October 7 , 2010 - Power returns to Stony Ridge.
In a scene reminiscent of the original helicopter "planting" of power poles at SRO in 1962, this image was taken on October 7th, 2010 by Charles Ascher. On this day, Southern California Edison, the US Forest Service and Acorn Tree Service were busy at the site replacing power poles, supervising, cutting and removing the dead and dying trees as a result of last year's deadly Station Fire. More images of the post-fire recovery work at SRO can been seen in this gallery.

September , 2010 - Stony Ridge Observatory was contacted by Frank Santore in Escondido, CA who is currently restoring a 12-inch Cassegrain reflector that was built by SRO cofounder George Carroll. The equatorial mount on that Carroll telescope is essentially identical to the mount on our Terlep/Carroll telescope that was recently donated to SRO by the John Terlep family (see April 21 below). John Terlep was also a cofounder of SRO. Pictures of this telescope are in the Telescope Gallery.

June 5 , 2010 - Belton, Texas - Today a memorial plaque was reinstalled at the site of the original hanger of the Texas Aero Corporation, makers of the "Temple monoplane" in 1927. Stony Ridge cofounder George Carroll was the Vice President and cofounder of that company. He was also responsible for some of the designs incorporated into the aircraft. Several of Carroll's descendants celebrated in the +100-degree Texas heat. The Texas Aero story can be read from the pages of the Temple Daily Telegram.

June 3 , 2010 - Some members of Stony Ridge made a site inspection today. Recent road work on the dirt road has been done, perhaps by the Southern Calif. Edison Company or the USFS in order for their crews to reach the observatory. New power lines and transformers are visible on poles in the area. On a sad note, our members reported that ALL trees in the area of the observatory appear to be dead. The USFS has begun removing some of the dead trees. USFS personnel have indicated that the lower sections of Angeles Crest Highway, between La Cañada and Red Box, may remain closed until the end of 2011.

May 26 , 2010 - The USFS has announced the opening of a number of areas within the Station Fire Recovery Area. Locations now accessible include Chilao Flats, Newcomb's Ranch and Horse Flats. While the Charlton Flats area is not specifically mentioned, the area is within a few miles from Chilao. Angeles Crest Highway, from La Cañada to Red Box is still closed. Access to Charlton/Chilao can be made via Big Tujunga Canyon Road to Shortcut Saddle. Power and telephone installations are still out at the observatory.

April 22, 2010 - A spokesperson for Southern California Edison has communicated with SRO to say that power restoration in the Stony Ridge area is progressing and that power should be restored to the Observatory by the end of July, 2010.

April 21, 2010 - Stony Ridge Observatory has received a generous donation of a 12.5-inch Cassegrain reflector (image right) from the family of one of the Founding members of SRO, John Terlep. The telescope had been in storage in Pueblo, Colorado for the past several years. John Terlep built the telescope in 1976 under the label of "Terlep Enterprises." A brochure from Rene Corporation of Van Nuys, CA shows the telescope (with its builder) as an example of their manufacturing of high-precision optical instruments. The equatorial mount to which the telescope is attached was built by George Carroll. This mount is the same as one that was used at UCLA for several decades with its 10-inch Wright-Schmidt camera, now retired. That mount is now owned by Kenneth Launie, President of the Antique Telescope Society.

April 8, 2010 - Currently the observatory is closed due to the power outage caused by the Station Fire. The estimate given by the Southern California Edison Company is for power to be restored by June 1, 2010. When more information becomes available, it will be posted on this page.

++++ ORDERS IN EFFECT ++++

Effective October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010
Order No. 01-09-08 (current as of: Mar 18, 2010)

Pursuant to 36 CFR261.50(a) and (b): Going into, or being upon any National Forest land, road or trail within the Station Fire Recovery Area, which includes Stony Ridge Observatory, is prohibited. A Special Access Permit from the Forest Service is required for any SRO member to be within the Station Fire Recovery Area.

Check here to see if any Termination of Order has been issued. Some areas are now open (see note May 26 above.)

March 26, 2010 - Caltrans has issued a continuing Road Closure Notice for Angeles Crest Highway (SR2), from La Canada-Flintridge to Mount Wilson Road (Red Box), and will remain closed to the public due to severe damage resulting from heavy rains.

This section of highway is expected to reopen by mid-Summer.

As repair work continues on the highway at lower elevations, the highway is open at higher elevations from Mount Wilson Road to Highway 39 (Islip Saddle).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

August 26, 2009 - The Station Fire breaks out near a U.S. Forest Service fire station off of the Angeles Crest Highway above La Cañada-Flintridge, CA.

August 23, 2009 - A second Engineering CCD camera test of the new drive system began tonight with the FOFU project members attending.

July 26, 2009 - Engineering tests on the new drive system have begun.

July 11, 2009 - Training session 7:30 pm.

June 29, 2009 - A group from California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) representing the Science Visualization Project visited SRO. Photos from that visit are available on the Science Visualization Project website.

April 21 , 2009 - Training session.

Spring, 2009 - Training starts for ALL Stony Ridge members who wish to use the telescope and its new drive system.

---> News Items prior to 2009.