Pine Cove Water District’s May 8 meeting focused largely on the draftbudget, as the financial year draws to a close. The new budget totalsonly about 2% more than last year, well below the rate of inflation,currently around 3.5%. General Manager Jeremy Potter reported that the district’s static wellrose 4.4 feet to 74.5 feet, and is…
Last week, the state’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) announcedthat the state’s groundwater supplies were improving. Although moregroundwater is needed, the rain year 2023, which was October 2022through September 2023, resulted in significant increases in the state’sgroundwater inventory. Many of California’s urban areas rely on surface water, such as theColorado River project transferring water to…
Saturday was “May the 4th Be With You” day at the Rustic Theatre. “StarWars” fans from near and far congregated for showings of “PhantomMenace” and the original trilogy. A “Star Wars” trivia contest was heldon the patio with Luke Byers. Steve Shelala of Ace Comix brought thecollectibles, and a Mandalorian was available for photo ops….
Dyani Brunner moved to Idyllwild in 2021 and opened up shop as abookseller in February 2022. She called that first shop Speakeasybecause of its hidden-away location next to Oakwood Village. Speakeasy,along with partner enterprise Bookmarket, moved into their present spacein the Collective as soon as it opened last year. “Given our size, it surprises people…
Volunteers from many local groups gathered at the headquarters of AnimalRescue Friends of Idyllwild (ARF) Friday, May 3, to help out with theorganization’s new Wind Chime Garden. The garden will be a place whereanimal lovers can hang a wind chime as a memorial for departed pets, andplaques will honor donors. ARF staff were joined by,…
Ariel Hackney celebrated the grand opening of Merkaba’s Green Thingnursery Thursday, May 2. The name is a nod to Hackney’s first localbusiness, Merkaba, which she bought in December 2022. “It was among thereasons I moved up here. I’ve always loved Idyllwild, and always wanteda reason to be here. I loved Merkaba before I bought it….
The Idyllwild Water District (IWD) directors held a special meetingWednesday May 1, to discuss the status of the waste water treatmentplant (WWTP) replacement project. The firm doing the initial engineeringwas expected to join the meeting by Zoom, but did not, instead providinga six-page memo which did little to answer the board’s question. Thememo projected that…
At the end of April, the American Lung Association (ALA) released itslatest air quality report, “State of the Air 2024.” The results analyzedata through 2022. “We have seen impressive progress in cleaning up air pollution over thelast 25 years, thanks in large part to the Clean Air Act. However, whenwe started this report, our team…
At its Dec. 12, 2023, meeting, the county board of supervisors asked thechief executive and Cal Fire to develop a strategy to alleviate theshortage of firefighter II/paramedics vacancies in the Riverside CountyFire Department (RCFD). This was approved without any discussion and the board expected a reportwith recommendations for a solution to be given to its…
