Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Weather
Yosemite: TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 53 TO 63 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...32 TO
42 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 34 TO 39 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...16 TO 26 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY.
FRIDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. WINDY. HIGHS 52 TO 60 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 33 TO
41 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY. GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH OVER THE CREST IN THE AFTERNOON.
FRIDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. WINDY.
SNOW LEVEL 5500 FEET. LOWS 35 TO 40 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 17 TO 27 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY.
SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. WINDY.
SNOW LEVEL 5500 FEET. HIGHS 53 TO 58 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 32 TO 38 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY. GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH OVER THE CREST IN THE MORNING.
El Portal: Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming
west between 7 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. West wind at 7 mph becoming
north northeast.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. South southwest wind between 3
and 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind between 3 and
5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near
62. Southeast wind at 8 mph becoming west.
Happening Today/This Week (Check the Community News section for other
events)
YARTS vouchers: The vouchers have arrived. I am planning on being in El
Portal on Thursday (3/27) to disburse them. I will be in the small
breakroom in the maintenance building about 3:45 until 4:30. Prior to that
I will stop in at the Fiscal Office. Please mark your calendars to
remember to meet with me. I'll be in my office today and Wednesday morning
for riders who are here in the Valley.
If the RM riders who get their vouchers from Sarah or Mitzi would please
let me know who they are, I would appreciate it. There are so many new
names that I'm having problems remembering who works where. I want to
make sure your voucher is left with them. (S. Grin - 3/26/08)
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The next Open House will be on FRIDAY March 28 instead of a Wednesday.
Friday, March 28, 2008 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm in the Yosemite Valley Visitor
Center Auditorium.
Planning efforts and projects that will be represented at this Open House
are:
New Zealand Mud Snails
Find out how to avoid bringing this invasive species into the park.
Greening the operations of the park
Find out about the sustainable practices the park uses in its daily
operations
Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan
Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan
Invasive Plant Management Plan
Environmental Education Campus
Construction and Project Updates (P. Meierding - 3/21/08)
New Today
Yosemite Training Opportunity Available!
The Introduction to Park Program Management (IPPM) class is going to be
offered in El Portal May 12 through May 16, 2008. It has recently been
posted to DOI Learn. The The course code is NPS-ADM2010. There is more
than one IPPM course listed so applicants need to scroll down and make sure
they are selecting the Yosemite course. It has been a few years since the
course was last offered in Yosemite, so please consider attending. Below
is the course description from DOI learn. A course annoucement is also
attached with additional information. You must apply to this course
through DOI Learn. Deadline to apply: April 4, 2008
Target Audience: Superintendents, managers, division chiefs, first-line
supervisors and program managers with budget and programming
responsibilities in all disciplines. Prioirty given to those with limited
budget training.
Class: NPS-2008-0512-YOSE-IPPM Class Dates: 05/12/2008 - 05/16/2008 M Tu W
Tr F Class Times: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Course: Introduction to Park Program
Management Course Code: NPS-ADM2010 Course Description: Inter-disciplinary
course providing an introduction to analyzing and accomplishing work,
techniques for planning and organizing work, managment and accountability
of funds, and evaluation of results. Upon completion, participants will
have a thorough understanding of the relationships between resources, the
park mission and the planning, programming and standards for all
activities.
Competencies Addressed: OPMG064-Team Building-Level 2 OPMG091-Attention To
Detail-Level 2 OPMG031-Flexibility-Level 2 OPMG075-External Awareness-Level
2 OPM0G77-Strategic Thinking-Level 2 OPMG105-Auditing-Level 2
This course requires supervisory approval. Your supervisor will be notified
by automated email and asked to approve your training.
Your course will not be available in My Courses until your request has been
approved
Categories: Business Administration & Financial Management , Engineering
Facilities Management Course Objectives: Budget, Accountability, Financial
Management 32 hours of supervisory training credit for taking this class
General Information: Tuition, treavel and per diem to be paid for by
benefitting account. Course Tuition: $300.00 Classroom (Location): TBD
(NPS-YOSE (Yosemite NP)
Please contact Tom Pimentel, Course Coordinator at 379-1863 or by email at
Tom_Pimentel@nps.gov. (T. Pimentel - 3/27/08)
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Employment Opportunity - Field Science Project Manager
Yosemite Institute, Yosemite National Park
This is a full time position with Yosemite Institute, a campus of the
Yosemite National Institutes (YNI).
The Field Science Project Manager is responsible for developing and
managing Yosemite Institute's (YI) field research and monitoring
projects in conjunction with the goals of YI and the needs of Yosemite
National Park(YNP). These projects provide YI students with
inquiry-based learning opportunities while often meeting monitoring needs
of YNP. The Field Science Project Manager also coordinates
summer field research courses in the Yosemite National Park.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter who is equally comfortable working
collaboratively or independently, who can demonstrate the
following:
• Master's or higher degree in education or environmental/ natural sciences
• Three to four years of education/research experience;
• Knowledge of backpacking practices and ability to lead students safely in
wilderness or remote locations
• Knowledge of National Park system and experience of working as a park
partner preferred.
