Pawn Stars’ Mark Hall-Patton Launches 2020 Dome Talks

Pawn Stars’ Mark Hall-Patton Launches 2020 Dome Talks Known as the “Beard of Knowledge,” provides history expertise on popular History Channel series

Mark Hall-Patton, a frequent visiting expert on Pawn Stars and museums administrator for the Clark County Museum, will be the featured speaker at 2020 Dome Talks on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m.

Hall-Patton, instantly recognizable by his trademark red shirt, wide brim Amish-style hat, and gray beard, has overseen the Clark County Museum, Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum, and Searchlight History Museum for the last 23 years. A native of Santa Ana and graduate of UC Irvine and the University of Delaware, Hall-Patton began his museum career at the Bowers Museum in Orange County and later served at the Anaheim Museum and Orange Community Historical Society.

His appearances on History Channel’s hit series Pawn Stars began in 2009 and he soon attracted fans internationally. On the show his broad knowledge of history and artifacts is used in scenes where featured pawn shop guests are seeking to authenticate items.

Now in its fourth year, the Dome Talks speaker series brings prominent, provocative, and quirky speakers to the region to discuss current books and topical issues. In 2020, these evening discussions are scheduled monthly from January through July.

Future Dome Talks speakers are:

Feb. 19, Sarah Milov, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Virginia, author of The Cigarette: a Political History.

Mar. 24, Terry Tempest Williams, naturalist and author of Erosion: Essays of Undoing.

Apr. 16, Evan Hilgemann, mechanical engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, “How to Drive a Rover on Mars and Other Necessary Skills for the Itinerant Space Traveler.”

May 21, Marilyn Berlin Snell, author of Unlikely Ally: How the Military Fights Climate Change and Protects the Environment.

June 25, Ruth Kassinger, author of Slime: How Algae Created Us, Plague Us, and Just Might Save Us.

July 16, Larry Burns, author of Secret Inland Empire: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.

All Dome Talks evenings open at 6:30 p.m. for a light reception sponsored by the San Bernardino County Museum Association, Amparo Serrano, and Lorenzi Estate Vineyards and Winery. Presentations start at 7 p.m. and include book sale and signing when applicable. Author’s books are available for sale in the Museum store.

Tickets for individual evenings are $20 each ($16 museum members) and can be purchased online at www.sbcounty.gov/museum or at the door. Full Series Passes for all seven evenings are $130 ($100 museum members). Advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged as walkups are not guaranteed.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs, including Dome Talks reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcounty.gov/museum. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

Published December 18, 2019 | By County of San Bernardino | Leave a comment

Arrive safely with these winter driving safety tips

Reduce Your Speed

Commuting in winter weather poses an increased risk to driver safety. The National Weather Service reports that each year, on average, 5,000 people are killed and more than 418,000 are injured due to weather-related vehicle crashes. Rain and snow require drivers to take extra precautions to ensure a safe arrival to your destination. Before you head out on the road in these conditions, make sure to follow these Winter Driving Safety Tips to help keep you safe.

Drive Slowly: Most winter accidents are a result of driving too fast for the current conditions. Remember to slow down on the roads and give yourself extra time to get to your destination.
Don’t Tailgate: Be sure to leave at least three car lengths in between you and the driver ahead of you during icy or snowy weather conditions. It takes a longer distance to stop your vehicle on winter roads.
Turn on Your Headlights: Visibility is greatly hindered in rain, fog, ice, or snow storms so remember to turn on your low beams when in these conditions so other drivers can see you, even during daylight.
Avoid Distracted or Drowsy Driving: Limit your distractions while driving in poor weather conditions. Keep your awareness on the road. Never drive when tired and leave the cell phone alone.
Keep Up with Your Car Maintenance: Check your windshield wipers, tires, brakes, etc. on a regular basis to avoid a mishap while driving.
Make Sure You Can See Out of All Windows: Give yourself extra time before you drive to make sure your windows are defrosted and scraped clean of any ice that is obstructing your vision and ability to be an alert driver.
Check the Roadways and Traffic Ahead of Time: Winter conditions can be somewhat unpredictable so it’s important to check the roadways and traffic before you head out in order to give yourself enough time to safely arrive at your destination. Speeding in poor weather conditions puts other drivers and emergency responders at risk. Check highway conditions at www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi
Always Carry Snow Chains: Invest in a set of snow chains for each of your vehicles and carry them in your vehicle, even if it’s not snowing. Practice installing your snow chains away from busy roads and be aware of weather conditions and snow chain speed limits.
Slow down at the first sign of rain, especially after a dry spell. This is when many roads are the most slippery, because oil and dust have not washed away. A slippery road will not give your tires the grip they need. Drive more slowly than you would on a dry road. Adjust your speed as follows:
- Wet road: go 5 to 10 mph slower
- Packed snow: reduce your speed by half
- Ice: slow to a crawl

Prepare Your Vehicle

Make sure all fluid levels are full and ensure that the lights, heater and windshield wipers are in proper condition.
Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
Avoid traveling alone. Let someone know your timetable and primary and alternate routes.
Call 511 for the latest traffic/road incidents, construction and weather conditions and restrictions.
Carry a Winter Storm Survival Kit that includes:
- Mobile phone, charger, batteries
- Blankets/sleeping bags
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First-aid kit
- Knife
- High-calorie, non-perishable food
- Extra clothing to keep dry
- Large empty can to use as emergency toilet, tissues, toilet paper and paper towels
- Small can and waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water
- Sack of sand or cat litter for traction
- Shovel
- Windshield scraper and brush
- Tool kit
- Tow rope
- Battery booster cables
- Water container
- Candle and matches to provide light and in an emergency, lifesaving heat.
- Compass and road maps, don’t depend on mobile devices with limited battery life

(Source: National Weather Service)

San Bernardino County Fire reminds you to be prepared for a disaster with the free Ready SB County Disaster Preparedness App. During an emergency, you’ll stay up-to date on evacuations, shelter locations, traffic alerts, and emergency resources available in your area.

Download the Ready SB County Disaster Preparedness App at:
http://www.ReadySB.com/

For a website version of these tips, visit:
https://www.sbcfire.org/SafetyTips/WinterDriving.aspx

Published December 4, 2019 | By County of San Bernardino | Leave a comment