Palomar Mountain News

Everyone is invited to the Fire Safe Council and the Palomar Mountain Planning Organization meetings this Saturday. At the Fire Station.

Please note the new times:

FSC – 9:30 am  Click for their Agenda:   http://www.mypalomarmountain.com/firesafecouncil/AgendaPMFSC%202017_02_25.pdf

PMPO – 10:30 am

Out and about for an early inspection a few days ago.  Just had to stop and take this for you.  With all this wonderful rain, looking out over the Jeff Valley and the beautiful meadow of the Dyche, Lake Henshaw caught the morning sky, showing off a little more water.

More rain and snow is promised over the next few days.  If we had some moisture this morning, it would have been WHITE with the thermometer at 26 degrees.

Is your cabin winterized?  We don’t have to have snow for pipes to freeze, you know.   🙂  Propane topped off?  Good supply of hot chocolate and s’mores?

Great, then you are all set!

Bonnie-can-hardly-wait-for-more-snow

Weather link: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=SGX&textField1=33.3148&textField2=-116.844#.WK9VN28rLox

Snow Tips: http://www.mypalomarmountain.com/snow/

Meet CHP Officer Alex Barajas!  I met Alex at a favorite lookout on Palomar.  He is also  on the look out for the crooks that drive that white truck.  Alex works Palomar, Pauma, Pala and Valley Center area 5 days a week. He has the photos posted from the trail cam and the other officers are aware of the situation.  Thank you Alex!

We need more trail cams on Palomar!  Here is a note from the property owner where the crooks broke in and burglarized:

“I am sad to say it was our place on the mountain that was burglarized, We had placed cameras to get license plates. These low-lifes had no front plate and left at a high rate of speed in which if plate on rear was there no way to read it. We had 7 cameras on our property. Needless to say, they found most of them.

Believe me they come prepared to get through to rob. They have cordless grinders and a torch setup that blows holes through 2 inch solid metal. Not only did they tear off a gate, they had to cut part of an oak tree that fell to gain access, I’m sure they were using our chainsaws, along with all the other tools all stolen, from the last time they robbed us!!!

They took riding mower, floor jack, cameras, mountain bike and went through every tool chest and cabinet. They did all this in less than 1 hours time! We need to urge each and every one to be the extra eyes and ears to put a stop to these career criminals!! Please call Valley Center Sheriffs station if you think you have seen them or their vehicle or have any info to get them prosecuted! They drove a two toned Chevy truck, possibly white with lower colored stripe, black, blue or red? Aluminum rims, off road tires, extended cab, black tool box in bed. White male passenger, facial hair, possibly reddish. Lets make our mountain our place we can continue to enjoy and love for its Beauty and Peace!!! Let’s get these guys!!!”

The first post about the burglary has been updated with the detective’s name and phone numbers.  Here is the link for those of you who would like to turn the post around – that truck should be pretty easy to spot:  https://palomarmountainnews.wordpress.com/2017/02/20/who-are-these-bad-guys/

From: Stacy Eriksen

The Palomar Mountain Kids Club would like to give a shout out to Palomar Observatory! Superintendent Bruce Baker very graciously allowed our group of children who live on the mountain to use the Outreach Center for our recent Valentines Day party, which 19 mountain kids attended! The old observatory school house has had children in it once again!

   Thanks too goes to Steve Flanders, for allowing us to invade his workspace with squeals and laughter from happy children…and glitter from homemade Valentine cards.

Thank you, Palomar Observatory, for your kindness to our mountain children!

Many of you are such great photographers!  The Valley Center Roadrunner is publishing their ‘Business and Hometown Guide’.  Let’s get some great Palomar Photos headed their way!

From Valley Roadrunner

Send in your photos! Do you have any photos of Valley Center, Pauma Valley, Pala, Palomar Mountain or Hidden Meadows? We’re finishing up our next magazine (VC Business & Hometown Guide), and we’d love to include some resident photos! Submit to info@ValleyCenter.com —- deadline is WEDNESDAY, FEB 22 – 8AM **Please include in your email the location*

(Recent sunset taken from State Park Road, looking out over the clouds to the sun setting on the Pacific.  Pretty special up here a mile nearer Heaven!)

Have fun sharing your photos!

Bonnie Phelps

Last week 19 mountain kids had soooooooo much fun at their weekly Kid’s Club. Here is info about tomorrow’s event:

From: Stacy Eriksen

The Palomar Mountain Kids Club will be visiting the US Forest Service Fire Station tomorrow, February 21st at 10am. All mountain kids are welcome! The station is on Canfield Rd, on the left, just before the observatory.

After our time at the Station, we’ll go over to the picnic area at the Observatory parking lot.  You are invited to bring lunch for your kids or snacks to share.

Hope to see you in the morning!

From: Gray, Tim -FS

We have been burning above Fry Creek until the weather pushed us out. It was successful in my eyes. We generated some good smoke and reduced a huge amount of fuel that otherwise would be available to burn in a wild fire.

We are issuing burn permits and to ensure that folks get one in a timely fashion, I will continue to be the Point of Contact, Tim Gray BC33, 619-209-1414 and will arrange for a Patrol Officer to write a burn permit.

-Tim

Tim Gray, ADFMO
BC-33
Fuels, Prevention
& Suppression

Forest Service
R5/CNF/PRD

p: 619-209-1414
tgray01@fs.fed.us

1634 Black Canyon Rd
Ramona, CA 92065
http://www.fs.fed.us

Caring for the land and serving people

Who are these crooks?  They got up bright and early, driving an older Chevy Silverado with a  dark stripe.  They brought their blow torch and cut a gate to get in and steal from some neighbors.  They stole a dark green riding lawn mower, mountain bicycle, floor jack, game cameras, tools and more.

The tracks pointed out through other private property and the State Park where there have also been recent burglaries and the gate cut.

If you see this truck – please get the license number if possible and call Sheriff’s Detective Joseph Culver at the Valley Center Substation 760 751-4421.  Incident number is 17109081.

THANK YOU!  Any info would be appreciated by the family that has been on Palomar for over 50 years – and ALL of us on this wonderful mountain.

Yes!  That is the before pic!  This little mountain weekend gal really has the vision and work ethic to restore these rusty gems and make them irresistible!  This 1966 Scotsman is all dressed up now in turquoise and is for sale!

Brooke Bickler’s first trailer made it on four pages of Vintage Camper Trailer Magazine:

Would you like your very own vintage trailer?

Do you have a rusty gem or know where one is tucked away?

You are invited to connect with Brooke:   http://bicklerbrooke.wixsite.com/americantravelers

See also:

https://palomarmountainnews.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/brookes-before-pix/

https://palomarmountainnews.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/can-you-help-brooke/

Since cell phones work at most places up here (not our place, but I can dream!), many places don’t have land line telephones anymore.  Land lines are automatically sent up to call you during times of emergencies.  Cell phones aren’t.  However, you can register your mobile phone with AlertSanDiego.  This is San Diego County’s emergency mass notification system, so you can be reached with evacuation notices and other important protective action recommendations during a disaster: ReadySanDiego.org/AlertSanDiego

It’s a free service.  You can register your phone to your different locations – city house, office, and Palomar property, too.  A couple clicks and you are in the know!

This photo is not from Palomar (that I know of).  It was in an AlertSanDiego post.  I saw it as a nudge to turn around the info to you subscribers. Stay safe out there enjoying this rain.  We’re sure going to be treated to a beautiful Spring!

Bonnie Phelps