Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Weather
Yosemite: TODAY...SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20
PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS...THUNDERSTORMS AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE
AFTERNOON. BREEZY. SNOW LEVEL ABOVE 8000 FEET. HIGHS 63 TO 73 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY...43 TO 53 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS...
THUNDERSTORMS AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE EVENING...THEN CLEAR AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SNOW LEVEL 7000 FEET. LOWS 32 TO 42 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 23 TO 31 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY.
THURSDAY...SUNNY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 65 TO 75
IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...46 TO 56 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 31 TO 41 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 21 TO 31
IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
FRIDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 61 TO 71 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...41 TO 51 IN THE HIGH
COUNTRY.
El Portal: Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. West wind between 6
and 11 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. North northwest wind between 7
and 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming west between 8 and
11 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. West wind at 8 mph
becoming east.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 6 to 13 mph becoming west.
Happening Today/This Week (Check the Community News section for other
events)
Reminder: Utility meter replacement will be occurring this week in Wawona;
Wednesday 5/7, Thursday 5/8 and Friday 5/9. For any questions, please
contact Katie Bablitch at 379-1055 or Paul Laymon at 379-1077. (K. Bablitch
- 5/5/08)
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Training Announcement
Date: May 7th
Time: 13:00 (1pm) – 16:30
Location: Large Break Room, El Portal complex
Topics and intended audience:
Hanta Virus Awareness* 13:00 – 13:30
All Yose employees should receive hanta virus awareness training, employees
required to assess or open seasonal buildings need this class and
respiratory protection to be properly qualified, see hanta virus policy for
specific details.
http://www.yose.nps.gov/yosenet/safety/Critical_Programs/08_Hanta_Policy...
Respiratory Protection Training* 13:30 – 15:00
All personnel exposed to respiratory hazards above the OSHA permissible
exposure limit (PEL) or employees exposed to unknown levels of respiratory
hazards need respiratory training, a medical clearance, and a fit test.
Prerequisite: Respiratory Questionnaire forms are here:
http://www.yose.nps.gov/yosenet/safety/forms.htm
Hearing Conservation Program Training* 15:15 – 16:30
All employees exposed to noise levels above the OSHA permissible exposure
limit (PEL). Affected Branches include Fire, LE, B&G, R&T, Utilities,
Vegetation, and Archeology. Includes a baseline audiogram and annual
audiograms to assess program effectiveness.
Call Claudine Ronay at 379-1072 to register for training on the 6th or 7th,
only 30 training slots available each day.
*See Guide to Safety Management for policy and applicability. (R. Farmer -
4/28/08)
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Anti Virus/Spyware upgrade May 6th-8th - If you are a dial-up user please
disregard.
Please leave your computers on Tuesday May 6th thru Thursday May 8th in
order to facilitate an upgrade to the latest version of Symantec Anti
Virus/Spyware software. Upon close of business May 6th thru the 8th please
reboot your PC and turn your monitor off. Please shut down your computer
as you normally would on Friday May 9th. The upgrade will happen during
non-business hours in order to minimize impact. If a PC is turned off
during the allotted time frame the upgrade will happen when the machine is
powered on and connected to the network which may impact performance.
Please contact the Help Desk at 379-1123 or contact me directly if you have
any questions or issues. (R. Watson Jr. - 5/7/08)
New Today
Tioga Road opening operations continued Tuesday 5/06/08
Tioga Road progress for May 6, 2008:
Ending Location: West end of Dana Meadow Avalanche Zone. Approximately 45
miles from Crane Flat Gate .
Average Snow Depth: 5 Feet
Mariposa Grove Forestry operation
Forestry crews will be working on the Mariposa Grove Hazard tree removal
Today and Tomorrow May 7 th and 8th. (T. Brochini - 5/7/08)
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National Be Bear Aware and Wildlife Stewardship Month
Did you know?
In California, only 2% of black bears are actually black in color.
Mark the Date!
May 8th – El Portal, Large Break Room. Noon. During the lunch hour we’ll
be showing the movie, “Bears of Sequoia.” Come eat your lunch and enjoy
this fantastic 22-minute film on the biology and management of black bears
in the Sierra. We’ll show the film at 12:00 p.m. and again at 12:30 p.m.
(T. Seher - 5/7/08)
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Purchase Card Training Opportunity
Tuesday, 13 May, 0800-1000, Valley Admin Lobby. Training session to be
held on the use of the GSA Advantage website. If you use your government
card to make purchases, you can benefit from this training. There are
about 4-5 seats still available. Please contact me ASAP at 379-1873 or via
email if you would like to attend. (L. Schafer - 5/7/08)
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Lisa Domingues: Many of you may know Lisa, she has worked at the Yosemite
Valley day care for nearly 20-years. She is raising her 10-year old son
and currently lives in Midpines. Lisa was born and raised in Yosemite, has
many relatives and friends who love and appreciate her kind spirit,
gorgeous smile, and for taking excellent care of our children from diapers
through the grade school years. Lisa has recently been diagnosed with
terminal cancer (which has yet to slow her down or stop her from smiling).
She is, however, preparing for her son's future. A bank account has been
set up in her son's name at the Yosemite Bank in Mariposa. All donations
are appreciated and Lisa thanks you in advance for your kindness.
