PHOTOS: This week in Idyllwild: July 28, 2016
![Members of the Idyllwild Chess Club concert on their games at their weekly Friday afternoon meeting at the Idyllwild Library. Attending on July 22 are, from left, Dick Goldberg, Simone Sobel, Krister Raith and DF Tweedie. Players of any skill level, even experts, can expect a friendly but challenging experience, since Sobel is ranked among the best women players in the world. Photo by Tom Kluzak](https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Chess-520x350.jpg)
Photo by Tom Kluzak
![Sid Gardner, right, co-author with Scott Robinson of “Crossings,” discusses the novel and his other books with Eduardo Santiago, in the most recent gathering of the Authors Series at Café Aroma last Sunday. The capacity crowd listened eagerly to his description of the massive deportation of 11 million people following the election of fictional President Ronald Matta. Gardner, who has extensive experience in American government and politics (as a Republican) and Robinson, who has lived and taught in Mexico for 40 years, intend this insightful novel to be a realistic exploration of some prevailing political ideas. Santiago edited the book, and as always, was familiar with the final product, allowing him to ask many insightful questions.Photo by Tom Kluzak](https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gardner-520x331.jpg)
![Diners at Ferro on Saturday night, July 23 found their food and drink supplemented by the classical jazz of the Tom Hynes Quartet, featuring, from left, Hynes, John Urban, Clayton Powell and Dan St. Marseille. Life on the Hill is good. Photos by Tom Kluzak](https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Hynes-520x304.jpg)
Photos by Tom Kluzak
![Elaine Hoggan of Pine Cove shares her Town Crier with daughter-in-law Janet while cruising toward the Bridge of the Americas en route to the Panama Canal. The newer, much larger canal opened the next day and made the canal transit extra interesting and historic. Photo by Jon Hoggan](https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/vac-3-520x343.jpg)
Photo by Jon Hoggan
![This picture is from “Celebration of the Circle with Katya Williamson’s” recent writing retreat to Yellowstone and the wilderness of Montana. From left, Mary Morse, Carol McClintic, Kathy Halkin, Charlene Chindlund and Williamson. Photo by nice lady who drove by](https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/vac1-520x355.jpg)
Photo by nice lady who drove by
![Martin and Janet Jones of Idyllwild traveling with our Town Crier in front of the Trevi Fountain in the Piazza de Trevi in Rome. Photo courtesy the Joneses](https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/vac2-520x293.jpg)
Photo courtesy the Joneses
![Shab El-Awar receives an Idyllwild Rotary squirrel from Idyllwild Rotary President Marc Kassouf after discussing how Rotary helped rebuild schools destroyed by earthquakes in Nepal, and repair cleft palates in Mexico and other countries at the weekly meeting on July 20. El-Awar is a member of the San Bernardino Sunset Rotary Club, and a previous district governor, and serves as the Rotary District 5330 International chair. In addition to personally donating $4 million to Rotary charities, Shab and his wife have facilitated many projects in Nepal, India, Brazil, Mexico and the U.S Photos by Tom Kluzak](https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Rotary2-520x632.jpg)
![Idyllwild Rotary President Marc Kassouf presents a check for $1,000 to Ken Dahleen to help support the Idyllwild Summer Concerts. The series, a highlight of summer in Idyllwild, is a very expensive undertaking that depends on community support. The U.S. Marine Surprise Band, appearing on July 28, is made up of retired Marine Band members from around the country, assembled at Dahleen’s request because of the community interest. when none of the active Marine Bands were available.](https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rotary-1-1-520x586.jpg)
The Idyllwild Cinema-Fest returns invigorated for its fourth year, with new features designed to seal its steady progress toward becoming a major U.S. showcase for independent filmmakers. New venues, more films and film categories, expanded filmmaker submission processes, an upgraded website featuring online audience film previews and voting (Viewers Choice) in addition to links to…
— The Tahquitz Awards — Best Feature Film “How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song” Best Featurette “The Bunglers” Best Short Film “Spicy Nose” Best Documentary (Full Length) “Red, White, Black and Blue” Best Documentary (Short) “The Rent Party: Paying It Forward in Rhythm and Hues” Best Web Series “Revelations” Best Foreign Language…
The Idyllwild Master Chorale (IMC) season began rehearsals this month from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday nights in the music room at Idyllwild School. Singers interested in auditioning and joining the master chorale should contact Dwight Holmes, artistic director and conductor, at (951) 659-2650 or can email from IMC’s website at www.idyllwildmasterchorale.com. The Idyllwild Master…
The U.S. Forest Service needs help counting bald eagles in the San Bernardino National Forest. For the 36th season, the annual winter bald eagle counts in and near the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains will be on the following Saturdays: Dec. 13, Jan. 10, Feb. 14 and March 14. Migrating eagles typically begin arriving…
Now that the successful Lemon Lily Festival is over, the Nature Center will resume the Junior Naturalist Program …