Author: David Jerome

Taylor Brechtel’s art at the Recht Gallery

Taylor Brechtel’s art at the Recht Gallery

Taylor Brechtel has been showing his work and hosting events at hisRecht Gallery in the Courtyard since 2022. The Crier visited his galleryto introduce him to readers. Brechtel is originally from Orange County. He went to New York Citywhere he earned his bachelor’s in fine art from Parson’s School ofDesign and lived for 10 years….

New mercantile store offers tools for living

New mercantile store offers tools for living

The Crier visited El Sereno Mercantile whose motto is “Tools forliving.” It is in the North Circle building rebuilt after a tree strike.The first shop opened in Oakwood Village a few years ago and moved tothe new location in November. The Crier spoke with Juliana, owner withhusband Markus Ziegler.  “I’m from Brazil, my husband from…

It’s all about waffles at this shop

It’s all about waffles at this shop

Paula Castro opened up Waffleton Street Waffles November, in the VillageCenter Shops, where Atomic Cow had been. She offers Belgian and Mochi(Japanese sweet rice) waffles with sweet or savory toppings. Sweetsinclude fruit, chocolate, marshmallows and cookie crumbs; savory combosinclude Brie and prosciutto, manchego cheese and sun-dried tomatoes,smoked salmon and cream cheese. She also offers hot…

Space in Fern Valley becomes Wylldwood Gallery

Space in Fern Valley becomes Wylldwood Gallery

John Edward Marin was looking for studio space where he could paint andfound more: space for three painters and his Wylldwood Gallery. “Thiswas not anticipated, it happened all very spur-of-the-moment. I saw thespace in December, moved in Jan. 5.” Marin began painting relatively recently, in 2003. “I was told by apsychic my art would hang…

IWD hears update on wastewater treatment plant

The Idyllwild Water District (IWD) Board of Directors held a specialsession Tuesday, April 2. The two items on the agenda were discussion ofthe status of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) project, andexposure to litigation, the latter a closed session conference withlegal counsel. During public comments, ratepayer David Hunt spoke to “publicly commendthe interim GM [general…

Freewyld opens in Uptown Idyllwild

Residents may have noticed a change on North Circle Drive at RiverDrive; the property previously known as Strawberry Creek Village has avery different look, and is now known as Freewyld. The Crier spoke withFreewyld founder Eric Moeller, a resident of Leucadia. Moeller cleared up an impression some neighbors had that the projectincluded two cabins across…

Seeing the April 8 eclipse in Idyllwild

Seeing the April 8 eclipse in Idyllwild

The April 8 solar eclipse, known as “The Great North American Eclipse,”will darken skies across 13 U.S. states, as well as Mexico and Canada,next Monday. Idyllwild will not be in the path of totality, but localswill notice, weather permitting, a darkening as the moon obscures about60% of the Sun’s disk. Those places in totality will…

IFPD seeks higher fire safety rating

Commissioners at the March 23 meeting of the Idyllwild Fire ProtectionDistrict (IFPD) had a lot to digest. The chief’s report included severalbig documents: the draft fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 budget, the draft ofthe 2025-30 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), the district’s new Vehicleand Equipment Catalog (VEC), the draft 2025 update of the district’sStrategic Plan, and a summary report of…

Perez heads State of the 4th District

State of the County addresses were annual events in Riverside untilCOVID. Supervisor V. Manuel Perez decided to create a State of the 4thDistrict event this year to bring together people he calls partners.Idyllwild was joined to the 4th District, and Perez, in 2021. Every 10years, the county adjusts these boundaries. The event, Monday, March 18, occupied…