Palomar Mountain News

It is about to get towed!  Quick, move it quick!

The car has been parked on Robert’s property, but off the road for the last week or so.  He is guessing it belongs to a local.

During snow, be sure to always park off the road, on the outside of the white line to prevent getting towed.

From:  Robert Carlyle

Someone in a white Toyota (last 4 digits: A083), parked on Bailey Meadow Road. This means that the snow plow can’t plow the road and trying to go around it in the snow and ice will most likely smash in the side trying to get by. I’m told they are going to tow it per the California Vehicle Code which prohibits parking on roads + inhibiting snow plow snow removal.

About 2:00 today I was on the phone with a property owner of one of my listings.  We were talking about the weather since he has a crew finishing up at few things at his property to get escrow closed.  I clicked online and saw the snow predicted tonight plus tomorrow should be about 7 inches total at the most.

A few minutes ago, I went on line again to read the forecast to the buyer’s agent.  Ohmygoodness!!!!  At this very moment, the forecast has jumped to a possibility of 21 inches in the next 24 hours!  Snow maybe at 2500 feet and lots of that white stuff.  Well, all the mountain kids are excited!

Here are Snow Tips for property owners and visitors.  Bundle up and enjoy this beautiful weather heading our way!

We have the best parking in town, great sled runs and lots of hot chocolate.  Love to have you pop by!

Bonnie and Don

One of the squatter/thieves was caught where he came back for another load on South Grade!

The property owner is pretty excited after catching one of the crooks this morning! That felon from San Bernardino was hauled off where he belongs.  Neighbor, Glen Heggstad, a 65-year-old man who happens to be a jujitsu teacher, was ready for him.  After the criminal adopted an aggressive posture, Glen had no choice but to give him a message to take back to jail, after a first stop at the hospital.

A neighbor drove in early this morning and saw a pick up truck he didn’t recognize.  It was near the cabin where the squatters had made themselves at home.  The neighbor called the property owner who promptly contacted other neighbors and the Sheriff on his way to detain the crook.  This one was not getting away.

The property owner was able to defend himself and his property and with help from another neighbor with a rifle, detained the squatter/thief until the sheriff arrived.  They made it perfectly clear that Palomar Mountain has zero tolerance for that kind of activity and encouraged him to tell all his buddies to stay away from Palomar. They are pretty confident their message sunk in and made quite an impact.

“That was the whole point of the extensive discussion I had with the suspect was to direct public attention to the fact that messing around on Palomar Mountain could be hazardous to your health.”, said Glen.

They encouraged the thief to tell where he towed the trailer that he stole and he readily gave them that info.  They also found much of their stolen property in his truck.  Included was a camera with many photos of their items, plus items perhaps stolen from other areas.  These photos were apparently ready for the crook to post for a quick sale.  His gig is over but his girlfriend (he willingly provided her name when questioned -what a guy!) and perhaps another squatter are still out there.

Glen and his brother were able to pick up their trailer and the Sheriff’s Department released the rest of their stolen goods today.

Fresh tracks for a dually truck were on his brother’s property that was also involved so all are keeping a lookout for a dually that matches those tracks. If anyone has any info to pass on just reply and I’ll connect you with the heroes.   You may also call the Valley Center Sheriff’s Office.  They will probably recognize the case as the one where, thankfully, the property owner is a little sore, but fine and the crook left the mountain with a broken jaw and multiple injuries in an ambulance.

Connect with your neighbors and really keep an extra-watchful eye out.

A property owner that was up last weekend, arrived at his gate yesterday to see it had been damaged.  Lowlife had brought up camp chairs, had a campfire going and really made themselves at home.  When the owner arrived, no one was there but they left his generator running and a pitcher of iced tea.  So he missed them maybe by just a few minutes.  The thieves loaded up his utility trailer and hauled off things with other stuff staged for the next trip.

The bottom-dwelling bad guys found a road that connects neighboring properties including a nice cabin to ransack and move in out of the cold.  Had their clothes and food there and were really settling in.

