Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Friday, April 25, 2008
Weather
Yosemite: TODAY...SUNNY. NOT AS COOL. HIGHS 65 TO 75 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...
46 TO 56 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 31 TO 41 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...24 TO 34 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY.
SATURDAY...SUNNY...WARMER. HIGHS 69 TO 79 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 52 TO 62 IN
THE HIGH COUNTRY.
SATURDAY NIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS 37 TO 47 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...29 TO 39 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY.
SUNDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 71 TO 81 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...51 TO 61 IN THE HIGH
COUNTRY.
SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. WINDY. LOWS 33 TO 43 IN
YOSEMITE VALLEY...25 TO 35 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY. HIGHS 64 TO 74 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY...43 TO 53 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
El Portal: Today: Sunny, with a high near 78. East northeast wind 5 to 10
mph becoming west northwest.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. North northwest wind 6 to 10
mph becoming east northeast.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming west northwest
between 6 and 9 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Northwest wind around 9
mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85. East northeast wind 9 to 11 mph
becoming southwest.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Happening Today/This Weekend (Check the Community News section for other
events)
The bike trial from the Lower Yosemite Falls Shuttle Bus Stop to the Camp
Six Intersection will be scheduled to be paved starting 4/21 to 5/9. 4/24
- Segment of bike path between Camp 6 and Lower Yosemite Falls Shuttle Stop
will be paved. A detour will be available and marked. 4/25 and 4/28 - The
operation will include temporary trail closures/signed re-route detours and
a temporary shuttle bus closure in front of the Visitor
Center/Administration Building (with signed detours) to allow the hot
asphalt to cool and cure. Bikes and pedestrians will be detoured around the
Administration Building via Oak Drive and back towards the NPS Maintenance
Facility. Cedar Court will also be closed both days. (D. Tucker - 4/24/08)
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The Research Library will be closed April 24th - 30th. In case of a
research emergency, contact the Museum staff (372-0282 or 0297). (L. Eade -
4/21/08)
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FYI: Per the communities request, a web page has been created for
information regarding the El Portal Market. Postings will be made as they
are received at: http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/epm.htm
New Today
Information for the El Portal Community
Thursday, April 24, 2008. This past Monday the El Portal Market was
completely destroyed by fire. Yosemite National Park Superintendent Michael
Tollefson announced today the decision to move the store operation to the
El Portal Motor Inn (currently known as the Special Park Uses Office) for
the duration of the concessionaire’s six year contract. The Park plans to
have the building ready to open as a store in nine months time.
No decision has been made yet regarding the option of opening up the back
road (“Rail Road) from the Park fire house to the Motor Inn and will be
discussed at upcoming El Portal Town Planning Advisory Committee meetings.
The Park staff who currently work in the Special Park Uses Office will be
moved into temporary office space in the near future.
The results of the Mariposa County Fire Investigation Report are
anticipated to be released sometime on Friday. Hazardous waste material
evaluation of the burn site will begin on May 5 and is expected to take at
least a week for results. Clean up of the burn site will commence after the
hazardous waste evaluation is completed.
A web page has been created for information regarding the El Portal Market.
Postings will be made as they are received at:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/epm.htm
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Release Date: April 24, 2008
Contacts: Scott Gediman, Media and External Relations Yosemite National
Park
Pete Bartelme, Media Relations, The Yosemite Fund
Historic Tunnel View Overlook Rehabilitation to Begin as First Centennial
Project in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite, CA – The historic Tunnel View Overlook will receive a much-needed
makeover thanks to the National Park Service Centennial Initiative and
partnership with The Yosemite Fund.
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Mike Tollefson said today, “This is
an incredible time for national parks in general and Yosemite in
particular. This project, restoring one of the most iconic views in the
nation, celebrates both the approaching 100th Anniversary of the National
Park Service and the 20th Anniversary of The Yosemite Fund. We are thrilled
to have the opportunity to undertake this rehabilitation for the benefit of
all park visitors.”
