Vol . 79, No. 51 of the Idyllwild Town Crier by Idyllwild Town Crier

County to involve public in budget preparation

By JP Crumrine Correspondent

The County of Riverside announced its plan to encourage greater citizen involvement in the budget preparation process. This expanded effort will give County residents more opportunities to express opinions about how the County’s fiscal resources are distributed among the various agencies. And it begins much earlier than the traditional June Board of Supervisors budget hearings.

The first step is a budget survey, available in English or Spanish. The site is found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Rivconeeds

The budget priorities survey begins with questions asking you to choose your priority area, such as public safety, healthcare and several others. You can choose up to four different areas.

Next you will be asked to choose five priority initiatives, such as improved fire stations, road maintenance, child abuse prevention, or foster parenting programs. Other questions will assess which agencies respondents think should receive more or less funding. The survey continues asking more questions to elicit your county budget priorities.

“The goal is to make our budget process more inclusive and responsive to the needs of our diverse communities,” Board Chair Chuck Washington (3rd District) said in the press release announcing the survey’s availability. “I’m excited to invite the community to help guide decisions that will impact the future of our region.”

The survey will remain open until March 2025 and is available online in both English and Spanish (www.surveymonkey.com/r/Rivcospanish). The new fiscal year (2025-26) begins July 1, 2025.

Beginning in early 2025, the County will also host

five budget workshops. These workshops will provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the budget process, share their perspectives, and offer input ahead of the annual budget hearings in June.

“Engaging the community earlier in our budget planning is critical to ensuring that we are addressing the needs and priorities of our residents,” the County’s Executive Officer, Jeff Van Wagenen, said in the press release. “This survey is a demonstration of the County’s commitment to transparency and accountabil-

ity. Community feedback will be used during the budget process to improve quality of life across the county. This is an important step, and we look forward to hearing from our community.”

For more information about the budget priorities survey, please visit rivco.org/budget-information. The survey can also be accessed from the RivCoReady page on X, formerly Twitter.

More information about the time and location of the budget workshops will be available in early 2025.

Bird flu in unpasteurized milk continues to concern health officials

By JP Crumrine Correspondent

On Friday, Dec. 6, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced it would start testing raw (unpasteurized) milk samples nationwide. The testing will begin Dec. 16.

The agency will test for avian influenza (bird flu) H5N1. This virus was first detected in dairy cattle in March 2024.

Testing of pasteurized milk was done twice this summer and no evidence of the virus was found in any of the samples, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded, “These results strengthen previous assessments that commercial pasteurization inactivates the H5N1 virus.”

The new testing program’s purpose is to better understand the spread of this virus throughout the U.S. Identifying, which states, and specific herds within them, are affected with H5N1, will enable implementation of measures to reduce the risk of its spread to other livestock and to protect the health of

farmworkers.

“Since the first [bird flu] detection in livestock, USDA has collaborated with our federal, state and industry partners to swiftly and diligently identify affected herds and respond accordingly. This new milk testing strategy will build on those steps to date and will provide a roadmap for states to protect the health of their dairy herds,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “Among many outcomes, this will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide. . .”

The first step will be testing milk silos at dairy processing facilities nationwide. The intent is to identify herds in a state that are infected with H5N1. When the virus is detected, “APHIS will work quickly to identify specific cases and implement rapid response measures, including enhanced biosecurity using USDA’s existing incentives programs, movement controls and contact tracing,” according to the press release.

Once herds are proven to be unaffected,

regular sampling and testing will continue.

Unpasteurized milk is the concern for the presence of the avian flu virus. And that is the focus of the test program being implemented.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stresses that pasteurized milk is safe. Nearly all (99%) of the commercial milk supply that is produced on dairy farms in the US comes from farms that participate in the Grade A Milk Safety Program and follow the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, which includes controls that help ensure the safety of dairy products.

The process of pasteurization has helped to ensure the health of the American public for more than 100 years. Pasteurization kills harmful bacteria and viruses by heating milk to a specific temperature over time. Even if the virus is detected in raw milk, the current pasteurization process (high temperature, short time) will inactivate the virus, according to the FDA’s website.

On Nov. 9, the California Department of Public Health announced that it had detected bird flu in an Alameda County child. This was

See Bird Flu, page A4

PHOTO BY JOEL FEINGOLD

Monarch butterfly population threatened

By JP Crumrine Correspondent

Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act.

The monarch butterfly is well known and popular throughout the United States. Each year, millions of easily recognizable orange and black butterflies migrate to winter sites in California and Mexico.

It has had a small habitat homestead on the Hill. For years, it visited and populated the small area around the Pine Cove Water District office. And it has been a very popular visitor to many Nature Center and Earth Fair events on the Hill.

In a November 2021 Town Crier article, current PCWD director and former office manager, Becky Smith said, “The Monarchs stop here on their way to Mexico, and they lay eggs on the milkweed — hundreds of eggs … we are helping to build the numbers.” The PCWD area was a registered monarch habitat, Smith added.

At the PCWD Oc¬tober 2021 Board meeting, former General Manager Jerry Holldber reported that the office’s habitat “broke all records. We had close to 150 butterflies.”

“The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating lifecycle. Despite its fragility, it is remarkably resilient, like many things in nature when we just give them a chance,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams in the press release announcing the proposed ruling.

