The Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce board of directors met one short of a quorum (five directors present out of 11) on Monday, Aug. 15. Although they conducted no business and deferred action on agenda items, President Nick Todd announced that the Chamber shuttle bus is repaired, up and running, and has a driver. The long-moribund shuttle is currently available for in-town shuttle work during heavy tourist weekends such as the upcoming Jazz in the Pines festival weekend.

The Chamber is working with the Idyllwild Business Roundtable (IBRT) to host two concerts that weekend. Both will be held in town, at Jo’An’s Restaurant outdoor area, from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday Aug. 27 and 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Local jazz icon Marshall Hawkins is presenting the concerts, each honoring a different jazz musician — Saturday’s honoree is guitarist and Idyllwild Arts alumnus Graham Dechter. Sunday, jazz veteran saxophonist Daniel Jackson will be honored. One of the objectives of the concerts is to attract festival attendees to an in-town event. Several local merchants will offer discounts to customers wearing the Jazz in the Pines festival wristbands.

Local realtor and longtime Idyllwild Christmas Tree Lighting activist Marge Muir spoke briefly to request the Chamber assume titular sponsorship of the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Last year’s 50th anniversary ceremony attracted over 1,000 attendees and was, putting the very cold weather aside, a spectacular success. Muir urged the Chamber to consider her request and assured the board that her committee would act as a subcommittee to direct the event.