“A signature view is about to get even better. The improvements will
reestablish the promise of inspiration to those who visit Tunnel View,”
said Bob Hansen, President of the nonprofit Yosemite Fund, whose donors are
contributing nearly $1.8 million to the $3.3 million project. “It’s an
honor to have this project selected as part of the Centennial Challengeand
to partner with the National Park Service to improve this historic site.”
The Tunnel View Overlook Rehabilitation Project is designed to remedy
safety issues, to correct drainage problems, to provide clear circulation
patterns for pedestrians and vehicles, to enhance and maintain viewing
opportunities for visitors, to provide accessibility to viewing areas for
visitors with disabilities, to correct safety problems associated with the
existing Inspiration Point trailhead, and to address sanitation issues
while maintaining vistas and the naturalistic, rustic character and
integrity of this historic site.
The Tunnel View Overlook is popular scenic viewpoint located adjacent to
Wawona Road at the east portal of the Wawona Tunnel. This overlook affords
expansive views of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half
Dome. It was constructed in 1932 during an era that heralded a boom in
design and development throughout the National Park Service, and helped
initiate the National Park Service’s “rustic” design style. Wawona Tunnel
and Tunnel View were determined to be eligible for listing on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1986 because of their exemplary park service
rustic design. Very little physical change has occurred to Tunnel View’s
physical features (including rockwork, circulation patterns, and
configuration) since it was built in 1932. The site remains one of the most
popular scenic overlooks in Yosemite National Park. Tour buses, tram tours,
and single-family vehicles bring an estimated 5,000-7,000 people to the
site per day during the height of the visitor season.
The National Park Centennial Initiative is a 10-year program to
reinvigorate America’s national parks and prepare them for a second
century. The initiative includes a focus on increased funding for park
operations plus a President’s Challenge: up to $100 million a year in
federal funds to match $100 million a year in philanthropic donations to
the National Park Service.
National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar said, “With the nearly $25
million Congress has appropriated and nearly $27 million of matching
commitments from our park partners, the Centennial Initiative today moves
onto the landscape and into people’s lives. It’s a great day for the
National Park Service and a great day for Yosemite National Park.”
“This is how we put our Centennial goals on the ground and it’s quite a
beginning,” Bomar said. “We have 110 programs and projects involving more
than 130 individual, public and non-profit partners benefitting 76 national
park in 38 states and the District of Columbia.”
Director Bomar said, “We really have to get cracking. Many of our parks
have a short construction seasons for the brick and mortar and trail
projects and our rangers will need to quickly integrate new programs for
the rush of summer visitors who arrive in a few short months.”
The National Park Centennial Initiative provides a framework for the
National Park Service to engage the public in its mission. Its goals and
strategies will embrace new constituents and gain support from a broad
array of public and private partners to ensure America’s national parks
continue to thrive into the next 100 years.
Other 2008 Centennial Challenge programs and projects for Yosemite include:
• Junior Ranger Program at Happy Isles: This project will firmly establish
a base for Junior Ranger program operations at the Happy Isles Nature
Center by upgrading exhibits, providing an expanded curriculum of Junior
Ranger programs, and increasing staffing and volunteers.
• Connect Underserved Youth to Parks and Evaluate Success: This Multi-Park
project will provide diversity scholarships to underserved youth, and an
evaluation of the project’s success for three parks: Yosemite National
Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Olympic National Park. This
educational program will build on a strong private partnership with
Yosemite National Institute’s campus affiliates, Yosemite Institute,
Headlands Institute, and Olympic Park Institute.
• Nine national parks across the country, including Yosemite, will embark
on a national effort to discover and catalog all plant and animal life in
the national parks – technically speaking, they will conduct all taxa
biologic inventories.
For a complete list of the 2008 National Park Service Centennial Challenge
projects and programs please visit www.nps.gov/2016 .
