Around the District – Page 12 – Pine Cove Water District

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Thanksgiving Closure and Additional Resources

Posted by admin on November 24, 2020

This time of year as the Autumn air crisps and the leaves start to turn and fall, we start to think of all we have to be thankful for. For us at Pine Cove Water District we are grateful for the clean mountain air, fresh water from the mountain top, the peaceful sound of our quiet community and the wonderful neighbors, family and friends. This week is Thanksgiving and most of us are celebrating a little differently this year. Whether you are having a feast with a small intimate group or visiting virtually with friends and family through the extended hours that zoom is giving out, we wish you the best.

In observance of this holiday the office will be closed on Thursday the 26th (Thanksgiving day) and Friday the 27th.

If you have a water emergency during the holiday thru the weekend please contact the emergency number and the on call staff member will be able to help you. (951) 236-9163

For any non-emergency calls feel free to leave a message on the office line and we will get back to you on the next available business day.

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Resources on the hill to help through the holidays (as well as any time).
Idy’s Helping Hands: Offering a Call Chain to check in with those in need, Food Boxes, Errand Services, Utility Payment Assistance, and other resources through Riverside County.
Admin@IdysHelpingHands.org
PO Box 1501, Idyllwild CA 92549

Mountain Communities Mutual Aid: Offering food, goods, and assistance.
951-468-0110
mountainaid@idyforest.org

Idyllwild Help Center: Offering (limited) Medical Assistance, Children’s needs, Food Assistance, Help with Utility Payments, Split Firewood, Women’s needs, and additional resources throughout Riverside County.
Phone: (951)659-2110
Email: info@idyllwildhelpcenter.org
Hours: Tuesday: 9am-12pm, Wednesday: Food Delivery, APPOINTMENT ONLY

What additional resources do you know about on the hill?

Posted in: Around the District, Community, Holidays

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FREE Wood Chips for your Garden

Posted by admin on November 20, 2020

As a Pine Cove resident, you are welcome to our offer of FREE Wood Chip for your Garden.
Our wood chips are from local wood and kept as clean from twigs and leaves as possible.

We have an abundance of wood chips at our Dutch Flats location that you can help yourself to. Please bring your own materials to gather or shovel and haul the wood chips away. If you need a larger load call the office and we can deliver a dump truck load for a delivery charge.
Our regular rate for delivery is $125 but we are having a SPECIAL FOR DECEMBER where you can get a delivery for ONLY $100. Our deliveries are around 9 cubic yards and you just need to indicate where to leave the pile.
If you are planning on gathering a large amount of wood chips on your own, please check in with us at the office first, as we want to be sure there is enough for everyone.

We still have a small amount of compost if you would like that as well. Same pick up or delivery situation; help yourself to the pile at Dutch Flats or call for a delivery at $125 a load.

Pine Cove Water District hours M-F 9am – 12pm, 1 pm-4pm
951-659-2675 or email info@pcwd.org

Winterizing with wood chips to try to prevent the roots from freezing. Looking forward to more growth next Spring.

Posted in: Around the District, Community, Compost, Conservation, Garden, gardening, Mulch, Water Conservation, Wood chips

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STUFF YOUR BROKER DIDN’T TELL YOU ABOUT MOUNTAIN LIFE

Posted by admin on November 6, 2020

The Pine Cove Water District does not forgive water bills. Please remember to shut off your customer valve before leaving the mountain. If you’ve already left and forgot, give us a call and we will send someone out to shut off for a $15 fee during regular business hours. $15 is better than paying for busted pipes!

The following write up was taken directly from Idyllwild Snow on Facebook.

Welcome to your mountain home! You’re excited to leave the city behind and embark on your new permanent mountain vacation. Here’s what to expect when living among the peaks.

SURVIVING WINTER
You visited for a couple of weeks each year, so you probably don’t know this: Winter—serious, blizzard-having, school-canceling, live-animals-freezing-solid, Donner-Party winter—starts on Halloween and ends on Memorial Day. It’s fun at first. Then it’s not.

