With a background in psychology and philosophy, Rick Barker has long sought to find balance in his life. Stuck in the corporate cell of six- to seven-day weeks and 10-hour days, Barker had a wakeup call in 2003 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. That diagnosis prompted a rethinking and retooling of his life with…
It’s here: season 15 of Ken Dahleen and his Idyllwild Summer Concert Series board’s gift to the community. This free event, designed for locals and presented under the stars at the Idyllwild Community Center site throughout the summer, kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3, as the inaugural event of the Fourth of July…
The Idyllwild Fire Protection District commission met Tuesday afternoon, June 24, in a special session. The commission acknowledged receipt of the most recent grand jury report and held a closed session to consider the possible discipline, dismissal or release of an employee or employees. The individual or individuals were not identified. When asked if any…
By falling on Friday, the Fourth of July creates an extended holiday weekend that begins Thursday with the inaugural Idyllwild Summer Concert Series and the annual Pipes in the Pines, and extends through Sunday. Two events on Thursday, July 3 herald holiday celebrations. The University of California, Riverside Pipe Band will present a the Pipes…
At their June 20 meeting, Fern Valley Water directors unanimously declared a water shortage emergency. The board adopted Resolution 543, spelling out its process for declaring a water shortage, defining the four stages and implementing the stages. Fern Valley General Manager Steve Erler followed the resolution adoption with a declaration of Stage 1 Water Shortage…
Another grand jury report this year, directed at the behavior and operation of Idyllwild Fire Protection District employees, was issued Thursday, June 19. This is the second report focused on IFPD from the 2013-14 grand jury and the fifth since 2008. This report investigated three topics — the behavior of the administrative captain, Mark LaMont,…
Idyllwild Water District directors approved a preliminary 2014-15 budget, which includes a 6-percent water and sewer rate increase, originally approved in June 2010, and applied to the budget annually for five years since. The board also set a public hearing for Aug. 20 to discuss other changes to water fees. A board workshop to discuss…
The Pine Cove Water District budget for fiscal year 2014-15, which starts July 1, will be $800,000, which is $25,000 or 3 percent lower than the current-year budget. And the budget the directors adopted last week was about $11,000 lower than the preliminary budget presented at the May meeting. An uncertainty of whether Sprint would…
Last week, a Los Angeles County judge ruled that the state laws on teacher tenure and seniority were unconstitutional. However, he suspended any enforcement to provide for the expected appeal of his decision (Vergara v. State of California). Judge Rolf M. Treu found that the statutes on granting teachers tenure after two years, the dismissal…
Thanks to those of you who responded to last week’s column and apologies to Helene Lohr for leaving the “e” off her first name. All government agencies affecting us from the county level to the local water districts take their June 30 budget deadline seriously. And they should because we, the people, want to know…
