“This is not a political issue; it is a moral obligation!”
State Farm seeking 22% rate increase
A historic Idyllwild inn transformed into a stylish and inviting mountain retreat
Rising wildfire costs drive insurance giant to request steep premium hikes
By JP Crumrine Correspondent
State Farm General Insurance has requested that the California Department of Insurance grant a 22% rate increase due to the magnitude and devastation of the recent wildfires last month in Los Angeles County. SFG made the request in a Feb. 3 letter to California’s Insurance Commissioner Richardo Lara.
SFG has already received 8,700 claims and paid more than $1 billion to customers, Dan Krause, President and Chief Executive Officer of SFG, wrote in the letter. “We know we will ultimately pay out significantly more, as these fires will collectively be the costliest in the history of the company.”
SFG is asking for the proposed increases – 22% for homeowners, 15% for renters, 15% for condominium unit owners and 38% for owners of rental properties – to become effective on May 1.
The SFG rate increase request made in June 2024 is still pending. Krause acknowledged that if the final rate increase approved is lower than this interim request, SFG would issue refunds to policy holders.
The need for additional cash is paramount to SFG. Their financial reserves were falling before this fire catastrophe and are now being drained more rapidly. According to Krause, “By year-end 2024, SFG’s Policyholder Protection Fund – i.e. surplus, or capital available to pay claims – was approximately a quarter of what it was in 2016, and its surplus relative to the risk it supports dropped nearly eightyfive percent by one measure, putting the company below certain minimum regulatory Risk-Based Capital requirements.” And this is half of the 2022 level.
Since 2016, SFG has paid $1.26 in claims and expenses for every $1.00 collected in premium, resulting in over $5 billion in cumulative underwriting losses.
Its deteriorating capital balance resulted in AM Best, a rating agency, downgrading SFG’s financial status a year ago. As the cost of the Los Angeles fires continues, Krause is worried about possible future downgrades and how that will affect SFG’s ability to raise additional capital.
He wrote that continuing downgrades of the company’s financial strength may cause mortgage lenders to decide that SFG’s fire insurance is insufficient collateral for mortgages. Policy holders would then have to find new insurers.
SFG is the largest insurer in the State with more than 3 million policies, nearly 20% of the market. But in 2023, because of
“We know we will ultimately pay out significantly more, as these fires will collectively be the costliest in the history of the company.”
declining financial position, SFG stopped writing new policies in the state. One year later, SFG announced it would not renew 72,000 existing California policies, including 29,000 that were for homeowners.
Other insurance companies have also released their costs from these fires.
Chubb Limited said in its Fourth Quarter 2024 earnings report that the Los Angeles fires have cost the company $1.5 billion. These will be taken in the first quarter of 2025. Chubb reported net income of $2.5 billion in the 2024 fourth quarter.
On Feb. 6, Allstate reported its losses would be $1.1 billion, before taxes and after re-insurance payments. The report added that losses were limited to this amount because the company had begun reducing is share of the California fire insurance market in 2007.
Both Chubb (2.7%) and Allstate (5.8%) have smaller shares of the state fire insurance market than SFG.
The enormous cost of the Los Angeles fires demonstrates the conundrum for policy holders and insurers. Cal Fire’s preliminary data show more than 16,000 structures were destroyed in just the Palisades and Eaton Fires. Property owners and renters want insurance in case of a fire destroying their property. But they are concerned about the premiums.
SFG and other insurance companies will provide the security if they can make a profit.
California, as these fires demonstrated, is a high fire risk area and consequently insurance rates will increase to balance this risk. Simply, SFG stated, “We must appropriately match price to risk. That is foundational to how insurance works. Higher risks should pay more for insurance than lower risks.”
“SFG needs your urgent assistance in the form of emergency interim approval of additional rate to help avert a dire situation for our customers and the insurance market in the state of California,” Krause stressed to Lara.
“State Farm General’s rate filings raise serious questions about its financial condition,” said department spokesman Gabriel Sanchez to the media. “To protect millions of California consumers and the integrity of our residential property insurance market, the department will respond with urgency and transparency.”
Idyllwild Water District Board appoints Wendy Harsha to fill vacant seat
By David Jerome Correspondent
The Board of Directors of Idyllwild Water District held a special meeting on Friday, February 7, to consider applications for the open Board seat. The agenda named four candidates that had submitted letters of interest: Derrick Zimmerman, John Stamper, Jonathon Mills, and Wendy Harsha. All were present at the meeting. Board President Schelly explained that no interviews had been conducted prior to the meeting.
Schelly himself had prepared five questions for the candidates, the other directors also asked each a question they had prepared, and had the opportunity to ask follow up questions. Each candidate was given five minutes for a concluding statement.
Schelly’s questions were: What special qualities do you bring to the board? What do you see as the difference between volunteers and elected officers? If you were on the board and there was a division of opinion, and you felt strongly about your point of view, would you try to persuade other directors? Have you ever been in a supervisory position, and if so, what was the most difficult part?
Steve Olson asked each candidate what they thought was the most important quality they would bring to the board. Jessica Priefer asked them to choose the three most important values from a list. Mitch Davis asked how long they intended to serve on the board.
Zimmerman is a teacher who has also managed group homes, Stamper retired after 25 years managing the service department for an automobile dealership, Mills a craftsmen and general contractor, and Harsha a bookkeeper and co-owner of a local business.
The answers the candidates gave were mostly unsurprising. All agreed that the hardest part of supervising is firing someone. All picked safety and ethics from Priefer’s list. All understood that being an elected official (or appointed to serve as one) was a greater responsibility than being a volunteer and obligated them in more serious ways.
After the interviews, nominations were made. Davis nominated Stamper, but there was no second. Olson nominated Harsha, and Preifer seconded. Olson noted Harsha’s volunteerism, and her comments about the importance of listening and understanding the perspectives of others. He added that his own experience in accounting made him partial to the candidate with bookkeeping experience. A vote was held, Olson and Preifer voted yes and Davis voted no. After a moment Schelly added his vote to those of Olson and Preifer, making the total 3-1. Schelly thanked the candidates and invited them to run the next time there is an election. He said that Harsha would be sworn in at the next regular meeting, on Wednesday, February 19.
Legislature approves $50 million for litigation of Trump actions
By JP Crumrine Correspondent
In the past month, the State Legislature has completed its Special Session, which Gov. Gavin Newsom called for on Nov. 7. Last week, the Assembly passed two bills to help the Attorney General defend the State’s policies from anticipated litigation or enforcement actions filed against the State. Two weeks earlier, the Legislature passed legislation to provide $2.5 billion to help recovery from the Los Angeles County wildfires. Legal Defense funding
On Feb. 3, the State Assembly passed ABX1-1 and SBX1-2 which provide $50 million to resist actions taken or to be taken by President Donald Trump. Gov. Newsom initially requested the funding on Nov. 7, a day after the Presidential election.