They also had brought a wheel barrow to the property that was full of tools.  If you have a wheel barrow and tools missing, the guess is it might have been stolen from another property. Reply and I’ll connect you with the property owner.  The sheriff was up for a report.

Let’s all be good neighbors.

Take photos if you see anything suspicious.

Get that license plate number.

Set. Up. Trail. Cams.    Like trail cams installed?  Talk to Frank!

Let’s get these guys.

There I was, a damsel in distress.  I’d been called and asked to follow a propane truck into a property.  The top of the driveway was pretty slick with snow/icy area that was also pretty steep.   The driver really knew what he was doing to slide that truck down but also knew he wasn’t coming out again unless that the situation was different.

I’d ran home for a couple shovels and was working with one, waiting for the propane guy to finish filling an empty tank.

Then Wes Bergman showed up.  He pulled over, got a shovel out of the back of his truck (everyone one knows you should always keep a shovel in the back of your vehicle when white stuff is present), and went to work.  Ice was broken up, some slushy snow shoveled aside and (ta da!!!) he throw dirt in the tracks!  What a great idea.  The propane guy drove right out and we all got home to dinner much earlier than the driver and I ever thought we would.

Thanks Wes!

See that big log across the road?  It was a power pole not too long ago.  SDG&E is in the process of replacing wooden poles or trees with steel poles.  They set the new pole and a worker was up in a boom truck.  He detached the line and  – BOOM – the tree fell down – right where the property owner’s truck had been parked minutes before.

I was so pleased to see surveyors round the mountain the past few weeks.  They explained that they are working for SDG&E to plot their easements.  Since SDG&E is replacing the poles to make the mountain safer, they want to make sure the poles are within their easements.

Please take care to not remove or damage any survey markers.  They are very important to all and could be a huge benefit to individual property owners, too.

Thank you SDG&E and GIS Surveyors!

Bonnie Phelps – enjoying the snow!

This is what this afternoon’s “20% chance of snow” looks like.  The snow was just starting about an hour ago when I took the pic of my car.  It is covered in snow now but what is fun to see is the snow plow guys were already rolling on State Park Road.

About two inches so far at our place and enjoyed another beautiful sunset from our favorite mountain.

Bonnie and Don

It is cold up here! We have a few more days of below freezing temperatures: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=SGX&textField1=33.3148&textField2=-116.844#.Wo3YgoPwbox

Alas!  I’ve come across cabins with frozen pipes this morning.  If you have a weekend place, be sure you have your water off, drain your pipes and use anti-freeze in each drain and the toilets.  It has not been fun to walk in cabins and see toilets in several pieces on the floor.

If your water isn’t off at your weekend place, please turn it off, or have it done and winterize.  It might be too late for your pipes but maybe not to late to save the toilet bowls.

Like someone to do it for you?  Just off the phone with Ron Bowan 619-206-3347.  He is standing by and can service your cabin.  It is very important to have your water off before pipes thaw out to not have as much water damage to your floors and contents.

Of course, if you are home-on-the-mountain with your big fire in the fireplace, just have yourself a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy these flakes coming down.

Would you like a property on Palomar for Valentines Day?  This one is just too cute!

It is also already spoken for.  Son Nathan, recruited his oldest nephew to help assemble this Costco find.  It was a surprise Christmas gift for his youngest nephew, little Atticus. He is in love with his mini cabin so we’ll have to find something else for you!

There are a few things to catch your eye on PalomarProperties.com and more in the wings. Please click through then let’s connect.

We did wake to a lovely surprise snow day.  I just updated Cabin Fever’s Vacation Rental with this morning’s Winter Wonderland.  Think it is mostly only a memory now but we are all on stand-by for the next snow.

Many of you remember back to another surprise 10 years ago on Valentines Day 2008 when we had a foot of snow and candy kisses on all of our mail boxes! Ah, the old-fashioned fun on our sweet little mountain! There is always room for more!  Come join us!

Very Happy Valentines Day to You!

Bonnie Phelps

Resident Realtor

It should be ok if it is coming off Canfield Road from Fry Creek area:

From:  Tim Gray

The US Forest Service will be burning brush piles near Fry Creek for the next 4 days.