However, its overall population has steadily dwindled, according to the FWS. “Today, the eastern migratory population is estimated to have declined by approximately 80%. The western migratory population has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, putting the western populations at greater than 99% chance of extinction by 2080,” according to the press release.

Even the Pine Cove population has fallen in recent years. According to PCWD General Manager Jeremy Potter, only a couple of butterflies were seen and no caterpillars. Consequently, the District’s conservation efforts stopped last year.

This is not the first-time concern for the monarch butterflies has been expressed. In August 2014, the Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Food Safety, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, and Dr. Lincoln Brower, requested that the FWS list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species. In December 2014, the FWS indicated that action may be needed.

Six years later, in December 2020, the FWS equivocated. While agreeing with the earlier petition, it concluded action was “. . . precluded by higher priority actions.”

“Science shows that the monarch needs that chance, and this proposed listing invites and builds on unprecedented public participation in shaping monarch conservation efforts,” FWS Director Williams added. “Providing monarchs with enough milkweed and nectar plants, even in small areas, can help put them on the road to recovery. Working together, we can help make this extraordinary species a legacy for our children and generations to come.”

Threats to monarchs include loss and degradation of breeding, migratory and overwintering habitat, including milkweed plants which they rely on as a place to lay their eggs. Milkweed is not technically a weed. Other threats to their population include exposure to insecticides and the effects of climate change, according to the FWS.

To start the protective actions for the monarch butterflies, the FWS is proposing critical habitat along the monarch’s overwintering sites in coastal California.

The overwintering habitat provides an essential resting place for monarchs during the cold winter months and helps them prepare for breeding in the early spring.

Nearly 4,400 acres in the counties of Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Ventura would be designated as critical habitat. This action will impose no requirements on state or private land unless the action involves federal funding, permits or approvals.

“The monarch butterfly and its remarkable multi-generation migration are marvels of the natural world. This science-based decision is a national call to action for all Americans to save this majestic species by joining forces to plant native milkweed and nectar plants all across the nation – our yards, schools, parks, rights-of-way, businesses, places of worship, working lands, and so much more, said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “By working collaboratively, we will recover and safeguard this iconic species for future generations.”

Public comments will be accepted on the proposal until March 12, 2025. The Service will then evaluate the comments and any additional information on the spe-

cies and determine whether to list the monarch butterfly.

To submit written comments, send them to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R3–ES–2024–0137, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.

Digital or electronic comments may be submitted to: www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS–R3–ES–2024–0137, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click on the Search button. On the resulting page, in the panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed Rule box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on ‘‘Comment.’’

The Federal Register notice stated that the FWS will hold two public information meetings to be followed by public hearings, but did not identify the locations. The dates and times are Jan. 14, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (EST). The second session is supposed to be Jan. 15, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (EST).

For more information about the monarch listing proposal, and how to help conserve monarch butterflies, please visit: www.fws.gov/monarch

Mountain Area Safety Taskforce meeting reviews progress, previews “augmentation” next year

By David Jerome Correspondent

The Mountain Area Safety Taskforce held their last public meeting of 2024 on December 11, at the Idyllwild Nature Center. MAST meetings bring together representatives of local, state and federal agencies and local nonprofit organizations that cooperate to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in our mountain communities.

Jim LaMont, Idyllwild Fire Protection District Deputy Fire Marshall, reported briefly that staffing is at peak level, equipment is OK, and crew that were prepositioned during the recent Red Flag Warning are back on the Hill.

Lynette Short, CalFire Division Chief-Resource Management Forester II, provided a report on that organization’s local activities. Cal Fire is set to downstaff mountain area stations with the changing seasons, from 17 to 5 woodland engines. Anza and Garner Valley in particular will move from preparedness to fuels reduction and inspections. CalFire is responsible for inspections of parcels outside the jurisdictions of local districts like IFPD.

Short said that CalFire’s director, Joe Tyler, has set a statewide goal to budget 80% of time towards fuels reduction. This will include cutting regrowth on existing fuel breaks. The agencies are looking forward to finishing projects they have struggled to finish in recent years. This depends on the weather: If there is snow, they must wait for it to melt; if it is too dry or windy burning must also be delayed. We can look forward to acreage totals at the spring MAST meeting.

In the last two months, work has sped up around the Nature Center, with Anza-Bautista and Banning crews contributing to the effort. The Redhill project, west of Pine Cove, is a non-contagious shaded fuel break, 200 to 300 feet wide. Locals will be seeing crews around the Nature Center and near Alhatti Christian Resort.

The 85-acre Astro Camp project is also on the list for re-entry this winter. It was initiated following the 2014 Mountain Fire, began with removing charred trees, and has created a shaded fuel break.

Short expressed her hope that vegetation reduction projects undertaken by the various agencies and nonprofits will all be put on one map. This kind of integrated response is still a work-in-progress

Plans for local improvements include two additional Heli-hydrants in Anza and Aguanga. Currently helicopters can take water from Foster Lake, which was used this year at least once, and Pine Cove Water District’s mobile Helipad.

