David JeromeCorrespondent Sunday, Dec. 19, birders flocked to these mountains to participate in the 122nd-annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Started in 1900 to promote conservation by counting birds instead of hunting them, CBC has continued even during the pandemic. This early-winter national bird count is one of the most important bird censuses in the Western…
Charles Phelan Contributor Famed nature enthusiast John Muir exclaimed, “The view from San Jacinto is the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on this earth!” According to historians, the Muir quote is probably apocryphal, but anyone who has hiked to San Jacinto Peak would surely agree that it affords some truly amazing, sublime and…
Mary KnabIdyllwild-area resident I am obsessed with all things written about the Middle Ages in England. I have probably read most of the novels written about the famed War of the Roses. I read both fiction and nonfiction about this time in world history. So, when a new novel appears in my Kindle recommendations, I…
70 years ago – 1951The Lions Club viewed Korean War combat films at Fern Valley Lodge. The movies showed U.S. Marines withdrawing from Chosin. 65 years ago – 1956Because of continuous dry weather, residents and visitors were being asked to be extra careful of fire during the holidays. Jess Southwell and other Forest Service lookouts…
By Janice MuraskoLast week in “Days of Our Nine Lives,” the ARF cats talked about their holiday wish list.Phil: Don’t you all love the holiday season?Whiskers: You bet we do, and the two new ARF members feel it is a very good season.Don: Whoever it is, I’m guessing they are thankful ARF has come to…
Idyllwild FireThe Idyllwild Fire Protection District responded to these calls from Monday to Sunday, Dec. 13 to 19. • Dec. 13 — EMS call, 8:23 a.m. Maranatha Dr.• Dec. 13 — EMS call, transport person, 10:25 a.m. Tollgate Rd.• Dec. 13 — Traffic crash with injuries, transport person, 5:22 p.m. Village Center Dr.• Dec. 14…
Most of 2021’s last Fern Valley Water District (FVWD) board meeting was taken up discussing the proposed rain capture program Friday morning, Dec. 17.Before that discussion, President Richard Schnetzer mentioned that former Idyllwild Water District Director Dave Hunt was supposed to be at the meeting to discuss the cloud seeding project the Santa Ana River…
General Manager (GM) Leo Havener was appointed board secretary at the Idyllwild Water District (IWD) directors’ meeting Wednesday night, Dec. 15. Charles Schelly was re-appointed president and Peter Szabadi was re-appointed vice president for 2022 in a unanimous vote.Besides a report from the Santa Ana River Watershed Weather Modification Pilot Program on cloud seeding (see…
Michelle DeArmond, chief of staff for Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington, will be leaving his office for a major policy position with the Riverside University Health System (RUHS).DeArmond has not been a life-long Washington staff person. “My team is very important to me — like family — and Michelle took care of my…
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors cast final votes on redistricting the five supervisorial districts last week. The vote, approving a resolution defining the new boundaries, was 4-1 with Supervisor V. Manuel Perez opposed the choice. This was the same vote as at the Dec. 7 meeting when the majority adopted Map F.The first election…
