Vol. 78, No. 32 edition of the Idyllwild Town Crier newspaper

‘Borrego Triangle’ showing at the Rustic

B4

Josh Bischof dies in helicopter crash

By Becky Clark Editor

A native Idyllwild firefighter died Sunday night along with two others in a helicopter that collided with another helicopter in Cabazon while responding to a wildfire. Cal Fire Assistant Chief Josh Bischof was riding with Capt. Tim Rodriguez and a contract helicopter pilot when their helicopter collided with another helicopter carrying two people. The other helicopter landed safely. Bischof’s helicopter crashed, killing all three occupants.

Dave Fulcher, Cal Fire southern region chief, in a news conference Monday morning, told reporters that the incident occurred about 6:03 p.m. when fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft had responded to the Broadway Fire that started at Broadway Street and Esperanza Avenue in Cabazon.

The crash caused another four-acre fire, the Bonita Fire, that was quickly extinguished, he said. He extended his deepest sympathies to the families and said this was a tragic loss. He said Riverside County Fire Chief Bill Weiser had met with two of the families and was planning to meet with the third.

The National Transportation Safety Board was on its way to investigate the incident.

Cal Fire posted on social media, “It is with sorrow and regret that we inform the public of a midair collision August 6, 2023, that took the lives of two CAL FIRE employees and one Exclusive Use helicopter pilot. Assistant Chief Josh Bischof and Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez perished along with an Exclusive Use Helicopter Pilot in a collision between a Type 1 and Type 3 Exclusive Use helicopter assigned to the Broadway Fire in the Riverside Unit in the community of Cabazon.

“CAL FIRE will work closely with the Incident Commander, the National Transportation Safety Board, Riverside Unit and applicable programs to cooperate and investigate this aviation accident. Equally important, we will work closely with Southern Region, Riverside Unit, CAL FIRE Firefighters Local 2881, CAL FIRE Firefighters Local 2881 Honor Guard, and Headquarters programs to ensure that our employees and their families will be taken care of through this devastating time.

“Please be safe and keep the families in your thoughts.”

Riverside County 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez reached out to Weiser Monday morning to offer his sympathy on the passing of three helicopter victims.

“It is with great sadness that three members of our fire service perished protecting us from fire,” said Perez.

“It is a horrible tragedy when those who serve the community do not return home to their families. I pray for their families and the rest of Riverside County Fire Personnel.”

Bischof was high-profile on several fires, including the Camp Fire in Paradise in 2018, briefing President Donald Trump on the disastrous fire where at least 85 civilians lost their lives. He was the son of Larry Bischof of Mountain Center and Suzanne Bischof. He lived in Menifee, according to Facebook, with his wife Cheryl and children.

Hope comes for residents in flooded area

By David Jerome Correspondent

Since spring 2021, surface water has been flowing along Tollgate Road and down Lake Lane, pooling at the intersection of Lake and Meadow. Residents have said the water appeared after a neighbor, improving a carport, did some concrete work. The excavation appeared to have struck underground water creating an artesian spring. The water emerges on the south side of Tollgate, enters a culvert that takes it across the road, and then reemerges and flows along the north side of Tollgate until Lake Lane. There it turns right and follows that road until it finds another culvert near the corner of Meadow Drive and Estate, a total run of about four-tenths of a mile. These roads have slightly raised asphalt berms that keep the water from flowing into yards, The pool at the intersection of Lake and Meadow freezes in the winter, a hazard to pedestrians and drivers.

Neighbors first took their concerns to Idyllwild Water District (IWD), fearing a leak. In October 2021, General Manager Leo Havener said that a field test showed that the water was not IWD’s but did not provide any documentation to prove that negative.

Riverside County was slow to respond, and a familiar narrative of bureaucratic buck-passing emerged. Recently, residents have at last seen signs of action — crews flagging, surveying and digging along the water’s route. Riverside County Department of Transportation responded promptly to the Crier’s inquiry, and we pass along the update.

Executive Assistant Lisa Alexen wrote: “The department is currently installing a 10-inch plastic pipe on the north shoulder of Tollgate that will run easterly to Delano Dr; down the westerly shoulder of Delano Dr and cross Delano just south of Idyllbrook Dr. The line will terminate in an existing roadside ditch line on the east side of Delano Dr. From there the water will drain through an existing culvert under Idyllbrook Dr draining northerly to Strawberry Creek. All this work is being done within the road right of way and will not impact any private property.”

Director of Transportation Mark Lancaster, in a phone interview, relayed the following context.

ML: I can’t say if this was triggered by the resident’s work without a major technical investigation. My working theory is that this a “perched aquifer.” This is very rare; it needs exact properties for water to be trapped by rock.

TC: Perched aquifers are rare?

Josh Bischof gives an updated report Nov. 23, 2018 on the Camp Fire incident. PHOTO COURTESY OF CAL FIRE

…PAGE B1

Thomas wins first in Plein Air Festival

Normal to below-normal fire activity likely in August

By JP Crumrine Correspondent

Winter’s snow and rain continues to influence California’s mountains, including the San Jacinto Mountains. Despite days of record heat in July, the benefits from winter’s precipitation endure as the threat of wildfire remains normal to below normal, especially at the higher elevations.

The current wildfire forecast is “low risk” for this week, although recent fire activity has been at lower elevations — Banning and Aguanga — and confined to grassy and shrub areas, not wooded lands.

The early days of July were cooler, but temperatures began to climb and then soar later in the month. Another noticeable difference this year is the lack of any discernable monsoon weather.

However, Cal Fire’s Southern Operations Predictive Services unit believes that will change later in August. “… there was well below average shower and thunderstorm activity across the region … Expect an increase in monsoonal activity in August and continuing into September.”

The National Weather Service is forecasting rain and thunderstorms for the mountains Wednesday and Thursday.

This pattern should continue to moderate wildfire threats until fall and the arrival of seasonal Santa Ana winds.

While the threat is moderated, that is not the same as “no threat.” The hot July temperatures have accelerated the drying of dead fuel and live fuel moisture levels, particularly below 4,000 feet.

“All classes of dead fuel moisture saw noticeable downward movement thanks to the hot weather in July. 100-hour and 1000-hour dead fuel moistures are now running near or drier than normal in most areas after being well above normal

Caltrans working on Highway 371

Caltrans will begin work on a $5.2 million slurry seal and rumble strips maintenance project on Highway 371 from Aguanga through Anza. This project will involve dig outs, slurry seal operations, striping and installation of safety rumble strips on the inside and outside of the lanes in both directions, weather permitting.

The project was awarded to VSS International of Sacramento. Crews will be working from the junction of highways 79 and 371 to the junction of highways 74 and 371. The project length is 20.67 miles.

Construction begins the week of Monday, Aug. 14, and will occur Mondays to Fridays from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. with occasional weekend work.

Highway 371 will remain open for the duration of the project. One-way traffic control with flagging and pilot vehicles will be in place. Motorists must wait for the pilot vehicle to escort them through the construction zone. Expect delays up to 15 minutes.

The project is expected to be complete by late winter 2024.

Retreat for PTSD women veterans

Spirit Mountain Retreat’s next resiliency retreat for women veterans with PTSD is from 4 p.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2 to 6, at the facility.

This is an in-person retreat for diagnosed or undiagnosed PTSD women veterans. It is not dependent on source or time of the trauma, which could have hap-

most of this year …,” according to South Ops. “… thanks to the hot weather and the drier fuels, and are now more in line with typical peak fire season values, on either side of the 90th percentile. However, live fuel factors continue to play a major role in fire behavior. Despite the much drier dead fuels, moist live fuels continue to greatly limit fire activity at elevations above 3,000 to 4,000 feet where non-grass fuel types are dominant.”

