Palomar Mountain News

When I saw the recent post about the burglary on Palomar it got me thinking.  My wife and I have a cabin on Palomar and I usually spend a few days a week on the mountain.  We have trail cams on our own property for security and to enjoy wildlife.  Over the past few years, I fine-tuned mounting and disguising the cameras to avoid detection. When I heard the last victims of the recent burglary had multiple cameras stolen, it got me thinking about offering a Security/Camera service for Palomar Mountain.

The plan would be to help homeowners establish a security plan. I’m usually available 4 days a week (Mon-Thu) and depending on how much interest there is, would determine how much time I spend on Palomar. I’m an avid outdoorsman so I spend a lot of time hiking, scouting, checking cameras etc. I can certainly provide references. I’ve been through full background checks for my Orange County CCW and CA Real Estate License. If enough people are interested I would get a business liability policy, etc. and make it an official business/service with a fee schedule. If only a few people are interested I could do a barter-for-service type of thing and just “help you out”….

Some ideas for service:

1) Utilization of game cameras either old (SIM Card) or new (Wireless/Data Plan) cameras. It might be a combination of the two, each would require a different “strategy”. The cabin owner would buy the camera(s) with my assistance and recommendations, or reimburse me. A data plan is another option which is not expensive at 5-10$ a month. Cameras can run $100 or $500+ depending on capabilities. Some can be solar powered. Most are battery operated.

2) My service would include placing and securing the cameras against theft. I’d look at routes of possible access and position cameras accordingly. Securing the cameras would include Python Locks or Secure Boxes. Another strategy is to get them high enough to be very impractical to steal and/or camouflaging them.

3) If the homeowner wants, I could do weekly security checks and camera checks. Wireless cameras give you an instant picture to your iPhone but would it actually prevent/interrupt the crime? That would likely require a pretty fast Sheriff’s response time which is unlikely. Cell service is an issue too, you need at least three bars for wireless cameras to route. So a less expensive “catching-the-crook” strategy with older cameras may make more sense in some cases.

In addition to peace of mind for security reasons, game cameras are a lot of fun simply to view the wildlife….

Interested?  Questions?  Please contact me directly.

Frank E. McCarthy

Cell: 1-619-993-5237

Office: 1-714-853-1947

Email: mccarthyscc@gmail.com

Apparently there are three large boulders completely blocking both lanes of the South Grade.  If you are heading up or down anytime in the next couple hours, you might want to take the East Grade.

Pouring rain most of the past 20 hours or so…   Stay safe, warm and dry out there!

Kids and moms and those who love them are invited to the Phelps’ Game Room (above their garage) tomorrow.

Farm animals, owls, snowflakes and a few ballerinas are waiting to be created with paper crafts and origami.  Giant checkers or Twister and other fun games are waiting, too.  One thing for certain, there is a cozy, warm fire waiting for all.

Oh, hot spaghetti with meatballs, a big green salad, and probably mac and cheese and little smokies, too.

9 to 12 ish

Need directions?  Please message me.

Thank you!

Driving through one of our little dirt roads showing property this week, we came to the end a little sooner than planned.  The top of that big fir tree must have snapped off in the last wind storm. See the tall stump on the far left?  Huge. It truly is the biggest fir I have ever seen on the ground.  At least 5 feet across.

I have a little story for you.  Maybe a decade ago I got a call from a family who had just put in a new kitchen.  They invited me to pop by and see it.  When I drove up, I couldn’t help but notice a huge fir above their cabin that looked like it was dressed in fall colors.

During times of drought, firs can die so quickly.  They die from the top down and once they get started, it can happen pretty fast.  I complimented that new kitchen then we talked about the fir.  It is not uncommon for firs to snap off during the storms.  I suggested they have it taken down. About two weeks later, we had a storm and that tree landed right down the middle of the kitchen.  The new cabinets were just fine but the kitchen was suddenly ‘air conditioned’.  So sorry for that family.

