Palomar Mountain News

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!

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