Three months later, Newsom signed both bills on Feb. 7. In his signing message for SBX1-2, he wrote, “ [it] will bolster funding for legal services programs that are vital to safeguarding the civil rights of California’s most vulnerable residents . . . “
Both bills provided $25 million. ABX1-1 is funding for the State’s Attorney General’s office. Newsom’s original requested $25 million to enable the Attorney General’s office to defend against the new federal government’s action. For example, the freeze on federal grant money.
The state Administration was concerned about adverse actions threatened or taken by the federal government against California’s laws related to climate change, clean water, reproductive healthcare and the rights of our vulnerable communities – immigrants, LGBTQ+, Asian Pacific Islander and Black residents.
The additional $25 million will be distributed to three entities. Ten million dollars will be directed to the Equal Access Fund to defend the civil rights of Californians, including providing legal services to vulnerable persons at risk of discrimination, detention, eviction, wage theft, deportation, intimate partner violence, and other actions that put their safety at risk.
Another $10 million will be for One California through the Department of Social Services. The remaining $5 million will go to the California Access to Justice Commission. This money is intended to support organizations that are not primarily receiving funding through Equal Access Fund or One California.
The Governor and Assembly Democrats emphasized that these funds will not be used to provide services for individuals convicted of violent or serious crimes.
“None of the funding in this bill is intended to be used for immigration-related legal services for noncitizens convicted of serious or violent felonies,” Newsom wrote in his signing message. He also encouraged the Legislature to enact additional legislation to ensure compliance with this purpose.
Nevertheless, Republicans were unhappy with this action. “These votes show just how out of touch the Democratic supermajority has become,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (East Nicolaus). “There is no reason to oppose these policies other than petty partisanship. It’s a shame Democrats would rather play politics than support practical safeguards to protect the public and their tax dollars.”
Wildfire funding
On Jan. 23, Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills appropriating $2.5 billion to help fund the recovery efforts in Los Angeles area after the devastation caused by multiple wildfires. The burning began Jan. 7. The Governor’s press release described the damage as hurricane-force fire storms.
This was only 10 days after he made the request of the Legislature’s Special Session. Both bills, ABX1-4 and SBX1-3, provide more than $2.5 billion for disaster relief and were passed unanimously.
“Thanks to our partners in the legislature, we’re providing over $2.5 billion in immediate relief – expediting initial firestorm response and recovery efforts,” Newsom said in the release. “We’re also directing millions of dollars to help local governments speed up building approvals – so folks can rebuild their homes faster.”
As of Jan. 25, Cal Fire reported that the various Los Angeles area fires have caused 28 fatalities and burned and destroyed more than 16,000 structures.
On the evening of February 10, 2025, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, deploying 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The launch occurred at 6:09 p.m. PST
visible across various regions, including Idyllwild.
Landfill and Grinding Facility fees increasing
By JP Crumrine Correspondent
At its Feb. 4 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing to consider raising the fees for landfill disposal. Revenue from tonnage helps fund the Waste Resources Department. Typically, the Department requested a fee increase based on the annual increase of the local Consumer Price Index.
This year, the Department had MSW Consultants, of Murrieta, conduct a study of its costs and revenues. The conclusion “. . . found that the current tipping fees are not adequate to meet the Department’s present and future financial obligations.”
However, the report recommended that annual increases continue to based on the CPI. MSW found multiple factors are causing the increase in operating costs. Besides salary and fuel increases, the following were also contributors: capital improvement projects, stricter regulatory compliance requirements, permitting fees and heavy equipment costs.
Consequently, the Department recommended increasing the landfill disposal fees by 2.88%, the latest 12-month change in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario price index.
These fees will take effect on July 1. They do not change the residential and commercial annual fees for use of the Idyllwild Transfer Station. These were increased in October 2024.
In addition, to the general landfill and waste disposal fees, the Department also assessed the costs and operations of the Idyllwild Grinding Facility. The conclusion was “. . . green/woody waste disposal at IGF costs the Department $110.26 per ton, yet the current rate is only $35.30 per ton.”
After discussions with the three main contractors who deliver about 95% of the green and woody material to the IGF, the Department decided to raise its fee for the IGF rather than closing the facility. The new rate will be $60.30 per ton.
Fees for bringing tires to County facilities will remain at $6 per tire and a maximum of five tires per residential customer per day.
and was
PHOTO BY FRANK FERRO
Supervisors Debate Immigration Resolution Amid Divided Opinions
By JP Crumrine Correspondent
“. . . Riverside County is a vibrant, compassionate, and welcoming county for all law-abiding immigrants and refugees; and commits to safeguarding the civil rights of all our residents to the fullest extent provided by the law,” declared the Resolution which the County Board of Supervisors adopted at its Feb. 4 meeting.
More than two hours of public speakers – both supportive and opposed-- came before the Board and significant discussion among the Supervisors took place before the vote.
The vote on the Resolution, which Board Chair V. Manuel Perez (4th District) and Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez (5th District) proposed, was not unanimous. Supervisor Karen Speigel (2nd District) was the lone “no” vote. During the discussion she expressed surprise with some comments and sympathy for some of the speakers. “I hadn’t heard a lot of these issues in Riverside County about folks being taken into custody.”
But she also noted that some of the public statements seemed to stretch what she had previously been told. For example, while many supporters argued that the County’s Sheriff’s Department was frequently collaborating with the Federal Immigration and Customs enforcement Agency in order to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants, Speigel said that there were only 13
individuals turned over to ICE. Each of them had been involved in some crime against a person or property.
One of her reasons for opposing the resolution was “. . . this is just words not action.”
“This is not a political issue; it is a moral obligation!” –Supervisor V. Manuel Perez
While some speakers argued that the Resolution would make Riverside County a sanctuary jurisdiction for illegal immigrants and expend resources on this issue, both Perez and Supervisor Chuck Washington (3rd District) had County Executive Jeff Van Wagenen and County Counsel Minh Tran address this allegation. Both affirmed that the resolution’s language does not create a sanctuary nor affect the County Sheriff’s operations.
In response to both Supervisors, Van Wagenen stated the Resolution does not establish Riverside County as a sanctuary. He also stated that there are no new or additional costs as a consequence of its approval.
“Does it direct us to spend any funds tomorrow that we’re not spending today? No!,” he stated. “Does it direct us to take any action tomorrow that we can’t today? No” Tran explained that there is no conflict with either
State or Federal laws. Furthermore, the Counsel’s staff added two clauses to ensure that there was no uncertainty about it language. The first clarifies that all Riverside County departments will comply with State and Federal laws.