Callie Squires, Executive director of Mountain Community Fire Safe Council, gave an update on their work. MCFSC is continuing grant-funded Wildfire Prevention work including private property defensible space, and removal of diseased dead and

dying trees affected by the golden spotted oak borer (GSOB).

The GSOB continues to be a major focus of MCFSC’s work. They are planning on revisiting trees that have been treated in 2022 or earlier for reevaluation. Homeowners who participated in programs funded by Forest Health dollars in 2022 or earlier should have received emails giving them a chance to provide access or opt out of a visit. For more on this, please refer to the side bar, “Fall GSOB check-up for your oaks.” With the Forest Service, they are also cataloging black oaks from Santa Rosa to Black Mountain. MCFSC will be applying in January for a continuation of these grants for GSOB, both spraying and mechanical treatment.

Squires said she was pleased to announce two new grants to help their “Woodies,” the volunteer group that operates the Firewood Bank at the HELP Center. Five thousand dollars from SCE will help with supplies and equipment and rebuilding the shed where the firewood is stored before distribution. Fifteen thousand dollars from the Alliance for Green Heat will go towards supplies, equipment including personal protective gear, and running electricity to the processing area. AGH will also provide kits with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and educational resources to community members receiving assistance.

The Woodies are also working on a partnership with UCCIE (Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire.) The goal is to build a second volunteer team to perform simple abatement for locals unable to pay the 25% most homeowners pay when they have abatement done by contractors hired through MCFSC administered grants.

MCFSC is working with Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) to schedule a workshop in spring that will focus on wildfire preparedness for those with access and functional needs, especially seniors. The workshop will be conducted in conjunction with Idy Elders and Others and will tie into the smoke and CO detector giveaway program.

To those thinking about year-end donations and taxes, Squires noted that MCFSC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, now accepts credit cards, both for the cost-share portion of abatement work and for donations,

Samuel German, fuels officer for the San Jacinto Ranger District, cataloged the Forest Service’s assets in our district: 13-17 engines daily, three helicopters and four aerial tankers. They were on 24-hour staffing during the recent Red Flag Warning.

The Forest Service will focus this winter on burning “administrative piles” around stations, and piles in Pine Cove and the Cranston Reforestation area. German noted that the road to access the Red Hill project needs repair, and that steep terrain and heavy canopy there will require slow and careful burning. Thomas Mountain may see more burning, but that “depends on the new administration.”

Bill Tell, of Mile High Radio Club, said they are

proud to announce that the County Emergency Management Department has agreed to stand up three new radio broadcast sites for traveler information. He said that ten years ago the Club put together a strategic plan to provide radio information to travelers across our mountain, and now it will go forward. The new stations, in Poppet Flats, Pinyon Pines and Garner Valley, will supplement WNKI, which transmits from the IFPD’s yard. The new transmitters will be at CalFire stations and will have different frequencies from WNKI. They will require posting new signs on the highway to inform motorists, and this will have to be approved by Caltrans.

The schedule for MAST meetings in 2025 has not yet been decided but will likely be quarterly again.

Fall GSOB checkup for your oaks

By David Jerome Correspondent

If you have Oaks that were treated through Mountain Community Fire Safe Council’s golden spotted oak borer program, now is the time to check on their health. One giveaway: damaged trees don’t drop their leaves. The leaves fall in response to a hormone, and a tree that is diseased will hold on to its dead leaves when healthy trees are bare. If you notice this, take a few pictures, and email them to MCFSC with your name, contact info and address. They are building a library of data that will evaluate the progress of their program.

Those who have received spray treatment since spring of 2022 have been receiving emails to facilitate a revisit or opt out. They are being asked to take a few photos of their oaks, to show their overall condition, including pictures of the entire tree, the leaf canopy, and the bark. The photos should be submitted by email to gsob@mcfsc.org or by text to (760) 218-1203. Include your name and the date the photos were taken, as well as the tree tag number, if they left a metal tag and you can still read it. Please note, these photos and the tree location (street address) may be shared with University of California ANR, and other partnering agencies to contribute to research and monitoring of this invasive species. No personally identifying information will be passed along.

“ASK SPIRITUAL WORKOUT”

By Steven Morrison, M.A.

• Editor’s

Note: Spiritual Workout is a practice of these 15 concepts: Be Compassionate • Beliefs Matter • Be Present • Choices Abound • Everything Is Energy • Have an Attitude of Gratitude • Intentions Matter • Judgments Separate Us • Listen to Inspiration • Mind & Body Are Connected • Take Responsibility • The Law of Attraction Is Always On • We Are All Connected • We Are Here for a Reason • We Belong to the Planet, Not the Planet to Us. More at spiritualworkout.com.

Dear Spiritual Workout:

This may sound weird, but I have a real fear of intense weather—torrential wind and rain and the sounds that go with them leave me anxious and unnerved. Any idea what might be causing this and what I can do about it?

Dear Reader:

I’ll leave the judgment (“weird”) to you. And I’ll say that it’s my strong belief that the cause may or may not be knowable and likely doesn’t matter very much. (That’s not to say it might not be interesting, it often is, like if it’s from a past life or something.) As for what you can do about it, I’d look first at the belief(s) that create “anxious and unnerved.” I have no idea, of course, but examples might be: “I’m vulnerable.” “Torrents of wind and rain are harbingers of doom.” “The world is dangerous.” “I’m going to die.” From there, create an intention and set of beliefs that are the opposite of anxious and unnerved. “Weather reminds me of the grandeur of Earth.” “I am an eternal being and am thus, always safe.” “I am safe in all kinds of weather.” “I will know what to do to protect my Self.” What I’m getting at, broken record, is that “anxious and unnerved” are products of thinking/believing so…change the thoughts/beliefs you have about what torrential wind and rain mean and you will change your experience of them.

