Our country and human nature demand healthy debate when community decisions are required. Some would have you believe they know best and must be allowed to make critical decisions without debate just because you like them. Hemet city leaders last week said there must be a major overhaul in the management structure of the city’s…
I have much to do these days. Yet, I find myself spending more time in front of the television. Why? It’s Little League World Series time. I will admit that I am a little bit nostalgic for those days. Even more, this is the way baseball should be played. No, they are not the most…
You are a real estate man and, of course, you recognize the gain to property when millions of dollars worth of development are done right nearby. It’s my opinion, as I stated, there is a possible conflict of interest when the chairman of a private company, Idyllwild Community Recreation Council (ICRC), owns property right near…
Having been a longtime resident of Idyllwild, I am somewhat bewildered by the abandonment of the Town Crier’s policy of one letter per month per contributor. Our town is big enough to surely have more comments than constant diatribes from Jeff Smith and T.S. Bennett. I’ve never seen Mr. Smith’s name mentioned on any board…
I’ll say this again. Whether it’s Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD), Idyllwild Community Recreation Council (ICRC), or the county, great things only happen when there is a community vision. When just a few represent the whole without an elected mandate, or that you have lost your mandate, you must strive to reacquire it. If you…
Idyllwild is a wonderful place. It has many active and concerned citizens. However, it seems that issues are talked to death and bickering on both sides of items get in the way of a final consensus. A case in point is the Idyllwild Community Recreation Council (ICRC). The infighting and lack of leadership has hampered…
I moved to Idyllwild on July 9 and was privileged to sit in on the County Service Area 36 meetings July 14 and 27, at which recreation was discussed. Locals say they brought out “the best and worst of Idyllwild,” but they were a learning laboratory for me. Since Idyllwild seems to be home to…
After reading the letters to the editor and coverage of the recent events in Idyllwild, I had to wonder to myself what had happened to the town I have known and loved for over 30 years. The town I know is a town where we can disagree about politics, religion, the fire department, water district…
Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) underfunding, added to fees for CAL FIRE protection areas, Brown’s chopping the “Super Tanker” — all these mean something for Idyllwilders. Up here, fire is everything and sometimes the only thing. Why do I say that? Not because we worry about flames consuming our houses — we do — but…
I am hesitant to even write this letter, with the affection both my husband (since his Boy Scout days!) and I have had for Idyllwild. It was quite apparent at last week’s County Service Area 36 special meeting that the discontent and feeling of loss about employment and control came close to being raucous and…
