The Hill has just passed through a very wet winter. One which has almost entirely eliminated drought conditions throughout the state. It is not too early to begin to think about what the atmospheric and oceanic environments will deliver in winter 2023-24. Last month, the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Climate Prediction Center stated, “… a…
Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) will grow by 18 acres in the next month. At its May 2 meeting, during its function as the board for the Regional Park and Open Space District, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the sale of surplus land from the county Parks Department to PCWD. The expected cost…
The outlook for the 2023 summer fire season continues to be cautious but better than 2022. Winter’s rain and snow have greatly improved fuel moisture content. Last week’s cool weather and modest precipitation also delayed the drying of fuels, especially at the higher elevations of the San Jacinto Mountains. Idyllwild and most of the Hill…
The next election for California’s Assembly seats is the 2024 Presidential Election. Last week, nearly 18 months before the election and about a year before the primaries, Christy Holstege, Palm Springs council member, has announced her challenge to Greg Wallis, the current Assembly District 47 (AD) incumbent. In 2022, following the state’s redistricting of Assembly…
The relatively balmy April temperatures and sunshine replaced the dismal and turbulent March weather. The beginning of May brings another change, almost a second act. Cool weather began to return Monday. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts its continuation, along with some precipitation, until the end of the week and recently described the current Southern…
At its April 18 meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the request from 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez to have the Planning Department staff review the current Noise Ordinance (847) for possible amendments. Perez noted that since summer 2022 when Code Enforcement implemented its Special Enforcement Team, primarily on weekends and evenings,…
Susan Zahn is the current acting district ranger for the San Jacinto Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF). She began her tour about eight weeks ago and expects it to end by late June. Zahn is the latest in a series of “acting district rangers” since Julie Hall left for the Inyo…
Christina Reitz, a true Idyllwild ambassador, is in her final week as an Idyllwild resident. From the counter of the Idyllwild Post Office, Christina has brought smiles and aid to so many. In evenings and weekends, she has worked just as hard to bring pleasure and happiness to her community and its visitors. Now she…
Short-term rentals (STR) will be the topic of a community meeting from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, May 1, at Town Hall. Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez wants to hear more from the Hill communities about this issue and invites those interested in sharing their opinion to come and participate. As he promised in…
The outlook for the 2023 summer fire season has benefited greatly from the wet and snowy winter. None of the major fire units are currently predicting a serious and dangerous fire season for Southern California. Fire will always be a threat; but this year, particularly during spring, the likelihood of a major fire is significantly…
