Jim Dunlap

Now that winter is just around the corner, here's a few of the California Desert's art festivals that are coming Up:

Borrego Springs Art Festival, Oct. 22-25. More info: www.BorregoSpringsChamber.com

Death Valley Art Festival, March 14-14, 2010. More info:www.deathvalleychamber.org

The Southwest Art Festival--Indio, Jan.29-31, 2010. Info: www.southwestartsfest.com

La Quinta Art Festival, March 11-14, 2010. Info: www.lqaf.com

Indian Wells Art Festival, April 204, 2010. Info: www.indianwellsartfestival.com

The Art Place Art Walk, first Friday of every month 5-8 pm at The Art Place, 41-801 Corporate Way, Palm Desert. Info: (760) 776-2268

VillageFest in Downtown Palm Springs, every Thursday evening on Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. www.villegefest.org

College of the Desert Street Fair, weekend mornings on the campus. Info: www.codstreetfair.net

Over the past five years, musicians and recording companies from the desert, and from around the country, have donated several thousand new CD's to our Marines through Operation Sun Runner, working through the Armed Services YMCA, Twentynine Palms

Marines stationed overseas often look forward very much to receiving care packages from home.

If you are a musician and would like to donate CDs to Operation Sun Runner, please send them to: Operation Sun Runner, C/O The Sun Runner Magazine, 61855 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, CA 92252

Campgrounds that were closed for the summer reopened for public use on Friday.

Visiters seeking to make camping reservations should call Reserve America, the National Park Service's camping reservation contractor, at (877) 444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov. Otherwise park campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Joshua Tree National Park, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, is spectacular in the fall, winter and spring months. It's a bit hot during the summer. For information, visit the park site at www.nps.gov/jotr or call (760) 367-5500.

All military veterans and their families were invited to see Governor Schwarzenegger sign into law AB 717 on Friday at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Plams. This bill, championed by 65th District Assemblyman Paul Cook, establishes March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran's Day. The signing ceremony took place outside the headquarters building on the General's Lawn. More information about this new bill is available online at www.aroundthe capitol.com/Bills/AB_717.

The most significant impact the Marine Corps Air Ground combat Center has on Twentynine Palms and surrounding areas could be in population, according to a report by combat center officials. "Base employees, dependents and retirees form the majority of the Twentynine Palms population," the report notes.

Using 2005 figures, the latest athat were available, the report estimates of the 27,387 people in Twentynine Palms, 69 per cent were directly employed, supported or related to the military in some way. The report also points out that 29.5 per cent of the city's population is comprised of veterans.

As a Realtor in the Hi-Desert, I have had the personal honor of working with many Marine and Navy homebuyers in the area--many first time buyers--and look forward to working with our fine Marines and Sailors in the future.