A Note from the Publisher

Thank you to our advisory board whose talents, insights, and
passions
contribute to the quality of this publication
Jacqueline Guevara
Executive Director, Joshua Tree National Park Association
Barnett English
Festival Founder and Director, Joshua Tree Music Festival
Dave Catching
Owner, Rancho De La Luna Recording Studio, Musician, Producer
Mario Lalli
Musician, Fatso Jetson, Yawning Man
Bobby Furst
Owner/Creator of FurstWurld, Artist

ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO:
“Joshua Tree with Star Trails” by Casey Kiernan
The Joshua tree is named “Elmer” after a park ranger who used to camp next to it. Elmer is one of the oldest trees in the park, estimated to be about 500 years old. The star trails are taken as 40 individual images which are then ‘stacked’ into one image.

There is love in these here hills…the real kind, not just the overused, in-word-only kind. Yes, there is other stuff too, but mostly, there is love. Neighbors helping neighbors, communicating, and helping each other in the face of extreme weather, power outages, illness, hunger, and – God forbid – fire. We may be in a drought due to lack of rain, but people in service showing up for each other in this wildly extended community, now that’s a well that won’t run dry.

The talent, knowledge, and skill of the countless artists, musicians, conservation experts, creatives, nutritionists, scholars, historians, spiritual healers, scientist, philosophers, physical fitness experts, rockhounds, craftsmen, and more – many of whom exhibit outstanding expertise on multiple platforms – are our community’s most powerful resource. This publication has only begun to tap the surface of all that is to be celebrated at the feet of one the most uniquely beautiful natural wonders of the world. For that, we are grateful.

As we find ourselves suddenly in the season of early sunsets, holidays, family celebrations (and hopefully some of that homemade pie at Country Kitchen), we ask if you could add this to your thoughts while contemplating the new year:

Our kids are struggling. Most qualify for subsidized school lunches. And while our kids have returned to school, many extracurricular programs have not. The world is a scarier place than it used to be for all of us, but especially for them. Making ends meet is harder on their parents too, and like my daughter so eloquently told me, “Nobody hurts you mom, without hurting us.” That train runs both ways.

In speaking with a high school student recently, following an outbreak of multiple student altercations at one of our local schools, the word “hopeless” was used to describe the mindset of their fellow teens, and that they felt “helpless” in changing the course of their future. “Helpless” and “hopeless” is a life-threatening combination.

In 2023, Joshua Tree Voice is renewing its commitment to supporting new and existing efforts that create free access to the arts, and programs that can fill the gap, revive hope, improve mental/emotional health, and unwrap each young person’s purpose and voice. Please consider ways you could be available to mentor, include, provide for, or infuse this precious spirit of community, artistry, and creativity into our underserved children. After all, if we care about the future of our environment and beloved Joshua trees, we must care about the generation that will be here to protect them when we’re gone. It seems they might need some encouragement to dare to care, dream, believe, and bring their own magic to this beautiful place.

AND SLOW DOWN (she said as her own words bounced back at her)! Life is precious – savor it!

From all of us here at JTV, may your holiday season be rich in ways you never knew it could be.

Cover Art: Lisa Lynn Morgan
Layout & Design Wizard: Jeff Day
Editing & Social Media Czar: Tricia Witkower
Web Guru: Chelsea Van Es
Official Dream Catcher (Photographer): Sandra Goodin
Morongo Basin Distribution: Sandra Goodin
Palm Springs/Coachella Valley Distribution: Bill Wesley
San Diego Country Sales & Distribution: Ashly Morgan Orate
Orange County, LA County: Pinky’s Distribution
Owner/Publisher: Lisa Lynn Morgan
Owner/Principal: Ray Rodriguez

OUR REALLY AWESOME WRITERS
Katie Nartonis, The Art Boss
Sherry Greer Film Boss
Kathy French
Monique A. LeBleu, JTV Glitterazzi and Story Wrangler
Chris Clarke, Desert Protection Advocate with a Heart
Philip Bonafede, Snake Wrangler, Wild West Actor, and Desert
Gardener
Lisa L. Morgan, Wrangler of Wranglers Wrangling
Ray Rodriguez, Principal

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Casey Kiernan
Kathy French
William Savage
Chris Clarke
Billy Folsom
Kelly Segre
Philip Bonafede
Kevin Marcus
Tatjana Kudla
Nick Lieberman
Cheryl Bookout
Cheri Gaulke
Matthew Hall
Billy Folsom
Paul Moeller

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