What do you love about Palomar? Are you looking to own property here? You can take your pick of homes, cabins and land for sale plus I usually have some extra keys in my pocket. You’re always invited to come on up for a tour.
How about the views? You see Point Loma out there with the San Diego skyline and islands dotting the Pacific – so close and yet so far away – with the beauty of the Four Seasons! Lots to share with you.
Would you like to join in on our old-fashioned fun? Scroll down to glance through the archives then simply subscribe to be the first to know.
Have a message to go out? Just send it my way. If you don’t see it posted within 24 hours, please reach out to me. Glad to keep the news heading your way about our favorite mountain!
Bonnie Phelps, Palomar Mountain News Editor since 1998
and Palomar Mountain Real Estate since the beginning of the Century!
We could use your help to Stop this Powerlink. What can you do?
1. Write a letter. My letter is below, you’re welcome to use any of it. Other templates are available to personalize, too. Presently we are an ‘alternate’ route. However, this project is not just about Palomar. It has the potential to impact so much of North County and Temecula. I invite you to click on Sempra Utilities / SDG&E website where you can see their map and plan to take their 500kV power, clear-cutting through our areas all the way to only benefit Orange County. No one else.
2. Like a daily update? Like to see letters that other people have written? Please follow our new interactive Facebook page: Save Palomar Mountain – Stop the Powerlink. Follow, post and click the button to Invite your friends to Follow. Every single ‘Follow’ helps our small community in a very BIG way. Tens of thousands of people have come from around the world for over 80 years to the world famous Observatory. We’ve had travelers sign our Airbnb guest books from many countries for the past 15 years. Palomar Christian Conference Center is celebrating their 75th year, now sleeping 320 happy campers per night. Our 1800 acre State Park and other campgrounds have hosted families for generations, enjoying time in nature, around the campfires, our magnificent views and beauty of the Four Seasons. We’ve already almost tripled our population with 600 followers in just three weeks, but would like to see that number grow into the thousands.
3. Click on our SavePalomarMountain website. If you haven’t left a comment there yet, you’ll see a little snowman pop up, simply click to do so. It is so fun to read through what others have said. This sure is a much-loved mountain. Then scroll down to see a template for your letter. There is also a Donation option to help our cause.
Subject: We oppose Golden Pacific Transmission Line clear-cutting Palomar Mountain
We were thrilled to learn that CASIO canceled the LA Basin portion of the Golden Pacific Powerlink 500kV transmission line. They figured out that it was far more cost-effective to add lines to existing poles and use a battery system. Since California also produces it’s own power and sells power to other states, another idea of course, is to keep our own power for our own state and be totally self-sustaining.
With the proven FIRE RISK already destroying over $1.4 million acres caused by transmission towers, it makes no sense to even consider our HIGH FIRE AREA. We also have 100 MPH WINDS with SNOW and ICE STORMS that have demolished transmission towers in other areas. Just on Palomar alone, our last unplanned power outage was 8 days, caused by an ice storm toppling standard residential lines. Access and repair was delayed by heavy snow. What if one of your 200 foot towers was damaged? All of Orange County would be without power! Makes no sense. There has got to be a better way.
Our last fire was July 31, 2026 with temps over 100 degrees and strong winds. It happened to be the only fire in the county that day so CalFire immediately deployed 5 planes and several helicopters and had it totally contained within 5 days. The proposed towers would be run right up the center of that burn scar. CalFire did a fabulous job in the thick smoke keeping that fire to 689 acres. However, you might ask them what their estimate would be if they had to deal with dodging 200 foot towers, limiting their response? We also happened to have an earthquake minutes from when that fire started. It is unthinkable to have these lines on Palomar for many reasons.
What is under the blue line of destruction on your map planned for Palomar? I would be glad to take you to the magnificent trees that were growing before the Declaration of Independence was signed. It would also clear-cut over a beautiful trout pond filled by a spring. Then let’s go to see where the eagles are nesting on another property or over meadows with cattle, owned and worked by the same family for 6 generations. We can also stop at the stunning view property where the owners built a large home 20 years ago. What gripped my heart was to see the tree house the grandkids are now enjoying, shaded by huge sequoias – all to be destroyed, right under the blue line.
No, just no. CASIO, please let Sempra/SDGE know they need to use their reasonable options and cancel this entire project. There is nothing ‘golden’ about it for California. No more towers.
At the Hoedown! You’ll see Megon Cahoon and Dylan Healey at the Save Palomar Mountain – Fight the Powerlink booth. $15.00 each and we’re hoping the hats arrive in time, too.
Be sure to click on the QR code and have everyone in your family and all your neighbors and friends click on the little snowman that pops up to leave your comment. Thanks so much!
Starting tomorrow you will also be able to buy shirts from our friends at the Palomar Mountain General Store! Let’s wear yellow to fight the Powerlink! Not on this beautiful mountain!!!