Chances are very high that your Escalade’s windshield will get cracked by mid-December. Most mountain communities use chunks of gravel instead of salt to grit icy roads. Don’t bother getting it repaired. It’s a badge of honor that marks you as a local. The cowboy hat will give you away, though.
Snowplow drivers don’t care. Your Expedition will not be able to get over the 14-foot-high snow drift they leave at the end of your driveway. Your snowblower will be useless. Pace yourself while shoveling it and try not to fall off the top. Don’t dump the snow back in the street. This just makes the plow drivers angry.

Snow drifts are beautiful until they block your furnace exhaust pipe. Don’t be that (potentially dead) guy.

Assume all water, dark patches, or suspicious shadows on the road are black ice.

“Mud season” is mid-March through mid-May and is the reason many people don’t make it through a full year of mountain living.

AVOIDING NATURE
All that nature you craved as a city-dweller will eat you if given the chance, especially the mountain lions. You don’t need to go looking for it: Nature will visit you in your backyard, and, if you leave a door unlocked, your kitchen.

At night, those reflective round circles by the side of the road are the eyes of deer or some other animal waiting to leap into your vehicle’s path. When you see an “animal crossing” sign on the road, believe it.

BREATHING
At 7,000 feet, the air has 16% effective oxygen content, compared with 21% at sea level, which makes your new home great for developing aerobic fitness—eventually. But first, you’ll have a couple months when you’ll have to stop halfway through chewing a piece of steak to catch your breath.
Due to the extremely low humidity, your skin will visibly age five years for every year you live in the mountains. Even your eyeballs will dry out. Drink more water than you thought possible. Invest in effective skin care.
On the plus side, your hair will dry very quickly when you get out of the shower, and mildewed towels and stale crackers will be a thing of the past.
Lack of oxygen means the sun is incredibly strong. You’ll sunburn in the time it takes to walk from your estate to your mailbox. Wear sunscreen all the time. Even at night.

RUNNING ERRANDS
Here, there is no “popping out” to the hardware store. Everything you want to do is at least an hour’s drive away and involves traversing at least one mountain pass or major river crossing.

Roads are frequently and suddenly closed for landslides, blizzards, washed-out bridges, avalanches, migrating herds, and really bad car accidents (see black ice/animals, above), so always have a Plan B route home. Plan B may involve a kayak.

Keep tire chains in the car, even in summer. Pack your trunk like you might spend the night, possibly two, in your vehicle. You eventually will.

Posted in: Around the District, Community, Frozen Pipes, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Winter

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VOTE

Posted by admin on October 30, 2020

Please note that there will be NO voting at the Pine Cove Water District this year. While we apologize for the inconvenience, we want to make sure you know you have multiple days to be able to safely vote in Idyllwild.

Don’t rely on the postal mail this late in the game. Bring your ballot to your county clerk by hand or vote in person.

There is currently an official drop box at the Idyllwild Library through 8pm on Election Day as well as early voting services starting Saturday 10/31/2020 through Election Day.

You can utilize the FREE Shuttle Service through Forest Folk. Check their webpage for more information, their Facebook page or call them at 951-426-9688 on the day you need a ride.

I’ve also heard rumor that Douglas Fresh with Pearl Car Service is offering FREE rides to the library in order to be able to vote. He can be contacted by phone/text at 951-223-5812, on their webpage, or Facebook page.

The following information is taken from vote411.org.
You can also get information from voteinfo.net.

Early Voting Site and Drop Box

Idyllwild County Library Meeting Room
54401 Village Center Drive
Idyllwild, CA 92549

EARLY VOTE SITE DATES: 10/31/2020 to 11/02/2020
EARLY VOTE SITE HOURS: Oct 31 – Nov 2: 9am – 5pm; Election Day: 7am – 8pm
EARLY VOTE/SITE VOTER SERVICES: early vote

DROP OFF LOCATION HOURS: Oct 5 – Nov 2; Mon – Fri: 10am – 3pm; Election Day: 7am – 8pm
DROP OFF LOCATION DATES: 10/05/2020 to 11/03/2020
DROP OFF LOCATION VOTER SERVICES: drop off

Once you’ve voted, you can track your ballot by going to Where’sMyBallot?.

Posted in: Around the District, Community, From the Office

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Are you ready to VOTE?

Posted by admin on October 23, 2020

Please note that there will be NO voting at the Pine Cove Water District this year. While we apologize for the inconvenience, we want to make sure you know you have multiple days to be able to safely vote in Idyllwild.

