Photo by Rick Foster
Friends of the San Jacinto Valley
Wildlife Biologist Tom Paulek and avid birder Rosedith Marx will lead the public on a search of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area for “Birds of Prey,” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 22.
The Friends of the San Jacinto Valley are sponsoring the free event that hopes to spot some of the 22 species of birds of prey, also called raptors, in the area, including six species of owls and peregrine falcons, bald and golden eagles, ferruginous hawks and prairie falcons.
The area is on the eastern border of Lake Perris. For directions to the event, call 951-928-0580 …
Town Hall Chess Club
Idyllwild’s Town Hall Chess Club found itself fortunate Sunday at Nature’s Wisdom with the visiting Billy “Blaze” Price from Long Beach. Price, a ranking United States Chess Federation expert and 30-year veteran of the game, brought his board ready for action, but what he found at the young, growing club was eager and savvy learners, so he graciously changed hats from competitor to mentor.
The gifted teacher of the game spent two hours playing and coaching the youngsters and one old one, said Richard Mozeleski, of himself, then capped off the session with an hour of overtime 5 on 1 matches with Adam Smith, Tony Cardenas, Alex Isaac, Leo Blair and Todd Wood, among others, all playing Price “at once.” (And Price did not lose in 15 matches), while dispersing more tips and strategies to the “chessters” as they tenaciously battled.
That day is exactly what the club had been seeking — “mentoring-minded adults willing to share with local kids in sport, drama, chess, running, whatever we can gather up to do to give kids here opportunities to find their passion. We look forward to your next visit to the Hill,” said Mozeleski.
The club meets from 3 to 5:30 p.m. every Sunday. All ages are welcome but bring a chess board.