Do you know how to do something fun, creative, or practical? Would you consider teaching a class? Cecelia Borland is offering a cheese or a bread class. How about a service you’d like to perform – help someone clean out a garage, haul junk to the big dumpster for someone who doesn’t have a truck, or weed whip for an elder? Do you have fun household items you’re no longer using, or hand-crafted items? How about gift certificates from local vendors? Just let Christine Locken know, please text or call 949-400-7997, head them our way and all is much appreciated.
The Hoedown is this Saturday from 10 to 2! Come early to help set up.
BBQ luncheon catered by Triple H BBQ $15.00 for teenagers and adults, 12 and under are $7.00, ages two and under are free. Food to be served from 11 am until 1:00 or until all gone!
You might want to bring your own comfortable chair. Dance or tap your toes and sing along to the live music.
There are some great booths waiting for your shopping pleasure and even a mobile book store (you MUST go inside – it’s charming)!
Our Palomar Wood Carver will be there with bears and more and his mom-in-law, Gillian, will have her crocheted stuffed animals and other delightful items. Sandrine is home from France, just in time with her colorful and fun mountain-made purses and totes available.
Be sure and say hello to Friends of Palomar, CERT, Save Palomar Mountain – Fight the Powerlink, Fire Safe Council, Friends of State Park and your local Realtor who will have an “Open House” under the beautiful oaks with a couple extra chairs where you’re invited to sit a spell and catch up a bit.
It was a misty day, socked in the clouds, when I met an investor who came up to see a tired fixer. He decided pretty quick that owning the keys to that cabin was not on his wish list. I enjoyed so much hearing about the couple dozen rehab projects he’d sold over the years. I decided to show him a recent remodel with a bit of eye candy. As you can see through the window, it was not a day to be outside so we just went in to look around.
Intrigued with what he had to say? Like to see more?
Click for info and lots of photos then let’s connect for a tour.
The link will be active for only a few days. After that time, when you’d like some questions answered, just let me know.
Everyone is invited to spend the day with us at the Palomar Christian Conference Center for our 75th Birthday on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Join us for all three meals. You’ll be treated to a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a slice of birthday cake, of course!
Kids and adults can enjoy zipline, archery, gun range, swimming pool, and other afternoon activities. Regular price for the entire day is $52, but use the discount code “LOCALFRIEND” at checkout to lower the cost to only $20 (a savings of $32).
Like help registering? Simply contact the camp office at camps@palomar.camp . We’d love to have you spend a night or two with us, we’d be happy to accommodate you at an additional price.
My guess is many of you have no idea how very special the camp is with such an interesting history. Their benefactor, Robert Asher would be so impressed to see how nice it is built out now. Wouldn’t he have a blast riding the zipline?!? Some of these pix were tucked away when we have had a chance to take our grandkids to camp. Lots of good times.
Check out their webpage and hope you can pull away for a fun time September 6th!
We are teaming up as one united force with Temecula, Warner Springs and Borrego. You might have seen them in the news in their yellow shirts. Ours should arrive in time for the Board of Supervisors Meeting, We ordered through Susan Humason owner of Premier Image, who will be at the meeting early. We might be slipping them on in the meeting room!
She will also have yard signs, posters, hand-outs and eventually black baseball style hats with our logo and is glad to assist other communities who would like to do the same. Let’s suit up together and roll!
Donation suggested per shirt – $15.00 each. Reserve your size through Susan you may text or call 858-922-7692. Soon they will be available through the Palomar Mountain General Store and you’ll also be able to pay through our webpage. However, webpage is under construction so just bring cash please on Tuesday.
Small, Medium, Large, XL and XXL
Can YOU attend and speak at the August 18th Board of Supervisors Meeting?
9 am at the County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 310, San Diego, CA 92101. There is an additional session on the 19th, should you not be available on the 18th. You can register to speak here: https://publiccomment.sandiegocounty.gov/#events Jim tells us that the Powerlink is FIRST on the agenda. Plan to arrive early for a good seat.
If you are speaking, ensure that you check in at the kiosk or with the Deputy Clerk in the Board Chamber when you arrive. If you don’t check in, you may not be called. Speakers are called in the order requests are received.
Glad you asked. April of 2024, I received a phone call from a property owner with land on East Grade that is off-grid. He had a letter from SDG&E asking for permission to enter his property for a survey. The owner was pretty happy because it sounded like East Grade Road was going to have the option for power. There are so few homes on East Grade and that didn’t seem right to me. I called the number on the letter and danced around with a Q&A. It didn’t take long to learn they wanted access to survey for 200 foot towers needing to be clear-cut 100 feet on each side of the 500 kV transmission lines. After a few phone calls, we launched a task force and worked to determine the route and their intentions. We launched SavePalomarMountain to block the power project coming up from Henshaw, along East Grade and down through the State Park.