Above 7,000 feet, fuel moisture remains high due to the heavy snowfall. But at lower elevations, moisture levels could return to normal, late-summer critical levels.

In summary, Cal Fire’s report said, “Above normal live fuel moisture in shrubs will continue to limit fire behavior in grass-shrub types through much of August, but fuel moistures will trend towards critical values by late August. This should allow

pened before, during or after military service resulting from either physical or moral injury)

Register by calling (951) 634-4048 or email info@spiritmountainretreat.org

No cost is charged to the veteran.

New feature on Caltrans app

Caltrans launched a new push notification feature on its QuickMap app that allows drivers to automatically receive real-time notifications about nearby road closures, emergencies and other traffic updates.

“With this new QuickMap upgrade, Californians now can receive instant traffic notifications based on their location,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Drivers can use this information to adjust their plans when needed, compare route options, save time and travel safely to their destinations.”

QuickMap is a mobile app and website available to the public at no cost for travel planning.

When a device with the QuickMap app enters an area within 10 miles of a road closure or other traffic-related event, a pop-up message will appear alerting travelers of the incident, including time, location and reason for closure.

Caltrans reminds drivers to use their mobile device responsibly, including only in hands-free mode when operating a vehicle. For more information, and to use the new feature, download the QuickMap app onto your phone or

August 14, 2023

Idyllwild Weather

mid-elevation fire activity to increase by later August and September, at least to levels closer to normal. Due to below normal activity in timber-dominated fuels, resource demand will likely remain below average for the geographic area.”

visit QuickMap.dot.ca.gov.

Asset limit increased for Medi-Cal

July 1, a new law in California increased the asset limits for Medi-Cal programs requiring an asset determination. This will improve the quality of life of many vulnerable residents in Riverside County.

These programs provide health care for adults ages 65 and over, individuals with disabilities, and residents of long-term care facilities whose eligibility is partially based on a determination of their countable assets. These increased limits will allow more applicants to become eligible for Medi-Cal benefits statewide.

The asset limits increased from $2,000 to $130,000 for a single person. For a couple, it has gone from $3,000 to $195,000. For each added person in the household, the limit rose to $65,000.

In California, assets are also known as resources or property, which can include cash, checking or savings accounts, or vehicles. Applicants who were previously denied Medi-Cal or terminated due to being above asset limits during the 90 days before the effective date of change (July 1) will be notified and encouraged to reapply. Those already enrolled in Medi-Cal will not have to take any action.

In January of 2024, the asset test will be eliminated completely for these Medi-Cal programs.

Income may become a factor in utility bills

By JP Crumrine Correspondent

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has until July 1, 2024 to develop a new electricity rate structure. But whichever proposed rate structure is adopted, the new rates will not be totally dependent on usage. Income also will become a basis for assessing future electric bills.

A year ago, the Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 205 and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law.

The text of the bill, in section (3) of the introduction, states, “… The bill would eliminate the cap on the amount of the fixed charge that the PUC may authorize. The bill would require the fixed charge to be established on an income-graduated basis, as provided, with no fewer than 3 income thresholds so that low-income ratepayers in each baseline territory would realize a lower average monthly bill without making any changes in usage …”

This April, the three largest California publicly owned utilities — Southern California Edison Company (SCE), Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company — provided joint testimony on how they might implement the requirements of AB 205.

They are proposing four income levels and adamantly urge the CPUC to use a third party for income verification.

They do not want to be part of that determination. The four income brackets described in the statement are:

• Bracket 1: California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) customers with incomes less than 100% of federal poverty level, which is $14,580 in 2023;

• Bracket 2: Remaining CARE and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) enrolled customers;

• Bracket 3: Non-CARE or FERA customers with incomes up to or equivalent to 650% of the poverty line (about $95,000); and

• Bracket 4: Non-CARE customers with incomes above 650% of the federal poverty line.

In the summary testimony, they stated, “The artificially high volumetric rates in existing residential rate structures pose affordability challenges for many lower- and moderate-income customers, very high bills for larger users, and monthly bill volatility.”

The new rate structure would include two main charges: A monthly fixed charge to cover certain fixed costs of providing electric service. For example, the costs of safely building, maintaining and operating the electric grid, of providing customer support, and the cost of state initiatives to help income-qualified customers and energy-efficiency programs; and an energy charge based on the electricity the customer uses during their billing period.

While these would not represent new or additional charges, they would restructure how electric bills are calculated.

In the examples provided to the CPUC, the joint proposals would likely provide for annual savings of about $300 for the lowest bracket. The next lowest bracket would have an annual savings of about $180. The third bracket would see a savings, but smaller.

The change for the fourth and highest income bracket, which the companies estimate includes about 20% to 25% of the residential population, would result in bills about $500 more yearly.

“We understand that our customers are dealing with rising costs of all kinds and are working to keep customers’ bills as manageable as possible,” said SCE President and CEO Steven D. Powell. “SCE believes an income-based fixed charge will provide benefits to millions of customers, particularly those most in need of energy bill relief. It will also make it easier for more Californians to afford clean energy technologies.”

For Edison’s customers, the company estimated about 1.2 million lower-income customers would receive an average 16% to 21% bill reduction. About half SCE’s customers would see lower bills, assuming no change in electricity use.

Rates for each unit of electricity consumed (kilowatt-hours) would decrease by about 33% for all residential customers, according to SCE. The proposal also recommends the monthly fixed charge for SCE’s lower-income customers be as low as $15 but no greater than $20; and the highest fixed charge, for customers in the top 19% of earners, be $85.

Revenues from the fixed charges would help cover utilities’ costs to provide customer service, including meters, poles, wildfire preparedness, operations and maintenance, according to the CPUC, which regulates private utilities.

The fixed charge would not be the only portion of a customer’s bill. Customers would still be able to lower the portion of their energy bills based on usage by doing such things as investing in solar panels or strategically running appliances during non-peak times. Over the next decade, electricity use will grow and Californians will begin using more and more zero-emission vehicles, which are powered with electricity.

SCE and the other two large utility companies concluded, “In contrast, the Joint IOUs’ [Independently Owned Utilities]

proposals to combine an Income Graduated Fixed Charge (IGFC) with lower volumetric rates on all residential rate schedules will improve equity. Our proposals will bring customers’ rates closer to the cost to serve them, resulting in greater month-to-month bill stability, and provide low-income customers with bill reductions, on average, relative to the current rate structure,” the three utilities stressed.

The Public Advocates Office agrees that an income-graduated fixed charge is critical to support these goals. It would reduce power bills for lower-income customers and reduce barriers for all California households to phase out fossil fuel use and benefit from electric cars, water heaters and more.

A monthly fixed charge on customers’ electricity bills will cover some or all of the electric grid’s fixed costs (such as power line maintenance, energy efficiency programs and wildfire prevention) and will not vary based on electricity usage, the Advocates Office surmised.

However, not all commenters were supportive of the new direction for calculating electric rates. Seven Republican state senators, including Brian Jones, Senate Minority Leader Brian Dahle, vice chair of the Senate’s Energy, Utilities and Communication Committee, and Kelly Seyarto, who represents the Hill communities, sent the commission an opposition letter on April 20.