You might want to carefully check out your property (and maybe tall neighboring trees, too). This tree had been dead a few years.  In fact, it was marked to come down at one point but then a ribbon is still on that trunk with ‘Do not cut’.  Sometimes people keep trees as wild life trees.  It is totally up to you, but can be wise to put a tree on the ground when convenient for you instead of deal with a surprise someday.

Of course, if you aren’t Paul Bunyon, it can be pretty pricy to have trees removed, but we have good news for you!

The Fire Safe Council has a grant that can pay 50% of the cost! All the info is on the flyer at the top of their webpage:  http://www.mypalomarmountain.com/firesafecouncil

The grant applies to dead or dying trees close to structures.  Be sure to check it out.

Bonnie Phelps

The Community Center of Palomar Mountain has some fun events scheduled for us!  Thanks to Terri, Rosie and the committee for all their planning and decorating to give us fun times to look forward to.  Here is the calendar for the rest of the year:

Guessing the 12 acres of vacant land coming up needed some grooming and road work, so I kidnapped Robert Carlyle to go see it with me.

When I’m out and about looking at property, wildlife often crosses my path. I’ve seen lots of deer, wild turkeys, cows, my share of rattle snakes, fox, couple mountain lions and bobcats.  Today was my first encounter with a pig.

Walking back up the long driveway we heard something in the bushes.  “Look there’s a pig!” Robert exclaimed.

Children were playing outside a little farm next door.  We soon learned the pig’s name is Elijah and he is an escape artist.  He’s a very friendly guy who just wanted some lovin’.  The neighbors are working on their fencing but meanwhile, it sure was fun to meet this friendly pig!

Elijah enjoyed some amazing views today.  More info coming soon!

Bonnie Phelps

http://www.palomarproperties.com

Like to have your cabin sparkling clean?  No job too big or too small.  Palomar resident with lots of cleaning and painting experience. References available.

Please call Nanci Healey 760 742-1754

Thank you!

It was such a pleasure to meet our new Patrol Officer for the Forest Service.  Michelle Bletcher stopped by so I could take her picture before taking off with Robert Carlyle of our Fire Safe Council. They went to a property with prospective buyers (now brand new owners!!!) to learn about preparing the land for building and grooming the land to hopefully save the trees and structures if there was a fire.  The buyers were very impressed with her knowledge and we are very glad to have Michelle on Palomar!

From: Michelle Bletcher

Palomar Mountain is one of my priority patrol area€™s so I will be up often. I come with a background in fire suppression, having worked on engines, helicopters, and hotshot crews. I am new to the District and to fire prevention and I am extremely happy to be here. I look forward to meeting and assisting with recommendations to make properties more fire safe and defensible in time of fire while serving the people of Palomar Mountain.

Thank you.

Michelle Bletcher
Patrol 32

Forest Service
Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Ranger District

p: 760-788-0250
c: 619-541-0984
mbletcher@fs.fed.us

1634 Black Canyon Rd.
Ramona Ca. 92065
www.fs.fed.us

Caring for the land and serving people

PMPO – 10:30 am at the Fire Station  Click for the Agenda: http://mypalomarmountain.com/pmpoagenda1702250R20.pdf

The PMPO Mtg follows the Fire Safe Council meeting at 9:30 am

Everyone is welcome!

Betcha wish you were a Palomar Kid!?!  They are having sooooooooo much fun at their weekly Kids Club.  These photos show just a peek of the fun they had Tuesday as guests at the Forest Service Station.  Very impressive!  Those guys could charge admission!!!  Thanks to Stacy for heading up the events for the club and to the guys for giving the mountain kids another ‘Perfect Day’.  We are quite convenience they have never had that many people in that truck!

From: Stacy Eriksen

To Dink and his fire fighting crew at the US Forest Service Station, you ROCK!! The Palomar Mountain Kids Club had an awesome time visiting your station, finding out about how we can prevent wildfires, and how you protect our mountain. We had so much fun learning how to use your tools, equipment, and vehicles, and will never forget watching you jump into action when a call came in.  Meeting Smokey Bear was pretty special too. Thank you all for sharing with us!!

THANKS to Captain Ronald Gregor, Engineer Gilbert Toscano, Art Preciado and Kai Gavett!