It states, “. . . this Resolution shall not be construed to prohibit any County department’s assistance or cooperation with federal authorities if required by state and/or federal laws.”
The second clause explicitly states both the District Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices maintain independence in investigative and prosecutorial actions.
Among the many public speakers were several youths. They expressed support for the Resolution. One felt it would help his friends return to school without fear that they would be arrested for simply being illegally here.
“This resolution recognizes the true history of the country. This resolution gives Riverside County a chance to lead with decency and fairness,” said Nathan Kempos.
“This conversation is always tough, but it needs to be had,” Perez shared as he began his comments.
And he concluded, “We have not stopped supporting our Sheriff’s Department and public safety. This is not a political issue; it is a moral obligation! It is my responsibility to speak up on this resolution which acknowledges what we’re already doing.”
Riverside County Library System “working closely with” Emergency Management Department to keep Library power on during shutoffs
By David Jerome Correspondent
During the January Public Safety Power Shutoffs, many locals used public warming and charging centers for the first time. The Idyllwild Community Center made their Town Hall facilities available for Southern California Edison during the longest outage, and ICC operated Town Hall as a center on its own during later outages.
The Idyllwild Public Library also remained open but without power. A trailer outside had free ice, and bottled water was available inside. Books could still be checked out, but the lights and heat were out.
The Town Crier asked if there was a plan to have the capability to keep the Library power on during shutoffs. We received this answer from Rebeckah Ross, Principal Development Specialist at the Riverside County Library System
“The Riverside County Library System (RCLS) is fully committed to ensuring uninterrupted service for our communities, even during power outages and electrical grid disturbances. Following the recent power outages in January, we conducted a thorough reassessment of our preparedness to better meet community needs. As part of these efforts, RCLS collaborated with the Riverside County Emergency Management Department (EMD) to evaluate backup power solutions for all our libraries, including the Idyllwild Library. Our RCLS Project Management team is now working closely with EMD to ensure that a generator will be operational in the near future. We remain committed to proactively enhancing our infrastructure to support our communities during emergencies.”
Rotarians and Mayor Max celebrate with a ribbon cutting for the new owners of Mountain Paws, David and Diane DeMarco. The Mayor LOVES their special treats! PHOTO BY ERIC TRACY
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:
I have always had a lot of medical “issues” and am feeling exhausted from it all. Even though I have a full-time job and a family, it seems like my real fulltime job is to schedule and attend doctor’s appointments and figure out how to pay for everything, fighting with insurance companies all the time. I obviously have to take care of my health, and my meds often help but something doesn’t seem right. Thoughts?
Dear Reader: Exhausted” and “something doesn’t seem right” are, off the bat, what’s got my attention — along, of course, with my sympathies for what sounds like a chronic struggle. I do a lot of work with clients who are experiencing serious medical conditions/diagnoses because the system most of us are operating within tends to de-emphasize the power of our minds, beliefs, and emotions when it comes to our physical health. I thus encourage you to do what you can to throw a wrench, if you will, into the exhausting dynamic that has taken hold in your life, to engage some sort of reset, and re-focus your attention on what I assume is your desire: to feel good. How much of your precious time and energy is focused on feeling good right now? On that intention? Your intuition — via an unmistakable feeling such as “exhausted” and via your sense that “something doesn’t seem right” — is sending you a message that could be included and considered along with the messages you’re getting from doctor’s offices, labs, and insurance companies. As always, that is yours to listen to or ignore. But I remind you that this practice believes wholeheartedly in the power of listening to such guidance because it is always in our best soul-level interest.
Dear Spiritual Workout:
Why is it so hard to stop caring about what other people think of me? I know it’s the right thing to do, I trust the voices of those who say how harmful it is to be like this, but I can’t stop. Can Spiritual Workout help with this?
Dear Reader:
Perhaps the best way to help is to help you see that when you invest your precious time, energy, and trust in beliefs like “it’s so hard” and “I can’t stop,” that’s exactly what you will experience — as you can see. Next, your (quite common) complaint stems from a dearth of connection to the being part of the human you are. That’s the spiritual part of Spiritual Workout. It’s about listening to inspiration. It’s about investing our precious time, energy, and trust in beliefs like “my worth and value is determined by me” and “I am the only one who knows when I’m aligned with what’s true and right for me,” which sound right when we are connected to this aspect of ourselves. When we’re not, we are left with seeking validation from outside sources, which leave us vulnerable all day every day to whims of others, which cannot and will not ever satisfy us. Indeed, creating such transformations is exactly what SW is all about and, I promise you, it can be done.
• Dear Reader
Send your questions to dearspiritualworkout@spiritualworkout.com. (Confidentiality assured.) When you’re ready for more, find cutting-edge counseling Spiritual Workout-style for $50/month at spiritualworkout.com.
STAFF
Suzanne Avalon | Publisher/Editor suzanne@towncrier.com
Mike Ferro | Publisher/Operations/Membership mike@towncrier.com
FREELANCERS
JP Crumrine | Correspondent
Joel Feingold | Photographer David Jerome | Correspondent
Peter Szabadi | Photographer Holly Parsons | Correspondent Flavia Mangan Colgam | Correspondent
CONTRACTED FIRMS
Aronson
Falling Trees
Dear editor:
A recent front-page article in the Town Crier reported the destruction of three trailers at the Royal Pines Park off Tollgate Road. A dog was killed, and several residents were made homeless in this terrifying incident. The culprit: a large black oak taken down by wind.
This event highlights the threat these trees present to our town, a danger which will only increase with time. The Idyllwild area was heavily logged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; we live in a second-growth forest where many trees are now reaching maturity. The black oak’s average life expectancy is 100-200 years. All the saplings which sprang up after logging are now within that range.
Black oaks fall apart with alarming regularity. Call it a design flaw. Even healthy trees may drop large limbs due to “heart rot”, a condition in which fungus hollows out the core. While there may be outward signs of imminent collapse, most of us don’t know how to spot them. One quiet spring morning a movement outside the front window caught my eye, and I looked up to see the top half of my neighbor’s 25-foot oak nonchalantly detach and cascade down into the street between our houses. Nobody was passing by, and there was no damage to speak of, but the moment was staggering nonetheless. This cataclysm took place on a sunny, windless day.
My dog and I stroll about town noticing dozens of massive oaks, many old and less than reliable-looking, with huge limbs towering over cars, homes, and power lines. The incident at Royal Pines is not the first report in this paper of terrific damage caused by a black oak fall, and it surely won’t be the last.