They began by writing, “While it is still very early in the CPUC’s review process, we are writing to publicly express serious concerns about the arbitrary, so-called ‘fixed-charge’ (or ‘flat-rate’) electricity price proposal recently submitted by the big three Investor-Owned Utilities — PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E — which would primarily base utility costs for families on their annual income.”

Their principal objection and concern was, “Under the IOUs’ plan, low-income families could be on the hook for hundreds of dollars of additional yearly utility fees, regardless of their electricity usage. This move not only contradicts the principles of fair pricing and consumer protection, but also discourages energy conservation and sustainable living … The goal of trying to stabilize the grid and lower electricity rates is something we support; however, the tactic of implementing a structured fixed-charge system that diminishes individual responsibility and usage in favor of an ‘identity’ subsidization is not, in our opinion, an answer.”

AD 47 campaign contributions already building

By JP Crumrine Correspondent

The 2022 election was only nine months ago, but the race for state Assembly District (AD) 47 in 2024 has already begun in earnest. And that election is more than a year away. Idyllwild and Pine Cove, the areas to the north, and Mountain Center, north of Highway 74, are in AD 47. Greg Wallis, a Republican, is the incumbent. Most of Garner Valley, Anza and Aguanga are in AD 36, represented by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, a Democrat. AD 47 also includes the desert cities from La Quinta north to Desert Hot Springs. Valle Vista, Beaumont and Banning are on the western side of AD 47, which also embraces a small portion of San Bernardino County.

In November, Wallis won a very close race against Democrat Christy Holstege for the newly redistricted Assembly seat. Out of a total of 169,419 ballots submitted, Wallis had 85 more votes than Holstege. The 0.06 % difference was the closest state Assembly race since 1994.

In spring 2024, a primary will be held for the November election. This April, only four months after the 2022 election results were official, Holstege announced her plans to challenge Wallis again.

Both candidates are already actively seeking and securing contributions in anticipation of another close and heated race.

Christy Holstege

Holstege, her husband and son, are Palm Springs residents and she is a member of the Palm Springs City Council and a former mayor. She is a civil litigation lawyer and community organizer.

As of June 30, Holstege already had slightly more than $300,000 cash. Since her announcement, she has raised $322,000. The largest was a $23,000 donation

See AD 47, page A4

St. Hugh’s accepts new priest, Bill Doggett

By David Jerome Correspondent

This week the Crier sat down with the new priest at St Hugh’s Episcopal Church. People call him Father Doggett, and officially he’s the Rev. Dr. William Doggett, but he prefers Bill.

TC: Tell us about your background.

BD: I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was an undergraduate music major at U.C. Davis. Davis had a great early music program. I worked around the Bay Area for many years in music and the performing arts before I went to seminary to become a priest.

I got my master’s of divinity at The Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and stayed to complete my doctorate at the Graduate Theological Union. My doctoral dissertation was on hymns and hymnals for children.

TC: What path led you from music and performing arts to the church?

BD: While I was working around at music and theater, conducting, designing, directing and teaching, I was also conducting a church choir for 15 years in my hometown (Livermore.) This led me to consider going to seminary.

TC: [Martin] Luther thought that the experience of hearing and joining in music was not just a metaphor for the union of the soul with God but was that actual experience.

BD: I believe that, too. There is nothing that makes a congregation experience being one body like singing together. I still perform. I’m passionate about early music.

Bill plays recorder with the Los Angeles Baroque, a community chamber orchestra: 25 to 30 players, winds, strings, “even a theorbo” (lute with extra-long bass strings.) He is starting to learn baroque bassoon.

TC: After the Bay Area?

BD: We moved to DC because of my late husband’s job. We were in DC for 18 years.

TC: That must be a different culture?

BD: We were lucky to work, eat and live on Capitol Hill. It’s a great small town in the middle of a big city. I served in a church on Capitol Hill for 11 years. Seeing your parishioners at the market, community activities or eating at a restaurant, that’s something missing, something we don’t experience anymore except in rural America.

The position at St Hugh’s is “quarter time,” and Bill also serves “half time” in Hemet. He continues to live in Rancho Mirage. He and his late husband first moved there to find a place with “no steps, no snow and no mortgage.” And here he is close to his family, “almost all still in California.”

In the previous 12 years, he served in eight churches — interim positions at parishes who went through the process of hiring permanent

AD 47

Continued from A1 from the California Democratic Party. Six contributions were for more than $10,000 and another 37 gifts were greater than $5,500. This represents about 90% of the total contributions to her campaign.

The six $10,000 donations were from Political Action Committees (PAC) such as the California State Council of Service Employees Small Contributor Committee and the Association of California School Administrators PAC Small Contributor Committee.

Many of the $5,000 donations were contributions from incumbent legislators such as Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Mike Fong, Gregg Hart, Evan Low, Josh Lowenthal, Cottie Petrie-Norris and Robert Rivas.

Only 45 contributions were for less than $500.

Most of the contributions were from Palm Springs or Sacramento. Of the 125 listed contributions, six were from states other than California.

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priests. The Episcopal Church’s process involves a lengthy conversation within a church before putting out word it is seeking prospects. “If you can’t be honest about who you are in the search process, you’ll call the wrong priest.”

TC: How long have you been here?

BD: Since the 1st of July. I’ve committed to two years. After that we’ll see. Both the church here and the church in Hemet are in the middle of hoping to do some changes. Hopefully, we’ll be in a place to assess what the actual needs of the churches are … I’ll be eligible for retirement,

• Only one letter per author within a 14-day period.

• Letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Town Crier staff.

• Letters may be submitted by e-mail to editor@towncrier.com and must include “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line.

• The deadline is 10 a.m. Monday.

heat relief center, when asked to. We did that last week. I come up here from Palm Springs. It’s heat relief to me … I understand AC is not as common up here, and even temperatures in the 90s can be challenging.

TC: What is the focus of your work here now?

BD: We’re mostly in the brainstorming phase, getting to know people, the things that are possible, what might be fun. I want to build a stronger relationship with Good Shepherd in Hemet. Inviting the congregation from Hemet to come up here to celebrate St Hugh’s Day (Nov. 17 and inviting the Idyllwild congregation to come down to celebrate Good Shepherd’s Day (fourth Sunday after Easter.) One idea the congregation seems to be energetic about is a contest to name the big cedar … this would be community-wide, not just for the congregation. We are in conversations about reviving the community meals we used to have.

TC: Potlucks?

BD: Yeah. Meetings to organize that have already begun. We are hopeful about reviving our ministries for children and youth … Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. Because of the split duties, Sunday services are at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We have social hour and are planning to have a monthly potluck after the service.

TC: St. Hugh’s has long opened its doors for other community groups.

BD: There are six recovery groups that meet here, every day but Sunday. The congregation and I are of one mind that this is a very important thing we can do with our facilities to support the community.

TC: People also visit to walk your labyrinth, the walking meditation.

BD: I would like for us to add an outdoor set of statues for the Stations of the Cross. My hope is that we could get local artists to design the stations.

TC: Any closing words?

but it’s not required. It works out well for both churches. It is challenging to find a part-time priest. The last several years St Hugh’s has not had a priest on staff. A priest came up for services twice a month. My presence as a staff member means I’m here to help with administrative stuff, do pastoral visits, and be more involved in planning the events, activities and future of the congregation.

BD: I’m very, very happy to be here, not just because in the short time I’ve been here I’ve fallen in love with the congregation, but because the congregation has a very strong desire to increase the connection with the arts community in Idyllwild.

TC: Last year the church hosted the Manhattan Chamber Players’ Lily Rock Festival.

