Acorns are the “fruit” of Oak Trees. There are more than 70 species of Oaks in the U.S. and all of them produce acorns. Historically, acorns were an important food source for almost all Native American people and many other cultures around the world, but now human consumption of acorns is a time consuming process that only a few pursue.Trisha Pilkington here in Idyllwild will be offering a class on how to process acorns with the date TBD, so follow her on FB. But, the most important use of acorns is by our wildlife. The crop of acorns an oak produces every year varies and helps determine the population of many species.

About every 3 years, all the oaks in an area will have a “mast” year. Mast means the “nuts of forest trees” and years where the trees are producing huge crops of nuts is called a “mast year”. 2024appears to be a mast year, even though 2023 was definitely a mast year. This means there will be plenty of nuts for the wildlife plus extra that will end up growing into trees. Because of all the acorns this year, wildlife will survive and thrive. It’s nature’s way of controlling the wildlife population. More acorns means more deer, more mice, more owls thanks to more mice, etc. Mother nature is very smart.

Something fun to do is to learn to use acorn caps as an “Emergency Whistle”. They work great and they’re easy to find out on the trail and keep in your pocket “just in case”. They can be really loud. You just need an acorn cap (they’re actually called cupules). The size and shape of the cap determines the tone of your whistle. Try different shapes once you learn to whistle with them. If you teach a child, they’ll love it, but will most likely drive you crazy. Click on the 33 second video below. Hopefully it works.

Friday October 11th
Super Science Night
Astro Camp Open House
26800 Saunders Meadow Rd.
6:30 pm
FREE

Join us at AstroCamp for an unforgettable evening of discovery! Our interactive labs will be open for hands-on experiments, offering a unique opportunity to explore your curiosity. Afterward, head up to our observatory for a breathtaking view of the night sky through our telescopes. Our knowledgeable instructors will guide you through each experience and will be available to answer your questions as you uncover the mysteries of the cosmos.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our main office at 951-659-6062.

Saturday October 12th
Trail of the Acorn Festival
Idyllwild Nature Center
25225 Hwy. 243
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Free!

Observe traditional Native American skills being demonstrated, participate in games, arts & crafts for kids including a story walk, live music, food vendors and local crafters. Special visit from the Cahuilla Bird Singers.

Saturday October 12th
Kids Story Time
Idyllwild Nature Center
25225 Hwy. 243
10:30 am

Join Miss Susan at the Idyllwild Nature Center for celebration of Native American history and culture with her Storytime and Story Walk! 

Saturdays & Sundays in October
Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch
Wellman Kenworthy Ranch
59751 Hwy 74
Garner Valley
10 am – 4 pm

Saturday October 12th
Idyllwild Arts School
Rush Hall
2:00 pm

Come see our student-run IAA Improv Troupe and faculty Jeanette Knight faculty perform! These are fun, silly, and even have audience participation in the tradition of the great Improv Clubs. Come out and laugh!

Saturday October 12th
Bingo Night Fundraiser
Benefits: Mountain Communities Mutual Aid
Town Hall
25925 Cedar Street
5:00 pm

Sunday October 13th
Free Pottery Demonstration
Dr. Art Tobias
Mountain Pottery
54240 Pine Crest Dr.
1:00 pm

Dr. Tobias will be demonstrating how to throw and decorate an “ugly face jug”. Everyone welcome.

Wednesday October 16th
Rotary
Everyone Welcome
American Legion
54360 Marian View Dr.
7:30 am

Wednesday October 16th
Kids Story time
“Big Foot“
Idyllwild Library
11:00 am

Let’s celebrate National Big Foot Day (October 20) and maybe see one in person??? Come to storytime and find out!  

Wednesday October 16th
Fireside Book Club
“The Diving Bell and The Butterfly“
Idyllwild Library
2:00 pm

This month’s book is a very short but impactful memoir of Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor-in-chief of French Elle magazine. At the age of 44 he suffered a rare stroke to the brainstem awaking to find only his left eye moved. Using his eye to communicate, it was finally apparent that his mind was unimpaired. Supported by the Friends of the Library.

Idyllwild’s monthly adult book club. General reading includes fiction or non-fiction. Monthly titles to be announced

Special Library Program!

Wednesday October 16th
Georgeanne Irvine
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Idyllwild Library
4:30 pm
ALL AGES WELCOME!

Thursday October 17th
10-Week Writing Workshop
with Helle Brisson
2:00 pm

Please attend the first session if you want to be part of this workshop.