Eventually, we were pretty confident that SDG&E had selected a different route along Hwy 79 and through Temecula. (So sad for them!!!) However, SDG&E has told us at our PMPO meeting in May that since Temecula has such a strong push-back with so many more people, they might need to use an alternate route. After our fire July 31st, I reached out to our Save Palomar Mountain task force and we decided we should gear up and get back in the fight. Couldn’t have been too soon.
Please visit the SDGE/Sempra Utilities Golden Pacific Powerlink webpage updated yesterday and see their new maps. Two and a half years ago we created this map shown above with the properties that had letters and colored those parcels in orange. That was SDG&E’s first route! Now you can see that SDG&E has identified ‘South Palomar Mountain’ as an alternative route with a blue line. I carefully added the blue yarn line approximately over our map to show the difference. (South Mountain??!? This cuts right through the HEART of beautiful Palomar! Fired up yet?)
How can YOU help stop SDG&E clear-cutting a 200 foot swath, butchering Palomar Mountain?
Jim Hamerly, our SMP Chairman just learned that this new blue line goes right through his living room!!! He has been working with neighbors of the 15 regions surrounding Palomar Mountain. We really need to pack it out. Can YOU attend and speak at the August 18th Board of Supervisors Meeting at 9 am at the County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 310, San Diego, CA 92101. There is an additional session on the 19th, should you not be available on the 18th. You can register to speak here: https://publiccomment.sandiegocounty.gov/#events
If you are speaking, ensure that you check in at the kiosk or with the Deputy Clerk in the Board Chamber when you arrive. Speakers are called in the order requests are received.
Fill up your car with neighbors and friends, carpool, pack it out!
It is interactive and we invite you to post links you might come across, please like and comment on the page. Then please SHARE on other pages – especially Pauma Valley, Valley Center, Fallbrook, and beyond. The lines are to only provide power to Orange County and LA. Those local areas have a rude awakening this morning as these towers could drop down just west of the round-about, between the Pauma Fire Station and Lazy H, run up the hill there, and take off on the ridge above the Pauma Valley Country Club, through Fallbrook, Pendleton and up the coast to Orange County.
You’re invited to check out the screen shot below of our new page. See that blue button on the right? Please click to invite your friends. I didn’t prejudge anyone. It’s real easy to click ‘Select All’. We’ve learned we only get about 5% to follow. This is a brand new page, we are such a small community and need to grow the followers FAST.
We welcome your posts and links you come across. Then, at the bottom of each, it would be so helpful to add something like this: What are your thoughts about SDG&E clear-cutting Palomar Mountain? Please comment at SavePalomarMountain.org.
Do you have some slash to chip? We just received money for some chipping days for the summer. It’s time to clean up your yard of branches, and trim up your trees, chop down your bushes – fire season is upon us! Then pile next to your driveway or road that I can bring a truck and chipper up and turn around. Have the cut ends of branches all facing the road so we can run it through the chipper and get to the next job. No old wood that’s been left in the ground – when it has dirt on it, we can’t put it through the chipper.
There is a brochure at the PO Office detailing clearing for a fire-safe environment.
Call me at 760-742-1891 (best in the evenings) and I’ll put you on the list.
Everyone is invited to the annual Apple Festival. It is always a delightful time with samples of pressed apple cider from fresh local apples. Take your turn and make your own applewood jewelry and corn husk dolls. Sometimes there is a petting zoo, and you can watch and help Cecelia spin on her loom. A sack race and other games are also in the works as well as live bluegrass music. We are usually treated to some old-fashioned square dancing, and you are invited to show up in your favorite pioneer costume like some of the locals. Plan ahead for a fun day.
Palomar Mountain Christian Conference will provide a hot lunch for $5.00. Like to have a booth or volunteer for the event? Simply reach out to Rosemary Johnston on her cell at 619-384-6852.
Get the word out to family and friends and put it on your calendar:
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10 to 4:00 located at the Silvercrest Picnic area, just past the the State Park Office on the left.
Here are some pix of a Festival a few years ago. Those kids have sure grown up. Recognize anyone?
Next Saturday, August 8th is our next 40 yard dumpster delivery for Palomar Community use.
Can you help load? This has often been a Robert Carlyle and Cecelia Borland show. Others do help and it is much appreciated. It should be another hot day so extra hands are welcomed. Simply show up with your load, bring your gloves and stay awhile! Thanks so much!
The Dumpster is open from 8am until 4 (or until full) at Robert Carlyle’s property on Bailey Meadow Rd.
Take State Park Road to Bailey Meadow, first driveway on the right.
The usual rules apply: No paint, tires, HAZMAT, ewaste, Lg appliances, chemicals. It generally fills fairly quickly so come early.
Donations appreciated. Do your ‘Summer Clean Out’ and bring it on over.
Dumpster Day – It’s the place to be to see all your neighbors and friends.
Palomar Mountain News 