BD: We hope that will be happening again, in early fall, I think. We’re opening the church as a

Greg Wallis

Wallis, the incumbent Republican Assembly member, is the former district manager for Assemblyman Chad Mayes (NPP 42nd District), whom he replaced in the Assembly.

As of June 30, Wallis had $250,000 cash in his 2024 campaign account and another $13,000 remained in the 2022 account.

Since January, he has received about $315,000 in contributions from 140 entities. None were greater than $10,000. The California State Pipes Trade Council PAC and the State Association of Electrical Workers PAC both gave $7,500.

Twenty-two entities gave $5,000 or more. Examples include Anheuser Busch, Chevron, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno

BD: I would love to tell your readers this is a very welcoming community. We’d love to have you join us for 3 o’clock worship on Sundays. It’s a community that loves to sing. We’re lucky enough to have a very talented musician to lead the music, Eddie Hansen. As a church musician myself, I’ve worked with quite a range, from extremely talented to the opposite, from the extremely opinionated to the extremely cooperative. Eddie is one of the cooperative creatives.

About being a priest, Bill said, “It’s a vocation and I love it.”

A question about his name led to a deep back story: His 19th great-grandfather came to America in 1660 to be the rector of Christ Church in Lancaster, Virginia. There have been a few churchmen in the family since, but Doggett seems to have been the only other Episcopalian.

Mission Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Philip Morris, Edison and Walmart.

Most of the contributions to Wallis’s 2024 campaign chest were between $1,000 and $2,500. Only 10 were for $250 or less.

Seventeen of his contributions were from out of state — three from Texas and two each from Delaware, Florida and Virgina. Only one was for less than $1,000 and two were for $5,000 or more.

matelobby.org/.

Thursday, Aug. 10

• Fit After 50, 10-11 a.m. Town Hall, 25925 Cedar St.

• AA discussion & birthdays, noon. St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church, 25525 Tahquitz Dr.

• Narcotics Anonymous, 4 p.m. St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church, 25525 Tahquitz Dr. or Zoom. Call Mary, 951-634-4048.

• AA happy hour & birthdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Behind Idyllwild Water District, 54255 Pine Crest Ave. (bring chair)

Editor’s note: Organizations, please read your listings carefully and email becky@towncrier.com with any changes.

Wednesday, Aug. 9

• Rotary International of Idyllwild meeting, 7:30 a.m. American Legion Post 800, 54360 Marian View Dr.

• Pine Cove Water District board meeting, 10 a.m. PCWD, 24917 Marion Ridge Rd., Pine Cove.

• Grief Support Group, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Spirit Mountain Retreat, 25661 Oakwood St.

• Codependents Anon, noon. St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church, 25525 Tahquitz Dr.

• Fit After 50, noon-1 p.m. Town Hall, 25925 Cedar St.

• Community Church Guild, 2 p.m. Idyllwild Community Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 54400 N. Circle Dr.

• Idyllwild Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, 6 p.m. Zoom link will be sent to those who sign up at https://citizenscli-

• Mountain Communities Mutual Aid food distribution, 1-2 p.m. Camp Maranatha, 54162 Maranatha Dr.

• Idyllwild Community Zen, 6 p.m. Text/call Valerie Velez at 951-392-6507 for information.

Friday, Aug. 11

• Idy A’s (AA, NA, Alanon, CODA, etc.), noon. St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church, 25525 Tahquitz Dr.

• Women’s Writing Group with fellow writers, 2-4 p.m. Spirit Mountain Retreat. Call 951659-2523 for Zoom info.

Saturday, Aug. 12 American Legion Auxiliary meeting, 10 a.m. Post 800, 54360 Marian View Dr.

• Healing Rooms, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Shiloh Christian Ministries, 54295 Village Center Dr.

• AA, discussion, noon, St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church, 25525 Tahquitz Dr.

• Dog Park Saturdays, 3-4 p.m. Rick Barker Dog Park, 26375 Hwy. 243.

NEWS OF RECORD

Idyllwild Fire

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District responded to these calls from Sunday to Saturday, July 30 to Aug. 5.

—

&

Riverside County

Fire/Cal Fire log

The Riverside County Fire Department/Cal Fire responded to these recent dispatches from Monday to Sunday, July 31 to Aug.

• Aug. 2 — Assault, 9:20 p.m.

• Aug. 3 — Fall, 12:22 p.m.

• Aug. 3 — Burns, 7:51 p.m.

• Aug. 5 — Vegetation fire, 3:50 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 13

• Peace Meditation Practice, 10 a.m. Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Center, 53191 Mountain View, Pine Cove. AA, discussion, noon, Idyllwild Water District, 25945 Hwy. 243.

• Mixed Nuts, 5:30-7 p.m., Spirit Mountain Retreat, 25661 Oakwood St.

Monday, Aug. 14

• Fit After 50, noon-1 p.m. Town Hall, 25925 Cedar St.

• Codependents Anon, 6 p.m. Zoom. Call Mary, 951-6344048.

Tuesday, Aug. 15

• Fit After 50, 10-11 a.m. Town Hall, 25925 Cedar St.

• Idyllwild Garden Club board, 10 a.m. 25025 Fern Valley Rd.

• Tai Chi for Seniors, 10 a.m. Spirit Mountain Retreat, 25661 Oakwood St.

AA, noon. St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church, 25525 Tahquitz Dr.

• Aug. 6 — Fainting, 11:40 a.m.

Pinyon

• Aug. 2 — Vegetation fire, 11:44 a.m.

• Aug. 5 — Accidental overdose, 12:06 a.m.

• Aug. 5 — Traffic crash, fuel leak, 3:53 p.m.

• Aug. 6 — Hemorrhage, 5:56 p.m.

• Aug. 6 — Vegetation fire, 6:03 p.m.

Sheriff’s log

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls Monday to Sunday, July 31 to Aug. 6.

Idyllwild

• July 31 — Alarm call, 4:40 a.m. 24000 block of Upper Rim Rock Rd. Handled by deputy.

• July 31 — Alarm call, 8:25 a.m. 25000 block of Hwy. 243. Handled by deputy.

• July 31 — Vandalism, 10:55 a.m. 55000 block of S. Circle Dr. Handled by deputy.

• July 31 — Miscellaneous criminal, 1 p.m. 26000 block of Hemstreet Pl. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 1 — Alarm call, 3:22 p.m. 55000 block of Pioneer Rd. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 2 — Suspicious circumstance, 1:39 p.m. 25000 block of

• Mountain Disaster Preparedness board meeting, 4-5:30 p.m. Idyllwild Library, 54401 Village Center Dr. Lovingkindness Meditation Group, 5-5:30 p.m. Spirit Mountain Retreat, 25661 Oakwood St. Call 951-659-2523. • Sons of the American Legion board meeting, 6 p.m. Post 800, 54360 Marian View Dr.

• Palms to Pines Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby, 6-6:50 p.m. https://zoom. us/j/4391478344

• Hemet Unified School District board meeting, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hamilton High School, 57430 Mitchell Rd., Anza.

• Al-Anon, 7 p.m. Town Hall, 25925 Cedar Street.

Wednesday, Aug. 16

• Rotary International of Idyllwild meeting, 7:30 a.m. American Legion Post 800, 54360 Marian View Dr.

• Mobile health clinic, 10 a.m.-

3 p.m. Town Hall, 25925 Cedar St.

• Grief Support Group, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Spirit Mountain Retreat, 25661 Oakwood St.

• Codependents Anon, noon. St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church, 25525 Tahquitz Dr.

