Yosemite Photos, Video and News

Hazard Tree Removal
NPS Forestry Crews continues to remove encroaching vegetation, trimming trees and removing hazard trees along the El Portal Road from Park Line eastward to Pohono Bridge. This week, work will continue from Cascades toward the Valley. Work will continue as long as weather allows.  Traffic control will be in place from 8:30am to 4:30pm. (L. Castro - 1/18)
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Carabiner Live Music
This week is HUGE for live music in Yosemite. Tonight you're all invited to the Carabiner at 8pm with a live DJ opening for the Staxx Brothers who are opening for THE PIMPS OF JOYTIME!! The Pimps are back by extremely popular demand for their 3rd show in Yosemite - don't miss it. (E. Brosk - 1/13)

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PARK AND PARTNER NEWS

Ansel Adams Gallery Closure: Jan. 24 - Feb. 9
The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park will close for two weeks at the end of January and beginning of February in order to accomplish a thorough renovation. Cosmetically very little will change, but once we reopen, visitors to the gallery will enjoy a fresh face and upgraded infrastructure. However, Camera Walks and Photography Classes will continue during this construction period. See Photography Education for details on walks and classes. (Kate D. - 1/19)
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Badger Pass Daily Snow Report
Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Base Depth: 90” – 96”
New Snow: 0”
Snow Conditions: Powder, Packed Powder
Forecast: Mostly Sunny
Temperature: High: 49, Low: 32
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Badger, Turtle, Beaver, Rabbit
Lifts Open: Turtle, Bruin, Eagle, Badger
Runs open: All
Many features (14) in our two terrain parks!!! One is on Eagle run with boxes, rails, rollers and a jump while the Beaver run hosts 4 big-air jumps, rollers and boxes!! Come try them out!!
Groomed XC trails: Freshly groomed from Badger Pass to Glacier Point on Friday night (January 14). Groomed to Bridalveil Campground on Tuesday night (January 18th).
XC trail snow conditions:  Excellent
Tubing Hill: Two sessions/day: 11:30am–1:30pm & 2:00pm–4:00pm (S. Costello - 1/19)
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Community Update: Yosemite Medical Clinic
On January 1 of this year, the National Park Service (NPS) assumed responsibility for the Yosemite Medical Clinic.  The existing agreement between the NPS and the United States Public Health Service (PHS) has been expanded with PHS personnel coming to the park in the near future to provide clinical care.  

During this transition period, the building is undergoing extensive renovations while the park awaits the arrival of staff.   NPS crews and contractors are installing a new floor, painting the interior, working on the heating and air conditioning systems, as well as implementing other improvements to the building.  

While building renovations are underway, Yosemite National Park Rangers are staffing a Triage Station in the parking lot of the clinic to assess and treat injuries to park employees and park visitors.  There is also ambulance service available from Yosemite Valley, Badger Pass, Wawona, and El Portal.  

We are very excited to announce that Dr. Ralph Groves has accepted the physician position for the clinic.  Currently Dr. Groves and his family are coming to the park from Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he works at an Indian Health Services hospital.  

Vanessa Hadley has accepted the position of Nurse Manager.  She is currently assigned to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) on the east coast.  

Another Nurse position is still in the recruitment and selection process.  Paramedic and other positions are currently open job announcements and will be filled soon.  

We would like to thank the transition team for all their effort to date and the leadership that Dave Pope is providing.  There is a significant amount of effort involved and it is greatly appreciated.  (D. Neubacher and C. Cuvelier - 1/18)
     
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EMPLOYEE NEWS

The Yosemite Conservancy Announces General Manager Opportunity (El Portal)The General Manager is a full time position overseeing the El Portal office, programs and general operations of the Yosemite Conservancy including education, wilderness, art, volunteer programs, human resources and general administration. This position serves as the supervisor of management staff based in Yosemite, including the Volunteer Program Manager, Wilderness Program Manager, Resident Naturalist, Art and Education Coordinator and the Office Manager/Human Resources Administrator. This position works collaboratively with the Director of Projects, the Retail Director and the Accounting Director and is the point of contact for all departments in San Francisco to coordinate events and donor cultivation visits in the Park.  The General Manager reports to the Vice President in the San Francisco office.

