Holly Bratten Photo by Marshall SmithHolly Bratten stunned the judges at the Southern California Fair at the Perris Fairgrounds with her recipes and submissions in the food and baked goods categories. Bratten, who has submitted every year since 1992 at the SoCal Fair (previously the Farmer’s Fair), took home Best of Show for her pickled onions, 25 1st place awards, nine 2nd place awards, and four 3rd place awards. She also took one 4th and one 5th place award.
That means out of 45 entries, Bratten took honors in 44, a remarkable success by any standard. “I’ve always enjoyed it [submitting to fairs], “but I’m retiring,” said Bratten. “From now on I’ll just cook for my family.” In addition to the SoCal Fair, Bratten submitted six times to the Indio Fair and twice to the Del Mar Fair. With her SoCal Fair submissions, Bratten covered the table with cheesecakes, cookies, brownies, jams, and salsas. Bravo!
Marshall Hawkins, dean of local jazz musicians, one of the founders of the annual Jazz in the Pines festival, will be honored next Friday, Feb. 22. The California Alliance of Jazz will induct Hawkins into its Hall of Fame in Fresno. Dr. Jeffrey James Tower championed Hawkins’ entry into the Hall of Fame. Tower was…
The 21st Jazz in the Pines festival is history and another demonstration of the multiple talents residing on the Hill. Not only of artists and musicians, but of individuals with other talents and skills able and willing to produce a jazz fest of this stature year after year who reside here, too. “The festival was…
In the garden at Spirit Mountain Retreat and with locals in attendance, Executive Director Mary Morse lights a ceremonial candle to commemorate the spring solstice on Sunday
Ann SmithReporter David and Heather Landeros had been coming up to Idyllwild for at least 10 years. For this real estate broker from Long Beach and wife Heather, also a broker, Idyllwild was a welcome respite from the hustle and traffic of Long Beach. They have been full-time residents of Idyllwild for three and half…
‘Naturally Crazy’ is the theme The Mountain Quilters of Idyllwild, at 77 strong (“76 women and one brave man,” according to Penny Bottomley), will host their 15th-annual Quilt Show. Themed “Naturally Crazy,” the show will feature crazy quilts, patchwork quilts made of patches of randomly varying sizes, shapes, colors and fabrics. Once again, the popular…