These are beautiful trees, but far from benign. I want to urge property owners to attend to this hazard. Call an arborist, get your oaks checked out. If necessary, have dubious trees removed. Better to end an oak’s life a bit prematurely than allow it to choose the night it comes crashing through your bedroom ceiling.
Chris Morse Idyllwild
Propaganda vs News
Dear editor:
On November 1, 1946, Ernie and Betty Maxwell published the first issue of Idyllwild Town Crier. In those days besides local gossip, it was the only go-to for information about the community. Since 2022, there are two newspapers serving a mountain town of less than four thousand residents. Each offered a different perspective on wildfire prevention and recovery this month
The STAR devoted a two column, full page analysis of the CA Assembly Republicans’ efforts to pass Wildfire Prevention and Recovery Bills. President Trump was involved in the discussion and agreed to support a solution advocated by the Assembly Republican Leader to “remove the fuels that drive catastrophic wildfires.” His press secretary, who wrote the article, ended with the sentence, “In contrast, Assembly Democrats last week rejected an effort to provide an additional $1 billion for wildfire prevention in last year’s budget.”
In contrast, the Town Crier published a one column article by JP Crumrine, with the headline, Legislature approves $2.5 billion to recovery from wildfires Governor Newsom recognized the value of the bipartisan approach to the crisis and was quoted as saying “Thanks to our partners in the legislature, we’re providing …immediate relief expediting initial firestorm response and recovery efforts.” Crumrine also reported a separate $5 million appropriation for rebuilding and another $1 million to rebuild schools.
In my opinion, an article about the efforts of the minority party’s misguided desire to fund vegetation removal, quashed by the majority political party, is propaganda rather than news. No mention was given of the bipartisan recovery initiatives to fund the recovery process. The politicalization of a tragedy is not newsworthy.
Mary Rider Idyllwild
Matter of Fact
Mountain Disaster Preparedness Community Emergency Response Team learn about patient assessment
By David Jerome Correspondent
Mountain Disaster Preparedness is a local nonprofit that has a number of working groups within it, including its CERT (Community Emergency Response Team.) This group undergoes training that includes many aspects of emergency response, including first aid.
CERT’s regular meetings are the first Thursday of the month and are held in the meeting room of Idyllwild Fire Protection District. Some meetings include presentations by members of IFPD, but the latest session was led by Richard Yocum, a retired MD who is a part of MDP’s Core Medical Group (CMG). The purpose of the class was not to teach first aid, but to help volunteers evaluate patients in an emergency and be able to communicate with medical professionals and first responders. This was the first of a series of medical trainings CMG will be presenting.
Yocum presented an overview of types of patient assessments that medical professionals and first responders use but focused on the system used by Wilderness First Responders (WFR) in their certification program, which he has completed. The object is to teach students how to “perform a comprehensive physical examination, gather critical patient history, and evaluate vital signs.” Training in a system helps volunteers communicate clearly and concisely and stay calm in an emergency. The system includes a sequence of actions to protect the safety of responders, bystanders and patients.
The introduction to the WFR system was followed by a role-playing exercise. The members broke into teams of three and were given envelopes describing realistic scenarios. One person was to play “patient”, another was to evaluate them, and the third would act as scribe. The “patient” knew things about their condition or medical history that the evaluator had to find out by asking the right questions. It was like a game of 20 questions with a purpose, and team members said they had fun while learning serious lessons.
MDP’s website says the group was founded in 1986 to address the unique challenges of living in and visiting our ‘Island in the Sky’ and recognizing the potential emergency concerns of a mountain community. The group is ready to help whenever the need arises, and to interface with various first responders.
MDP plans to hold a three-day drill in April which will allow participants to be certified as CERT members. Membership in MDP is free, and you can sign up online. For more information visit mdpidyllwild.org.
Last week’s article about the smARTS program at Idyllwild School erred in stating the day on which the program’s volunteer artist teachers conduct their classes. The day is Wednesday, not Friday. We regret the error and apologize for any confusion.
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“ASK SPIRITUAL WORKOUT”
Idyllwild Community Center
Idyllwild Town Hall, 25925 Cedar St, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549
Wednesday, 02/12
Youth Basketball League05:00 PM - Idyllwild School
Jazzercise - 05:30 PM - Town
Sheriff’s log
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls
IDYLLWILD
• FOLLOW-UP 02-10-2025 10:45
AM ADDRESS WITHHELD
IDYLLWILD
• FOLLOW-UP 02-10-2025 10:45 AM ADDRESS WITHHELD
IDYLLWILD
• CHECK THE WELFARE 02-102025 10:32 AM 5200 *** BLOCK FOSTERIYAH IDYLLWILD HEMET
• PUBLIC INTOXICATION 02-09-
2025 14:22 PM 2600 *** BLOCK
ST HWY 243 IDYLLWILD ARREST MADE
• ALARM CALL 02-09-2025 03:04
AM 5400 *** BLOCK NORTH CIRCLE DR IDYLLWILD
• CHECK THE WELFARE 02-09-
2025 02:42 AM 2500 *** BLOCK
ST HWY 243 IDYLLWILD
• PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 02-09-
2025 01:21 AM 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 IDYLLWILD
• PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 02-09-
2025 01:21 AM 2600 *** BLOCK
ST HWY 243 IDYLLWILD
• NOISE COMPLAINT 02-08-2025 21:43 PM 2500 *** BLOCK TAHQUITZ RD IDYLLWILD
• SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE 02-08-2025 16:51 PM 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 IDYLLWILD
• SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE 02-08-2025 16:06 PM 2600 *** BLOCK DELANO DR IDYLLWILD
