Jack, as you’ve seen, took care of my column a few times while my heart has been healing from an attack on Sept. 25. My staff and family (some of whom also are staff), ensured that I take doctors orders and rest. My heart attack was small — a takotsubo, named for a Japanese clay…
A newspaper is “a community watchdog that reports the bad with the good, warns of danger, advises of opportunity, challenges authority, praises accomplishment, investigates irregularity, marvels at art, exposes abuse, celebrates life and publishes its readers’ letters. Indeed, if a publication does not do all those things it may be something else, but it’s not…
Co-publisher and Editor Becky Clark is recovering well from a small heart attack suffered last month and is expected to return within weeks. Thank you all for your concern. Jack Clark, Co-Publisher/General Counsel
As many of you know, our Co-Publisher/Editor Becky Clark suffered a small heart attack on September 25. She’s doing fine and expects to recover completely in just a few months. Thank you all for your concern and good wishes. Meanwhile, Becky’s putting in a couple of hours here, a few hours there — working mostly…
As we age, we begin thinking of moving off the Hill. It becomes difficult to navigate and maintain a mountain lifestyle for many. Those ubiquitous stairs and forever rake-requiring pine needles and leaves begin to feel burdensome. The snow and ice become trickier to maneuver both on foot and by auto. We mostly move to…
Fred S. McChesney, a professor of law and economics at the University of Miami, wrote an intelligent opinion for the Washington Post on Sept. 4. “Fewer fires, so why are there far more firefighters?” posits that many cities and towns would be better off with volunteer fire companies for infernos considering that “rapid improvements in…
Last week’s story told of Idyllwild Fire considering mortgaging the people’s fire house to not only pay for two ambulances and station improvement projects, but increasing salaries and benefits. Building reserves within a budget to deal with emergencies, such as the brush truck’s engine failure, seems wise. But spending $90,000 on what appeared to be…
I question whether Idyllwild Water District is truly serving, as well as accommodating, its customers. For the past six years, it has attempted to gain access to a well it drilled on Pine Crest private property — property that foreclosed after the well was drilled. Why IWD did not obtain an easement before it drilled…
An indication that Jazz in the Pines succeeded in its 22nd year was the Sunday headliner attendance, because not everyone attends both days and most who attend only one day just attend Saturday. So, what a thrill I experienced seeing the lumps of grass hardly able to hold a seated person in front of my…
The candidates’ forums contain elements of surprise — surprise about the questions from the audience, surprise about candidates’ answers and surprise from critics who don’t like the rules or the outcome. Both Idyllwild and Pine Cove water districts’ forums included all of the above. My job primarily was to introduce moderator, time answers and field…
