Idyllwild Arts has started construction of the William M. Lowman Concert Hall. One of the first steps is removal of El Centro, top, with many of its parts being re-purposed. Construction fencing is up; the project is in full force. The 298-seat facility, designed by Sander Architects, is expected to be completed in fall of 2015….

Marshall Hawkins — musician, educator, mentor … Idyllwild icon. His contributions to the lives of others are legendary. Student after student, year after year, his accolades amass. What they’ve learned from him about music, jazz, character  — life in general — would fill a thousand films. The life work of a rare few is preserved…

Short-story writer Ben Loory begins at the beginning and ends at the end, with no preconceived notion of what’s in between. He said he is fully and happily in the moment when he writes. “I just write beginning to end, with no idea how it’s going to turn out,” he noted. “It’s very organic, somewhat…