Palomar Mountain News

Do YOU have dead or dying trees close to your home or cabin on Crestline or Birch Hill? Would you like them removed for FREE?

Our local Resource Conservation District has grant funding to remove dead or dying trees within 150 feet surrounding any habitable structure on Crestline and Birch Hill. This first tree removal grant is only for the Crestline and Birch Hill areas. Very sorry! We know this service is needed in other areas, too. The homes from the General Store to the State Park area should be included in the next grant.

Here is the link for the fillable Temporary Entry Permit. It is very easy to click through and fill out. No printing needed, it is all online. Please take a minute from your busy holiday schedule to get it sent directly to Stan’s inbox.

Stan will then be contacting you to evaluate your property needs for the dead and dying tree removal grant. He told me today that they will address the most most dangerous trees first and then others as the grant funds allow. He is already promised more funds so stay tuned for the next grant info.

Some of you have dead and dying trees that are within 150 feet of your home or cabin but are not on your property. Some standing dead trees might be on vacant lots. The Water Company for Crestline and Birch Hill is sending a mailing to all share holders but often the vacant lots don’t own a water share. So those owners wouldn’t get a notice and might not subscribe to PMNews. We’re glad to help you contact the property owner directly. Just reach out to me as I am glad to connect you to the owners for this free service.

Many thanks to our Palomar Mountain Fire Safe Council and Stan Hill who all work so hard to help keep our mountain firesafe.

Bonnie Phelps 760-533-1742

Here is Stan Hill’s info:

Stan Hill, Forestry & Fire Prevention Project Manager

Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County

In Partnership with the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County

And Wild Willow Farm and Education Center

11769 Waterhill Road, Lakeside, CA  92040

Office Tel: (619) 562-0096 Ext. 110

Cell: 951-553-3013 stan.hill@rcdsandiego.org

www.rcdsandiego.org I www.wildwillowfarm.orgI www.firesafesd.org

The wind finally caught up to the power outage for much of SoCal. All of Palomar went out about dinner time. I knew it was coming so had some candles lit for a fun ambiance with friends heading our way. Perfect timing as SDG&E had the power off a few minutes later and our generator started humming.

Do you work from home and would like to plug in or charge up? You’re welcome to come on over. We have a couple of desk options for you for privacy if you’d like. Or, join the party that is often happening ’round our Starstrucks Coffee Counter and warm fire in the wood stove.

David Ross, editor of the Valley Center Roadrunner called last night. Their power was out. Dave was finishing up publishing his newspaper and checking on the mountain. When the power went out up here, we didn’t have even a slight breeze. The wind kicked up a bit by bedtime so with the promise of getting stronger, we took down our flags and wind chimes. I’ll run out this morning and put away the cushions that blew off the patio chairs. So far the wind hasn’t been pretty mild but constant so we’ll see how this storm does over the next couple days.

Call or text for directions and come on by,

Bonnie and Don 760-533-1742

Hoping you enjoyed your Thanksgiving celebration today. Running out to be with family and friends today, I had to giggle. Our resident turkeys don’t know how lucky they are as they should be quite thankful today to live on this beautiful mountain.

Very thankful today and always. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.

Bonnie and Family

Driving ’round through Birch Hill, you are greeted by this adorable snowman. He is so excited because we just may get our first dusting this weekend of that delightful white stuff! He is not alone as there are bears and bowls and clocks, even a dolphin and all sorts of critters waiting for a new home.

The craftsman is a favorite neighbor, Justin Davis who has created such a fun business with wood from the mountain, of course. Follow Palomar Mountain Woodworks on social media and reach out to Justin with your gift list and commission ideas. 760-651-2704

From: Yvonne Vaucher

The California Fire Safe Council is happy to formally announce that we are launching a new Fire Safe Vendor List. This free digital publication will be available for download on our website and will include a variety of businesses working in the fields of fire safety, prevention, and/or mitigation.

If you are a vendor, come list with us! A call for applications will be announced soon via email, social, and our website with the final list available early 2025. 
 