The Yosemite Fund is a non-profit organization that provides broad-based
private funding and resources for projects that preserve, protect or
enhance Yosemite National Park. Since 1988, more than 100,000 individual,
corporate and foundation donors have enabled the Fund to grant over $40
million to complete over 200 projects in Yosemite. Contributors to the Fund
provide a margin of excellence in Yosemite, extending a long-standing
tradition of private philanthropy in National Parks. Results of the Fund’s
work on major projects can be seen most notably at the approach to lower
Yosemite Falls ($12.5 million), Glacier Point ($4 million), Happy Isles ($2
million) and Olmstead Point ($1.2 million). Learn more at
www.yosemitefund.org 1-800-4-MY-PARK. (-NPS- )
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TUOLUMNE MEADOWS WINTER CONDITIONS UPDATE
April 24, 2008
Weather: (April 16 to April 23)
High temp: 59° (April 18)
Low temp: 6° (April 21)
New Snow: 3” (April 22)
Total settled snow depth: 23” as of April 24
Ski Conditions and Weather: It has been a cool and windy week at Tuolumne.
A series of storms have passed us by to the north, bringing many prolonged
episodes of high winds and clod temperatures. We did get a few inches of
new snow on Tuesday, but most of that blew away in the high winds the next
day. The snow has been firm to icy in the mornings, softening somewhat in
the afternoons. The Tuolumne River and most of its tributaries are now free
of ice, in most spots the only way across is to use the summer trail
bridges. The latest snow conditions report from the east side is that the
Tioga Road (Highway 120) has been plowed from the road closure gate outside
of Lee Vining up to the lower end of Tioga Lake. If all goes according to
plan, Caltrans will have the road cleared and open to the public up to the
park boundary at Tioga Pass for the opening day of fishing season on April
26. On our west side, skiers coming up the Snow Creek trail report that the
snow line begins just above the summer trail bridge, which is about 1/2
mile above the top of the switchbacks; everything below that level has
melted out. The latest report from the west end of the Tioga Road is that
plow crews have cleared the first 12 miles of road east from Crane Flat.
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: For the latest avalanche advisory for
this area go to www.esavalanche.org for the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
and click on advisory. The ESAC site is updated several times a week and
more often during weather events.
Wildlife: Birds seen in the past week include Mallard, Common Merganser,
Killdeer, Northern Flicker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker,
Black-backed Woodpecker, Violet-green Swallow, Steller’s Jay, Clark’s
Nutcracker, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, White-breasted
Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin,
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, and Brewer’s
Blackbird. We are still seeing quite a few Painted Lady butterflies
migrating through the meadows during the afternoons. Animal tracks seen in
the past week include Coyote, Pine Marten, Chickaree, Mice/Vole, and Hare.
No sign of any bears up here yet.
Questions: If you have any ski related or weather questions feel free to
call 209-372-0450 between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. If we are out skiing, leave
a message and a phone number so we can return your call. Please don’t call
us with questions about road conditions, as we live 20 miles from the
nearest plowed road and don’t do any driving this time of year. For current
park road conditions call 209-372-0200. (Jeff and Kathi, the Tuolumne
winter rangers)
Construction News
Reconstruct El Portal Road at the "Narrows" (a 1/4 mile section of road
upstream of the Big Oak Flat Road (with connections to Highway 120)/El
Portal Road intersection) Please note the following update on the
contractor's construction schedule for the El Portal Road reconstruction at
the "narrows":
The following schedule is in effect:
Monday through Saturday - 30 minute delays from 6 am until 10 pm
Sunday through Thursday nights - closure from 10 pm until 6 am with one
opening at 11 pm
Call 372-0200.1.1.2 for last minute updates on the status of the
closure/opening of this road.(G. Rothell - 3/11/08)
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North and Southside Drive Rehabilitation
*April 24th thru May 23rd---Southside Drive---There will be intermittent
one lane traffic control on Southside Drive between Housekeeping and Pohono
Bridge as crews are surveying and placing rock/headwall work (Less than
15-minute delays).
