Idyllwild local and Idyllwild Arts Academy senior Ben Cruz was one of eight visual artists nationally to be awarded the highest honor by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers — the Gold Medal Portfolio for his work in painting. Now in its 94th year, the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards is the longest-running and…

In Idyllwild, businesses come and go, but few return after an extended absence. Robert Carie’s The Elephant Walk Home Store held a grand “reopening” on Saturday, May 27 after an extended hiatus. Carie said the store, The Laughing Elephant, had previously closed in 2007 and that he was excited to have returned. On Memorial Day,…