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Almanac

Whooshing in Wrightwood

Believe it or not‚ snow skiing in the desert isn’t all that uncommon.

A short 45 minutes from Victorville‚ Wrightwood is home to the some of the finest skiing in Southern California. In addition‚ Big Bear also offers excellent snow skiing options‚ and the city of Adelanto has formidable winter snow because it is 3‚000 feet above sea level.

By the way‚ Victor Valley has a climate of blue skies and clean air during virtually 100 percent of its winter months.

Water Works

The High Desert region receives only five inches of rainfall per year‚ compared with some regions of the United States that receive five inches a week.

But getting water isn’t as big a problem as it might seem. In 1960‚ residents voted to create the Mojave Water Agency‚ and the Valley joined the California State Water Project. As a state water contractor and the only water wholesaler in the region‚ MWA has access to supplemental water supplies delivered through the California Aqueduct.

This water source‚ along with the agency’s adoption of its Regional Water Management Plan‚ is enabling Victor Valley and the entire region to meet present and future water demands.

Desert Oasis

Out of lentils or lungwort?

Head to the High Desert Farmer’s Market‚ open from 8 a.m. to noon‚ every Thursday. The market has been in business since 1992‚ operating out of the administration building on the campus of Victor Valley College.

Items for sale include fruits‚ vegetables‚ herbs‚ flowers and plants‚ and each grower has a special certification from their respective county’s agriculture department. The market’s unofficial motto is that customers get the “product straight from the plant.”

There also are craft vendors selling everything from furniture to clothing‚ and food vendors selling tamales and shaved ice.

Helping Trees Find New Roots

The Joshua tree is a dying breed in the High Desert‚ but the city of Victorville is trying to keep them alive.

Any time a developer wants to clear their land of the trees‚ the city’s Community Services/Parks & Facilities Department takes the forsaken trees and looks for new homes for them. The city itself has adopted many of the trees and replanted them throughout Victorville‚ and it has also run newspaper ads to look for residents interested in adopting the trees for private replanting purposes.

In June and July of 2007‚ the city saved a total of 200 Joshuas and replanted them at more than 10 sites throughout Victorville.

Get Your Kicks

If you’re driving in Victorville‚ chances are you’ll be motoring on the legendary Route 66 – which also is Seventh Street and the main route through Old Town Victorville.

Be sure to park your car at some point‚ though‚ and walk into the California Route 66 Museum.

The museum features a collection of historic photographs and artifacts related to the renowned roadway‚ with displays of automotive history‚ the route’s economic impact in its heyday and the overall development of the highway. Exhibits change throughout the year.

The California Route 66 Museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.‚Thursday through Monday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday.

The Hard Facts

Making cement requires sand – something Victor Valley has in abundance.

The cement industry has historically provided the firm foundation for Victor Valley’s growth‚ and it remains an important industry today. In the early 1900s‚ large deposits of limestone and granite were discovered‚ and the valley’s cement industry has flourished ever since.

Today‚ area cement companies include Cemex in Victorville‚ TXI Riverside Cement in Oro Grande‚ Robertson’s Ready Mix in Adelanto‚ and Specialty Minerals as well as Mitsubishi Cement in Lucerne Valley.

Clever Like a Foxborough

It pays to do business out of Foxborough Industrial Park.

The 233-acre facility on Victorville’s east side includes more than 2 million square feet of industrial space and already is home to companies such as Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.‚ M&M/Mars‚ AFG Glass‚ ConAgra Foods and Nutro Products.

Foxborough is adjacent to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway main line that runs from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. Several existing companies at Foxborough use rail spurs to deliver products directly into and out of their facilities.

Another advantage for companies locating in Foxborough Industrial Park is the easy access to major interstate corridors connecting Victorville to Southern California‚ central California‚ Nevada and Arizona markets.

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