(951) 659-2145 - Idyllwild Town Crier

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Page 24 - Idyllwild Town Crier, January 12, 2006 Arrowhead Continued from page 1 is pumped to its reservoir, Foster Lake, in Dutch Flat. The water runs off into Lilly Creek and percolates into the ground. IWD has numerous wells surrounding Foster Lake. The wells pump the groundwater into IWD’s distribution system. Officially, IWD does not use surface water for domestic uses as Fern Valley Water District (FVWD) does. Foster Lake recharges the groundwater and IWD is dependent upon Strawberry Creek flow. IWD has historically claimed water rights to use Strawberry Creek. The district has said its rights can be traced to an entity that filed for water rights before 1914. These pre-1914 rights were for 400 miner’s inches or about 3,500 gallons per minute (gpm). This is about seven times what the district now diverts from Strawberry Creek. If MRC were to file a complaint with the SWRCB, IWD risks losing all or a portion of its alleged pre-1914 claim. To date, the district has not been able to publicly document that its claim has been perfected. FVWD has no claim that is stronger than IWD’s, but FVWD has consistently submitted water applications to the SWRCB. The applications have been approved and the SWRCB has issued FVWD licenses for water use from Strawberry and Tahquitz creeks. IWD cannot identify a valid license. Lilly Creek flows out of Foster Lake and near where it crosses Highway 243 are three wells — the Pine Cove Water District’s (PCWD) highway wells. These were acquired from Paul Black. When PCWD began to bring the wells into its system, the district claimed there would be no environmental effect. MRC challenged this assertion and threatened litigation to require a complete environmental impact review. Last winter, the two parties began discussing the situation. They agreed to ask a biologist and a geohydrologist for advice and now appear to be on the road to a settlement, one which recognizes the environment and enlarges the district’s water supply. This fall, MRC began to question the effects of Foster Lake on the Lilly Creek environs. In November, Smith and his fellow MRC directors, Olivia Redwine and Chuck Stroud, toured the IWD Foster Lake complex with IWD General Manager Terry Lyons. “There have been some discussions since the meeting at Foster Lake,“ Lyons said. “I shared with Jeff that Dr. Mike Hamilton will get back to us. But there is no decision or discussion at the last board meeting. The board needs information on this before a decision can be made. They need a scope of work, the estimated cost and what it entails.” While Lyons is acting to address the questions of Foster Lake’s impact on Lilly Creek and downstream, he is Seedlings available from CDF The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) has available a new crop of conifer tree seedlings for mail-order purchase. The seedlings are available in a variety of sizes, from 1-year-old plug stock to 4-year-old bare root trees. The seedling crop offers landowners the opportunity to begin reforestation on landscapes damaged by recent wildfire and bark beetle devastations. CDF seedlings are grown from selected native parent trees chosen from different geographic seed zones throughout California, making the seedlings adaptable to future planting sites. To find the type of seedling best suited to particular areas, visit the CDF tree selection site (http://selectree.calpoly. edu). For more information on available trees and to place orders, visit the Magalia Reforestation Nursery Web site (www.fire.ca.gov/php/rsrc-mgt_statenurseries.php) or call (530) 872-6301. unsure what specific questions MRC is posing about Strawberry Creek. But Allan Morphett, IWD president, is reluctant to engage MRC and Smith in particular. “First of all, he isn’t an Idyllwild customer. We want to move in a way to best provide and be responsive,” he said. “But they keep jumping to another issue.” “I’m not saying ‘no’, but we’re moving forward, just not as fast as Mr. Smith would like,” Lyons said. But MRC has emphasized that a formal legal complaint with the SWRCB would be its last resort. “They have as long as they need or as short as they want, it’s that simple,” Smith stated. MRC’s intent is to work with the district to address the environmental issues posed by the Strawberry Creek diversion and possible expansion of it. All have expressed concern about the ability of the districts to continually expand their water supply to serve a growing population. Stroud believes Lyons is concerned and willing to address these