Dear Spiritual Workout:

I always assume that people don’t like me or that I’m doing something wrong when I’m not directly hanging out with them or if I haven’t heard from them in a while.

Dear Reader:

Well, that’s not exactly a question, but I will point out, again, how very much beliefs matter. Every one of us has the right to any and all beliefs we’ve ever formed for any reason. So, the only question — ever — is whether or not the beliefs we have serve us. “People don’t like me” and “I’m doing something wrong” would most definitely not serve a person who has a desire for good friends to hang out and have fun with.

Christmas Season at St. Hugh’s

Dear Spiritual Workout: How do I move through a social situation with someone that I don’t like?

Dear Reader:

St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church 25525 Tahquitz Rd. Idyllwild, Ca, 92549 951-659-4471

sthughsidyllwild.org

12/2/22

St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church 25525 Tahquitz Rd. Idyllwild, Ca, 92549 951-659-4471 sthughsidyllwild.org

12/2/22

Interfaith Service of Solace at 6pm 12/11/22 Mass at 11am

By acknowledging that it is not an accident that this person is on your radar, in your group, whatever it is. We are here for a reason. So, when we find ourselves in situations that are not to our liking we also believe that there’s something in it for us, something of value for our growth and development. To get at it, we ask: Who do I have to be or what muscle do I need to grow or develop in order to be at peace with this unwelcome, unwanted circumstance? Sometimes answers come quickly, often they require a little time. It will always be something that is: 1) conceptually simple e.g., I have to be more compassionate; less judgmental; more assertive and 2) something about which you’ll say, “yeah, that’s been on my back burner for a while.”

New Grief Support Group starting at Spirit Mountain

By Davis Jerome Corrospondent

There will be a new Grief Support Group starting at Spirit Mountain Retreat in January. Executive Director Mary Morse will be facilitating the group, which will be every other Wednesday, starting January 15. Morse says that she has facilitated this type of group many times before, “we decided to start this up again, a number of people requested it.” The group will be free, with donations welcome..

Morse emphasizes that grief comes in all shapes and sizes. The loss of a loved one comes to mind first when we think of grief, but we grieve the loss of animal companions, relationships, jobs, cherished objects, even health. “All of these things are losses people have to grieve over to become who they need to be. It’s difficult for people to remember they are not alone. It helps to know there’s someone who might understand.“

Morse emphasizes that grief is an essential part of life. “If you have loved you will have grief, that is the price of love” And emotions change over time. “It’s not like the hole on your heart goes away, but you learn to live with it, you build a life around it. It’s not like it always hurts the way it hurts today, you’re not always stuck in severe grief.”

Participants are invited to bring poems, songs or mementos if they like, but there are no requirements, and all are welcome. You may RSVP or call for more information, or just show up, “test the water to see if its right for you.” Those who show up will find a caring space to share experiences, learn about grief’s processes, and alleviate feelings of isolation. “Spirit Mountain is all about healing, healing the spirit, this is the process of life.”

Grief Support Group at Spirit Mountain Retreat, 25661 Oakwood Dr., alternate Wednesdays beginning January 15, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. For more information call (951) 634-4048 or email info@spiritmountainretreat.org. Spirit Mountain Retreat is a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit corporation.

Bird

Flu continued from A1

the first case of a child contracting the virus.

On Dec. 5, the Alameda County Department of Public Health released the following statement, “The child received treatment and fully recovered. All other members of the household tested negative for bird flu. The investigation is complete, and no additional cases or sources of exposure were identified.”

Last week, the Federal Centers for Disease Control confirmed the child was infected with bird flu. Officials do not know how she came in contact with the virus.

“These data indicate that the virus detected in this pediatric case is very similar to the majority of other influenza A(H5N1) viruses detected in the United States and bears no signs of concerning mutations,” was the conclusion in the CDC press release and added, “There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of H5N1 virus in California or elsewhere in the United States. However, persons with occupational exposure to infected animals, such as poultry cullers, poultry workers, and dairy farm workers, are at higher risk of influenza A(H5N1) virus infection.”

SaintHolidayHugh’s Schedule

Christmas Eve

Interfaith Service of Solace at 6pm 12/11/22 Mass at 11am

Screening of “The Making of Handel’s Messiah” at 1pm

Christmas Eve

December 24th, 2023

Screening of “The Making of Handel’s Messiah” at 1pm

• You’re Invited…

Followed by Luncheon at 2:30pm/Please RSVP please “Handel’s Messiah from Grace Cathedral” from 3:15 to 5:30pm 12/24/22

Christmas Eve

…to Spiritual Workout’s 9th Annual “Resolutions Shmezolutions” Online Intention-Setting Party Extravaganza on Dec. 30. It’s a light-hearted way to get serious about what you want, Spiritual Workout-style. Info/tickets: spiritualworkout.com/resolutions-shmezolutions Sliding scale.

