When I saw this family looking out to another beautiful Palomar sunset from my desk, I had to zoom in and capture it for you. There are so many things happening in our country and around the world … sometimes it is hard to understand.
If you’d ever like to talk, you’re always welcome ’round our fire.
Stop by and enjoy one of our comfy chairs while listening to great music and delicious BBQ! It is always so fun to browse the booths, sign up for auction items, people watch and meet and greet neighbors. Hope to see you there for a quick visit.
Bonnie Phelps, Realtor under the trees at the Hoedown
PS Yes, new listings on the way! A couple homes on Birch Hill and the cutest cabin, Crestline has a new cabin on the way plus a fun view property off State Park Road. Let’s get your questions answered and open the doors! 760-533-1742
Cecelia will be at at the Community Center Thursday and Friday 10 to 2 ish setting up and receiving items for the Raffle.
Reminder to bring comfortable chairs for relaxing while listening to Chris Clarke Bluegrass Band but you may also get up and dance the day away.
How may you help? Glad you asked. Connect with Cecelia for help setting up and you’re invited to stay late for cleanup with folding chairs, taking down tables and booths. Raffle prize ideas or items? There’s plenty of room for more.
And, be sure to visit the free photo booth! Many thanks to Christine Locken for making the signs!
The idea of pouring a little step in front of two doors, grew to be a nice patio addition pretty quick. Our son Nathan framed and laid the rebar so it was ready when Corey Miller and Crew showed up, bright and early. They poured nine and a half yards of concrete, finished it off and were heading back down the mountain in just a few hours. We are so pleased.
When Nate spoke with him about the job, he mentioned another he’d done another up here a few years ago. I do believe that one is the largest cement job on the mountain. It is still very beautiful and in excellent condition.
Corey Miller Custom Concrete is close by in Valley Center 760-803-2223
You are welcome to stop by to check out his most recent job and see his work at Round House Ranch.
Bonnie Phelps, Realtor dreaming of more cement projects!
Ever wonder about the people behind some Palomar Mountain placenames? With many thanks to our Mountain Historian, Peter Brueggeman, he provided this interesting info.
Just in time, as I listed and opened escrow today for 20 Acres of Adventure through the Fry Creek Campground. We found this peek-a-boo view with Mount San Jacinto in the background. Guessing Andrew and family might have also enjoyed looking out to this mountain range that looks pretty much the same as it did for them, Enos T. Mendenhall and other pioneers a century ago.
From Peter’s notes: “Fry Creek is named after Andrew Fry, who homesteaded in that area. He was married to Frances Elizabeth Moore, who was Lucinda Cook’s daughter from her first marriage. Lucinda Cook’s second marriage was to Jefferson Madison Cook, of whom Jeff Valley on Palomar Mountain is named. Anna “Annie” Lucinda Fry married Ulric Thomas Cook, the son of George Washington Cook of Palomar Mountain. Andrew Fry sold his Palomar land to Enos Mendenhall in 1886, and moved his family to Bear Valley (Valley Center).”
The very quick ‘Tour de Trees’ was fruitful. I was told to make it clear that this post is coming from me as a concerned community member, only.
Two people came and by the time we took off, we only had about 40 minutes so didn’t stop to get out. We looked out my car windows and saw many tall, standing dead trees over structures and parking areas. It was very obvious that a lot of properties and along our little roads should really have tree (and brush) work done to make the neighborhoods more fire safe. Many of the trees we saw are very dangerous with the potential for falling branches that could damage structures or vehicles (at a minimum) and it was quite obvious they should be taken care of sooner than later.
Since the grant funds arrived last fall, the funds aren’t going to be sent back, they are to be used on Palomar eventually. I was told there are still environmental issues to check off. This should be accomplished by the end of their fascial year which is September 30th.
However, when the work begins, the best use of the crew’s time is to start in one area, perhaps the east side of Birch Hill and work toward the Fire Station. So, even when progress is being made on the grant, there is no guarantee when your particular trees will be done.
I’ve connected with several folks already with this info, encouraging them to have their cabins made safe and not wait on the grant. Most all the cabin properties on Birch Hill and across Crestline are on the map for tree work but even after it starts, it could be done right away or it could be months before the crews could get to your property.
Trees will not be cut down if they are alive. So even if a tree is inches from your cabin, unless it is obviously ‘dead or dying’, the grant cannot take it down. If it is out in the open and not a risk of falling on a structure, it won’t come down with this grant. There are locals and tree companies who will do the work. You are welcome to reach out to me for recommendations and I do plan a post with a list for some options. It might be a good idea to go together in a neighborhood to get a crew to do multiple properties at the same time.
We’re thankful we do have a grant heading our way. It was made very clear that Stan Hill is the contact person. I’m glad the two folks came up for their tour. We all hope the work they need to accomplish to give the ok to ‘go to work’ happens soon!
Bonnie Phelps
PS. The link I included above with Stan’s contact info has a pretty clear photo of why you don’t want to wait if you have a dangerous tree near your structures.
You are invited to bring your family and friends for another fun time together on Palomar.
Festivities start at 10 am with booths set up for shopping and mountain info. Live music and dancing. You’re welcome to bring your own comfortable chair for people watching throughout the day.
Triple H BBQ is catering the lunch. The H stands for ‘Hens, Hogs and Heifers’ and their food was enjoyed at another celebration recently and delicious. This will be the best buy for BBQ lunch, pie, soda and water on the planet with $15.00 for adults and $7.00 for children. Lunch will be served from 11 to 1:00 or until they run out!
Cecelia is collecting donations now for the Silent Treasure Auction. What do you have that you could donate? Each year it is amazing to see what comes in. Some new items, gift certificates, or gently used or vintage collectables. Winners will be announced at the end of the day.
Your help in setting up or taking down is always appreciated, too.
Looking forward to seeing YOU there just a short month from today!
The funds for the grant arrived MONTHS ago. That money to make Palomar a little more fire safe is just sitting there waiting to be spent. Many properties on Crestline and Birch Hill have had their dead or dying trees marked with blue paint to come down and go away.
What is the hold-up? Stan Hill has been working Cleveland National Forest for 29 years and he has provided what has been requested and clarified. He is waiting for the OK to get boots on the ground. Today the latest is maybe by the end of September.
Trolling on FB tonight, this interesting post showed up, just had to share. Some of you might want to add your own comments and photos to that post or leave them as a comment on PMNews.
Like to take a tour? Click for all the info. Be sure to have a light jacket as it is about 40 degrees inside.
In 1948, after decades of planning and wartime delays, workers at Palomar Mountain were finalizing one of the most ambitious scientific tools of the century: the 200-inch Hale Telescope. Located in the remote mountains of San Diego County, the observatory was far from city lights, offering crystal-clear night skies. Scientists and builders worked side-by-side, balancing fragile optics with concrete, steel, and innovation. When completed, it would be the world’s largest telescope, peering into galaxies never before seen. For years, Palomar would lead the field of astronomy, revealing the size and structure of the universe. In many ways, it brought the stars a little closer to Earth.”
I’m thinking this comment might be more correct:
From: Curtis Croulet
“The photo was taken in 1938. The 200-inch telescope would not be completed until 1947. It was dedicated and named the Hale Telescope on Jun 3, 1948. It wasn’t ready for science until Nov 13, 1949.”
Palomar Mountain News 