Yosemite Photos, Video and News

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Jody Auerbach will be Acting Chief, Contracting & Procurement 6-10
December. (L. Schafer 12/5/10)
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Remo Fickler is in charge of Trails until further notice.  You may reach
Remo at 742-8909. (S.Baudoux - 12/1/10)
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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. (J. Bayless - 6/3/10)

Employee News

Congratulations! I am pleased to announce that Katherine Wilkin has
accepted a term GS-8 position as a Biological Science Technician with the
Branch of Vegetation and Ecological Restoration in the Division of
Resources Management and Science. Kate has a B.S. in both Biology and
Environmental Science from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg,
VA and a Master's in Biology with the highest honors from California
Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA.  Before joining the
National Park Service Kate worked for The Nature Conservancy in Florida,
New Hearst Property Acquisition for California State Parks, and Northeast &
Mid-Atlantic NPS Inventory & Monitoring Program.  Currently, Kate is a GS-7
term here in Yosemite after spending two summers as a seasonal with the
meadow health crew.

Please join me in congratulating Kate on her promotion. (N. Nicholas -
12/6/10)
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YARTS Vouchers - The last day to pick up your December Voucher will be
tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7.  Do to operational commitments December
YARTS Vouchers will not be disbursed on December 8. Schedule: El Portal
Warehouse- 0700-1030 hours, Valley Mail Room- 1130-1600 hours. Please keep
in mind I leave to the Post Office around 1400 hours. (D.
Buskeness-12/3/10)

Construction Update
Update - El Portal Complex Photovoltaic (PV) System (July 22, 2010 -
January 2011)
Paragon Industrial Applications (PIA) [contractor] began work at the El
Portal Complex area on July 22, 2010. Contractors will be working Monday -
Thursday, beginning December 6, 2010.
     Last Week's Progress, Parking, and more:
           The transformer that most of the new system will feed into,
           arrived on site on Friday.
           Contractor crews were busy over the weekend preparing the
           transformer site near the Planning Trailer.
           Suntrek crews were able to continue work on the upper deck
           canopy carports 6, 7, and 8 installing panels.
           The electricians were busy running conduit and conductor to
           combiner boxes and inverters.
           The welding crews finished the work on the upper deck parking
           and the painters are waiting for one more clear, sunny day to
           finish their part of the canopy.
           As you'll notice, parking will be restricted in certain areas
           as the crews work on the conduit runs. These closed areas will
           be signed and well-marked.

Overall, the Design/Build Install Renewable Energy Equipment at the El
Portal Complex is proceeding on schedule.  (M. Ortiz - 12/6/10)
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Integrated Utility Master Plan [IUMP] (2010 - 2011)
Removal of Old, Abandoned Utilities Embedded in the River, within Meadows,
and within Campgrounds
Phase 3B - Mozingo Construction (contractor) is finishing up with the
river-crossing related portions of the project. The removal of the lift
station near Lower River has also been completed. You will notice work
being done primarily around The Ahwahnee. (Phase 3B to be completed by the
end of 2010)
Update - Phase 2B - Allison Sierra (contractor) began work in the North
Pines Campground area on November 1. This is continuing work to replacing
old and outdated utilities and removing abandoned utilities from
environmentally sensitive areas.This phase includes work within the
following areas, and highlights include:
           North Pines Campground
                 - New lift station and related accessories to be located
     near Campground Entrance Kiosk.
                 - Removal and replacement of existing sanitary sewer
     system.
           Southside Drive and Upper Pines Corridor (including Clark
           Bridge)
                 - Installation of water, sewer, communication, and
     electrical utilities through and across Clark Bridge (between North
     and Upper Pines Campgrounds)
           Backpacker’s Camp Utilities
                 - Installation of new vault toilets (removal of current
     flush toilets). Because the gravity sewer line serving the
     Backpacker's Camp bathroom crosses Tenaya Creek and is impacting the
             creek flowage, this sewer line will be removed from the creek
     bed. This will require that existing bathroom with flush toilets to
     be removed and replaced with vault toilets. (M. Ortiz -
     11/9/10)

Community News
YEA WINTER SOCIAL
Yosemite Employee Association invites all employees to Winter Social, a
semi-formal event at the Cedar Lodge. Mark your calendars for December
17th. Doors open at 5PM, host bar by YEA, hors d'oeuvers by Crab Cakes,
music by The Adam Burns Band. Enjoy this adult event for $20 for members or
$25 for non-members. Consider staying at Cedar Lodge (ask for the
discounted rate) to enjoy your evening if you do not have a designated
driver. Questions? Contact any YEA Board member or come by Sal's on Dec.
16th. (M. Dale - 12/6/10)
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THE YOSEMITE GREEN LIVING FORUM - 2nd installment, tomorrow! Join Balanced
Rock for an interactive sustainability course in El Portal.
Explore ecological design, bioregional action, and voluntary simplicity
while developing a practical vision for creating a sustainable future in
our local communities. All three sessions meet Tuesdays from 7-9pm at the
El Portal Community Hall.
•     December 7, “Wild Democracy: Ecological Citizenship and Bioregional
Action”
•     December 14, “Sustainable Living Practices: Green Building, Energy,
and Food Systems” (at the Yosemite Institute in El Portal)
Suggested donation of $10 per session to cover take-home reading material,
video presentations, and staff preparation time. Call 209-379-9453 or
arin@balancedrock.org with questions or to reserve a space. (A.Trook -
12/6/10)
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Upcoming Events in Groveland
Daily Wine Tasting and Lunch
Cafe Charlotte is open 11:30 to 3:30 dailly during the holidays for Wine
Tasting and Lunch. Try 5 wines for only $5 and take the tasting fee off the
price of the bottle if you find one you want to buy. Special Sale on Wines
for holiday gifts too!

December 23 & 24
The Oops, I Need a Gift Faire: At the Hotel Charlotte on Thursday, 12/23
from 1-5pm. Designed for the last minute shopper and those who woke up
realizing they forgot "Aunt Bea" and need something wonderful, local and
unique. Folks who will be at the Charlotte with last minute gifts to sell
include: Jan Knudsen with her letterosis and fun cape, Jackie Sample with
her jewelry, Connie Scott with her neckties for dogs and designer pottery,
Kris Corey with his Yosemite Audio CDs, Barbara J with her seasonings and
more too. We will also have a bevy of kitschy Hotel Charlotte logo  items!
All unique, all Grovelandesque. This Forgot a Gift fair is designed to help
you stay near home and on the hill in the last hectic days before the
Holiday rush. (Even if you don't need anything, stop by to share a bit of
Holiday Cheer with us.)  Really big oops? The Hotel Charlotte is open on
Christmas Eve until 10 pm and again at 7:30 am on Christmas morning if you
have still forgotten something. The selection becomes fairly limited...but,
heck we are here for you!

December 31st New Years Eve
New Year's Eve: will see the hotel redressed in it's more formal sparkle as
we host dinner throughout the evening. First, with our 4-course early menu
serving from 5:30 to 7pm, or our bells and whistles dinner-dance mid-night
party starting at 8:30. New Year's Eve details are online.  What a great
year to turn 90 (the Hotel!) and 50 (me!) Join the celebration with us. (C.
Botell - 12/6/10)