• Current Wilderness First Responder
Compensation:
Commensurate with experience. YNI provides a comprehensive compensation
package, including competitive salary, medical and dental
benefits, generous vacation and the opportunity to work in spectacular
locations.
If you meet these requirements and are interested in applying, please
contact John DiDiego at jdidiego@yni.org for more information. (J. DiDiego
- 3/27/08)
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The Adam Burns Band will be playing on the Badger Pass Ski Lodge deck from
around 1:30-3:30 this Sunday, March 30. Acoustic music with Isaac Hayden
and Pete Stuart begins at 11:30am. (K. Ramsey - 3/26/08)
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Sunday March 30th - Join us for The 2008 Badger Pass Springfest.
Fun filled day for the entire family with Dual Slalom, Big Air Competition,
kids obstacle race, kids slalom, costume competition, but most of
all...."Build a Dummy" for the final race of the season.
Musical entertainment from 11:30AM - 1PM with acoustics featuring Pete
Stewart & Isaac Hayden and 1:30 PM - 3:30PM with "The Adam Burns Band" For
general information contact Badger Pass at 209-372-8430 See you there! (Y.
Cheley - 3/27/08)
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The 6th Annual El Portal Spring Fling and 3rd Annual El Portal Spring Run
-off will be held Saturday April 26, 2008. This awesome community event
will begin at 7 am with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Yosemite
Lion's club. A 1 mile fun run, 5K and 10K races starting at 9 am. The
festivities will continue with a fun filled day with artisans, excellent
local food vendors and an exciting evening of music sponsored by El Portal
Live and beverages provided by YEA. Come on out and enjoy spring with all
of your friends and neighbors. For more information about the spring
run-off contact Claudine Ronay 379-2967. For spring fling info contact
Rosemary MacCallum 379-2665. (C. Ronay - 3/27/08)
Announcements
Campground opening: The back loops of Upper Pines, and North Pines
Campgrounds have opened for the season. Both are on the reservation
system. (M. Carter - 3/25/08)
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Leave Share Participants
Currently, YOSE leave share participants are:
Shari Baudoux
Kevin Bowman
Kimberly Cunningham-Summerfield
You can find leave share participants Servicewide on InsideNPS at:
http://insidenps.gov/index.cfm?handler=leaveshare
If you are interested in contributing annual leave, please do so by
completing a Request to Donate Annual Leave to Leave Recipient (Within
Agency) Under the Leave Transfer Program, OPM Form 630-A. A fillable PDF
version of the OPM 630-A may be found at:
http://opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm630a.pdf (T. Hawkins - 1/31/07)
HR Corner
Detail/Temporary Promotion Opportunity:
Parkwide Custodial and Grounds is looking for a permanent career or
career-conditional Yosemite National Park employee interested in a
temporary promotion (if qualified and eligible) or detail (if not
qualified) for up to 120 days to perform the duties of Maintenance Worker
Leader, WL-4749-05. The duties would include leading VIP groups, performing
buildings and grounds maintenance work and would require working weekends.
If you are interested please submit your resume to Irma Keheley in Human
Resources Office, El Portal, no later than close of business March 31,
2008. Please make sure to have your supervisors approval. For additional
information about the position, please contact Brian Martin at (209)
375-9508. (I. Keheley - 3/24/08)
Community News
YOSEMITE RENAISSANCE XXIII ART EXHIBIT open at the Yosemite Museum Gallery
through May 4, 2008, Fridays through Mondays, 10 - Noon and 1 - 4 PM.
TAKE SOME ART HOME! Most of the works of art are available for sale, with
one-quarter of the proceeds going to support the Renaissance non-profit
arts organization, and the rest to the artist.
This year, from a near-record number of 465 entries, 38 paintings,
photographs, sculptures and drawings by 34 artists from across the country
were selected, and six prize-winners were named and received $4000 in cash
awards. This year's exhibit is unquestionably one of the best and includes
a broad range of works from the representational to the abstract to the
conceptual. Local artists in the exhibit include: Linda R. Abbott, Susan
Bolen, Elizabeth Carmel, Michael Frye, Marian Gault, Peggy Hansen, Mark
Heliger, William Neill, Penny Otwell, Jon Shiu, and Carol Rae Shockley. (J.