Donations can be made to: Chaska Colvin, Yosemite Bank Account number
#307005140. Contact Charity at the Yosemite Day care center for ways to
assist, 372-4819. (V. McMichael - 5/7/08)
Park News
POSTPONED: Merced River Plan - May, 10, 2008 - Public Planning Workshop
To all parties interested in the Merced River Comprehensive Management Plan
The new Merced River Plan public planning workshop scheduled for Saturday,
May 10, 2008, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm in Yosemite Valley has been
POSTPONED. Park management continues to consult with the National Park
Service Pacific West Regional Director, Interior Department attorneys, and
the Department of Justice on the implications of the 9th Circuit Court of
Appeals ruling on the 2005 Revised Merced River Plan. In order to honor the
time, energy and costs borne by participants, park management wants to have
clear direction on the scope, process, and substance of the next version of
the plan before convening another workshop. The park is working hard to
stay on schedule and will have more information to the public soon.
Please check our web site for updates:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/newmrp.htm
Information will be distributed once a new date for the next public
planning workshop has been determined. Thank you for your understanding. If
you have any questions, please feel free to contact Elexis Mayer, Project
Manager by phone at 209-379-1377, or by email at elexis_mayer@nps.gov, or
Linda Dahl, Yosemite National Park Chief of Planning via email at
linda_dahl@nps.gov.
The aforementioned ruling can be found at:
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/BCABDF4F5FB5568488257
80082FA48/$file/0715124.pdf?openelement
and on the Yosemite National Park website at:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/litigation.htm (E. Mayer - 5/5/08)
Announcements
Clarifying who is authorized YARTS vouchers - Just a reminder that ONLY NPS
employees are authorized YARTS vouchers. The rider has to be a hired
employee. Interns and volunteers can not get vouchers. Also a reminder
that vouchers and bus passes are NOT transferable. When you sign for your
voucher you are certifying that you are 1) a federal employee; and 2) will
be using the pass for your daily commute to and/or from work and will not
transfer it to anyone else. Violations can make you liable for up to
$5,000 per violation, and/or agency disciplinary actions up to and
including dismissal. (S. Grin - 5/6/08)
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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
The Project Management Division, Environmental Planning and Compliance
Branch is offering an opportunity for a 120 day detail / temporary
promotion (if qualified) to Environmental Compliance Specialist, GS-09/11.
This opportunity will provide the opportunity to learn about the practices
and procedures used nationally by the NPS to conduct and facilitate
planning and compliance activities. The position would allow an employee to
gain experience in elements of both the National Environmental Policy Act
and the National Historic Preservation Act.
This opportunity is open to permanent career/career-conditional employees
of Yosemite National Park. This is an interdisciplinary position that can
be filled by: Geographer, GS-150, Ecologist, GS-0408 or Resource Management
Specialist, GS-0401.
If interested, please obtain your supervisor's approval, and submit a
resume to Irma Keheley, Human Resource Office, El Portal, no later than May
12, 2008. (I. Keheley - 4/30/08)
Community News
Attention High School Seniors
The Yosemite Scholarship Commission would like to announce the availability
of three schlarships for seniors graduating in June 2008. The Yosemite
Community Scholarships are sponsored by the Yosemite Employees Association,
the Yosemite Rotary Club, the Yosemite Lions Club, and the Yosemite Winter
Club. Two of the scholarships are for $2,000 over two years for attending a
four-year college or university. The third scholarship is $1,000 over two
years at a community college. In existence since 1934, the Yosemite
Scholarship Commission is supported by the Yosemite and El Portal
communities. Only one application is necessary to apply for all three
scholarships.
Students eligible for the scholarships are any high school graduating
senior whose parent or guardian is employed on a year round basis in
Yosemite National Park or the El Portal Administrative Site. Employment
must be for no less than six months per calendar year and for at least one
year prior to the time application is made. More than just an academic
scholarship, the following items are taken into account in making the
selection: scholastic ability, financial need, leadership ability,
community participation, and general apptitude. There is no particular
significance in the order nor does one qualification have any special
weight.
Further information and applications may be obtained from Mariposa County
High School, Yosemite High School, Tioga High School, or from Jan van
Wagtendonk, or Linda Eade. Applicants must attach a copy of their current
high school transcripts to their application and send the application and
the transcripts to the Yosemite Scholarship Commission at PO Box 313, El
Portal, CA 95318. Applications will be accepted until May 15, 2008.
Jan van Wagtendonk (209) 379-2668
Linda Eade (209) 372-0280 (L. Eade - 4/23/08)
Acting Designation
Acting Chief of Resource Management and Science will Laura Kirn (379-1314)
from May 6-8 and Bret Meldrum (379-1216) on May 9. (N. Nicholas - 5/7/08)
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Katy Warner will be acting RMS Division Liaison/Mgt Asst. May 5-9, she can
be reached at 379-1421 (C. Knipper - 5/5/08)
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HR Specialist Charlotte Randolph will be out of the park from May 2 through
May 19, 2008. If you have any employee relations, classification, or
employee development issues or questions, please contact Heather Whitman
in her absence. (H. Whitman - 5/2/08)
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For the month of May, Mike and Kevin have asked me to backfill for Kevin
while he is on leave. I will continue my duties as AO from the Valley and
you can contact me there as needed. However, there will be times when I
may not be available to address some issues in Admin. During those times
please feel free to contact the following administration branch chiefs for
assistance. They have authority to make decisions and adjust
administration resources to meet your needs when I'm not available.
May 5th - 9th Dayna Jackson 379-1874
May 12th - 15th Dan Sohn 379-1173
May 18th - 22nd Lorene Schafer 379-1873
May 26th - 30th Skip Sheets 379-1195 (L. Harris - 5/1/08)
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Ansley Rothell will be the Acting Emergency Communications Center Manager
May 1-9. (N. Bissmeyer - 4/30/08)
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