Christmas Carols from 4:30 to 5pm Mass at 5pm

Followed by Christmas cookies, coffee, tea and hot cider

December 24th, 2023

2024

The Sacred Proclamation of Christmas, intoned by Reverend Bill Doggett. Celebration of the Eucharist at 5pm closing with a candlelight vigil and the singing of “Silent Night”.

Doors open at 3:45pm. Please arrive early for best seating. Sing along to Christmas carols with Ed Hansen. -Also featuring Vicki Jakubac, Leslie Lingren, on Celtic harps and Erik Lingren on acoustic guitar. The Sacred Proclamation of Christmas, intoned by Reverend Bill Doggett. Celebration of the Eucharist at 5pm closing with a candlelight vigil and the singing of “Silent Night”.

Please join us afterward for yummy baked goods and hot cider. at St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church

Please join us afterward for yummy baked goods and hot cider. at St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church 25525 Tahquitz Dr., Idyllwild 951-659-4471 www .s t

Christmas Carols from 4:30 to 5pm Mass at 5pm

Followed by Christmas cookies, coffee, tea and hot cider

Tahquitz Dr., Idyllwild 951-659-4471 www .s t h ughs i dyllwild org

Send address changes to IDYLLWILD TOWN CRIER, P.O. Box 157, Idyllwild,

PUBLISHER, P.O. Box 157, 54440 N. Circle Dr. Unit F, Idyllwild, CA 92549. Standard postage paid at Idyllwild, CA. Send subscription and change of address requests to the above address. Please allow up to two weeks for requests to take effect.

Community Calendar

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

Jazzercise 8:30 AM-9:30 AM Town Hall

Fit After 50 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Town Hall

ICC After School Program

2:00PM-6:00 PM Town Hall

Story Time ~ Mrs.Claus

7:00 PM-8:00 PM Idyllwild Library

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19

Jazzercise 8:30 AM-9:30 AM Town Hall

Fit After 50 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Town Hall

Best Book Club ~ Wild River

12:30 -1:30 p Idyllwild Library

ICC After School Program

2:00 PM-6:00 PM Town Hall

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

Jazzercise 8:30 AM-9:30 AM Town Hall

ICC Kids Korner HOLIDAY CAMP

9:00 AM-5:00 PM Town Hall

Fit After 50 12:00 PM-1:00 PM Town Hall

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

Jazzercise 8:30 AM-9:30 AM Town Hall

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22

Farmers Market

9:00 AM-2:00 PM Town Hall

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23

Jazzercise 8:30 AM-9:30 AM Town Hall

ICC Kids Korner HOLIDAY

CAMP 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Town Hall

Tween/Teen Winter Video Club

10:00 AM-4:00 PM Town Hall

TAI CHI Class

10:30 AM-11:30 AM Town Hall

Fit After 50 12:00 PM-1:00 PM Town Hall

Jazzercise 5:30 PM-6:30 PM Town Hall

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24

Jazzercise 7:00 AM-8:00 AM Town Hall

ICC Kids Korner HOLIDAY CAMP

9:00 AM-5:00 PM Town Hall

Fit After 50 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Town Hall

Jazzercise 5:30 PM-6:30 PM Town Hall

AL ANON 7:00 PM-8:00 PM Town Hall

Don’t

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Farmer’s Market at the Idyllwild Town Hall.

PHOTOS BY JOEL FEINGOLD

Newsom asks Special Session for $25 million to defend State laws and policies

By JP Crumrine Correspondent

Within two days of the November Presidential Election ending, Gov. Gavin Newsom called a Special Session of the State’s Legislature to convene on Dec. 2. Its purpose is to prepare against possible new disputes with the Federal government over multiple California policies and laws.

Newsom is asking the Legislature to approve additional funding for the State’s Department of Justice and other agencies that will allow them to “. . . immediately file affirmative litigation challenging actions taken by the incoming Trump administration.”

The funding will also help to defend the State’s policies from anticipated litigation or enforcement actions filed against the State.

The Special Session convened briefly on Dec. 2. The next day the Assembly and Senate both adjourned their special sessions. The Assembly will reconvene on Monday, Jan. 6. The Senate will reconvene upon call of the President pro tempore, Sen. Mike McGuire.

Before the adjournment, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, introduced two bills.

The first, AB X-1, would authorize $25 million to cover the costs of potential litigation. The second bill, AB X-2, provides $500,000 to fund the initial case preparation.

“While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming Trump Administration,” Jesse Gabriel said in his press release. “We know from President-elect Trump’s statements – and from the more than 120 lawsuits that California filed during the first Trump Administration – that we must be prepared to defend ourselves. We’re not going to be caught flat-footed.”

In his November statement calling for a Special Session, Newsom said, “The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared to fight in the courts, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.”

The $25 million is the initial step to take these actions. This fund would strengthen the state’s legal resources and enable the California Department of Justice to respond to potential new federal policy proposals that

would harm the state. This funding would also help state agencies to defend California from possible administrative actions in conflict with existing State policies.

“With potentially billions of dollars in federal funding on the line if the President-elect follows through on his promises, we must be – and we are – ready to act on day one,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in the Governor’s press release. “I am looking forward to working with Governor and the Legislature to ensure my office has the resources we need to meet the demands of the moment and robustly defend California’s people, progress, and values.”

