Home Blog
Local groups receive county funding
Several actions at Riverside County’s June 21 and 28 board of supervisors’ meetings focused on Hill organizations.
Before the business portion of the June 21 meeting, 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington recognized both the Idyllwild Arts Foundation and Living Free Animal Sanctuary at the board’s rostrum.
A week later at the...
Here come the Fourth of July events
The 56th-annual July 4th Independence Day Parade, hosted by the Rotary Club of Idyllwild, steps off from Fern Valley Corners at 10 a.m. Monday, July 4, heading down North Circle Drive to Village Center Drive, according to Rotary Parade Committee member Barbara Larsh. “The American Legion Post 800 Honor Guard again leads the entries this year,” she...
Lisa Lynn and Broken Hallelujahs open concert series
It’s summertime and the time is right for dancing, or just tapping a toe, at the Butterfield Amphitheater, as Ken Dahleen and the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series (ISCS) board bring back the Thursday night bands. The eight-week series starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 7, and is free to all. The series has been ongoing since 2000,...
IFPD streamlines its Purchasing Policy Votes to purchase additional fire truck
On Wednesday, June 15, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners held a special meeting with two duly-noticed action items for the board’s review, discussion and approval: an amendment to its Purchasing Policy followed by the purchase of a fire truck — both items proposed by IFPD Fire Chief Mark LaMont.
An...
Lawsuit filed against Riverside County redistricting
The boundaries of Riverside County’s five supervisorial districts have been challenged in litigation filed June 14. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the suit on behalf of Inland Empire United (IEU) and six individuals. The first hearing about the litigation will be Aug. 15 in Riverside.
The suit alleges that the redistricting plan...
Trout hatcheries dealing with bacteria
Two California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) trout hatcheries in the Eastern Sierras are continuing to fight an outbreak of Lactococcus petauri, a naturally occurring bacteria that sickens fish. The current outbreak was first detected in April 2022. CDFW fishery managers announced this week that about 350,000 infected catchable rainbow trout are now showing signs of...
Two special public events for Native American Festival week
This week Idyllwild Arts (IA) Summer Programs presents its annual Native American Arts Festival, an institution-within-the-institution for more than 20 years, returning after a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shaliyah J. Ben, director of the IA Native American Arts program and coordinator of the festival, gave the Crier some background on this year’s festival. She said, “The...
Nestor Hernandez-Lopez sworn in to CHP
Nestor Hernandez-Lopez of Idyllwild, has successfully completed cadet training at the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Academy. He is assigned to duty at the CHP’s Borrego Springs Area office. He was one of 128 graduates of the academy.
CHP Officer Nestor Hernandez-LopezPHOTO COURTESY OF CHP
Officer Hernandez-Lopez graduated from Hemet High...
County gets tougher on illegal fireworks
La Niña is expected to continue through 2022 and into 2023. The drought’s end is not in sight. Last week, state officials issued drastic limitations on water withdrawals from the San Joaquin watershed.
But it is the middle of June and the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaches. Our annual celebrations will offer some...
Documentary of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ this Saturday
“Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen,” a new documentary about the making of the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” will be screened at the Rustic Theater at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 18. An informal Q and A session with Fiddler cast member and longtime Idyllwilder Michèle Marsh, who played the middle of Tevye’s three marriageable daughters, Hodel.
Art and music festival at Town Hall
Last Saturday was a warm day but with some cool music and great art The Art Alliance of Idyllwild’s (AAI) “Eye of the Artist” and the “Call of the Wyld” were combined to the enjoyment of those attending. Starting at Noon, people drifted in and out of the Town Hall until 7 p.m..
The...
More of what victims can teach us after the fire
Editor’s note: This story is continued from last week.
Paying for fire insurance doesn’t necessarily mean you are covered
One homeowner, who declined to be named because of ongoing negotiations, discussed the complications that arise after a partial loss from fire. When a building is completely gone, insurers have little option...
California’s water crisis affects the Hill
Rainfall since Oct. 1, 2021, the beginning of the current rain year, has been 11.4 inches. In the five months since Jan. 1, 2022, Idyllwild has received 3.5 inches of rain. The long-term average rainfall from October to June is 23.2 inches, about twice what has fallen this year, the third consecutive drought year.
Lots of fun in library’s Summer Reading program
Idyllwild Library is kicking off its annual Summer Reading program, a six-week reading party, from Monday, June 13, to Friday, July 22. An Idyll-Beast sighting is expected during the inaugural morning children’s session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first day. The theme this year is “Reading beyond the beaten path,” encouraging people (and other literate...
Steele T10 at the Memorial
Brendan Steele notched his fourth top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this season, posting a four-under-par 69-76-68-71 — 284 at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio last week. Seventeen birdies against 13 bogeys earned his second top-10 finish in as many tournaments.
The Idyllwild native’s drives averaged 303 yards into 69% of the fairways...