Vendor types will include:
 
o   Fire Resistant Building & Materials 
Including contractors, siding, vents, gutters, screens, and more.
 
o   Wildfire Mitigation Platforms & Services
Including assessment apps, data tracking, and services such as chippers, tree trimmers, mastication, grazing, traffic control, and more.
 
o   Environmental Consultants 
Including CEQA compliance, biological surveys, CWPPs, grant writing, forestry, and more.
 
o   Fire Detection Software, Equipment, & Services 
Including sensors, cameras, drones, satellites, AI, and platforms.
 
o   Emergency Response Equipment 
Including sprinklers, alarms, sirens, disaster plan apps, and more.
 
We know local Fire Safe Councils are often looking for services and products to source their projects, and they are also asked of homeowners, “Who do you know?”. While CFSC does not endorse vendors on our list, we are doing some of the legwork to identify and help narrow the field for wildfire resiliency sourcing.

We are also committed to widely sharing the Fire Safe Vendor List through the Fire Safe Council network and beyond. It is our hope that this results in safer and better-protected communities throughout California!

If you’re a vendor offering services in one of these areas, we hope you apply!
 
For questions about the publication or the program, please contact Melanie Hogan at mhogan@cafiresafecouncil.org.

The clouds rolled in and a friend had just arrived. Time for a campfire! Party lights were on when I showed up for a few photos. Fall has arrived on Palomar Mountain and doesn’t this look inviting?

Warm up by the fireplace insert in the Great Room with updated kitchen and a whole lot more make it so easy to move right in. Very unique, beautiful, one third acre of fabulous boulders and your own forest.

Click for lots of photos then come on up for a tour!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor with the graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate!

760-533-1742

New listings to ‘Fall’ for on beautiful Palomar Mountain. The leaves are just beginning to turn and you’ll appreciate jackets when heading this way. The Little Green Cabin in the Woods is just perfect for weekend getaways or joining us full time. For those of you who work from home, great internet is already set up and there is the perfect little office waiting for you …. see that window at the very top?? What a great “tree house” view from from the cutest ‘cubicle’ ever! Maybe you’d use it as an artist studio or a craft room or??? What would your plans be? The exterior was recently professionally painted, appliances are included and furniture is optional. How fun is that! Hurry, come see!

Three escrows just closed and three new options are heading your way! Simply click for all the details of with lots of photos then lets connect for your tour!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor-stoking-the-wood-stove!

Call or Text 760-533-1742

Palomar Mountain Fire Safe Council proudly presents “It’s Dumpster Time Again” If the weather holds we will have a 40 yd roll-off for community use at the Fire Station 79. When facing the Fire Station line up on road to left.

Open 8 am to noon on Saturday, November 2nd. Weather report looks a bit bleak for Sunday at this point, so we’ll see about that. Usual rules – no tires, paint, HAZMAT, e-waste, Lg appliances, chemicals.

Good news! Warner Springs Community Resource Center will offer e-waste and hazardous waste disposal on Nov 9 from 9 am to 2 pm, 30950 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 760-782-0670

It’s the place to meet your neighbors on a Saturday morning!!

Questions?

Call or text Cecelia 760-594-4688

From: Rosemary Johnston

Palomar Mountain’s Annual Apple Festival is always a great day! Click for photos of some of the old fashioned fun we have had over the years.

Hope to see YOU there!

There is a reason they named the South Grade to Palomar “Highway to the Stars”. The lookouts on the last couple night have had lots of cars up to photograph Comet Tsuchinshan – ATLAS. You have a few more opportunities to see it for yourself.

Photographers and long-time friends of the Mountain, Ernie and Katie Cowan came up on Saturday night, October 12 for this shot. Ernie said it was “… Spectacular. If you miss it, it will be back in 80,000 years. See you there!”

Oh, and this just arrived from another photographer extraordinaire, Mike Pique, taken about 7:10 PM Sunday evening (sunset was 6:20) from his cabin property off East Grade.

“I had a good view last night (Sunday, 13 October) from the yard below the cabin on the southwest slope of Palomar Mountain.  Had to look across all the lights on the coast, of course, but fun to see it.  I had missed it Saturday because it was not as far south as I’d expected and it was behind the cedar tree shown here (I didn’t know to go down to the yard).  Time of photo was 1919h PDT; sunset was 1821h so not quite an hour earlier.  Camera was my Sony Alpha, APS-size, kit telephoto zoom set at “82mm 35mm equivalent” (its widest setting).  You could fiddle with the contrast and maybe bring out more tail, but I just send it as-is.”

We’ll be watching for it the next couple nights! Come on up!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor, enjoying the shows from the Highway to the Stars