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Birthday Bash
Sammy Busby (left) organized a rock and roll birthday party for long-time Idyllwild resident Paul Hamilton (right) at Audiowild Studios Saturday night, Jan. 13. Hamilton played the harmonica and a potluck was enjoyed with about 50 people attending.PHOTO BY PETER SZABADI
IFPD approves grant proposal for fuel reduction
The Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) commissioners met for a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 9. All commissioners were present to hear Chief Mark LaMont present a resolution regarding a grant application to be submitted to the state. The application asks for almost a million dollars to help IFPD complete work on the Bear Trap Fuels Reduction Project,...
Cursive writing instruction being resurrected
Oct. 13, 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 446. Now cursive writing or joined italics will be included as part of the educational program for grades one through six.
Although it was never formally dropped, writing instruction, particularly for cursive, waned as the use of laptop computers and tablets grew within the school...
Board of Supervisors has new officers for 2024
At its first meeting in 2024, on Jan. 9, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors elected new officers for the year.
3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington is the board’s chair for 2024 and 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez is the new vice chair. He served as chair during 2020.
PCWD directors to fill empty seat Jan. 17
The Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) held its regular board of directors meeting Wednesday, Jan. 10 with all directors present, although last month’s resignation of Diana Luther leaves an empty seat, one of the questions facing the board now. Other matters before the directors included a review of the first half of the financial year and a...
New state budget begins with deficit
Gov. Gavin Newsom released his proposed fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 budget last week. Total expenditures will be nearly $291 billion, of which $208.7 billion will be the General Fund accounts. This is about $22.2 billion less than is available for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Throughout his news conference, Newsom stressed...
Sports
Adult Volleyball
Local volleyball players braved the icy roads and cold temperatures to gather at Buckhorn Camp’s Peace Center where they resumed their 2023-24 season last week.
Idyllwild Brewpub got things heated up really quick Tuesday night as they swept Forest Lumber 3-0. Then followed a firestorm by BBI Construction as...
Idyllwild Transfer Station
A large amount of trash was left in front of the gate at the Idyllwild Transfer Station Tuesday, Jan. 2, following the New Year’s Day holiday when it was closed and then it is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, too. The accumulation of bags and boxes was likely from any number of sources, but multiple boxes showed...
Another in-custody lawsuit filed against Sheriff’s Department
Another lawsuit has been filed against Riverside County, the County’s Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) and Sheriff Chad Bianco over an in-custody death in the county’s jail.
On April 28, 2022, Alicia Upton, 21, of San Jacinto, hung herself while in-custody at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.
On Dec. 31, 2023,...
State court intercedes in election suit over Rollins’ profession
The 2024 election season started in 2023. Before the Secretary of State could print the voter information guides for the March Primary, Matt Dobler, chair for the Republican Party of Riverside County, challenged Democratic candidate Will Rollin’s description of his profession on the ballot, which has to be three words or less, according to state law.
Special exhibit coming to Idyllwild Arts
The InterArts Department at Idyllwild Arts presents a special collaboration between its students and UK-based interactive theater company Stan’s Cafe. “Of All the People in All the World” is an internationally-acclaimed performance installation that turns abstract human population statistics into emotionally gripping stories using grains of rice.
An exhibit of “Of All the...
Idyllwild Community Fund announces 2024 officers/members
Idyllwild Community Fund (ICF) announces its Advisory Board elected for 2024.
This working group includes several new and returning members recruited throughout 2023, representing a healthy cross-section of the Idyllwild community.
Officers are President Nancy Beddingfield (Idyllwild Library, volunteer tutor); Vice President Annie Weaver (Idyllwild Help Center board, Idyllwild resident 40-plus...
Fuelbreak nearing completion
The Upper Dry Creek/Astro Camp shaded fuelbreak is nearing completion in 2024. It has been an ongoing project for Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire since its start in 2019. Last year, the Upper Dry Creek side was completed and this year the Astro Camp side will be completed. The project encompasses about 80 acres.PHOTO BY JOEL FEINGOLD
Some, but not all, new laws for 2024
The last session of the California Legislature ended in September and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed hundreds of bills the Legislature had passed into law.
Many new laws went into effect Jan. 1, 2024, and some are effective later in 2024, such as in April, June or July. Most of these were enacted and signed...
County offers free composting/vermicomposting class
The Riverside County Department of Waste Resources will host a free Backyard Composting class and Make Your Own Worm Bin workshop Saturday, Jan. 7, in Moreno Valley.
Learn how to recycle organic resources, such as yard trimmings, as well as fruit and vegetable waste into a dark, crumbly, sweet-smelling...
Assistant head of school to speak on Monday
The Associates of Idyllwild Arts Foundation’s next Spotlight on Leadership presentation is at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at Rush Hall on campus. Assistant Head of School Dr. Jeanette Louise Yaryan, and a longtime member of the piano music faculty, will speak.
Idyllwild Arts Assistant Head of School Dr. Jeanette Louise Yaryan, also...
State budget in serious deficit trouble
In May, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) expressed pessimism about the state’s revenue projections for fiscal year (FY) 2023-24. And this month, Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek confirmed that the state “faces a serious deficit” approaching $68 billion.
The state’s revenue was affected by several different economic conditions and problems.