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Category: Columns

Fight or flight? To stay and fight or evacuate from an approaching wildland fire

Share/Bookmark It’s late in the afternoon, and the air is hot, and smoky. The wind is increasing and sirens can be heard in the not so far distance. Down the street comes a police car with its lights flashing, broadcasting the message to evacuate the area immediately because of an oncoming wildfire. What do you [...]

Off the Leash: Collective amnesia …

Share/BookmarkWell, the first bill submitted by freshman Senator Elizabeth Warren attempts to lower student loan rates down to the same rate given to banks by the Federal Reserve. Starting July 1, student loan rates are scheduled to double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, while banks borrow money at a rate of .75 percent. Once [...]

It Takes a Village: Summer Program to offer locals discount on workshops

Share/BookmarkThe Idyllwild community and the campus have a unique symbiotic relationship which truly takes a village to be successful. Good news for Idyllwild residents who are art aficionados. Now’s the perfect time to nurture your creative side. The Idyllwild Arts Summer Program is offering full-time residents of Idyllwild, Pine Cove and Anza a 50 percent [...]

Boomer and Willow

Creature Corner: May 16, 2013

Share/BookmarkReunited this week were Reno, Noodles, who by the way found a skunk, and Sully. Joie finally came home on her own. Yay. Shannon, our Chihuahua, has been adopted to her forever home. And Clarence, our comedian Siamese mix, will be bringing laughter to his forever home also. We miss you both. The name says [...]

This little electric car was on display during the 1993 Earth Fair at Town Hall. This year’s event takes place this weekend, still at Town Hall and marks the festival’s 24th year.          File photo

Past Tense: May 16, 2013

Share/Bookmark65 years ago – 1948 Plans were being made for The Wild Idle Days celebration to be held in July. 60 years ago – 1953 Dick and Virginia Homan took over operation of the Hillbilly Variety Store while owner Edith Oliver recuperated from surgery. 55 years ago – 1958 Idyllwild’s first massage parlor was opened. [...]

Today’s Health Issues: Risky business …

Share/BookmarkA year ago, I saw a cartoon with two people sitting across from each other at a table. One said, “I remember when we used to sit and talk about our problems over cigarettes and coffee. Now cigarettes and coffee ARE our problems.” The TV, internet and papers bombard us day and night with the [...]

Outside Idyllwild: The Earth Fair cometh …

Share/BookmarkThe 24th annual Idyllwild Earth Fair is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 18. I would use the term “comes to town” but that is more in tune with a traveling circus than a homegrown event like the Idyllwild Earth Fair. No event could be more grassroots than our very own celebration of our [...]

Lola’s Kitchen: Don’t rub me the wrong way …

Share/BookmarkMost of us have grilled using our own or a cookbook’s rub recipe. I have tried various rubs for chicken, pork and seafood. For the most part, I primarily use marinades, only occasionally using rubs, although rubs are flavorful and zesty. My favorite food season is right around the corner, I can close my eyes [...]

County Park employee holds Sully, a baby ground squirrel. Photos by Bruce Watts

Outside Idyllwild: Flora and Sully …

Share/BookmarkIt is Monday morning as I write this column and the sounds of rain are all around me. The unmistakable sounds of cars driving on the wet pavement were a happy wake-up call. I feel like a farmer whose crops of wildflowers are now safe from drought. Southern California is now safe from wildfires, at [...]

Dozens of firefighters from CAL FIRE and U.S. Forest Service fight flames as they came right to the highway Saturday. The need to park equipment on the highway resulted in the roads closure from Saturday until Sunday afternoon.	 Photo by Jenny Kirchner

Fire and Forest: Going green with abatement …

Share/BookmarkFire abating one’s property, or reducing the flammable vegetation around your house, is a very green activity. Of course, it is very good if you would like to lessen the risk of your house going up in flames and sending large amounts of toxins into the air and soil, but it is, happily, one of [...]

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