• BRANDISHING/WEAPONPAST 02-07-2025 21:01 PM 5400 *** BLOCK STRAWBERRY VALLEY DR IDYLLWILD REPORT TAKEN
• PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 02-072025 18:06 PM 2600 *** BLOCK DELANO DR IDYLLWILD
• ALARM CALL 02-07-2025 11:35 AM 5400 *** BLOCK LINGER LN IDYLLWILD
• PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 02-072025 09:34 AM 2500 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 IDYLLWILD
• SUSPICIOUS PERSON 02-062025 19:41 PM 2500 *** BLOCK PALOMAR RD IDYLLWILD
• DANGER TO SELF/OTHER 02-06-2025 19:32 PM 2600 *** BLOCK DELANO DR IDYLLWILD REPORT TAKEN
• DANGER TO SELF/OTHER 02-06-2025 10:34 AM 5400
Spiritual Mountain Retreat Gatherings
25661 Oakwood St, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549
• Day of Mindfulness—3rd
Monday of the month - ZOOM only - Sharing, practice, silence and peace ($25 suggested donation, includes light lunch)
- 9:30 am - 3:00 pm Facilitator:
Mary Morse
• Net of Light Meeting — Last Monday of each monthZOOM only - Join the important work of the Great Council of the Grandmothers - 4:00 pm6:00 pm - Facilitators: Beacon
Mary Morse
• Tai Chi for Seniors - Every Tuesday 10:00 am to 11:00 am
- Meditate through Movement - in the Garden - Facilitator:
Cathy Mauge
• Death Café — Every - second Tuesday of the month - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - It won’t kill you to talk about death - Facilitators: Bronwyn Jones & Ari
Simon
• SMR Book Club — Every second & fourth Tuesday of the month - 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Facilitator: Mary Morse
• Lovingkindness — Every
*** BLOCK PINE CREST AV IDYLLWILD REPORT TAKEN
• BRANDISHING/WEAPON
- PAST 02-06-2025 08:53 AM 2500 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243
IDYLLWILD
• CHECK THE WELFARE 02-052025 14:45 PM 5300 *** BLOCK MARIAN VIEW DR IDYLLWILD
• BURGLARY 02-05-2025 11:15 AM 2500 *** BLOCK SENECA DR IDYLLWILD REPORT TAKEN
• CHECK THE WELFARE 02-052025 09:44 AM 5300 *** BLOCK COUNTRY CLUB DR IDYLLWILD
• SUSPICIOUS PERSON 02-042025 17:27 PM 2600 *** BLOCK
SAUNDERS MEADOW RD
IDYLLWILD
• PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 02-042025 17:08 PM ADDRESS UNDEFINED IDYLLWILD
• ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT 02-04-2025 16:29 PM 2500 *** BLOCK ALDERWOOD ST IDYLLWILD
• FOLLOW-UP 02-03-2025 17:43
PM ADDRESS WITHHELD
IDYLLWILD
• HARRASSING PHONE CALLS
02-03-2025 13:30 PM ADDRESS WITHHELD IDYLLWILD
• SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE
Tuesday - ZOOM only - Meditation Send lovingkindness to the world - 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Self-Realization Every Tuesday (in Hill House or garden)Fellowship Meditation 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
• Women Veterans with PTSD Every - other Tuesday at 6:00 pm - ZOOM only. - Support Group This is a private group and all women veterans arewelcome. Call 951-634-4048 for link information.
• Shaolin Qi Gong/Chicks with Sticks — Qi Gong and Stick Exercises - in the Garden - Sticks Wednesdays 11:00 am
- Facilitator: Teresa Halliburton
• Emotions Anonymous 12 Step Group — Every Thursday in Hill House - 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm • Al-Anon 12 Step Group Every Thursday in Hill House - 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
• Women’s Writing Group with fellow writers — Every Friday (in Hill House and on Zoom) - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
02-03-2025 11:16 AM 5400 *** BLOCK SOUTH CIRCLE DR IDYLLWILD
• FOLLOW-UP 02-03-2025 10:36 AM ADDRESS WITHHELD
IDYLLWILD
• ALARM CALL 02-03-2025 09:43 AM 5400 *** BLOCK NORTH CIRCLE DR IDYLLWILD
• CHECK THE WELFARE 02-032025 09:42 AM 5200 *** BLOCK FOSTERIYAH IDYLLWILD HEMET
• PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 02-032025 08:24 AM 2500 *** BLOCK CEDAR ST IDYLLWILD
• SUSPICIOUS PERSON 02-032025 05:12 AM 5500 *** BLOCK DICKENSON RD IDYLLWILD
• ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT
02-02-2025 17:32 PM 5400 *** BLOCK SOUTH CIRCLE DR
IDYLLWILD
• FOLLOW-UP 02-02-2025 05:38 AM ADDRESS WITHHELD
IDYLLWILD
• UNKNOWN TROUBLE 02-022025 03:07 AM 2500 *** BLOCK FERN VALLEY RD IDYLLWILD
• PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 02-012025 16:46 PM 5300 *** BLOCK WEST RIDGE RD IDYLLWILD UNFOUNDED
For a complete list of all events in Idyllwild, check out: idyllwildtowncrier.com/events
• CIVIL DISPUTE 01-31-2025 14:24 PM 5500 *** BLOCK SOUTH CIRCLE DR IDYLLWILD
• ALARM CALL 01-31-2025 01:40 AM 5400 *** BLOCK LINGER LN IDYLLWILD
• VANDALISM 01-30-2025 17:35 PM 2500 *** BLOCK CASSLER DR IDYLLWILD REPORT TAKEN
• PUBLIC ASSIST 01-30-2025 16:25 PM 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 IDYLLWILD
• SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE 01-30-2025 15:01 PM 5400 *** BLOCK MARIAN VIEW DR IDYLLWILD
• SUSPICIOUS PERSON 01-302025 06:05 AM 5400 *** BLOCK PINE CREST AV IDYLLWILD
• CHECK THE WELFARE 01-292025 22:08 PM 2500 *** BLOCK FERN VALLEY RD IDYLLWILD
• CHECK THE WELFARE 01-292025 22:03 PM 2500 *** BLOCK FERN VALLEY RD IDYLLWILD PINE COVE
• PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 02-072025 17:48 PM 2500 *** BLOCK FRANKLIN DR PINE COVE
• UNKNOWN TROUBLE 02-072025 06:24 AM 5300 *** BLOCK ROCKMERE DR PINE COVE
• FOLLOW-UP 02-04-2025 13:50
PM ADDRESS WITHHELD PINE COVE
• MISSING PERSON 02-02-2025 20:21 PM 5200 *** BLOCK PINE COVE RD PINE COVE REPORT TAKEN
• ALARM CALL 02-01-2025 22:17
PM 5300 *** BLOCK CEDAR CREST DR PINE COVE
• PUBLIC ASSIST 01-31-2025 16:43 PM 5200 *** BLOCK CEDAR DR PINE COVE
• PUBLIC ASSIST 01-31-2025 16:02 PM 5200 *** BLOCK CEDAR DR PINE COVE
• ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT 01-31-2025 12:50 AM 5200 *** BLOCK PINE COVE RD PINE
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The Pine Tree Hotel offers solitude and sociality for groups large and small
A
historic Idyllwild inn transformed into a stylish and inviting mountain retreat
By David Jerome Correspondent
The Pine Tree Hotel is the new identity for the property formerly known as the Fern Valley Inn. It is the latest project of childhood friends Isaac Silverman and Tim Ensmann, whose company, Second Home Stays, offers a curated collection of short-term rentals (STRs) in Southern California and across the country.
