











Visitors flock to Hill for art, wine and entertainment
By

There were no cars in the parking lot of Florist in the Forest in Mile High Plaza as hundreds of residents and visitors flooded the streets of Idyllwild.












Wendy Winks, newly hired marketing director at Idyllwild Arts, is focused on “telling the story” of what makes the Idyllwild Arts Academy unique in high school arts education. Prior to moving to Idyllwild in October of last year, Winks had lived and worked in the Los Angeles and Pasadena areas. But she has been coming…
Readers have voted, and the recipient of this year’s Ernie Maxwell Community Spirit Award is Leslie Moon Gin. The award recognizes those who, through their own tangible effect on the community, represent EMax’s own spirit of community and volunteerism, and inspire others to join in. Les came to Idyllwild after a long career in banking…
Wisconsin native and longtime Hill resident Annie Varvari has joined Idyllwild Arts Academy’s full time faculty as resource teacher. With degrees in special education and counseling, Varvari fills a key position, providing advocacy for and support to students with special classroom academic and logistical needs. “Kids in resource have concerns,” said Varvari. “Those concerns could…
The ledger of Idyllwild businesses changes often. Off-Hill visitors come to the Hill, fall in love with the village shopping district and decide to open businesses. If these businesses fill a then-unavailable niche, or if the products or services offered are superior to existing businesses, the newcomers generally find success. Sometimes businesses decide to downsize…
Editor’s note: Johnny and Halie Wilson of Life Writers are son-in-law and daughter of the Town Crier’s co-publishers and editor. Longtime Idyllwilder Phil Thompson has completed and published a memoir focused on his globe-spanning career as a commercial deep-sea diver, “Where No Human Has Walked Before.” Locals may know him for his 20 years volunteering…