Bayless & B. Beroza - 3/26/08)
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6th STREET CINEMA is a non-profit theater located in downtown Mariposa,
atop the historic Masonic Lodge on 6th Street. We are the presentation arm
of the Rural Media Arts and Education project, a 501(c)(3) corporation, and
are supported by the California Arts Council, County Bank, Sierra Tel, the
James Irvine Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and Mariposa
County. We are also generously supported by Iron Mountain Systems and
Stonecutter.com. Monthly membership is $12, allowing film entry for $3
each; non-members pay $7, and non-member students pay only $5. Film/theater
information: (209)966-1333 or http://www.sixthstreetcinema.org Staff:
209 742-6666. E-mail us: sixthstreetcinema@sti.net
Upcoming Programs:
March 27 (Thursday) 7:30 p.m. LIVE FROM THE NYPL: THERE YOU GO AGAIN.(FREE
ADMISSION). - Sixth Street Cinema has partnered with the New York Public
Library to broadcast exciting, thought provoking discussions of topics
relevant to our times. 60 years ago, George Orwell published "Politics and
the English Language", in which he described political speech as consisting
"largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness." Today,
many symptoms of manipulation and propaganda diagnosed by Orwell persist on
the American political landscape, along with new disinformation techniques
enabled by modern technology. Historians, scientists, philosophers,
linguists, cognitive experts, journalists, image-makers, and public figures
will debate in three separate sessions the current state of political
discourse — and journalism's response to it — on the dawn of a bitterly
contested presidential campaign. This month, we will be screening Part I:
Propaganda Then and Now: What Orwell Did and Didn't Know, with a panel
including George Soros.
March 29 (Saturday) 7:30 p.m. TED: Technology, Education and Design... and
beer and wine. (FREE ADMISSION). - TED (which stands for Technology,
Entertainment, Design) began in 1984 as a bringing together of people from
those three worlds, but since then its scope has expanded to include
science, business, the arts and the global issues facing our world. It also
has expanded to global venues and conferences. The "main" Monterey annual
conference brings together 40 of the world's most fascinating thinkers and
doers, over four days, each of whom fill an 18-minute slot, interspersed
with many shorter pieces of music, performance and comedy. "Just be
profound" is the technical advice offered to presenters. TED attendees can
normally expect to pay upwards of $6,000, but Sixth Street Cinema (in
partnership with TED) is offering the best of the best program selections
for free, as a thank you to the community. Come and be prepared to be
wowed! Then enjoy stimulating conversations with your neighbors over a
beverage. (T. Arfsten - 3/11/08)
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Saturday March 29 9pm – Midnight: FREE - Evergreen Lodge
Join us in our tavern as we welcome Bay Area instrumental band, Little
Muddy.
With a combination of evocative and rocking original instrumentals, and
great interpretations of classic movie themes, R+B, country and rock
classics, Little Muddy has forged a unique niche in instrumental
roots-music.
For more information, call (209) 379-2606 or send us an email at
info@evergreenlodge.com (J. Gorman - 3/25/08)
Acting Designation
Stuart Foster will be acting Utilities Branch Chief on Friday, March 28th,
2008. He can be reached at 379-1828. (K. Bablitch - 3/27/08)
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Dave Kari will be out of the office March 25 - April 1, returning to the
office April 2. During his absence, John Ray will be in charge of Trails
March 25 - 31. You can reach John on his cell phone: 742-8851, or by radio
#621. Jose Lopez will be in charge of Trails April 1. You can reach Jose
by cell at 742-8910, or by radio #640. (S. Baudoux - 3/25/08)
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Danny Schaible (379-1295) will acting Branch Chief for HAL on Friday, March
28th. (D. Humphrey - 3/25/08)
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In my absence during the week of March 24, Paul DePascale is acting Branch
Chief for Anthropology and Archeology. (L. Kirn - 3/24/08)
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Scott Gediman will be Acting Chief I&E Thu-Fri, March 27-28 (T. Medema -
3/24/08)
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Tim Messick will be acting Valley Utilities Supervisor on Monday 3/24/08
through Thursday 3/28/08. He can be reached at 372-0560 or cell 742-8725
or Katie Bablitch at 379-1055. (K. Bablitch - 3/24/08)
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On the following days the designated employees will be acting Branch Chief
of Wildlife Management until my return
Monday, March 24 - Thursday March 27, Sarah Stock (379-1435)
Friday, March 28, Ryan Leahy (372-0476) (S. Thompson - 3/21/08
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Craig Anthony will be acting Safety Officer while Roger Farmer is on
Special Assignment through March 28. He can be reached at 379-1064, or you
can contact Claudine Ronay 379-1072. (C. Ronay - 3/20/08)
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Brian Martin will be the acting Buildings and Grounds Facility Manager
while Tom Darcy is out of the office from 3/24/08 thru 3/28/08. He can be
reached at either 379-1076 or 375-9508, or you may leave a message withTara
Hawksley at 379-1054. (T. Hawksley - 3/19/08)
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Dan Benitag will be acting PCO supervisor March 20th-30th while Alan
Hawksley is out of the park. Please call 209-372-0533 with any problems.(C.
Gonzales - 3/19/08)
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