Policy areas which concern Newsom, Bonta and the legislature include disaster relief, health care, mental health, air quality, and other vital services.

The Governor’s goal is to have the proposed funding legislation approved and ready to be signed before Jan. 20, 2025, which is Trump’s inauguration. According to Newsom, the Legislature has indicated it will hold committee hearings on the legislation. During this process, the Governor will actively collaborate with legislative leaders and the Attorney General to refine and advance the measure.

Last week, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher said, “This special session is a sham that will cost California taxpayers $25 million! Newsom wants to spend your tax dollars suing @realdonaldtrump just to boost his own national profile! Assembly Republicans will stand firm in fighting back against Newsom’s political games and his dangerous agenda!”

PHOTO BY JOEL FEINGOLD

Mountain Paws’ new owners ready for the holidays

By David Jerome Correspondent

Diane and David DeMarco are the new proprietors of Idyllwild’s full service pet boutique, Mountain Paws. They took over operations November 1 and have been very busy since.

The shop seems bigger on the inside than on the outside. It is a cozy cabin with room after room of colorful and unusual items for animals and the people who love them. A “Furry Friends” bulletin board displays photos of happy customers and their newly outfitted animal companions.

Visitors at the shop are greeted at the door, and dogs are offered a snack, a choice of gourmet jerky: chicken, duck, beef liver, chicken apple sausage or sweet potato. A display case shows off a dazzling variety of festive decorated biscuits, some shaped like bones or fire hydrants, made by Pawsitively Gourmet. This is just the introduction to a pantry full of healthy treats for beasts.

Of course there are leashes, collars, harnesses and every style of pet clothing for every type of adventure, as well as beds and blankets for the quiet times. In addition to bowls of every size and description there is rack full of “Snack Duo” cups that dispense both water and kibble in a single neat container, great for trailside snacks. For those who crave something to chew on, there are cloth “ropes” and rubber “tires.” Careful housekeepers will find a clever solution to their dirty paw problems: a soft rubber-bristled paw-cleaning tool. You will also find petthemed greeting cards and home decor including holiday ornaments.

The DeMarcos, at least for now, live

in Nuevo (west of Hemet), but have been coming to Idyllwild for many years. “We came up here to hike with our dogs, the Ernie Maxwell and the Nature Center trails” Those dogs are a husky, a boxer/ terrier mix, and a Chihuahua. Of the Chihuahua, Diane says “she is king of the lair!”

They describe finding their new business as “perfect timing” and “meant to be.” On an October visit to Idyllwild with their dogs, they stopped into the new Visitors’ Center downtown and chatted with

the volunteer there. They mentioned their interest in finding a business on the Hill, and it just so happened that the volunteer’s neighbor was the owner of Mountain Paws and was ready to move on. The business had not even been listed yet. David says they will keep up the consistency Mountain Paw’s customers have come to expect and update the stock. He says they have “probably doubled” the amount of merchandise in the shop since taking over. He looks forward to provid-

ing the kind of customer service lacking in most big businesses. “You want to provide a good customer experience. If we don’t have something people want, we try to get it.” Mountain Paws also offers a 10% discount to locals with valid ID.

Mountain Paws Pet Boutique and Bakery 54380 North Circle Dr. Open 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, closed Tuesday.

Diane and David DeMarco

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEMARCO

Some places are very cold in the winter. Icy winds blow. Water freezes and snow covers the ground. What do animals do to survive these freezing months?

Whales, penguins and seals have a thick layer of body fat, called blubber, to keep them warm. The blubber on a large whale can be very thick. It is almost impossible for the cold to go through the blubber and chill the whale.

A Whale of a Ride

How Blubber Works

Q: How thick is whale blubber?

To find out, add the numbers along the correct path that leads the seal to the iceberg. Only two of the hitch-hiking penguins are the same. Can you find them?

To find out how blubber keeps animals warm, try making this blubber mitt and taking The Blubber Test. You’ll need:

Penguin Fitness

Tummy Time Iceberg Hop

Pretend you are a penguin and hop like a penguin does from one chunk of (pretend)

1 cup of solid shortening Duct tape

Put the shortening in a zip-lock bag.

Fill a large bowl or bucket with ice and water.

3 zip-lock sandwich bags

your hand in the empty bag.

With your hand in the bag, put it into the bag with the shortening.

Snow Angels

Lie on the floor and make imaginary snow angels by moving your feet and flippers—er, um, arms!

your hand.

Slip your other hand into an empty plastic bag and tape the top of the bag to your wrist.

space that has a 1 in it black and each 2 space blue. Leave the blank spaces white.

Students can work in pairs to play this game. Have one partner secretly select a picture in the newspaper. The other player then asks questions that can be answered “Yes” or “No” to determine the secret picture.

through the newspaper for: 3 ways to stay

Stick both hands into the water at the same time. Which hand can stay in the water longer?

Balance

Penguins don’t stand on just one foot very often, but pretend penguins can!

the tops of the bags together with duct tape.

A: Whale blubber can be

Blubber experiment courtesy of The New England Aquarium. www.neaq.org Look

Large bowl or a bucket Water

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Jamie Guthrie and Paul Carmen entertain the crowd at Middle Ridge Winery.

