Author: David Jerome

Almost Heaven Pop-up previews new artisan bakery, Almost Heaven

Almost Heaven Pop-up previews new artisan bakery, Almost Heaven

Idyllwild will soon welcome a new artisan bakery: Almost Heaven. Gabrielle and Richard Marcin, who have been supplying stores in Alpine with artisan baked goods for the last year, will begin hosting “pop-up” bake sales in the parking lot and until their new space in Victorian Square starting this Saturday, April 12—a preview of what’s…

Dynamic capture of a Chicago Fire Dept ambulance rushing through city streets.

rash Head on crash closes Highway 74 on Friday

Highway 74 between Mountain Center and Hemet was closed for several hours on Friday morning, April 4, due to a head-on collision west of the Strawberry Creek bridge. Johnathon Torres of the CHP provided these details: The crash occurred just after 10 a.m., three miles west of Gaugh Road, MM 53. A westbound 2021 Subaru…

Reba Coulter named District 4 Woman of the Year by Board of Supervisors

Reba Coulter named District 4 Woman of the Year by Board of Supervisors

Reba Coulter got a nice surprise when she found out she had been named Riverside County 4th District Woman of the Year. “I didn’t know such a thing existed, I was totally shocked.” Coulter explains that each of the five supervisors nominated a candidate, and she was Supervisor V. Manuel Perez’s choice. The awards are…

Mountain Community Fire Safe Council continues to help homeowners with abatement, other agencies with forest health

Mountain Community Fire Safe Council continues to help homeowners with abatement, other agencies with forest health

Mountain Community Fire Safe Council (MCFSC), the nonprofit organization that helps local property-owners plan and pay for home fire abatement, was among the stakeholders reporting at the March meeting of the Mountain Area Safety Taskforce. Executive Director Callie Squires provided an update on older grants that are wrapping up, and new grants and applications. MCFSC’s…

Sheriff’s Office advises caution in winter conditions, begins patrol of off-road vehicle trails with USFS

Sheriff’s Office advises caution in winter conditions, begins patrol of off-road vehicle trails with USFS

The March 12 Mountain Area Safety Taskforce (MAST) meeting included a report from Riverside County Sheriff’s Office (RSO) on their activities in local mountain communities. Sergeant Frank James, one of two supervisors for the mountain communities, said that there are always two deputies on duty, with a supervisor present during the day shift. There is…

AAI Art Alliance of Idyllwild Member Mingle and Meeting at Town Hall

AAI Art Alliance of Idyllwild Member Mingle and Meeting at Town Hall

The Art Alliance of Idyllwild held its annual Mingle and Meeting at Town Hall on Saturday March 22. The hall was full of members and friends who enjoyed food and drink, and live music, while getting to know each other. Board President and event chair Hayleigh Lavy announced awards including Artist of the Year, Sharye…

PCWD land deal PCWD approves land purchase

PCWD land deal PCWD approves land purchase

Pine Cove Water District’s Board of Directors has approved the purchase of the lot on Franklin and Highway 243 adjacent to their Foster Lake works. Office Manager Jennifer Hayes, in an email to the Town Crier, wrote: “On Wednesday, March 19, 2024 the Pine Cove Water District Board of Directors entered into a Closed Session…

IFPD at full staffing, plans early inspections

IFPD at full staffing, plans early inspections

At the March MAST meeting Idyllwild Fire Battalion Chief James LaMont reported that IFPD is fully staffed, and had prepositioned engines for the storms predicted for that week. Normal daily staffing includes eight people and a hand crew that is on call. They have eight engines and four ambulances. They are partnering with the USFS…

USFS faces open chief positions, starts pile burning

USFS faces open chief positions, starts pile burning

At the March MAST meeting Chris Fogle, one of two U.S. Forest Service Battalion Chiefs in our Ranger District, reported that currently the Division Chief position is open, along with two other Battalion Chief positions. Through the winter, USFS continue to staff three engines, a water tender, and a hand crew on the Hill. Helicopters,…

A close-up view of an industrial setup with gauges, valves, and pipes.

Better meters on IWD wells solve missing water mystery

At the March meeting of the Idyllwild Water District (IWD) Board, the directors heard good news from General Manager Bill Rojas: an exceptionally low water loss figure of 3%. Rojas explained that, several months ago, the search for leaks led his crew to sources they had assumed were natural springs, but were turned out to…