Silverman, who gave the Town Crier a tour of the facilities this week, says they have grown this business over the last five years. While there are no new buildings, everything has been remodeled and reimagined with Isaac’s personal design sense. The new exterior color scheme is dark, allowing the cabins to blend with their surroundings, while the landscaping “pops.” The property is now fully fenced, enhancing privacy. It consists of eleven units, which can be combined to accommodate groups of up to 36 people. Some of the larger units have their own fenced yards. A courtyard area features dining tables that can host large parties, providing plenty of opportunities, both indoors and outdoors, for solitude and community. The hotel has already hosted wedding parties and retreats.
The units range from “wellness studios” with a spalike atmosphere to multi-bedroom cabins, including the former innkeeper’s residence, which sleeps ten. Each bathroom features a unique tiling scheme. The plan is to convert the old front office into a gift shop and vending area.
The sauna and cold plunge deck features a mural by San Diego artist Taylor Gallegos, who has also decorated two desert properties for Silverman and Ensmann. The sauna’s juniper wood back wall gives the room a
rich, woodsy scent. The pool is now operational. Several elements from the old Fern Valley Inn remain, including the koi pond, geodesic domes (now serving as a game room and yoga studio), and occasional antique furnishings. The original landscaping has also been preserved.
The old wood stoves have been removed at the request of Idyllwild Fire Department. Some units now feature gas or electric fireplaces, while a few still have open fireplaces for ambiance.
Guests check in through a smartphone app and receive a digital access code for their unit. Although Silverman does not live on-site, he is usually in Palm Springs and spends a few nights at the property each week. He personally conducts tours for groups renting the property. “They love that we’re here.” So far, the model seems to be working: “Every group that has booked is trying to repeat next year.”
Silverman has been staying part-time in Palm Springs for the past five years. A friend there saw photos of his cabin project in Blue Ridge, Georgia, and asked if he had ever been to Idyllwild. He later joined a group of friends for a hike in the area and was immediately hooked. “This community is so charming, so welcoming. I thought Big Bear was beautiful, but it didn’t have the same vibe. A few months later, we stumbled upon the Fern Valley Inn.”
Silverman hopes to host occasional public community events this summer, such as live music or comedy shows. He also noted that the property has a Tesla charging station available to the public.
To learn more, visit thepinetreehotel.com
Domes provide all-weather outdoor hangout spaces
PHOTO BY DAVID JEROME
The sauna and cold plunge deck at night
PHOTO COURTESY THE PINE TREE HOTEL
Tim Ensmann and Isaac Silverman PHOTO COURTESY THE PINE TREE HOTEL
Hearty Mouse
How many hearts can you nd on this page in three minutes? Have a friend try. Who found the most?
All you need is a small bag or bowl and three or more friends to play with!
Directions:
Cut out the coupons below.
Fold them in half and put them into a bag, bowl or box.
One by one, players select a piece of paper from the container.
Two at time, the players start performing their actions, without laughing. The rst person to laugh is out.
Repeat this until only one person is left in the game.
Scratch your armpit and hop on one leg.
Pretend to sink in a huge bin of stinky socks.
Sing your favorite song as if you are underwater.
Love Bugs
STEP 2: Glue together as shown. Add spots and eyes with marker.
Pretend to slip on a banana peel in slow motion.
Sing the ABCs backwards in the style of an opera singer.
Make a silly face and stand still like a statue.
Flap your arms like a bird and moo like a cow.
Balance on one leg while singing Happy Birthday
Lift a pillow, pretending it weighs 1,000 pounds. a dinosaur stuck in bubble gum.
Rub your tummy and pat your head.
Walk like a robot whose battery is low.
Pick up a pencil with your toes.
Look through the newspaper for one to three pictures, words or articles that
Walk like a penguin.
Pretend to swim across the oor. Touch your nose with your tongue.
Play air guitar while making silly faces.
Draw a line from each Valentine’s Day message to the animal who wrote it.
“You make my heart squeak!”
“I go bananas for you!” “You’re purrrr-fect!!”
“You make my heart utter!”
“I hope to sea you on Valentine’s Day!”
Valentine’s Day Dot-to-Dot
On one page of the newspaper find and circle the letters that spell the words, “Happy Valentine’s Day!” Then connect the dots to make a design. Color in the design.
Standards Link: Hand-eye coordination.
VALENTINE WHISKERS MESSAGE STORIES FLUTTER HEARTS PATENT
Pretend to climb a tree that’s 1,000 feet tall.
This week’s word:
The adjective horizontal means something that is level with the horizon.
The teacher drew a horizontal line across the board.
Try to use the word horizontal in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family.
ANSWER: “Will
Animal Valentine’s Day Messages
If you were an animal, what would be your Valentine wish? A python might want to be your favorite “squeeze.” Or a cat might be purrrr-fect for you.
© 2025 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Je Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 41, No. 11
Live Music
Vincent's Choice wowed the crowd at Taryn's Place on Monday night.
PHOTO BY SUZANNE AVALON.
Sammy Busby talks to the crowd at the SBH Studios night of scenes at The Peak on Saturday night.
PHOTO BY PETER SZABADI
Please note that
Mile High Radio Club sees membership rise
Amateur radio group plays vital role in emergency preparedness
By David Jerome Correspondent
Idyllwild’s Mile High Radio Club is a local nonprofit organization that helps our community stay in touch with the outside world during emergencies. They hold their monthly meetings at Middle Ridge Winery. A lively and diverse group crowded around the big table in the center of the room on Tuesday night, February 4. A few members joined in by zoom.
Middle Ridge owner Chris Johnston, a club member, is almost as enthusiastic about Ham Radio as he is about wine, and his talents as a recruiter were praised by members, who partly credited him with the Club’s post-Covid resurgence in membership. President Roland Gaebert notes that “you don’t have to be an operator to join the club and support the mission.”
MHRC is among the local groups that have resolved to make our community ready for emergencies. One flyer on their website reminds us that modern communications systems are convenient but complex, and complexity makes them prone to disruptions. Amateur radio is comparatively low-tech, and this makes it a useful tool in emergencies. Repeaters allow signals to go beyond the few miles that a handheld or home base radio can reach, and even if repeater stations are out of operation, messages can still be relayed user to user.
The most basic system may start not
much over $100. With a simple license, you become part of a nationwide net of over 700,000 Hams. The Club provides help with study materials, teaches the classes, and administers the tests. The licensing process, including study time, can take as little as four weeks, “If a person is driven,” says Gaebert. “Some take a few months, people are busy.” There is an etiquette to operating a two-way radio on an open channel, but the rules are mostly common-sense steps to avoid interruptions, or keep them polite. “There are standards that require discipline.”