PHOTO BY PETER SZABADI

Born from Darkness...a Festival of Lights

by Kerry Abram Contributor

Hope.

Freedom.

Perseverance.

Bringing light into darkness. Creating holiness from desecration.

These foundational themes underlie the Jewish Festival of Lights holiday, Hanukkah, beginning this year the evening of December 25. (Judaism follows a modified lunar calendar, so holiday dates move a bit from year to year). Jews of all stripes have looked to the historical story behind Hanukkah for strength and inspiration in difficult and even dire circumstances for over 2,000 years.

This post-biblical holiday was created to commemorate the miraculous military victory of the Maccabees, a small band of Jewish fighters who liberated the Land of Israel from the Syrian Greeks that had been imposing their Hellenistic culture on the Jews. By 167 B.C.E, their king, Antiochus, had intensified his campaign by defiling the Great Temple in Jerusalem and banning Jewish practice. The Maccabees waged a three-year campaign of guerrilla tactics that culminated in the recapture, cleaning and rededication of the Temple. The Hebrew word “hanukkah” means “dedication.”

A key element of the Temple rededication was the lighting of the 7-branched candelabra (“menorah” in Hebrew), which God had told Moses to create while the Hebrews wandered the desert for 40 years. Miraculous-

Hospitality for the Holidays

By Flavia Mangan Colgan Contributor

December is a festive month and one where community gets to share their different traditions, get creative, host neighbors or out of town guests, go to events, or perhaps just enjoy a quiet holiday season. However you choose to celebrate (and every season can be different), there are a few questions I get asked quite frequently as an often host and Level III Sommelier (a French word for a trained wine specialist), so here are some tips. People always want to know how to be a good guest and how to be a good host. I love that there seems to be a revival of interest in sharing hospitality. One of the most important things about etiquette is to not get too stuck in rigid rules, but instead truly look at each situation individually and do the best you can to uplift, respect, honor, and show compassion for others. One of the most important distinctions for me in hosting is entertaining versus hospitality. While it’s lovely if you have a passion for the domestic arts and it brings you joy to do tablescapes, decorating, meticulous meals and plan everything just so, and I at times fall into this category, but entertaining can often feel pressured, a flex on what we have, or instill a need for perfection. It can make people put off hosting because they don’t have the right dishes or the house isn’t

immaculate. They want to impress and perhaps they feel their cooking skills aren’t up to the task. This is the kind of hosting I despise, because instead of bringing us closer it emphasizes things that matter less than fellowship and being welcoming. Hospitality is about having a passion for making people feel welcomed, wanted, and comfortable and sometimes that means the house is messy, half the food isn’t home-made, and perhaps doing a potluck is a way to take some of the pressure off both financially and in preparing. Potlucks date back to the Elizabethan era and are a fun way to involve your guests, just make sure to delegate different courses, let people make some of their “specialties” and then plan to have some of the essentials to fill in any blanks. Guests are first and foremost at your home because they want to spend time with you, or at least that is the type of person you should be inviting.

How much wine should I bring when going to a dinner party is another frequent question. This depends on how much you consume and if you are going solo or as a couple or more. I like to bring one bottle per person, at least. The key point is that unless you were asked to pair the wine or the host suggests opening the wine it is a gift to the host and one should never insist on it being opened. The host may have carefully chosen the wine that pairs with the dinner and properly chilled it or let it breathe. If you

(951) 216-586 6

ly, one untouched holy oil vial was found in the Temple rubble and was expected to last only one night. Even more miraculously, this tiny amount burned for eight nights until more holy oil could be created.

What stories of hope! It’s no coincidence that Hanukkah was designated to be celebrated near the Winter Solstice, bringing the warm light of faith and courage to the longest, coldest nights of the year.

Scholars believe the 7-branched menorah is the oldest religious symbol of Western civilization still in use today. When Hanukkah was established as a holiday, so too was the more familiar 9-branched candelabra (“menorah” in Hebrew) created to be lit sequentially for 8 nights with the use of a 9th “servant” candle to annually recollect all the miracles of that time.

Most importantly, Hanukkah has evolved to commemorate even greater meaning for both the Jewish people and the entire world. Armies capture land and defend borders. Yet within those borders, an entirely different army of schools and educators is required to create and maintain the light of a moral civilization for millennia.

“From being the festival of a military victory, Hanukah became the festival of a spiritual and civilizational one. I believe this history of our history has a message for us all. It teaches us this fundamental truth, as relevant to our lives today as ever before...” opined the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Member of the House of Lords. “Often what seems at the time to be the headline news, the military victory, is, in the hindsight of history, secondary to the cultural victory of handing your values on to the next generation”`

have a knack for such things, you can ask what is being served, bring something that pairs well and say I think this would pair well, but as you wish. It follows that as a host, I don’t feel pressure to serve the wine that a guest has brought, but I do like to follow up and thank the guest when I enjoy it and if there is a way to integrate it into my plans I do. As a host I like to have chilled sparkling and white wine on hand and a red as well. If time

permits a batched cocktail can be a festive edition; I love a red Sangria. I also think it is important to have great non-alcoholic options, a nice mocktail, sparkling water, cider and if anyone declines an alcoholic beverage that should be the end of the conversation, period. Everyone is on different journeys and you should respect people’s choices. Being inclusive, intentional, and welcoming always makes the day and helps spread the holiday cheer.