Thursday October 17th
Full Hunter’s Moon (Blood Moon)
Rises 6:19 pm

October’s full moon is commonly called the Hunter’s Moon, harkening back to European and Native American traditions where hunters would use the light of the full moon to track down their prey and stock up for the coming winter. Contrary to popular belief, the Hunter’s Moon isn’t actually bigger or brighter than usual. It simply rises earlier, soon after sunset, which would give hunters plenty of bright moonlight to hunt by during the early evenings. To Neo Pagans, however, the Hunter’s Moon is known by a far more morbid name – the Blood Moon.

Humans through the ages have always found autumn’s full moons to be creepy, and not without good reason. There’s a reason why English folks in the Middle Ages called October’s full moon the Blood Moon, and it’s the exact same reason why even Halloween imagery today often features a large, low-hanging moon with an eerie reddish glow. The Hunter’s Moon rises early in the evening, which means that you are more likely to see it near the horizon. When you observe the moon while it’s near the horizon, it gives off the illusion of being bigger while it’s in fact the same size. In addition, observing the moon at the horizon makes it look redder. This is because you’re seeing it through a thicker atmosphere, which scatters more blue light and lets more red light pass through to reach your eyes.

Donate to the Red Cross
for the Hurricane Helene Victims

Sometime you don’t know if you’re donating to a legitimate site. That’s why I asked Red Cross Volunteer and local resident Jim Brock, where was the best place to donate. The link above is what he sent to me so I know it’s legitimate.

Locals in Need…

Wayne and Karen Johnston have been well-known residents of Pine Cove for over 40 years. Wayne owned a music store in Idyllwild for many years before becoming a real estate agent in 2000. Karen was the owner/operator of “A Cut Above” hair salon and cut and styled many locals’ hair over the years, perhaps yours?

Sad news has hit this wonderful couple with some trying times ahead. Last month, Karen was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer. A CAT scan revealed the bad news, and Karen was sent home. Hospice was called in to provide comfort care.

Thank you for reading this. I hope you will find it in your hearts to contribute whatever you can to our Pine Cove friends Wayne and Karen Johnston.

Voting in Idyllwild

Oct. 7th – Nov. 1st
Ballot Drop Off Location
10 am – 3 pm

Nov. 2nd – Nov. 4th
Vote in Person OR Drop Off
10 am – 6 pm

Election Day Tuesday Nov. 5th
7 am – 8 pm

Saturday October 19th
Name That TV Tune
Musical Game Show
Spirit Mountain Retreat
25661 Oakwood St.
2:00 pm

Saturday October 26th
Pints For Paws
Fundraiser for Living Free
Idyllwild Brew Pub
12 noon – 4 pm

Monday October 28th
Old Time Radio
Middle Ridge Winery
5:00 pm

Friday & Saturday
November 29th – 30th
Christmas Market & Festival
9 am – 5 pm Friday
9 am – 3 pm Saturday

26890 Hwy. 243
951-659-1122

Order by Monday Oct. 21st
Next Food Delivery Thursday Oct. 24th, 2024

MOUNTAIN AID
Need food or other items?
Want to help those who do?
Twice monthly food boxes for every budget.
By ordering a food box, you help pay for those who can’t pay.

Summer Pick-up will be at the Mormon Church on Tollgate
www.MountainAid.net

Body & Soul

Click Here for a list of Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics, Meditation & Hypnosis in Idyllwild.

The New Bathrooms are OPEN!
Next door to the Idyllwild Gardens Nursery – Across the street from the Rustic Theatre.
Open Daily 9am – 5pm

Thank you to Shane & Ashley Stewart for donating the land for these bathrooms and to Stephanie Yost with ICC for her persistence with the County of Riverside to FINALLY get us public bathrooms. Thank you to the County of Riverside and Supervisor Manuel Perez for making this happen. It’s been a LONG time coming! Bathrooms will be locked at night.

Hotel Information
Upcoming Weekends
www.IdyLodging.com

Idyllwild Churches

All events, venues & programs run by
Idyllwild Community Center

Fit after 50
Free Exercise Class
Town Hall

Mondays
12-pm – 1pm

Tue/Wed/Thur
10am – 11am

Fridays
12-pm – 1pm

Mondays
Tai Chi Classes
10:30 – 11:30 am
Town Hall
$10 per class or $35 a month

FEEDING AMERICA
First Tuesday of each month.

The Visitor Center is now open between the public bathrooms and Idyllwild Gardens on Saturdays & Sundays from 10am – 4pm.

If you would like to volunteer to talk to visitors, help them find their way and point them in the direction of “A Good Time” please contact me at hello@GoodMorningIdyllwild.com. Download the Volunteer Application below, fill it out, take a photo with your phone and send it off to hello@GoodMorningIdyllwild.com or drop it off at The Art Dept. on lower Pine Crest.

Click Here to go to the
PCT Information Page