 'surprise bands' will round out the music portion of the evening.

Tickets are only $20.00. The reception is free. We hope that you will join us in supporting Sky's the Limit by attending this fun, memorable event.

Call (831)236-8359 for tickets or stop by Trader Jeff's weekends 12-7. We look forward to seeing you there.

Trader Jeff's: 73550-29 Palms Hwy

The Palms Restaurant: 83131 Amboy Road

*THE ARTS COUNCIL’S SPRING ART EVENT & FUNDRAISER*

May 17, 2008

We are pleased to announce The Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council’s Spring Art Event & Fundraiser on May 17, 2008. There are several ways that artists and patrons of the arts can be involved. Below you will find details of VILLAGE MARKETPLACE, POSTCARDIAC Postcard Art Show, & DONATION=CREATION.

VILLAGE MARKETPLACE :

The Village Marketplace will feature talented local artists and MBCAC members on a monthly basis. Come meet all the local artists in a relaxed atmosphere and see what the High Desert has to offer.

Please consider joining us for the Grand Opening of VILLAGE MARKETPLACE at A Roadside Attraction! This will be a monthly art show the third Saturday of each month from 4:00pm to 8:00 pm. The first show will commence in conjunction with the Arts Council’s Spring Art Event & Fundraiser on Saturday May 17th and will continue monthly throughout the year.

Members of the MBCAC can obtain booth spaces at $20.00 each 10x10 space and non-member booth spaces at $35.00 each 10x10 space. Tables and tents are also available for rent from the MBCAC until supplies run out.

For booth reservations and more information, please contact Christine Delmonico at cdelmo685@roadrunner.com or at 760-668-3337

POSTCARDIAC Postcard Art Show :

The next group show for MBCAC members at A Roadside Attraction is POSTCARDIAC, Postcard art. Each artist can submit up to 10 postcards for the show. Postcards must be between 4”x6” to 5”x7” only. There are no rules on what art can appear on the postcards submitted for the show. The postcards will be sold as a fundraiser for the Arts Council to help sponsor our yearly programs and events. All artists participating will receive an entry ticket for each postcard they submit for a grand prize give-away at the May 17th event.

All postcards must be dropped off at MBCAC office or received by mail by May 10, 2008 to: MBCAC 61917 HWY 62, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

For more information or to participate with POSTCARDIAC please call the Arts Council Office at 760-362-5490. M-Sat 11AM-3PM

DONATION = CREATION:

The Arts Council is now accepting donations for DONATION=CREATION. This is a new MBCAC program to pass on art tools, supplies, books and more to those that need or can use them. This is how it works:

Donate new and used art supplies, tools, books, original art and more to MBCAC. At a fraction of the cost of retail the Arts Council will offer the items for a donation to other members, students or low-income artists, to help them to create or inspire. Items will be labeled to let shoppers know who donated them and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt for the full value of your donations. In turn you can shop DONATION=CREATION and maybe find a few things that you need or that may inspire you to create!

All donations must be art related. It’s time to clean out your closet or studio of those art items you no longer need and you will be helping other artists in the process!

DONATION=CREATION opens May 17, 2008 in conjunction with the Arts Council Spring Art Event & Fundraiser and will be open daily during regular office hours M-Sat 11AM-3PM thereafter. For more information or to donate call the Arts Council Office at 760-362-5490.

Hi-Desert Medical Center’s Foundation Invites Public to ‘Mad Tea’ Party

May 18, 2008

Hi-Desert Medical Center’s Foundation is presenting its first annual Mad Tea Party, Sunday, May 18, from 2 until 4 p.m. in the Helen Gray Education Center on the campus of Hi-Desert Medical Center.

The Tea will feature live entertainment, delicious tea delicacies, outrageous decorations and a “Curious-er Chapeau” contest. Children can enjoy readings from “Alice in Wonderland,” provided by Debbie Medina from the Yucca Valley Branch Library and a Flamingo Croquet Tournament.

In addition to the prizes awarded for the smallest, largest, most beautiful and maddest hat in both adult and children’s categories, tickets may be purchased for a raffle featuring a fabulous entertainment package, other gifts and artwork from local artisans.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the works of the Foundation.

Tickets for the Mad Tea Party are $20 for adults; $5 for children 6-12; and children under 6 are free. Seating is limited. Please call Foundation Director Eileen Berne at 760-366-6321 for reservations or for more information.

Street Fair & Car Show

June 6, 2008

Don’t miss the annual Twentynine Palms Street Fair and Car Show! This extravaganza is held on Twentynine Palms Highway (State Route 62) in downtown Twentynine Palms June 6th. We are also currently looking for sponsors for the Street Fair & Car Show. If you would like to sponsor the event, enter the show, or become a vendor please contact the Chamber office (760-367-3445) or online at www.29chamber.com

Soapbox Derby

June 6, 2008

It is time once again for the ASYMCA Soapbox Derby being held Friday, June 6. The race will also be kicking off the Twentynine Palms Street Fair and Car Show. Entry fee for the race is $25 per child. Space is limited to the first 50 sign ups. Sign ups for last year’s entries will be held from March 17 to 31. Sign ups are open to all entries from April 1 to 30.

Categories are:

5 to 8 years old – Stock Division (no prior Soapbox experience)

9 to 14 years old – Stock Division (no prior Soapbox experience)

5 to 8 years old – Super Stock Division (previous experience)

9 to 14 years old – Super Stock Division (previous experience)

We provide the Derby kit and you provide the imagination! *Kit does not include tools. Adult supervision is required.*

Where to register: Race Day: Pit opens 3:00 p.m.

Armed Services YMCA Inspection 4:00 p.m.

MCAGCC Bldg. 192 Race starts at 4:30 p.m.

Please call 830-7481 for more information or e-mail to henryasymca@roadrunner.com.