Forest fire restrictions raised last week
Officials with the San Bernardino National Forest raised fire restrictions Thursday, May 26, due to the danger from current and anticipated worsening conditions, such as drying vegetation and continued hot temperatures.
Lower elevations of the forest have reached critically dry fuel moisture levels this week, causing fire officials to raise fire restrictions almost one...
What victims can teach us after the fire
Fire is reshaping the American West. Communities in Wildfire Urban Interface zones, like ours, live in constant tension with a devastating force that can, in a single day, incinerate the homes and earthly possessions of neighborhoods and even towns.
The stories of the big fires that have captured the attention of the world, names...
HUSD issues statement of district safety following Uvalde tragedy
Editor’s note: Hemet Unified School District issued this statement to parents and guardians of students Friday, May 27. HUSD then gave a list of online resources to help parents/guardians talk to children about violence that are not printed here.
Hemet Unified School District is deeply saddened by the tragedy that took place at Robb...
Call of the Wyld Festival Saturday at Town Hall
The Art Alliance of Idyllwild’s (AAI) fourth Call of the Wyld Festival Saturday, June 11 feature some of Idyllwild’s favorite performers. The festival, which runs from noon to 7 p.m., will be held outdoors at the recently renovated Town Hall.
Pentagrams & Daisies (Colin Smith and Monica Sierras) performing at the 2021 Call...
Local skaters raise funds for skate park renovation
By Stephanie YostIdyllwild Community Center President
The Idyllwild skateboard community held a fundraiser from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at the Idyllwild Skate Park to help raise funds for the facility’s ongoing renovation. It is estimated that more than 300 people attended the event throughout the day.
The Idyllwild...
New meters result in lost revenue
The last week’s Idyllwild Water District (IWD) Board of Directors meeting, both General Manager Leo Havener and Chief Financial Officer Hosny Shouman told the board that a glitch in a software program resulted in the district losing about 20% of data while transferring from the old meter to the new meter system. The lost data the two...
County unanimously approves $7.4 billion budget
At its June 21 meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a final budget for fiscal year (FY) 2022-2023, which begins July 1.The vote was unanimous and without any comments.The county’s total budget is $7.4 billion and the projected surplus at the end of the fiscal year is $368 million. The discretionary budget is slightly more...
Readers Write: Failed state
Dear editor:Unfortunately, George Carlin was correct when, years ago, he gave up on our species and was just watching as we circled the drain. Our country is now circling the drain as a failed state without a viable future. Not due to the white supremacists, the Christian nationalists, the misogynists. Not even the disingenuous Supreme Court justices...
Local water suppliers’ responses to state restrictions
Gov. Gavin Newsom directed urban water supplies (UWS) throughout the state to adopt certain policies by May 25, 2022, to reduce water usage during the drought.Two of those guidelines are:“• Urban water suppliers shall submit a draft annual water supply and demand assessment, as required in Water Code section 10632.1, by June 1, 2022. The final draft...
ACLU discusses redistricting lawsuit in county
On June 14, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on behalf of Inland Empire United (IEU) and six individuals, challenging the legality of the Riverside County redistricting plan. The plan was based on the 2020 Census results. The board of supervisors adopted it Dec. 21, 2021 and it was applied to the primary election...
News of Record: June 30, 2022
Idyllwild FireThe Idyllwild Fire Protection District responded to these calls from Monday to Sunday, June 20 to 26.
• June 20 — EMS call, provide basic life support, 1:45 a.m. Delano Dr.• June 20 — EMS call, provide BLS, 10 a.m. Lake Ln.• June 21 — Public service assist, 10:50 a.m. Maranatha Dr.• June...
Fire danger rating level increased to very high
Officials with the San Bernardino National Forest raised the Fire Danger Rating Level to “Very High” on Tuesday, June 28. This change is based on prolonged hot and dry weather, below normal live and dead fuel moistures, and forest-wide severe drought conditions.
As visitors are preparing to celebrate 4th of July festivities...
Steele T25 at the Travelers
Brendan Steele teed off Friday at the par-5 sixth hole in the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.Photo by André Pilon.
Brendan Steele notched his seventh top-25 finish on the PGA Tour this season, posting an eight-under-par 68-66-69-69 — 272 at the Travelers Championship at Cromwell, Connecticut last week. Fifteen birdies against seven bogeys...
Fashionable Idyllwild, an oxymoron?
Right, “With Abandon,” a portrait in a new photo exhibit, “Fashionable Idyllwild.”
Photo by Donna Elliot
Think of Idyllwild and locals with jeans, T-shirts, fleeces, and any kind of hiking or running footwear might come to mind. But work through the dust and sweat, another vision of Idyllwild is revealed: beautiful and elegant local...
Native American Arts Festival Kabotie lectures
The Michael Kabotie Lectures are named for artist Michael Kabotie (Hopi) who consulted with the Idyllwild Arts Native American Festival organizers for nine years until his passing in 2009. His work was grounded in the visual and musical rhythms of his tribe but was often compared to that of non-native artists including Picasso, Braque and Kandinsky, whose...