Yosemite Photos, Video and News

El Portal Road/Big Oak Flat Road Intersection Sewerline Repairs
Project starts March 8 and will be complete by May 27, 2011. Expect intermittent five-minute delays with one lane of traffic. However, be prepared for 15-minute delays. The small parking lot at the intersection will be closed. Most of the work will occur in the parking lot adjacent to the intersection. (M. Pieper - 3/9)
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Reminder: Spring Opening of Tioga Road Corridor Meeting
The Kick off meeting for the 2011 Spring Opening of Tioga Road Corridor will be tomorrow, March 10, 2010, in the Large Break Room in El Portal from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. Please mark your calendars and attend if you have any concerns or issues that need to be addressed. Please send me your concerns so I can address with the correct information for you at the meeting. (T. Brochini - 3/9)
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Badger Pass Daily Snow Report - 3/9
Base Depth: 107 ” – 112”
Temperature : High: 55 , Low: 31
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Rabbit, Badger 
Groomed XC trails: Fresh tracks from Badger Pass to Glacier Point on Monday morning (March 7). Fresh tracks to Bridalveil Campground on Tuesday night (March 8). (S. Costello - 3/9)
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Towards Leadership and Supervisory Excellence
First, let me thank you for your public service and dedicated care for Yosemite NP.  From my perspective, park staff have done an exceptional job keeping the park open and assisting park visitors over the course of the winter.

As a park goal, we are trying to ensure excellence in supervision, management and leadership here at Yosemite. Towards this end, in early November, Yosemite's Extended Leadership Team (the park's 46 branch chiefs and senior supervisors) began a four part leadership academy, the second segment will be in early April.  This April session titled, "Leading People," focuses on the development of advanced interpersonal skills that are often required in the workplace. Emphasis will be placed on working effectively with both individuals and on teams.

As part of this academy, the entire Yosemite Management Team will be conducting an OPM Leadership 360 assessment. The OPM Leadership 360 assessment is designed to measure how a person is doing in relationship to the 28 core competencies of leadership. The OPM Leadership 360 assessment helps a person gain valuable information about "who they are and how you are showing up in the world." For many decades, this type of feedback has greatly assisted leaders in making choices and changes regarding behavior. The assessment is intended to spur understanding of self growth and improvement as desired. About four years ago, I completed this 360 assessment and found it to be an extremely valuable tool to guide self-improvement and develop leadership skills.  

By now, some of you may have been asked to provide feedback for a colleague or supervisor in the form of an on-line survey. Let me assure you, the OPM Leadership 360 assessment, the results, and the feedback are anonymous. OPM only administers the 360 assessment for developmental purposes - no one from NPS will be given individual feedback report results.  The assessment opened on Feb 28 and will close promptly on March 18. If you have been asked to complete this survey on behalf someone, we would greatly appreciate if you please do so.

I want to thank you for taking the time to provide such valuable feedback to other park staff and welcome you to contact me if you have concerns.  (D. Neubacher - 3/8)

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EMPLOYEE NEWS 

Please welcome Jody Auerbach as Yosemite's new Branch Chief for Contracting & Procurement
Jody started her Federal career with the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), Social Security Administration as a Hearing Clerk and later a Legal Assistant in Portland, OR.  She went on to become the Hearing Office Systems Administrator and Purchasing Officer.   After 8 years at OHA, Jody accepted a position with US Fish and Wildlife as a Contract Specialist, responsible for procuring supplies and services for several approximately 10 field offices. After 2 years as a Contract Specialist, she accepted a position as the Contracting Officer for Grants and Agreements, responsible for processing approximately 350 actions yearly. While in this position Jody trained others on contracting duties and provided grants and agreements training at several offices in California.  Before leaving FWS, she was involved in the design and development of a visitor's center outside Las Vegas, NV. Jody has been with Yosemite National Park as a Contracting Officer since August 2010, and we are excited about talent and expertise Jody will bring to this Branch Chief role. (K. Tuovinen - 3/9)
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FLTCIP Open Season Begins on April 4
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) Open Season begins on April 4, 2011, and will run through June 24, 2011. It is the first abbreviated underwriting opportunity (applicants answer fewer health questions) for non-enrolled applicants since 2002. Please read the eligibility criteria (FLTCIP) to see if you can apply with an abbreviated application. For additional information, refer to the FAQs . There are three easy ways to apply for coverage. If you have questions, direct them to the FLTCIP Consultants . Please remember that if you miss the Open Season, you can still apply for coverage at any time. However, outside of Open Season, you would apply using the long application with more health questions. (I. Arbogast - 3/8)
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Arrow Glass
Just a reminder that Arrow Glass will be at the Maintenance/Administration Facility in front of the Machine Shop in El Portal on Thursday, March 17 at 8:00 a.m. to repair or replace damaged vehicle windshields/windows. If you have a vehicle that has not been called in and needs attention, please give me a call at 379-1150 or Sharon at Arrow Glass at 533-3700 so the glass can be ordered. (G. Tilley - 3/8)

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ACTING DESIGNATIONS      

Dean Shenk (372-0620) will be Acting Branch Chief for Interpretive Field Operations March 7-11.

Mary Kline will b e Acting Chief of Interpretation and Education  March 7-11.

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   

Seasonal Housing Needed (for my dog)
I'm looking for an individual/family to board my 6-year-old flat-coated retriever, Picasso, for my season (mid-April through October) working as a Wilderness Ranger. He LOVES people, kids especially, and has lived with other animals without problem. I hope to be able to see him fairly often and take him along on backpacking trips in Forest Service wilderness areas on some of my weekends. I plan to pay $200/month, though more could be negotiated if the right person requests it. If interested, please phone (209)559-9207 or email jen.vandragt@gmail.com . (J. VanDragt - 3/9)
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For Rent:

Three bedroom, two bath manufactured home on five acres.

 Garden area, small pets OK; $750/month; 5517 Lakeside Road (off Colorado Rd.); Mariposa, CA call Erik or Janice Pontoppidan 818 880-4497. (Y. Radanovich - 3/8)