Qualified Candidates Must Have:
- Masters degree or equivalent experience
- At least seven years of related experience leading and managing nonprofit operations
- Experience in supervising program managers is required and experience with retail operations is highly desirable
- Commitment to the mission, values, goals, and success of the Yosemite Conservancy
- Exceptional leadership, communication and managerial skills
- Knowledge of and interest in Yosemite National Park; experience working with National Park Service
- Excellent project management, critical thinking and supervisory skills
- Ability to review and periodically upgrade all operating systems
- Familiar with a variety of software programs  (required: MS Office; A big plus: Raiser’s Edge (donor database); Retail Pro (point of sale system); and ACCPAC (accounting system)
- Ability to travel between Yosemite and the San Francisco office on a monthly basis

To apply, please submit your resume, a cover letter and your salary history and expectations to: YosemiteConservancy@gmail.com (C. King - 1/19)
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New MRP Project Manager
Sabrina Stadler was just recently hired, by the National Park Service Planning Division, to help pull together the Merced River Plan. She comes with over 20 years of experience in the field of natural resources. She has worked for the Plumas National Forest as a Senior NEPA Planner for the past 6-years. In that capacity she led interdisciplinary teams through the NEPA process, developing fuels reduction, watershed restoration and travel management plans. In addition to planning, she has a strong background in the area of ecology and geographic information systems. She has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife; emphasizing Botany from Humboldt State University, as well as a Masters in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation also from Humboldt State University, where she used remote sensing applications to detect endangered plant habitat. In addition to working for the federal government she has worked for state, private and non-profit organizations.  (K. Morse - 1/19)
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Weekly Safety Topic
Be sure to conduct your weekly safety topic with all of your employees. This week's topic is Safety Training Needs. This information will allow the safety office to provide better training to meet your employee's needs.  (C. Ronay - 1/19)
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Parkmedic Refresher
The Yosemite Office of Emergency Services is hosting the annual Parkmedic refresher and continuing education class.  This course will cover the required curriculum for the USDOT and National Registry EMT-Intermediate/85 provider.  The class will consist of lecture, 911 simulations, pre/post self-assessments and practical skill evaluation.  
Dates: February 21-25, 2011
Time: 0800-1630hrs.
Location: East Auditorium, Yosemite Valley
Tuition:  None
Please forward all nominations or questions to Scott Jacobs call VDO (209) 372-0224 (R. Stark - 1/18)

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ACTING DESIGNATIONS  

Sonny Montague is Acting Branch Chief for Anthropology on Wednesday January 19.

Sue Beatty will be Acting Branch Chief for Vegetation & Ecological Restoration Wednesday, Jan. 19th. She can be reached at: 379-3290.

David Engelstad  will be Acting Branch Chief for the Design Branch of Project Management beginning Tuesday, January 18, 2011, through Friday, January 21, 2011, while Randy Fong is out of the park.  David can be reached at 379-1277 or you may leave a message with Theodora Burciaga at 379-1221. (S.J.Henderson-01/18/11)

Jay Shields will be Acting Mather District Ranger until further notice.
   
Brenna Lissoway (379-1283) will be the Acting Park Archivist while Paul Rogers is on a detail as the Acting Regional Archivist (PWR). If you have need to access the Archives, or have archive related questions, you can call 379-1282 or 379-1104.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Year-Round NPS employee in search of housing beginning in February or March.
30 y/o, clean, responsible, male and one small well behaved kitty looking to rent an apartment or share housing in the El Portal area. Contact Steve at 209-379-2184. (S. Delfavero - 1/19)
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Yosemite Sentinel Submissions due Jan. 28th 
Do you have any community events coming up in March or April, or any special announcements or news that you would like to share with the community in the Yosemite Sentinel?  If you do, please submit to sentinel@dncinc.com or call Jennifer at 372-1256. (J. Graves - 1/19)
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Congratulations to Kevin and Jill Killian
At 12:13 AM on January 18, 2011, Jill and Kevin Killian welcomed the arrival of Jackson Cole.  Jackson weighed in at 7 lbs 6 ounces and is 20 inches long.  He is healthy and Jill is doing well.  Jackson arrived quickly while enroute to the hospital creating quite the excitement and a story for all to share.  Thanks to the Mather staff who helped with the transport and Tuolumne County ambulance for taking care of one of our own.  Join BRM and the Protection Division in congratulating them. (C. Cuvelier - 1/19)
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NOTICE OF PG&E PLANNED ELECTRIC SERVICE INTERRUPTION
PG&E will be replacing electrical power poles throughout the El Portal area on Saturday January 22 from 9:00am-3:00pm . This outage will affect all of El Portal, Badger Pass, Chinquapin and Glacier Point/Hwy 41. Unsafe weather conditions or an unforeseen emergency may force a cancelation at the last minute. For further information on this outage, please call Heather Gonzales, Planned PG&E Coordinator, at 209-726-5588. Thank you. (K. Bablitch - 1/18)
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