Idyllwild Arts Foundation President Pamela Jordan announced a number of new hires for key management positions including film chair, music chair, chief development officer and director of programs. Each will be profiled in articles beginning this week. Heather Netz, current music faculty and assistant to the music chair, will take on greater responsibility as orchestra…

Melissa Severa, Yokoji Zen Mountain Center resident, writes about “one woman’s story of wildfire, family and the Zen of survival.” Her story, “Mountain Fire Mama,” is a deeply personal account of the center’s narrow escape from fire and the major damage it subsequently suffered from torrents of water carrying debris and mud that buried cars…