If you are planning on MAILING your ballot in, please consider using the mailbox outside of the Water District. The more this box is used for regular mailing, the more we are proving that we need to keep it here.

There is currently an official drop box at the Idyllwild Library through 8pm on Election Day as well as early voting services starting Saturday 10/31/2020 through Election Day.

I’ve also heard rumor that Douglas Fresh with Pearl Car Service is offering FREE rides to the library in order to be able to vote. He can be contacted by phone/text at 951-223-5812, on their webpage, or Facebook page.

The following information is taken from vote411.org.
You can also get information from voteinfo.net.

Early Voting Site and Drop Box

Idyllwild County Library Meeting Room
54401 Village Center Drive
Idyllwild, CA 92549

Once you’ve voted, you can track your ballot by going to Where’sMyBallot?.

Posted in: Around the District, Community

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Limited Grant Funds Available

Posted by admin on October 16, 2020

Additional resources on the hill include funds from the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council, to make sure properties in Idyllwild have defensible space around their homes. Funds are brought to you by Riverside County Non-Profit Assistance Fund with special thanks to Inland Empire Community Foundation and the County of Riverside.

Website: http://mcfsc.org/
Phone: 951-659-6208
Facebook (most up to date information): https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Nonprofit-Organization/Mountain-Communities-Fire-Safe-Council-104249930945752/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcfiresafecouncil/?hl=en

They currently have two grants available:
1) General fuels reduction (abatement) programs, available year-round
2) IECF Non-Profit Assistance Fund, one time grant with extremely limited funds available for those that qualify

The limited funds round of fire abatement funding is being reserved for those who need it most in this unprecedented time: our low income, elderly and/or disable full-time residents.

Must meet requirements. Please call MCFSC for more details and to complete an application: 951-659-6208

Posted in: Around the District, Community, Fire Abatement, Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council

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Are you Prepared? (Part 2)

Posted by admin on August 28, 2020

In addition to the Basic Emergency Evacuation Kit mentioned in last week’s post, here are more items that can be added based on your individual needs.

Additional Emergency Supplies:

Soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, etc.
Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
Pet food and extra water for your pet
Fire extinguisher
Matches in a waterproof container
Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels, and plastic utensils
Paper and pencil
Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Maintaining Your Kit:
After assembling your kit, remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:

Keep canned food in a cool, dry place
Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers
Replace expired items as needed
Re-think your needs every 6-months to a year and update your kit as needs change

Kit Storage Locations:
Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for your home, work, and vehicles.

Home: Keep in a designated place and have it ready in case you need to leave quickly. Make sure all family members know where it is.
Work: Be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. Your work kit should at least include food, water, medications, comfortable walking shoes in a “grab and go” case.
Car: In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car

As mentioned before:
Talk to your family and friends, make a plan! Decide where to meet, where to stay, where you are going. If you have pets or seniors to consider, plan ahead for them as well and have specific prepared go bags. If you do not have a car, make a plan ahead of time… ask a friend or a neighbor if you can ride off the hill with them if needed. If you have a car, keep 1/2 tank of gas in it at all times. If the power goes out, the stations may not be able to pump gas unless they have a generator and even then they may only be able to take cash payments.

Remember, in case of an emergency the number one priority is safety first. Proper advanced preparations can ease the stress of evacuation and help you make sure all the necessities are not left behind or forgotten.

You can get more detailed information at https://www.ready.gov/kit

Posted in: Around the District, Community, Emergencies, Fire

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Are you prepared?

Posted by admin on August 20, 2020

Fire and quake season is upon us. Do you have an Emergency Plan to help you and your loved ones evacuate easily? It is a good idea to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car or to grab and go box that will be easily accessible for you and your family.