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Students of the Week

I chose Kaylee Jovel Sanchez from Ms.Hurley's class because she is a hard worker and is always trying her best. She is kind and is a good student who cares for others. I also chose Sierra Schoenleber from Mrs. Dillon's class because she is a kind girl who has a great imagination and has a budding charismatic personality. She is always trying her best in her work, and she has made many leaps in her abilities since starting TK! Great Job you two!

Past Tense Creature Corner

Last week in Days of Our Nine Lives, the ARF cats celebrated Kate's adoption.

Pepper: More adoption news!

The last two puppies, Wooly Bully and Bobby McGee have found forever homes.

Harley: And I've heard that they are both in such perfect homes.

Eeyore: I heard the same. Now I need to find the same.

Pepper: And you are such a lap cat! You'd be great on a lap that enjoys warming on the cold nights.

Marlowe: Hopefully Rowan and I will also find homes.

Rowan: On another note, I heard that ARF has a donation box at the Fairway.

Harley: That's right. ARF always needs daily supplies to keep everything up-n-running.

Pepper: And what makes it easy for our loving mountain residents is that they may check our “needs” list near the front door and grab an item while shopping.

Marlowe: They may drop it into the bucket on their way out.

Harley: The bucket is right beneath the big German Shepherd dog.

Rowan: And he is holding the list!

Harley: ARF is so very fortunate to be in such an animal-loving community. The folks up here are just amazing.

Eeyore: That's why ARF works so hard to help pet guardians afford necessary veterinary care for their fur babies.

Pepper: I imagine that's why ARF works so hard at raising funds.

Eeyore: Yep! They get no funding, and most of what they raise through fundraising goes right back into the community to help local dogs and cats.

Marlowe: Not to mention helping pet guardians.

Eeyore: Happy holidays to everyone!

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.

75 years ago - 1949

Word from Tahquitz Peak Lookout was that Jess Southwell’s Thanksgiving dinner consisted of three strips of bacon, a bowl of rice and coffee made from melted snow. He was low on supplies because the pack horses hadn’t arrived.

70 years ago - 1954

The Chamber’s installation dinner at the Idyllwild Inn was attended by some 125 hillfolk and guests.

65 years ago - 1959

State Game Manager Bonnar Blong reported bucks taken during the hunting season were thinner and older than normal. He blamed the drought and poor forage supply.

60 years ago - 1964

A proposal for a temporary pound facility at the Idyllwild County Road Department site was turned down by the Board of Supervisors as inadequate. The plan was that citizens leaving an animal in a cage would call the sheriff’s office, which would then radio the poundmaster. If the poundmaster could not pick up the animal, the sheriff’s office would have been responsible for feeding it.

55 years ago - 1969

Funds collected for the Indian children’s Christmas party by the Idyllwild Property Owners Association and Izaak Walton League exceeded the needs, so the surplus was given to the Santa Rosa Indians’ community building project.

50 years ago - 1974

Sharp tax increases were predicted as county assessors started reappraising property on the Hill for the first time since 1968.

45 years ago - 1979

George Kretzisinger was elected president of the Idyllwild Water District board.

40 years ago - 1984

In the Letters to Santa from local children printed in the Town Crier, Cabbage Patch dolls were the most frequently requested gift.

35 years ago - 1989

Lenore Sazer-Krebbes was the new sixth- and seventh-grade teacher at Idyllwild.

30 years ago - 1994

A sting operation targeting unlicensed contractors by the state Department of Consumer Affairs resulted in the arrest of five local contractors.

25 years ago - 1999

The American Legion Post 800 Ladies Auxiliary put on its annual Senior Christmas Luncheon and was preparing for the upcoming Children’s Christmas Party.

20 years ago - 2004

The talk of the town was a flying saucer-shaped home, the Futuro, being hauled up Highway 243 and coming to rest at the Pine-Cove property of new owner Milford Wayne Donaldson.

15 years ago - 2009

Eight Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit volunteers played a lead role in discovering what were likely the remains of three Germans missing in Death Valley since 1996. Multi-agency search teams composed of 30 searchers and three dog teams participated in the expanded search on Saturday, Dec. 5, in a remote area of the vast national park.

This week's Creature Corner is sponsored by Janey Mason. Would you like to be a sponsor? Please let us know! Be sure to keep up with the animal antics of Days of our Nine Lives each week. And

Eeyore

Rowan & Marlowe

Town Crier December 20th, 1984, Pages 1 & 16.

Kaylee Jovel Sanchez

Sierra Schoenleber

This week Alexis Sinclair, our Kindergarten Aide, has chosen the following students:

Jazz student's Haleigh and Nemo perform at the jazz concert at Idyllwild Arts

Idyllwild Arts Academy presented a fashion show featuring the student's designs from the Fashion Design Department. PHOTOS BY PETER SZABADI

The cast of The Night Before Christmas

The Old Tyme Radio Show presented The Night Before Christmas at Middle Ridge on Monday night. Left to right: Justin Holmes Jacob Teel and Christine Carl