*April 24th thru May 23rd--Northside Drive---Crews are completing a test
section of paving and placing stone headwalls on Northside Drive this week.
If the test section of paving goes well this week they will begin paving
next week on Northside Drive, therefore once paving starts there will be
many trucks coming into the park via Big Oak Flat Road, so please be
patient.
Big Oak Flat Road Seal Project
*April 24th-May 2nd there will be intermittent 1-lane traffic control while
crews complete some additional pothole/shoulder repairs. (up to 15-minute
delays--will coordinate with the El Portal Road traffic control to minimize
the overall road delays)
*May 5th to May 23rd>>Crews are planning to work nights placing a seal coat
on the remaining Big Oak Flat Road segment between Foresta Road
Intersection and the Tioga Road Intersection (Crane Flat). The work is
scheduled over a 2-3 week period beginning the week of May 5th or the week
of May 12th>> depending upon the weather and temperatures.(M. Pieper -
4/15/08)
Bike Trail Repair Between Camp 6 Intersection and Yosemite Falls Bus Stop
*April 21st thru May 22nd crews will be repairing the existing
pedestrian/bike trail between Camp 6 intersection and the Yosemite Falls
Bus Stop. There will be intermittent trail delays and detours while
completing this work.
Wawona Tunnel Ventilation Repairs
*Design work is continuing. (M. Pieper - 4/24/08)
Announcements
BID ANNOUNCEMENT - EMPLOYEE HOUSING
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE - GOVERNMENT HOUSING
EL PORTAL HOUSING AREA
HOUSE #874 - 9742 ELDERBERRY LANE
3 Bedrooms – 2 Bathrooms - 1843 Sq. Ft. – Built in 1996 - $479.64 bi-weekly
– utilities not included.
DEADLINE FOR BID SUBMISSION
APRIL 30, 2008 (Close of Business)
Eligible Employees must be NPS Permanent, Term, or SCEP (Student Career
Experience Program)
Please contact the Housing Management Office for bid forms and/or
additional information. 379-1839 or 379-1879 (Y. Radanovich - 4/16/08)
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El Capitan Shuttle: The El Capitan Shuttle has begun limited service from
the Visitor's Center and Camp 4 to the El Cap Picnic Area. Service
operates daily every thirty minutes from 9:00 to 6:00. After the
construction is completed along Northside Drive, the Shuttle will expand to
include the remaining stops at the cross-over and the four mile trail head.
(G. Rosenfeld - 4/8/08)
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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
Glacier National Park is currently advertising for a Park Ranger
(Protection), GL-0025-07 target GL-09. Position is open to the public.
Permanent less than full-time working full-time a minimum of 13 pay periods
and a maximum of 25 pay periods. The announcement is currently on USAJOBS:
Announcement Number: CK183634BB Closing: Friday, April 25, 2008 (I.
Keheley - 4/22/08)
Community News
6th STREET CINEMA is a non-profit theater located in downtown Mariposa,
atop the historic Masonic Lodge on 6th Street. It is the presentation arm
of the Rural Media Arts and Education Project, a 501(c)(3) corporation,
and is supported by the California Arts Council, SierraTel, the James
Irvine
Foundation, Mariposa County, and the Geoff and Josie Fox Family
Foundation, a Donor Advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community
Foundation. We are also generously supported by Iron Mountain Systems and
Stonecutter.com. The views expressed by the films, in print materials, or
by discussion facilitators are not necessarily those of these funders.
This activity is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state
agency, and the
National Endowment for the Arts, a national agency. 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
This week's programs:
Friday - Saturday April 25 - 26, 7:30p.m. LARS AND THE REAL GIRL. (PG-13,
106 mins.)