issues just as PCWD has done. “It’s been said that we need to recirculate domestic water multiple times before it leaves the Hill,” Stroud emphasized. “What does that say about the demand and the ability of the water districts to meet it” MRC intends to arrange future meetings with Lyons and hopes IWD will be open to the public because they believe the public would benefit from understanding the issues and participating in the discussions. “Pine Cove clearly has invited inclusion of highly qualified professionals and is actively looking to understand a very complex issue,” Stroud opined. This cooperation and collaboration is their goal with IWD. MRC divides over tactics By J.P. Crumrine Assistant Editor One spillover of the recent controversies involving local water use has been the fractious internal disputes among the members of the Mountain Resource Conservancy. The dispute over tactics surfaced in public when Olivia Redwine, (former) MRC president, wrote a letter to the editor of the Town Crier. In the letter, she expressed frustration with both the Idyllwild (IWD) and Pine Cove (PCWD) water districts. However, MRC was in the midst of negotiations with PCWD and the public outburst seemed to sabotoge those discussions. Kent Steele, PCWD counsel, called Chuck Stroud, MRC director, to clarify MRC’s intent and purpose. Redwine feels it is inappropriate for MRC to participate in private or secret discussions. “We are not here to tell them whether to take water out of the creek or not,” she averred. “There should be no private meetings without the press or attorney. Why isn’t Kent Steele calling me or our attorney” Her colleagues believe that engagement will result in a better outcome with less risk of losing the incremental steps. “Our attorney advised that [PCWD] was willing to travel some ground. Olivia would rather fight in court where we could lose,” said Jeff Smith. “This way we advance our purposes to a valuable benchmark and end up with regulations and protections that extend to Lilly Creek. Going for broke is not necessarily a good thing.” Without addressing scurrilous comments, the internecine debate has had an effect on MRC, but the outcome of the process seems to be undamaged. “My relationship has never been for one person. It has always been for the group or entity, “said Simeon Herskovits, Western Environmental Law Center and MRC’s counsel. “There are differences among the three in terms of style, but not ultimate ideals. These negotiations between MRC and Pine Cove are moving forward in a fairly positive vein or progress. I would be surprised if the decision is made to discontinue that progress.” Office: 951-659-1997 Toll Free: 888-658-2889 Cell: 951-315-6099 Fax: 951-659-1972 E-mail: magicmountain1@verizon.net Web: www.robinoates.com 54225 N. Circle (In the “Fort”) P.O. Box 1651 Idyllwild, CA 92549 Jackie Wagner Broker-Associate Bus: 951-659-4673 800-760-1884 Cell: 951-212-9172 Ron Schingo 54230 North Circle P.O. Box 243 Idyllwild CA 92549 E-mail: rs@capparelli.com www.lovethehill.com SHARON LASKIN REALTOR-ASSOCIATE Cell: (714) 745-3727 Village Centre Office 54245 N. Circle Dr., Ste. B-2 (951) 659-3231 1-888-372-7848 sharon@idyllwildrealtor.com
Idyllwild Town Crier, January 12, 2006 - Page 25 On the Town Local Dining, Arts & Entertainment The fire chief wears his ’Plaid’ acting hat By Marshall Smith Staff Reporter It’s interesting to hear Steve Kunkle, Idyllwild Fire chief, talk passionately about his career as a professional fi refi ghter and the bonds formed with fellow firefighters through those experiences. He knows and cares about his business. The other hat Kunkle wears, and wears very well, is as an actor, a business he also cares passionately about. The community had an opportunity to see Kunkle perform, along with professional stage and screen actress Michele Marsh, last September in Isis Theatre Company’s production of “The Guys,” performed at the Idyllwild Fire Station. Idyllwild has another opportunity to see the chief wearing his performer hat, along with Jacob Moon, Alex Gomez and David Shook, in Showtime Productions’ “Forever Plaid, The Heavenly Hit Musical,” at Town Hall on Martin Luther King weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14 and 15. “Forever Plaid,” co-produced in Idyllwild by the Idyllwild Rotary Club as a fund-raiser for the Idyllwild Fire Department and the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program, opened in New York in May 1990 and ran for 1,664 performances (five years). It tells the story of four working class guys in their 20s who have a close harmony singing group, The