• Fit After 50, noon-1 p.m. Town Hall, 25925 Cedar St.

• High Valleys Water District

Hwy. 243. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 2 — Public assist, 9:53 p.m. 52000 block of Idyllmont Rd. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 3 — Suspicious vehicle, 6:59 a.m. 54000 block of Pine Crest Ave. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 3 — Follow-up, 8:39 a.m. Address withheld. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 4 — 911 hangup from cellphone, 9:53 a.m. 55000 block of Pine Crest Ave. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 4 — Public disturbance, 7:44 p.m. 55000 block of Daryll Rd. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 4 — Unknown trouble, 8:57 p.m. Address undefined. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 5 — Suspicious person, 12:47 a.m. 54000 block of Riverside County Playground Rd. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 5 — Noise complaint, 1:55 a.m. Address undefined. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 5 — Noise complaint, 2:29 a.m. 53000 block of Country Club Dr. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 6 — Animal abuse, 2:54 p.m. Address undefined. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 6 — Suicide threat, 7:43 p.m. Address withheld. Report taken.

• Aug. 6 — Noise complaint, 9:59 p.m. 25000 block of Azalea Dr. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 7 — 911 call, 9:45 a.m. 25000 block of Wayne Dr. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 7 — Narcotics, 9:56 a.m. 25000 block of Glen Rd. Handled

board meeting, 3 p.m. HVWD office, 47781 Twin Pines Rd., Twin Pines. Idyllwild Water District board meeting, 6 p.m. IWD board room, 25945 Highway 243.

Community service hours

• California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (bark beetle issues), 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Mountain Resource Center, 25380 Franklin Dr., 659-3335.

• Idyllwild Area Historical Museum, 54470 N. Circle Dr., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri., Sat. & Sun. (Mon. holidays.) Group tours by appt. 659-2717.

• Idyllwild Help Center, 26330 Hwy. 243, 10 a.m.-noon & 1-4

by deputy.

Mountain Center

• July 31 — Man down, 1:52 a.m. 23000 block of Hwy. 243. Handled by deputy.

• July 31 — Civil dispute, 1:42 p.m. 53000 block of Pineavista Dr. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 1 — Check the welfare, 8:21 a.m. 23000 block of Oak Leaf Ln. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 1 — Kidnapping, 2:41 p.m. 25000 block of Nestwa Trl. Unfounded.

• Aug. 2 — Unknown trouble, 8:51 p.m. 25000 block of Franklin Dr. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 7 — Public disturbance, 10:04 a.m. 25000 block of Franklin Dr. Handled by deputy.

Garner Valley Pine Meadows

• Aug. 2 — Public assist, 11:14 a.m. 59000 block of Devils Ladder Rd. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 5 — Alarm call, 10:53 a.m. 38000 block of Ribbonwood Ln. Handled by deputy.

Poppet Flats

• July 31 — Off road vehicle, 2:55 p.m. 18000 block of Cryer Dr. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 2 — Emergency notification, 6:46 a.m. Address withheld. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 5 — Overdose, 12:05

Town Crier Membership Application:

NAME(S): _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

p.m. Tues.-Fri. 659-2110.

• Idyllwild Library, 54401 Village Center Dr., Strawberry Creek Plaza, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon., Wed.; noon-8 p.m. Tues.; noon-5 p.m. Thurs. & Fri.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., 6592300.

• Idyllwild Nature Center, 25225 Hwy. 243, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Sun. 659-3850.

• Idyllwild Ranger Station, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri.-Mon., 8 a.m.noon Tues.

• Idyllwild Transfer Station, 28100 Saunders Meadow Rd., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thurs.-Mon. (Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day); Grinding Facility, 8 a.m.-noon & 1-4 p.m. Mon., Wed. & Fri.

a.m. 18000 block of Keyes Rd. Report taken.

• Aug. 5 — Public disturbance, 4:14 p.m. Address undefined. Report taken.

San Bernardino National Forest

• Aug. 1 — Suspicious vehicle, 12:11 p.m. 51000 block of Old Mine Trl. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 1 — Check the welfare, 7:32 p.m. 47000 block of E. Hwy. 74. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 2 — Civil dispute, 10:14 a.m. 56000 block of E. Hwy. 74. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 2 — Battery, 9:06 p.m. 56000 block of E. Hwy. 74. Unfounded.

• Aug. 3 — Assist other department, 7:48 p.m. 56000 block of E. Hwy. 74. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 4 — Suspicious circumstance, 3:26 p.m. Address undefined. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 6 — Noise complaint, 1:31 a.m. 56000 block of E. Hwy. 74. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 6 — Civil dispute, 9:24 p.m. 47000 block of E. Hwy. 74. Handled by deputy.

• Aug. 6 — Unknown trouble, 10:24 p.m. 47000 block of E. Hwy. 74. Handled by deputy.

Twin Pines

• July 31 — Missing person, 4:57 p.m. 16000 block of Valley Hi Dr. Handled by deputy.

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Local Dining, Arts & Entertainment On the Town

U.S. Marine Corps Band coming to Idyllwild Aug. 17

By David Jerome Correspondent

Idyllwild’s free Summer Concert Series (ISCS) at the Butterfield Amphitheater continues Thursday, Aug. 17, with another tradition, the United States Marine Corps Division 1 Band. The band has been visiting Idyllwild or over 40 years, and has participated in every ISCS since the series’ inception in 2000. There will be no opening act due to the complexity of the stage and sound set-up required for a concert band of this size, and the music begins at 7 p.m.

ISCS Vice President Pete Holzman said the Marine Corps Band has “been a mainstay in the concert lineup for most of our 22 years … and a favorite of the concert goers.” In past years, the Corps has sent up its 18-piece jazz ensemble from San Diego and its Combat Center Band from 29 Palms. The Division 1 Concert Band has, in the past, brought up 45 to 50 musicians for these shows.

The 1st Marine Division is the oldest, largest and most decorated division of the Marine Corps. Headquartered at Camp Pendleton, the division is a force of

22,000 men and women organized to conduct combat operations. The Wind Ensemble is regarded as one of the finest military ensembles in the United States today.

The concert band performs traditional marches, overtures, instrumental solos, classical transcriptions and patriotic favorites.

It performs regularly throughout Southern California, and across and outside the continental United States. Highlight performances include the annual Fleet Week Celebration in San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Rose Parade, and the WW I Annual Remembrance Ceremony in Belleau Wood, France.

The band represents the Marine Corps in the western U.S. and traces its origins back to WW II. The 1st Division was then stationed in Australia, and a band was fielded to play for the celebration of George Washington’s birthday in February 1943. It performed the Australian bush ballad “Waltzing Matilda,” and this became the official march of the division.

The return of the Marine Corps Band is a reminder of ISCS President Ken Dahleen’s years of service in the band. Enlisting as a teenager in the hope of being sent to Vietnam, Dahleen said the corps decided it needed a

clarinetist more than another foot soldier. Dahleen remained in the service for 12 years.

ISCS is Dahleen’s gift to Idyllwild. As the director of his Big Band Staff, he can field varied ensembles up to a really big band, and meets the best tribute bands in the region. Each year he cycles through a varied roster of crowd-pleasing acts providing something for everyone, always a few surprises and always the Marines. As a musical contractor, he has the crew and equipment to produce these big outdoor shows that bring locals and visitors of all ages and musical tastes together.

These concerts are free to all and supported entirely by donations. This year’s budget is $36,900. The team “passes the hat” at the event, and those who can give more are invited to send contributions, checks payable to “Idyllwild Summer Concert Org,” to P.O. Box 1542, Idyllwild CA 92549-1542 or call (760) 413-4638.