Much informal teaching goes on at meetings, as old hands help new members with gear and the knowledge they need to pass the license exams. Gaebert summed it up; members “all support each other, all support the cause. We are all ambassadors for Amateur Radio, we encourage those who are interested to get their license, and we can help them with that.”
Judy Milin was one of several MHRC members that told the Town Crier that January’s power outages underlined the importance of the club. “When the power was out for five days, I had no Wi-Fi, I was completely cut off. It was great to be able to communicate with someone offline.”
Richard Yocum, active in Mountain Disaster Preparedness (MDP) and president of the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU), said he is there because the club “does good work.” He said he has noted a lot of new members over the last
and
games, cards, puzzles, color and have parties at The Hangout ! All ages welcome. $6 per adult and $3 per child, per hour. 442-529-4423. @54585 N. Circle Dr., Idyllwild, CA.
year and a half. Bill Tell, a former longtime club president, helps give the group continuity with his experience.
Some newer members present that night had previous experience with radio but are new to Ham. One said he had operated radio in the Marines for 30 years. Another learned to use GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) for safety on hiking trips. A few were there for the first or second meeting.
Business at the meeting included the care and improvement of the Club’s repeaters. Mile High Radio Club maintains four repeaters at three locations: Santa Rosa Mountain, Pine Cove, and the Girl Scout camp (Skyland Ranch).
These repeaters have batteries, some with solar recharging, to keep transmitting when the power is out. Gaebert explains “We can usually operate a good 24 hours or more without power. Cell towers have that problem also. After the Cranston Fire, and when the highway washed out, the cell towers had backup generators and fuel, but the fuel ran out. We were able to maintain communica-
tion with the Office of Emergency Services in Riverside.”
There was also talk about outreach with the Girl Scouts, helping them earn their radio badges. In past years they have done this with the Boy Scouts at Camp Emerson.
MHRC also supports: Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES), the official volunteer communications arm of the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services, which operates under the auspices of FEMA for disaster communications. They assist in providing radio communications for local agencies and others during emergencies and special events. “
MHRC’s regular meetings are the first Tuesday of each month. There is a meet and greet at 6 PM, and the meeting begins at 6:30. Middle Ridge Winery is located at 54301 North Circle Drive, Idyllwild, 92549. Learn more at milehighradioclub.org. Their website includes general preparedness guidelines and a link to www.ready.gov.
included. Washer, tub, deck, 1 car only (carport). Adjacent to forest and trails. Furnished? No pets/smoking. References, credit check 1 mo. security deposit. $1200. Senior discount Available. Call (951) 330-1175 or lucymcc@ verizon.net.
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Saturday night's very busy Idyllwild Rotary Bingo. On the second Saturday of every month, Idyllwild Rotary is holding a Bingo event in
with a different local non-profit organization at Town Hall, which is owned and operated by the non-profit Idyllwild Community Center (ICC). This month (February 8th) the co-sponsor was ICC. Next month's co-sponsor will be Soroptimist International of Idyllwild on (March 8th). Doors open at 4:30 pm, with Bingo beginning at 5:00 pm and
7:30 pm. Food is available for purchase as part of the "Fun-raiser" event.
Rotary Bingo is open to those ages 18+, although Pine Cove resident Peaches the pup was enjoying Bingo with her "Mom and Dad."
PHOTO BY ERIC TRACY
Students of the Week
Creature Corner
Last week in Days of Our Nine Lives, the ARF cats welcomed two new cats and talked about the five puppies.
Pepper: So, who watched the Puppy Bowl last weekend? Personally, I wanted to watch the Kitten Bowl.
Harley: Really? Is there a Kitten Bowl?
Pepper: There is, just not as well known. And speaking of felines, did you hear that our two new cats, Midnight and Fluffers, have already been adopted?
Marlowe: Holy catnip! That was very fast, about a week, right?
Harley: Correct! And this last weekend two of our five puppies were also adopted.
Rowan: I heard that Chilly and Windy found forever homes. How wonderful for them!
Harley: So Rain, Frosty, and Stormy are ready to complete a home.
Rowan: They're so darned cute! I can see that they are learning manners. It is so important for them to learn important behaviors while they are young.
Marlowe: Thankfully, they have a great foster family that is spending lots of time with each of them.
Rowan: The fosters are willing to meet up with interested folks, as they live right here on the mountain.
Eeyore: If our weather stays dry, they just might be at Mt. Paws Pet Boutique again this Saturday, but these adorable pups may be met at other times.
Harley: All anyone needs to do is make a quick phone call to ARF to arrange a meet-n-greet.
This week's Creature Corner is sponsored by Lois Sheppard. 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 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.
Past Tense
75 years ago - 1950
By Feb. 15, the season’s total rainfall was 20 inches. Snow line was above 6,500 feet, and the weather was warm.
70 years ago - 1955
An Idyllwild Inn cabin was badly damaged in a fire. A bucket of cleaning fluid and a throw rug, left near a floor heater, ignited starting the fire.
65 years ago - 1960
It was announced that Mt. San Jacinto State Park was included in Governor Edmund G. Brown’s proposed state budget which called for appropria tion of $93,000 to be used to acquire land in the Stone Creek area.
60 years ago - 1965
The building of two miles of new streets started for a 40-acre Pine Cove subdivision that would contain 130 homes.
55 years ago - 1970
In an economy move, the local post office discontinued Satur day window service.
50 years ago - 1975
Loggers started clear ing the land behind the former post of fice to make way for the shopping center planned along Straw berry Creek.
45 years ago - 1980
Idyllwild Fire Chief
Bud Hunt volunteered to make a free inspec tion of any Idyllwild home to determine the proper location for a smoke detector.
40 years ago - 1985
About 30 people representing a variety of special interest groups attended a U.S. Forest Service workshop to express their views about off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in the National Forest. Among the concerns raise were the lack of OHV opportunities and the need for limiting OHVs.
35 years ago - 1990
Teachers at Idyllwild School were looking forward to an 8-percent pay raise retroactive to the start of the school year. The Hemet Teachers Association approved a
Unified School District.
30 years ago - 1995
Parents, teachers and administrators at Idyllwild School were finishing plans for a fundraising campaign to provide the school’s playground with new equipment. At the time, the playground had only one swing set.
25 years ago - 2000
Jazz legend and film star Herb Jeffries performed at a special concert held at the Tyrol Mansion in Pine Cove to benefit jazz pianist Harry Pickens who was struggling with serious health is-
20 years ago - 2005
A major wind storm with gusts of 70 mph caused more than 20 local homes to be damaged by falling trees.
25 years ago - 2010 Saturday’s torrential rain’s final drops broke and washed out a 30- to 40-foot section of Highway 74 in the area of the Cottonwood Fire burn just as the final straw once broke the proverbial camel’s back.