Lars (Ryan Gosling) is an awkwardly shy young man in a small northern town
who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and
sister-in-law's home. The only problem is that she's not real - she's a
life-size doll Lars ordered off the internet. His sister-in-law is worried
for him, his brother thinks he's nuts, but eventually the entire town goes
along with his delusion in support of this sweet natured boy that they've
always loved. In its humor, our humanity shines through. Be sure to see
this one!
UPCOMING FILMS (at 7:30 unless otherwise noted):
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, May 9-10
Pangea Day, May 10, 11-2 FREE ADMISSION
I’m Not There, May 16-17
Bamako, May 23-24
TED, May 31, FREE ADMISSION (T. Arfsten - 4/22/08)
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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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The Groveland Rotary is holding a fundraiser. On Thursday April 24 we will
be holding our 'Nite at the Races' fundraising event. This wonderful event
will be held in the Groveland Community Hall, where everyone can enjoy
betting on the horses, other people's company, food and drinks.
The night's programs is:
5:00 pm No-host cocktails
6:00 pm Races start
Each $25 admission ticket includes:
* $20 funny money to bet on races (bets are $2)
* 1 ticket for prize drawing
* 2 tickets for food
* 1 ticket for beer or wine
The event is Sponsored by Groveland Rotary Club. Proceeds benefit Rotary
projects. (C. Day - 4/11/08)
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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)
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Bicycle for Alternative Transportation (BAT) will be tabling at Spring
Fling April 26! We will be offering flat tire repairs from 12-4 and leading
a mountain bike ride up Foresta Rd at 9:30. To learn more about BAT, stop
by our table at Spring Fling or contact Suzanne at 209.769.2353 or
bat.suzanne@gmail.com. (S. Thomas - 4/10/08)
Acting Designation
Dave Humphrey, 379-1029, will be acting Wildlife Mgmt Branch Chief on
Friday, April 25, until 2:30 p.m. After 2:30 p.m., Ryan Leahy, 372-0474
will be acting. Steve Thompson is out this week. (K. Hughes - 4/25/08)
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Lusetta Nelson will be acting RMS Branch Chief for Vegetation and
Restoration on Friday 4/25. (S. Beatty- 4/25/08)
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Paul DePascale is acting Branch Chief for Anthropology & Archeology on
Friday, 4/25. (L. Kirn - 4/25/08)
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April 21-26 Eric Gabriel will be the acting Deputy Chief Ranger he can be
reached at 379-1896. (C. Cuvelier - 4/22/08)
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Kristin Ramsey will be the acting Branch Chief for Interpretive Support
Services from April 22-30. (M. Kline - 4/22/08)
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Bill Kuhn will be the Acting Branch Chief for Physical Science and GIS from
April 21-25. Bill can be reached at 379-1157. (J. Meyer - 4/22/08)
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Sue Beatty (379-3290) will be acting branch chief for Vegetation and
Ecological Restoration April 22-25. (J. Weaser - 4/22/08)
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I will be on Annual Leave through April 30. Please contact Deron Mills -
Acting Fire Chief at 209-379-1902 in my absence. (K. Martin - 4/21/08)
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Mark Jones will be Acting Supervisor, Valley Buildings and Grounds, for the
week of April 21, 2008, while Kieth Stowell is out of the office. Mark can
be reached at 209-372-0545. (T. Ford - 4/18/08)
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Starting tomorrow, the following will be acting Branch Chief of Wildlife
Management
Tori Seher: Wednesday, Apr. 23 - Friday Apr. 25
Sarah Stock: Monday, Apr. 21 - Tuesday, Apr. 22 - Thursday, Apr. 24
Location willing, I will be available by cell phone. (S. Thompson -
4/18/08)
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Dave Miller is acting Supervisor for El Portal Roads & Solid Waste until
July 5th. Dave can be reached at 379-1120 or leave a message with Beth
Benitag @ 379-1057. (B.Benitag - 4//14/08)
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