Plaids. Just before the Beatles banished the top-40 ballads of the Four Freshmen, the Four Lads, and the Four Aces, the Plaids dreamed of making it big. They were on their way to their fi rst professional “gig” at the airport Fuselounge, driving in their 1954 Mercury and rehearsing as they drove, when they and their career were wiped out by a busload of Catholic girls on their way to New York City to see the fi rst American concert performance of the Beatles. Forty years later, “heaven” gives them the chance to perform their first and last (as Ed Sullivan might have said) “really big shew.” It is that show that Idyllwild gets to see on Martin Luther King weekend. This particular Plaid production was staged in December at Hi-Desert Playhouse in Joshua Tree, directed by Lisa Furugen, who reprises her directing role for the Idyllwild staging. Local teacher and jazz man Marshall Hawkins plays bass for the Saturday performance with Hi-Desert pianist Charley Creasy. Dan Ferro, also from the Hi-Desert production, plays bass for both Sunday performances. Online Subscriptions Now you can download the entire Town Crier weekly newspaper in an Acrobat Reader pdf format for just $29 per year. (951) 659-2145 www.towncrier.com “Forever Plaid” is an easily digested piece of fl uff featuring close harmony arrangements of 1950s and early 1960s standards like “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “Sixteen Tons” and “Shangri-La,” some youthful high jinks and a recounted close encounter with Perry Como that will delight even the most cynical. For the less cynical, the Plaids will take them back to a simpler, sweeter, and far more innocent time, and may even leave them with a tear in the eye when the curtain falls. As Kunkle, who plays dyslexic Smudge, likes to say, “You’ve got to pursue your passions in life.” Acting is just that for the chief. Performances are at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 and 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday Jan. 15 at Town Hall. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children 12 years and younger, and $8 for Idyllwild Arts students Sunday only. For tickets, call Chris at Silver THE AMERICAN LEGION Post 800 ★ Public Always Welcome ★ Wed. Lunch - $6.00 Chicken Sandwich with Bacon & Swiss Cheese. Friday Dinner $7.00 Prime Rib Stroganoff Dinner. Sunday Breakfast Special - $2.00 Corned Hash. Coming Soon! Thurs. & Sat. Lunches - To Go Orders Attention Attention Attention! Fred Moya Tex Mex Dinner on January 28th Regular Menu Also Available Pines, 659-4335, Kristi at 659-2153, or Lisa at (760) 819-9830. Furugen wants to bring more of her productions to Idyllwild in the future, fi nding it surprising that an art town like Idyllwild does not have its own dedicated theater for presenting plays and musicals. OPEN at J.C.'s Red Kettle 4-9pm Thurs.-Tues. Closed Wed. 54220 No. Circle Dr. (951) 659-4063 Lunch: Wed. & Fri., 12-2 pm; Breakfast: Sun., 9am-12pm Dinner: Wed., 5-7pm & Fri., 5-8pm 54360 Marion View Dr. 659-3517 (Alcoholic Beverages Sold to Members & Their Guests Only) Posing are musicians and cast of “Forever Plaid,” to be presented Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14 and 15 at Town Hall. From left, pianist and musical conductor Charlie Creasy, Sunday performance bassist Dan Ferro (local bassist Marshall Hawkins will play on Saturday), Steve Kunkle (Smudge), Jacob Moon (Jinx), David Shook (Sparky) and Alex Gomez (Frankie). Photo courtesy of Lisa Furugen STARTS FRI., JAN. 13 “Fun with Dick and Jane” Nightly, 4:30 & 7pm Sat. & Sun: *2, 4:30 & 7pm *Matinée price The besttasting popcorn just got better! Now served with Real Butter! Enjoy your evening at the newly-refurbished Rustic Theatre. Our cozy lounge is open daily, providing fi ne atmosphere, video rentals and lots of good things to eat and drink! For more info on The Rustic’s calendar, please call 951- 659-2747 or visit www.therustic.com Additional parking behind theatre.
Page 1 and 2: News bites Passing crash Four vehic
Page 3 and 4: Outside Idyllwild Backpacker’s ch
Page 5 and 6: Mountain folk D a n i e l F i d d l
Page 7 and 8: Town talk By Michael Erlich, Staff
Page 9 and 10: Review Continued from page 1 said J
Page 11 and 12: Idyllwild Town Crier, January 12, 2
Page 13 and 14: David Jason Occupation: U.S. Forest
Page 17 and 18: Editor’s note: “Tax tips” app
Page 23: Fireplace safety tips The Chimney S
Page 27 and 28: Bee Continued from page 19 Since th
Page 33 and 34: Electrical Contractors Resident Sin
Page 35 and 36: Creature corner By Jane Stonehill T

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