Build a basic Emergency Evacuation Kit Including:

Water (one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days)
Non-perishable food (at least 3 days supply)
Manual can opener (for food)
Bottled water
Prescription medications and copies of the prescription
Battery operated or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
Flashlight
Extra batteries
Whistle (to signal for help)
Dust mask (to help filter potential contaminated air)
Plastic sheeting and duct tape (in case of a shelter in place)
Moist towelettes / baby wipes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
Local maps
Cell phone and chargers
First-aid kit
Cash
Copies of important documents (driver’s license/ID, SS card, proof of residency, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, etc.)
Extra change of clothes and bedding
Pre-pack non-replaceable, personal items like photo albums that you can quickly move to a vehicle if you are instructed to evacuate

Talk to your family and friends, make a plan! Decide where to meet, where to stay, where you are going. If you have pets or seniors to consider, plan ahead for them as well and have specific prepared go bags. If you do not have a car, make a plan ahead of time… ask a friend or a neighbor if you can ride off the hill with them if needed. If you have a car, keep 1/2 tank of gas in it at all times. If the power goes out, the stations may not be able to pump gas unless they have a generator and even then they may only be able to take cash payments.

Remember, in case of an emergency the number one priority is safety first. Proper advanced preparations can ease the stress of evacuation and help you make sure all the necessities are not left behind or forgotten.

You can get more detailed information at https://www.ready.gov/kit

Posted in: Around the District, Community, Emergencies, Fire

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Have you seen any monarch butterflies this season?

Posted by admin on July 24, 2020

I recently read an article in The San Diego Union-Tribute dated July 13, 2020 that said butterfly plants are in short supply. They cited the pandemic-fueled gardening boom as well as public’s awareness of shrinking monarch population and wanting to help increase it. The Center for Biological Diversity put a release out on March 13, 2020 that stated the yearly count of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico shows a decrease of 53% from last year’s count and is well below the threshold at which government scientists predict the migration could collapse. They attribute the decrease of Monarchs to milkweed being devastated by increased herbicide spraying in conjunction with corn and soybean crops that have been genetically engineered to tolerate direct spraying with herbicides. Additionally, they are being threatened by other herbicides and by neonicotinoid insecticides that are toxic to young caterpillars and decrease the health of adult butterflies.

At the Pine Cove Water District, we were lucky enough to procure several new narrow-leaf milkweed as well as tropical milkweed for our butterfly garden. We’ve even seen a couple of visitors and look forward to seeing more as we come to the end of the season.

There’s a little guy hanging upside down

What can you do to help?

Plant the right milkweed.
According to The Laid-back Gardener, Monarchs seem to like common milkweed best but also fed happily on swamp milkweed. Apparently, butterfly weed isn’t too well liked in the caterpillar community.

Cut your milkweeds back.
Prior to blooming, cutting back the plants make them more attractive hosts for caterpillar larvae. Research at Michigan State University shows that female monarchs prefer to lay their eggs on fresh young stems that haven’t flowered yet. Heavy pruning doesn’t harm the milkweed plants and they quickly rebound.

Know your sources and avoid pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides.
When purchasing flower starts or seed, know the source. Make sure they are all natural and have no pesticides. Additionally, keep that same mind set when amending your soil and use natural compost like the compost we supply at the Water District to Pine Cove residents.

Plant additional flowers to feed adults.
Although the female monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweeds and their caterpillars only feed on those same plants, adult monarchs feed on nectar of additional flowers like Wild Bergamont, Mountain Mint, Pale Purple Coneflower, and more. Try to provide a wide range of flowers that bloom through the entire growing season. It is also suggested that you grow single plants isolated from others by mulch or wood chips (which the Water District also can supply to Pine Cove residents) instead of mixing them as the butterflies rely on seeing the plant shapes to know where their food is.

Posted in: Animals, Around the District, Compost, Garden, gardening, Monarch Butterflies, Mulch, Pine Cove Water District, Raised Bed Gardens, The Garden, Uncategorized, Wood chips

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Highway 243 to Banning Update

Posted by admin on November 1, 2019

State of California Department of Transportation PRESS RELEASE

October 30, 2019 Press Release Number: 19-424 Project ID: 08-1K520 District: 8 Riverside/San Bernardino Emergency Work Update on State Route 243 in Idyllwild RIVERSIDE – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is pleased to announce that the emergency work on State Route 243 (SR-243) is now complete. The route will reopen to the public from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Idyllwild on Friday, November 1 by 6 p.m. Know before you go! To stay on top of roadwork in the Inland Empire go to Caltrans District 8 and sign up for commuter alerts.

We are so happy the the road work on highway 243 to Banning is complete!

Posted in: Around the District, Community, Customer Infomation, Pine Cove Water District, Road Conditions

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