Remember that temperatures drop in the summer evening. Come prepared with an extra layer to Butterfield Amphitheater, 54201 Ridgeview Drive, accessible through the Idyllwild Community Center Playground parking lot on Highway 243 just south of town.

Elin Thomas wins first in Plein Air Festival

Twenty eight artists participated in the Art Alliance of Idyllwild’s Plein Air Festival Saturday, Aug. 5. Many paintings are still available at the Town Gallery located in Oakwood Village. The paintings will be hung until Sept. 10.

Juror Daniel Foster of Pinyon Crest chose the award winners.

• 1st Place - Elin Thomas of Riverside

• 2nd Place - Martha Villegas of Cathedral City

• 3rd Place - Jessica Schiffman of Palm Springs

• People’s Choice went to Thomas for her painting, “View Towards Lily Rock”

• Honorable Mention - Joyce Trinh of San Diego

• Honorable Mention - Pam Pavela of Corona

• Honorable Mention - Taylor Bakken of Playa del Rey

All participating children received art supplies as a gift; all artists also received gift bags courtesy of Art Supply Warehouse in Westminster.

After a full day of painting, the artists relaxed under the shady trees in Oakwood Village and were treated to the musical stylings of Rachel Perry Music on Instagram.

Right, First Place and People’s Choice awards went to Elin Thomas (right) of Riverside for her painting, “View Towards Lily Rock,” in the Art Alliance of Idyllwild’s Plein Air Festival last Saturday. She is shown with Juror Daniel Foster of Pinyon Crest.

Arts & Entertainment

Event charges may apply.

See ads throughout the issue. Email editor@towncrier.com.

Wednesday, Aug. 9

• Niños & Nature, 10 a.m.noon. Idyllwild Nature Center.

• Summer Reading Program Awards & The Wacko Show, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Idyllwild Library.

• Coed pickleball, 11 a.m. Idyllwild Pines Camp.

• Shaolin Qi Gong & Chicks with Sticks, 11 a.m.-noon & 4-5 p.m. Spirit Mountain Retreat.

• Minecraft & Scratch Coding Class, 2-3 p.m. Mt. San Jacinto Room, Camp Maranatha.

• Lego Club, 3-4 p.m. Mt. San Jacinto Room, Camp Ma-

ranatha.

• “A.I., Enhancing Everyday Life in Surprising Ways,” 4-5:30 p.m. Idyllwild Library.

• Idyllwild Chess Club, 5-9 p.m. Alpaca Brunch Cafe.

Thursday, Aug. 10

• Women’s pickleball, 9 a.m. Idyllwild Pines Camp.

• Lego Play, 10 a.m.-noon Idyllwild Nature Center.

• Summer Concerts: Bryan & Lareé Goodhead, 6:05 p.m.; Jennifer Singer, 7 p.m. Butterfield Amphitheater.

Friday, Aug. 11

• Women’s pickleball, 9 a.m. Idyllwild Pines Camp.

• Bridge Club, 1-4 p.m. Idyllwild Library.

Saturday, Aug. 12

• Butterfly Daze, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Idyllwild Nature Center.

• Idyllwild Library Story Time, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Idyllwild Nature Center.

• Coed pickleball, 11 a.m. Idyllwild Pines Camp.

• Idyllwild Area Historical Society annual meeting & presentation, 2-4 p.m. Idyllwild Library.

Sunday, Aug. 13

• Idyllwild Chess Club, 5-9 p.m. Alpaca Brunch Cafe.

Monday, Aug. 14

• Women’s pickleball, 9 a.m. Idyllwild Pines Camp.

• Associates of Idyllwild Arts Foundation, Kentaro Kameyama, 10 a.m. Stephens Recital Hall, Idyllwild Arts.

• Cribbage games, 10 a.m.noon. Idyllwild library.

Tuesday, Aug. 15

• Mah Jongg, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Idyllwild Library.

• Jam session/song circle, 5:30 p.m. American Legion Post 800.

Wednesday, Aug. 16

• Niños & Nature, 10 a.m.noon. Idyllwild Nature Center.

• Preschool Story Time, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Idyllwild Library.

• Coed pickleball, 11 a.m. Idyllwild Pines Camp.

• Shaolin Qi Gong & Chicks with Sticks, 11 a.m.-noon & 4-5 p.m. Spirit Mountain Retreat.

• Fireside Book Group, “Mecca” by Susan Straight, 2-3 p.m. Idyllwild Library.

• Minecraft & Scratch Coding Class, 2-3 p.m. Mt. San Jacinto Room, Camp Maranatha.

• Lego Club, 3-4 p.m. Mt. San Jacinto Room, Camp Maranatha.

• Idyllwild Chess Club, 5-9 p.m. Alpaca Brunch Cafe.

Thursday, Aug. 17

• Women’s pickleball, 9 a.m. Idyllwild Pines Camp.

• Lego Play, 10 a.m.-noon Idyllwild Nature Center.

• Summer Concerts: U.S. Marine Corps 1st Division Band, 7 p.m. Butterfield Amphitheater.

Friday, Aug. 18

• Women’s pickleball, 9 a.m. Idyllwild Pines Camp.

• Bridge Club, 1-4 p.m. Idyllwild Library.

Saturday, Aug. 19

• Coed pickleball, 11 a.m.

Idyllwild Pines Camp.

Sunday, Aug. 20

• Idyllwild Chess Club, 5-9 p.m. Alpaca Brunch Cafe.

Monday, Aug. 21

• Women’s pickleball, 9 a.m. Idyllwild Pines Camp.

• Cribbage games, 10 a.m.noon. Idyllwild library.

Tuesday, Aug.22

• Sewing Club, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. & 3-5 p.m. Mt. San Jacinto Room, Camp Maranatha.

• Mah Jongg, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Idyllwild Library.

• Jam session/song circle, 5:30 p.m. American Legion Post 800.

• Artist opening reception, Honor G., 6-7:30 p.m. Idyllwild Libbrary.

The 1st Division Marine Corps Band graced the stage at the Butterfield Amphitheater for the next-to-last concert in the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series 2022.

PHOTO BY PETER SZABADI

Do you remember a time someone was kind to you?

Who was it?

What did they do that was kind?

A little act of kindness can go a long way toward making someone have a better day. Can you draw a smile on each of these faces?

Do you remember a time you were kind to someone else?

Who was it?

What did you do that was kind?

How did it make you feel?

Draw a picture or write about that memory.

Kindness Bingo

Read each of the acts of kindness on this Bingo card.

Try to do each of these simple acts of kindness in the coming week. Color in a box every time you do one. Can you color in the entire Kindness Bingo card in a week?

Buddy Bench

This is Trevor. He is new at school. He’s eating lunch all alone because he doesn’t know anyone yet.

Draw some new friends sitting with Trevor on the bench. It’s kind to introduce yourself and your friends to someone new!

How did it make you feel?

Draw a picture or write about that memory.

Kindness News is Good News!

Look through the newspaper for examples of people being kind. Cut them out and make a Kindness Poster.

Standards Link: Use the newspaper to locate information.

In March of 2022, the kindergartners of West Side School in Healdsburg, California recorded laughter and messages they wrote to cheer people up. They set up a phone number where people could call and listen to these happy messages. Their Peptok line received more than 11 million calls in a year!

The teachers came up with another good idea. They asked students to make posters with positive messages and hang them around their communities. Posters are posted on telephone poles, in store windows, and on walls.

