Palomar Mountain News

Many of you know Bill Leibold.  Bill is one of our Veterans from World War II with ties to Palomar.  He and his wife Grace built a home on Palomar in the 1970’s.  Ken and Michelle now own “the Ship House” and below is a message from Ken about a book written about Bill and the crew of the USS Tang.

Bill was one of 9 survivors when the Tang was sunk and was found 11 long months later in  a Japanese Concentration Camp.  Bill has a fascinating memory album and let me take these photos to share.    He was recently contacted by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.  They plan a feature of the Tang where museum visitors will actually be able to ‘re-live the last mission of the Tang’  by physically manning stations in a simulated submarine.  

For you people from the press, or if you’d like to meet Bill, he said I could provide his contact info.  He is the last survivor now that could give an interview for a wonderful story and is glad to autograph your book.  

From: Ken Easton

I came across an excellent book on the story the Tang and her crew, titled “Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew ” by Alex Kershaw.  Bill was interviewed extensively for the book.  I read it this weekend and unlike prior accounts this book goes into the survivors recovery and reintroduction to life stateside.  There is a special photo in the book from the war’s end – Grace is beaming just minutes after learning that Bill was alive (see 3rd photo).  Another photo from 1988 shows a crew reunion on Palomar (see last photo).   I unfortunately missed its debut last year – Bill was even at a book signing event with Mr. Kershaw at a local bookstore.  The news from a few weeks back is that a movie based on the book was green lighted a few weeks back with Duncan Jones (who was the talk of the recent Sundance Festival with his debut film, Moon) directing.  It’s going to be great to see this up on the big screen, a true story that tops anything Hollywood could invent.

-Ken

 Click to read Bill and Grace’s story posted on the Mountain News December 7, 2004

Our Palomar Mountain composer Larry Groupe, wrote the musical score for an incredibly moving tribute to the soldiers of the Korean War. I just watched the brief trailer and Larry’s beautiful music truly sets the stage.  It seems so trite to only say, “A sincere thanks to all our military and their families”.  We’re the land of the free, because of the Brave that have held at all costs.   Bonnie Phelps – keep reading for Larry’s message:

From: Larry Groupe

FW: Hold at all Costs-Thursday night KPBS

 Tomorrow night, Thursday, November 11 ( Veteran’s day) airing on local KPBS, at 9:00pm and 10:30pm, is a powerful feature-documentary I had the opportunity to write the original score to called… “Hold at all Costs: Korea”

 A story about forgotten warriors, In a forgotten time, of a forgotten war. This is quite a compelling and emotional film I do hope you can tune in. Surviving Korean war veteran Bob Baker of San Diego has funded the film and that is why we get a sneak preview here tomorrow night. It will officially air nationwide on PBS Memorial Day 2011.

Larry Groupé

Like a free-range, all-natural turkey with no hormones, preservatives, or additives? YES!  How about having it delivered to Palomar Mountain? Now, that is very special!  They also have honey spiral ham, lamb, duck or anything else that tickles your holiday fancy!   Matt Rimal, owner of Homegrown Meats in La Jolla, comes up several times a week and said he would be glad to deliver fresh turkeys to the mountain top!  Ours is on the way!  Click or call to get your order in too.

From: Peggy Cross and Julie McEntee

Give thanks to the Lord for He is Good! 

Ladies, lets kick off this season of Thanksgiving with a

Palomar Mountain Ladies Luncheon 

Monday, November 15^th from 11:30 to 1:00

At the home of Ken and Peggy Cross

Directions:  Take State Park Road through the State Park, follow signs to the Christian Conference Center.  You’ll pass three homes on your left, this is the first house on the right. 

Call Peggy at 742-1937 for more info.

From: Alberto Lara

Subject: Possible pile burn in Observatory Campground

Just wanted to give you a heads up that the U.S. Forest Service will be planning a prescribe pile burn in the Observatory Campground the week of Monday, November 8th through Thursday, November 11th.

 Thank you.

Alberto Lara
Engineer 36
Palomar Ranger District
Cleveland National Forest
alara@fs.fed.us
Work (760) 742-3491 (Summer)
Alt. Work (760) 782-3472 (Winter)

Just the past two or three days the leaves have turned to full Fall glory!  The colors we are treated to a mile nearer heaven, are the perfect reminder to change your clocks back on Saturday night!  Might also change the batteries in those smoke detectors! 

Happy Fall, Ya’all!

Bonnie Phelps on the Mountain!

From: Anandamayi Baker

We have lots of #10 cans from our restaurant that are free for the taking. They are helpful for planting starters, or for keeping the gophers from eating your bulbs, or….?? 

Contact us if you are interestsed. 

Mother’s Kitchen

760-742-4233

Everyone is invited to a Contemporary Worship Hour starting this Sunday at 6:30 pm, November 7 at the *Round House.

It will be a guitar led worship, singing popular contemporary worship songs from today and the past, along with Hymns of the faith. We will intersperse with prayer and Bible reading.  If others would like to bring their guitars, they are very welcome. I will provide a Djembe drum and other rhythm instruments if there are rhythm people to play along too.

We plan to have this consistent the first Sunday Night of the month and everyone is welcome.

 Ken Cross

Executive Director

Palomar Christian Conference Center

(760) 742-3400

www.pccc.org

*Directions:  From Mothers Kitchen and The Store, take State Park Road just over a mile to Fern Meadow Road (directly across from the entrance to the County Road Station).  Turn right.  Go to the top of the hill to the big stone wall, turn right and follow that up to the Round House.  Plenty of parking sunny or snowy!

The other day I happened on two guys pulling weeds!  Interesting visit with them.  They work for Integrated Pest Management for the County of San Diego.  They are part of a grant project for the Yellow Star Thistle.  Apparently it is very invasive and they are working to keep it from spreading. 

I was out walking a new listing coming up and noticed some along a path.  The weeds pulled right up after this lovely rain.  Thought some of you folks would also appreciate knowing about this weed to check out your own property. 

Lots of info on-line: yellow star thistle eradication 

The men I spoke with gave the name of Bill Winnans if you’d like more information 858 694-3540 Monday through Friday, 6 am to 2:30 pm

—–Original Message—–
From: Jim Billups

I have a set of bunk beds, twins, that I acquired from the Yogi center when they remodeled a number of years back.  They are just original WW2 army metal beds with the old wire and springs to support the mattress.  Need paint and maybe plywood replace for the springs.  Obviously well made, US Army.  They are free if someone wants them.   Jim Billups  760.390.3065

www.meer.com