Andrew Altschul, according to reviews, has applied a devilish wit to what he observes as a growing societal fascination with reality TV, in his novel, “Deus Ex Machina” (Counterpoint, 2011). That fascination, in Altschul’s view, centers on ever-devolving scenarios of debasement, danger and cutthroat competition for contestants. Intrigued by shows such as “Fear Factor” and…

Long-time journalist and Coachella Valley resident Bruce Fessier will be speaking at the Middle Ridge Winery Tasting Gallery on Saturday, July 27 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Idyllwild Storytellers. Fessier will be speaking about his life among the Palm Springs elite and how he went from outsider to the go-to for all things arts…

Idyllwild Nature Center’s Junior Naturalist program was “The Budding Botanist” in which youngsters learned about flowers, planting, soil and seeds. Nature Center volunteer Susie Hampson assists, An Lin, Liam Walsh, William Taylor and Meixing Lin.

Long-time Idyllwild resident Teri Hardy also went to high school here, at the Desert Sun School, class of ’63. AstroCamp now occupies the site in Saunders Meadow. She remembers that students at the boarding school were close. Graduating classes numbered in the 20s. Among the school’s graduates is Frank Sinatra Jr., class of ’61. Sinatra,…