Once you display your poster, take a picture of it and send it to: Woodword@kidscoop.com Include your first name, age and state. Some will be shared on our Instagram page.

With hundreds of topics, every Kid Scoop printable activity pack features six-to-seven pages of high-interest extra learning activities for home and school! Get your free sample today at:

Kindness Poem

Thank

ATTENTION CONTRACTORS

California Business and Professions Code 7071.13 reads: “Any reference by a contractor in his advertising, soliciting, or other presentments to the public to any bond required to be filed pursuant to this chapter is a ground for the suspension of the license of such contractor.”

This is a contractor’s responsibility, not a newspaper’s, and we are not responsible for it. However, as a courtesy, we will remove references to a bond in contractors’ advertising, if we notice it.

‘Borrego Triangle’ film showing at Rustic Aug. 17

By David Jerome Correspondent

The Rustic Theatre will roll out the red carpet Thursday, Aug. 17, when it premiers “Shadows in the Desert: High Strangeness in the Borrego Triangle.” The independently produced film follows two paranormal-focused hipster-podcasters, Derek Hayes and David Flora, as they run down the local legends of the Anza-Borrego region. Other podcasters provide background and occasionally scholarly deconstruction of the tales, and what these stories can tell us about ourselves.

The film begins with a solemn, or perhaps mock-solemn, warning: These guys are trained cryptid hunters. Don’t try this yourself, you could die out there. Heat and vast distances. Snakes and scorpions. Mountain lions. Ghosts and monsters. Or at least stories of ghosts and monsters.

Beginning at the Ranchita Yeti, the duo takes the audience on a tour of some of the storied cor-

ners of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest park in the system. Locals and other investigators share their tales, and their rapt interlocutors raise their well-curated eyebrows at appropriate moments. They are great listeners.

They walk the fine line between fully embracing supernatural explanations and leaving open the possibility that maybe, just maybe … there’s nothing there. A cold spot in a slight depression in the sand could be ghosts … or just a cold spot.

The Sandman could be a terrifying monster unknown to science, or a rip-roaring 19th century hoax. Mysteries remain mysteries, and legends persist.

Take the Creature of Deadman’s Hole, a tall, 400-pound furry hominid with a human face, carnivorous teeth and 24-inch feet that was said to have wreaked havoc at a watering spot near the eastern corner of the “triangle.” It was reportedly shot by hunters and brought to San Diego for exhibition … on April 1, 1888. Coincidence? All this is presented absolutely deadpan. If these

Services

Low-cost weekly advertising in this space increases students. Call Suzanne at (951) 659-2145 or visit www. idyllwildtowncrier.com or email Suzanne at suzanne@ towncrier.com

For Rent 4-bedroom, 2-bath furnished or partially furnished log house for rent. Great Idyllwild location, close walk to downtown. Pets upon approval. $3200/mo. Call 951-2954108 for details.

For Sale

Services

Abatement. Big truck hauling. Trash pickup 4 times a month for $100. Pine needles, yard clearing. Call for estimate (951) 659-5404.

researchers know disappointment, science is yet to uncover any trace of it. They, like their quarries, remain perfect ciphers.

The movie is not just for fans of the paranormal: History buffs will find many gems. Who knew the park was home to Goat Canyon Trestle, the world’s longest wooden railroad trestle (in use as recently as 2008). The Borrego Triangle is full of history, unknown even to most of us who have lived our lives nearby. Native Americans, Spanish settlers, homesteaders and miners all left their traces and passed down their legends. A drive down that desert highway at night can still raise goose bumps. Any self-respecting local teller of camp-fire tales will find the mother lode here.

Two showings of the film Thursday are at 5 p.m. (invitation only and followed by a Q and A session) and at 8:30 p.m., open to the general public. “Shadows in the Desert: High Strangeness in the Borrego Triangle” also will be available on streaming platforms later this year.

Services Services

TAX PREPARATION On the Hill

D&H

Announcements

CRISISLINE, 683-0829 or 1 (800) 339-7233. Alternatives to Domestic Violence (ADV) provides information, counseling and shelter services for battered women and their children.

Forest Knoll A Frame: Walk to Town. Lily Rock view. Open living space, 2 bedrooms plus loft. Master bedroom with full bath and 3/4 bath upstairs. $540k. For sale by owner. Call/text Kristin @ 213-840-6978.

Help Wanted Place your classified line ad in the Town Crier, Call (951) 659-2145 or email: suzanne@ towncrier.com to get your ad in front of thousands of people!

Firewood Blowout - Get ready for the next cold winter. Eucalyptus $360/ cord. Hard mix $325/ cord. Hard & soft mix $295/cord. Pine $260/ cord. Buy 3 cords, save $10/cord. Delivery included. 909-800-1352.

Deadline: noon Monday for Thursday publication

• No charge for Found ads: 4x maximum insertion.

• Please read your ad. We assume no responsibility for errors after first insertion.

• Information other than what is placed in ad is confidential. No advance information is given on ads.

• We reserve the right to reject classified and display ads that are considered by the editor to be libelous, in bad taste or personal attacks.

• For display advertising, call (951) 659-2145 or toll free 1-888-535-6663 or visit 54391 Village Center Dr. Suite 5, Idyllwild, and ask to speak to an Advertising Representative. • For Classified advertising questions call Town Crier at (951) 659-2145 or Email: suzanne@towncrier.com

Happy Birthday, Smokey Bear

By JP Crumrine Correspondent

Wednes-

day, Aug. 9 is Smokey Bear’s 79th birthday. This was when the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) authorized a formal campaign warning of wildfires and engaging the help of a bear.

The fear of wildfires had grown since the beginning of World War II. In 1942, a Japanese submarine fired shells on an oil field near Santa Barbara, and also close to the Los Padres National Forest.

As a result, the USFS, with help from the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention program, the War Advertising Council and the Association of State Foresters created posters and slogans, including “Forest Fires Aid the Enemy,” and “Our Carelessness, Their Secret Weapon.”

Three years later, the popular phase, “Remember … Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” was introduced. Then in 2001, it became “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.”

Sunday, Aug. 6, Smokey posted on Twitter, “Happy National Friendship Day to all my friends! Preventing wildfires is a team effort, and I need all my friends to participate because Only You can prevent wildfires. Take the Smokey Bear pledge at http://smokeybear.com to keep our natural wonders untouched by wildfires.”

The “The” in Smokey The Bear was added in 1952 to improve the rhythm of a song Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins wrote.

By 1952, Smokey Bear had attracted considerable commercial interest, so the United States Congress passed the Smokey Bear Act to remove the character from the public domain and place it under the control of the Secretary of Agriculture. The act provided for the use of Smokey’s royalties for continued education on the subject of forest wildfire prevention.

Creature Corner reature

By Janice Murasko

Last week in “Days of Our Nine Lives,” ARF cats and kittens shared ideas for keeping dogs safe during the hot summer.

Harley: Is this a catastrophy? I think we are being over-run with cats!

Phil: Sort of, but it’s kittens that are taking over.

Harley: Yes! I believe ARF now has 10 kittens. That’s quite a lot.

Rosy: Are we going to share photos of all the kittens?

Katnis: Well, not yet. I believe ARF is hopeful that potential adopters will stop by to meet them all.

Phil: There are so many female kittens.

The two boys are beautiful orange, but they are part of a litter of five who won’t be ready to leave for a few more weeks.

Pepper: If someone falls in love with one of those five, I understand that she may submit an application and a deposit.

