Daily Report - Yosemite National Park Friday, January 27, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012 WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. El Portal
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Wawona
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. ******************************
HAPPENING TODAY Gathering to Remember Ryan Hiller
On Friday, January 27 at 3:00 pm there will be a gathering to honor and remember former NPS Ranger Ryan Hiller. We will meet in front of the Valley Visitor Center where there will be flag ceremony and group photograph taken for the Hiller family. Immediately following, refreshments will be offered in the East Auditorium for folks to gather and share stories about Ryan. Uniform for the day will be winter Class A, if available. We are compiling a photo and remembrance book for the Hiller family. If you would like to contribute please email: Jeff_Webb@nps.gov . The Superintendent has authorized that employees on duty may attend this gathering on work time. In lieu of flowers the Hiller family has asked that donations be sent to Friends of YOSAR. (J. Byerly - 1/24)
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Yosemite Winter Club Snowball
The Yosemite Winter Club Snowball 2012 is this Friday! Get your tickets and be reunited with all of your winter play pals. Together, you can socialize and dance the night away while inspiring Mother Nature to bring more winter white to Yosemite. The Snowball will be held Friday, January 27, 2012 from 6-10PM at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley. The evening will feature live music with the Adam Burns Band, fantastic food and festive beverages, a silent auction and great company. So... save the date, get your tickets on the Yosemite Winter Club website, call all your pals and pack the kids--because it will be a great night and you don't want to miss it. Bonus!!! Check out the new rate for the event and if you are interested, there are also a limited number of discounted room rates in the Valley associated with the event. Go to yosemitewinterclub.com and check it out. See you there! (S. Potocky - 1/24)
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6th Street Cinema
Located upstairs in the historic Old Masonic Lodge on 6th Street, in downtown Mariposa. Film Entrance is $7 per film for non-members; non-member students pay $5. Monthly membership is $12 allowing film entry for $3 each. (Please note: we are not accepting credit cards this year.) www.sixthstreetcinema.org . This week: Jan. 27th - 28th (Friday Saturday) 7:30 p.m. MARGIN CALL. Starring Kevin Spacey and Demi Moore, the film is set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry. A thriller entangling the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. (Rated R; 109 minutes). (T. Arfsten - 1/26)
PARK AND PARTNER NEWS
No Significant Impact for the Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan - news release
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
Yosemite National Park announces the signing of The Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI records the decision of the National Park Service to adopt a long-term plan for the rehabilitation of The Ahwahnee (described as Alternative 3 in environmental assessment released for public review in July 2011). The FONSI, environmental assessment, and errata sheets are available at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/
The Selected Action addresses code and standard deficiencies (e.g., fire, seismic, life-safety, health, accessibility) and rehabilitates historic features throughout the National Historic Landmark hotel and cottages. The Selected Action also improves operational and energy and water-use efficiencies to provide a sustainable level of service into the future for both overnight and daytime visitors. The park will implement the comprehensive rehabilitation plan in a long-term, phased approach as funding becomes available.
A public scoping period for The Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan occurred from August 13 through September 30, 2009. Targeted scoping to museums, historical societies and preservation groups also occurred in January 2010. Eight public scoping letters were received and considered by park staff.
The environmental assessment was released for public review on July 21, 2011, and the National Park Service accepted comments through August 23, 2011. Eight public comment letters were received. All comments on the EA were reviewed by park staff and were considered in the development of the FONSI and errata sheets.
Requests for hardcopies or CD-ROMs of the FONSI, available on a limited basis, can be submitted to: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, Attn: Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389; or fax (209) 379-1294; or email yose_planning@nps.gov . Hardcopies and CD-ROMs will also be available at the park’s monthly Open House on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, in the Yosemite Valley Auditorium from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (K. Cobb - 1/27)
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Congratulations to Alan Kunz
Alan Kunz has been selected as the administrative support assistant for the Office of the Superintendent. Alan has been on detail in this position since February 2011 and we are very excited to keep him in the office permanently! Alan is a Chicago native (Go Bears!) who has lived and worked in Yosemite since 1997. He most recently worked in the park's Travel Office as an accounting technician, but has also held positions in the Project Management and Planning divisions over the years. He's very active in the community, coaching his sons' youth soccer team and is also a volunteer structural firefighter in the valley. Alan lives in Yosemite Valley with his wife, Janis, and two twin sons, Alex and Nathan. We're all happy to have him on board! (K. Kosick - 1/26)
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Yosemite Archives Closure
The Yosemite Archives will be closed to researchers on Tuesday 2/21 to permit staff to attend the annual Interpretation Division training/field trip. (B. Lissoway - 1/26)
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EMPLOYEE NEWS
Reminder, ATR training on Jan. 31. This refresher is worth 8 CLP's and will push you expiration date out a year. Please RSVP to Jody via e-mail. (P. Lendvay Humphrey - 1/27)
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New PWR FY12 IAP instructions on submissions
Effective immediately all new FY12 IAP submissions shall be created at the PWR SharePoint site. Please read attached document for specifics.
The link is: http://inpniscsfern1:8000/
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Fire Management to Resume Debris Pile Burning in El Portal and Foresta
Yosemite fire management may resume hand pile burning in El Portal and Foresta with help from the forecasted rain. Localized flames and smoke will be visible but impacts should be negligible and short lived. In an ongoing effort, park, state and private fire crews have created forest debris hand piles in and around the communities of Foresta and El Portal. These piles are being made to reduce biomass and create a 'defensible space' fuel break around Yosemite's vulnerable Wildland Urban Interface communities. Additionally, thinning, piling and burning can restore fire dependant ecosystems and set the stage for the progressive management of future natural or prescribed fires. Please contact Kelly Singer @ 372-0413 or Taro Pusina @ 375-9576 with any questions. (T. Pusina - 1/20)
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Village Store Closed
The Village Store will be closed for remodeling beginning Tuesday, January 17th and will reopen on Thursday, February 16th @ Noon. (1/18)
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UPDATE - Foresta Road Closure thru 2/29/12 - Slide Repair Between Rancheria and Old El Portal
The current road closure along Foresta Road will continue thru the end of February 2012. Due to the unseasonably dry weather crews made good progress on the upper (cut) slope stabilization and it is nearly complete, however the steep slopes required much of the work to occur with hand labor, so they were not able to make as much progress as planned. The remaining work includes the final seeding and mulching along the upper slope, then installation of a retaining wall along the lower (fill) slope, and then the final curb and pavement repairs. (M. Pieper - 1/6)
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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Colter Chisum will be the Acting Facilities Management Division Chief from Wednesday, January 25 to Friday, January 27. Colter can be reached at 379-1068.
Erin "Echo" Davenport (379-1067) will be Acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from Monday, January 23 to Friday, January 27.
Jack Hoeflich will be acting Valley District Ranger until further notice.
Andy Fristensky will be Acting Deputy Chief of Interpretive Operations until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0599.
Jeffrey Trust will be Acting Yosemite Valley Field Interpretation Supervisor until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0307.
Ron Watson will be the Acting Supervisory Information Technology Specialist until further notice. He may be reached at 379-1074.
Brenna Lissoway (379-1283) is on a detail as the Park Archivist. 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
Child Care Center Hiring
The Yosemite National Park Child Care Center (YNPCCC) is hiring teacher positions at the El Portal and Yosemite Valley centers. We are committed to providing the highest quality child care and preschool education to the children of Yosemite Valley and would love to have you as part of our team! Our benefits package includes annual leave and sick leave. Part time employees also accrue one free hour of child care for each hour worked. For further information please call Erin McCleary at
or email
(L. Yu - 1/27)
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