11 year ago - 2014
The father of one of the victims in a 2006 triple homicide in Pinyon Pines remains unsatisfied with the Riverside County Sheriff’s
Mr. William Beuche, our music teacher, has chosen the following students:
Oliver Teel
Oliver Teel is a diligent and responsible student who excels at everything he puts his mind to. He is the only first-year instrumentalist who was selected for our District Honor Band and did an excellent job representing our school as a soloist on mallet percussion at the performance last Saturday. Great job Oliver! Bravo!
Ryker Brown
Ryker Brown is a kind, joyful, and hard-working student who brings great enthusiasm to everything he does. He is responsible and always comes to class prepared to do his best. He is kind to his classmates and always willing to lend a helping hand. Thank you for being an excellent student and a wonderful person, Ryker!
Valentine's - Town Crier, February 9th 1978
ICC Sports Update
By Johnny Wilson ICC Sports Director
ADULT
BASKETBALL
The ICC Adult Basketball League is off to a roaring start as the league keeps on growing with teams coming from as far as Anza and the Santa Rosa Reservation. The six teams took to the courts at the Idyllwild School gymnasium for some fast-paced, high-action games of 4-on-4 halfcourt basketball.
Last year the league comprised of five teams – this year there are six. Here is a quick profile of the six teams, in no particular order:
Name Captain Jersey Color Bomb Squad Tino Macias Red Black Panthers Mauricio Palacios Black Green Hornets Travis Garrison Green Palms to Pines Electric Carl Dewese Grey Santa Rosa Ashlie Bohannon Turquoise
Monsters Michael Mapel Blue
In the opening series of games last Wednesday February 5th, it was the Monsters and Palms to Pines Electric who came out victorious in both of their matches and are currently sitting at the top in the standings, both at 2-0.
Santa Rosa took on the Bomb Squad in their opening match, which was back-and-forth and very close in terms of score, but in the end it was the Bomb Squad who pulled ahead for the victory by 5 points.
The Black Panthers, playing one player short, had a tough loss against Palms to Pines Electric in their first game, but mustered the energy in their second game to come up with the win against the Green Hornets.
In a post-game interview with Carl Dewese, captain of Palms to Pines Electric, he was asked what he thought about his team’s performance in their opening games. Here is what he had to say:
“I liked the teamwork we had and our defensive effort really showed. Toby [Posey] was on-fire from deep; and great hustle from Chad [Szopinski] getting every loose ball available.”
The other team leading the pack is the Monsters with the ever-so threatening father-son duo of Brian Kretsinger and his MVP-prone son, 16-year-old Griffin Kretsinger.
The next series of games are set to occur Wednesday February 12th at 6:00pm.
ICC Adult Basketball Standings
Rank/Team
terview after the game and asked him what the strategy was when they were down 2 games to 0. Here is his reply:
“Honestly, the whole strategy about this year in volleyball is that we are here to have fun. Don’t take anything personally, and with that, we will be victorious. To me it’s more about the community having fun, not really about who wins the trophy.”
Well said, coach Kyle. Well said.
ICC Adult Volleyball Standings
YOUTH GYMNASTICS
Coming soon to Town Hall: SPORT ACROBATICS & POWER TUMBLING! Ages 7 and up. Thursdays 4:00-6:00pm. Training includes Sport Acrobatics, Power Tumbling, Rhythmic-Gymnastics, Baton Twirling, Team Gym, Cheer Stunts and Group Choreography. For more information call 951-777-8326 or go to the ICC website at www.idyllwildcommunitycenter.org.
ADULT VOLLEYBALL
Village Hardware continues to dominate the volleyball court at Buckhorn Camp’s Peace Center as they extend their winning streak to 6 wins and 0 losses. Led by coach Lance Fogle and family, they recently defeated the Red Kettle and got their sweet revenge with BBI Construction – the team that eliminated them in last year’s semi-finals.
The “game of the month”, as referee Brian Wilson calls it, happened last Tuesday February 4th. Idyllwild Garage (who finished in second place last year) were having their way with the Red Kettle and won the first two games – only one more game to win the match. (The first team to win 3 games wins the match).
Although morale was down for the Red Kettle, husband and wife Kyle Owen and Lindsay Owen were not going to go down that easily. They motivated the team and led them to throw in a one-game victory. It was now 2-1 for Idyllwild Garage who still needed just one game to win the match.
Then in another surprising turn of events, after a Braveheart-like speech from coach Kyle Owen, the Red Kettle managed to win yet another game, making it now tied at 2-2. This will have to go into a 5th game tie-breaker. Winner takes all.
With a full head of steam and a never-give-up attitude, the underdogs (Red Kettle) did not look like underdogs in the final game – more like a vicious rabid dogs foaming at the mouths for the victory. And in a close fifth game, it was (yes indeed) the Red Kettle who came from a 0-2 deficit to win 3 games straight and vanquish over Idyllwild Garage 3-2!
Unbelievable. You’ve got to love this sport. Always believe and never give up.
I caught up with coach Kyle Owen in a telephone in-
http://www.IdyllwildTownCrier.com/membership-signup/
Trump
continued from A2
Nearly all of the $2.5 billion is intended to expedite the initial response and recovery efforts. These funds would help offset costs associated with the emergency protective measures, evacuations, sheltering for survivors, debris removal and cleanup, post-fire hazard assessments (such as flash flooding and debris flows), traffic control, and other necessary emergency response activities.
There is a separate $5 million appropriation for rebuilding. The Department of Housing and Community Development will receive $4 million for local governments in the fire areas. This will be used for additional planning review and building inspection resources to expedite building approvals during the recovery period.
Another $1 million is targeted at fire-damaged school facilities. Its purpose is to aid the school districts to rebuild damaged structures. The funding will provide technical assistance to Los Angeles Unified School District, Pasadena Unified School District, and charter schools affected by the fires.
“The money will come from the state’s reserve fund dedicated to economic uncertainties, which had about $8.3 billion as of Jan. 10, according to the H.D. Palmer, spokesperson for California’s Department of Finance,” Cal Matters reported.
“This money is moving immediately and was approved unanimously with bipartisan support,” said Jesse Gabriel, chair of the Assembly’s Budget Committee. “It’s the first of many steps and there will be a lot of steps in this journey. Besides seeking the Legislature’s approval of supplemental funding to help the victims and the recovery, Newsom has issued a number of Executive Orders to address the problems of the victims and the local jurisdictions’ recovery efforts.
“It is very meaningful for me as legislator for Southern California to see people of parts of the state stand up and say, ‘We’ll be with you’,” Gabriel also said in his statement.
