PHOTOS: Last Week in Idyllwild July 30, 2015 ...

From left, Fox Henson, cello, and Abigail Lim-Kimberg, harp, perform at the harp recital Friday at Stephens Recital Hall on campus. Photo by Jenny Kirchner

Throwback Lecture Series: Idyllwild Arts Summer Program Director Steve Fraider (left) introduces Bill Lowman Wednesday during the Throwback Lecture Series at the Krone Library on campus. Lowman was the founding headmaster of the Idyllwild Arts Academy and retired in 2011 after 26 years. Photo by Jenny Kirchner

Junior Naturalists: Milena checks out what edible crafts friend Serenity Gay is creating. The Junior Naturalists meeting was themed “Power Plants” and held at the Nature Center on Saturday. Photo by John Drake

The Red Hot Rhythm Rustlers were featured performers at the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series last Thursday night. The Rustlers performed family-oriented cowboy music. The award-winning group traveled from Arizona to perform in Idyllwild at the Idyllwild Community Park. Photo by Jenny Kirchner

Summer Reading Success: Colin Savage looks on as Hannah Johnson shows her dolphin smile during the “We Will Rock You” party at the Idyllwild Library. This event concluded the successful Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme was “Reading to the Rhythm” where kids were treated each week to a special guest that taught them a new song or dance and a fun story. This week marked the end of this season with the premiere of the “What does the Fox Say” video.
Photo by John Drake

The Idyllwild HELP Center re-stocked its food pantry last week. The pantry was almost bare at the time. “We went shopping for our food pantry with money donated from the Idyllwild [Association] of Realtors, 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington, Idyllwild HELP Center Board of Directors, and St. Margaret’s Bob Kimble, Ron Green and Chet Hecht. We spent a little over $2,700 to fill our pantry,” wrote Colleen Meyer, executive director of the Idyllwild HELP Center. Assisting in the actual shopping were (from left) Emily Pearson, Skye Zambrana, Wal-Mart Associate Veronica, Meyer, Emily Hill and Peyton Manchee.
Photo by Ben Killingsworth

Jannelys Santiago drops multiple marbles in at the same time after completing one of her Marble Run sets Tuesday at the Idyllwild Library. Popcorn and soda were offered for free while the teens enjoyed their time.
Photo by Jenny Kirchner

Idyllwild Heating & Cooling was awarded second place in the 2015 YETI coolers Dealer Display contest — second in the nation and first in California. More than 2,000 entries were submitted from throughout the country, according to Steve Holldber, owner of Idyllwild Heating and Cooling. “This was a huge deal,” he said proudly. He only began selling YETI coolers two years ago. “I sell a lot of YETI merchandise,” he added, including four coolers this past weekend. The contest judges said the display had a “[t]houghtful attention to detail and best-in-class merchandising.”
Photo courtesy Amanda Allen, park interpreter

Members of the Idyllwild Rotary Club join owner Shane Stewart (center with scissors) in the opening of the new market and gas station in Mountain Center. Photo by John Drake

Cafe Aroma recently opened a Gift Shop inside the restaurant featuring logoed items including hats and T-shirts, as well as works from local artists, including pottery from Les Walker, notecards from Lissa Evans and Peter Szabadi, and art pieces from metal artist Dore Capitani. They also offer discounts to locals and restaurant patrons. Shown is employee Chenay Akins-Johnson.
Photo by Phil Weber