Don: That’s right. The other five are all ready to go and make a family very happy.

Katnis: And I hope folk realize ARF’s adult cats, such as myself, are so very adoptable. I’m friendly and affectionate, and I’m also told I’m very pretty.

Pepper: Yes you are! Phil and Don are so handsome and incredibly friendly.

Don: And don’t forget Smokey! She is loving and really wants a lap to call her own.

Smokey: I would be so happy to have a lap and home to call my own.

Harley: And although I am the ARF office cat and greet everyone who comes to visit, I still envision my life in a home with a loving person or couple.

Be sure to keep up with the animal antics of Days of our Nine Lives each week. And please stop in to say hello to the entire adoptable cast at the ARF House, 26890 Hwy 243. ARF is open Saturdays 10-3, Sundays 10-2, and during the week by appointment. Please call 951-659-1122.

For those interested in sponsoring future weeks or months of Creature Corner, contact ARF at 951-659-1122 or info@idyllwildarf.org.

Past Tense

75 years ago - 1948

The district school board accepted a bid of $80,272 for a new Idyllwild School building. Work was to be completed in six months.

70 years ago - 1953

The first production of a Shakespearean play in the history of Idyllwild occurred when “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was presented at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts.

65 years ago - 1958

Residents were invited to attend the dedication of a new Olympic-sized swimming pool at Buckhorn Camp.

60 years ago - 1963

Showing on the big

screen at the Rustic Theatre was “Bye Bye Birdie,”starring Janet Leigh and Dick Van Dyke.

55 years ago - 1968

William Stahlberg was named to replace Robert Waggoner as supervisor of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Stahlberg transferred from Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

50 years ago - 1973

A rare and valuable violin, made in 1751 by Carlos Antonio Testore, was given to ISOMATA by Mrs. Mary Stow Warring, Desert Sun School director.

45 years ago - 1978

Area residents rated fire protection at the top of the list of community needs at the Community Development Block Grant meeting.

40 years ago - 1983

The Pine Cove Water District board approved a budget of $341,500 — an increase of nearly 48% over the prior year’s budget.

35 years ago - 1988

Many real estate signs on properties in the Big Cedar Glen area were tak-

en down as a result of action taken by the Big Cedar Glen Property Owners Association. Members were concerned that the 19 “for sale” signs in the three-street neighborhood created a depression-like atmosphere.

30 years ago - 1993

The temple of the Idyllwild branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was nearing completion.

25 years ago - 1998

The tragic loss of legendary children’s entertainer Shari Lewis was mourned on the Hill where Lewis and her husband, Jeremy Tarcher, had a second home for seven years.

20 years ago - 2003

Local peace advocates held a peace march to mark the 100th day after President Bush declared war on Iraq.

15 years ago - 2008

Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack’s bill, H.R. 4841, settling the decades-long dispute between the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and several local water districts, was signed into law.

10 years ago - 2013

The Strong Fire, reported shortly after noon Monday along Strong Drive in Fern Valley, was no match for human strength. Following on the heels of a mandatory evacuation because of the Mountain Fire in July, the 2-acre vegetation fire in Idyllwild brought panic but quick response as not only firefighters, but neighbors, readily quashed the blaze.

5 years ago - 2018

The guardrail and a large culvert on Highway 74 between McGaugh Road and McCall Park Road were severely damaged as the Cranston Fire ripped through the canyon below, eventually destroying a home at the top of the hill.

1 year ago - 2022

The Idyllwild Community Center (ICC) has announced the details of the public ground-breaking ceremony for the new ICC building. The ceremony was to be held at the building site immediately to the left of the Idyllwild Community Playground.

Dozens of helium balloons marked the end of the story time summer series at the Idyllwild Library in Fern Valley in August 1983. After the children listened to library volunteer Mary Ann Joyce read several stories, the balloons the Friends of the Idyllwild Library provided were distributed. FILE PHOTO

Carrie

Glessy Rosy

After 15 years, Rachel Torrey read her last children’s storytime to a large crowd

Wednesday, Aug. 2, at Idyllwild Library. Torrey is moving off the Hill and read her favorite books to the children and other visitors.

Saturday morning, Aug. 5, Idyllwild Community Center (ICC) and the off-Hill crypto currency social organization Friends with Benefits (FWB) co-hosted an event at ICC’s Idyllwild Skatepark to celebrate FWB’s generous contribution from a year ago that significantly helped ICC complete installation of the new half pipe feature. More skatepark upgrades also are underway with FWB funding, including new skatelite and steel transitions to rehab older features.

Right, the Women Entrepreneurs of Idyllwild sponsored a sold-out Barbie Watch Party Friday night, and many showed up in a sea of pink in support. The Rustic Theatre celebrated Idyllwild’s personal connection to Barbie by featuring an opening reel of vintage Barbie commercials showcasing the work of Idyllwild locals Shana Halligan and her late father, Dick Halligan. Local shop Wildland Organics partnered with The Help Center to create a “Barbie Costume Pop-Up” the week leading up to the event, with 100% of proceeds going to benefit the Idyllwild Help Center, along with support from vintage shop The Rustic Sunrise.

WORD SEARCH

(Answers on previous classifieds page)

Become a Town Crier Member!

Less

$9 per month.

http://www.IdyllwildTownCrier.com/membership-signup/

CROSSWORD

(Answers on previous classifieds page)

The Ghost Notes, a Grateful Dead tribute band, with the “Dead Mirror Lady” of Idyllwild, at Butterfield Amphitheater Thursday night, Aug. 3, during the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series.

August 2023 — Week 2

March 21 – April 19

Mars, your ruling planet, helps you deal with career challenges in a way that reflects some of your own hidden strengths. This impresses some important decision-makers.

April 20 – May 20

Your strong Bovine will, combined with your romantic nature (you are ruled by Venus), helps turn a romance with a potential for problems into one with more positive possibilities.

May 21 – June 21

Mercury’s influence creates some unsettling moments, but nothing that you can’t live with. You’ll soon learn more about a major change that is about to be revealed.

June 22 – July 22

Opportunities for you are like the phases of the Moon -- constantly appearing and reappearing. So, cheer up. The opportunity you thought slipped by will be replaced by another.

July 23 – August 22

An opportunity that you hoped would open up for you remains closed. Stop wasting time scratching at it. Something else you’ll like will soon make itself apparent and accessible.

August 23 – September 22

(Answers on previous classifieds page)

Congratulations. You’ll soon hear some positive feedback for all of the hard work you recently put into a project. Meanwhile, a Pisces could soon swim into your personal life.

September 23 – October 22

Someone whose friendship you felt you had to write off will try to revive it. What you do is up to you, but don’t do it without giving it considerable thought.

October 23 – November 21

A job-related plan might need to be reworked to allow for changes. Lucky for you, there’s strong planetary influences that can help you focus on getting it done right.

November 22 – December 21

This is a good time to move into areas of selfdiscovery. You might be surprised about who you really are and how you really relate to those around you.

December 22 – January 19

Expect to confront someone who will make an unwelcome request. Stand by your resolve to do the right thing, no matter what “persuasion” might be offered.

January 20 – February 18

A friendly competition could become more contentious than you expected. Take time out to discuss the reasons behind this unexpected change and act accordingly.

February 19 – March 20

You have a wonderful mind for solving mysteries, so you should feel confident about solving the one that develops very close to you. An unlikely source offers help.

PHOTO BY JACK CLARK

PHOTO BY STEVE OLSON

PHOTO BY JOEL FEINGOLD

PHOTO BY JOEL FEINGOLD