Yosemite Daily Report for....FRIDAY THE 13TH! dun dun dunnnnnnnn!

Remember, to start planning your Yosemite vacation, visit www.YosemiteThisYear.com

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Friday, January 13, 2012

WEATHER

Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 21.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.

*************************************************

HAPPENING TODAY

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. 13th - 14th (Friday Saturday) 7:30 p.m. Moneyball . Brad Pitt stars as the Oakland A's manager who tries to level the playing field against the big money teams, by using statistics and shear nerve to recruit undervalued players. This is not a typical baseball story, and is appealing to just about everyone. Rated PG-13, 133 mins. (T. Arfsten - 1/10)
_______________________________________________________

Village Store Sale: 30% Off
Starting Thursday, January 12, 2012 the Village Store will be have a 30% sale of all grocery and retail items, excluding tobacco and alcohol. This sale will continue until everything is sold or until the store closes on January 16th. The Village Store will be closed for remodeling beginning Tuesday, January 17th and will reopen on Thursday, February 16th @ Noon. (W. Kearns - 1/12)

*************************************************

PARK AND PARTNER NEWS

Tioga Pass Entrance Station
As a matter of historic opportunity, the Tioga Pass Entrance will be staffed this Saturday and Sunday for the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. (P. Davis - 1/13)
_______________________________________________________

Bishop Creek Proposed Prescribed Fire
Lower Avalanche Creek – Unit E – Winter 2012
Yosemite fire managers are planning a prescribed fire in the Lower Avalanche Creek (Unit E), of the larger Bishop Creek prescribed fire complex. The unit is currently within fire prescription due to a drier than average winter. The project is dependent upon a weather disturbance, with measurable rain, occurring at the end of the burn project. The primary objective of the prescribed fire is to buffer the communities of Yosemite West, El Portal, and the Glacier Point Historical District from unwanted wildfire, by reducing an over accumulation of forest fuels. Approximately half of this unit is within the 1990 Steamboat Fire footprint.
This burn unit is bounded to the east the northeast by the 2009 Grouse Fire and the Glacier Point Road, and to the west by the Wawona Road.  Fire Mangers have framed the perimeter of this burn unit with last summer’s 1,068 acre Avalanche Fire, other prescribed fires and forest mechanical thinning projects along the Wawona Road. The project is at the 5500 to 6200’ elevation, on a west aspect.
Smoke, which can affect health, is always a factor in the decision making process to conduct any prescribed burn.  An approved smoke management plan will be in place with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (APCD).  In addition the Tuolumne, San Joaquin and Great Basin APCDs will be advised of this project. 
More details will be made available when a more exact date is determined.
Additional Information:
-Yosemite Prescribed Fire and Fuels:  Taro_Pusina@nps.gov: (209) 372-9576
-Yosemite Fire Management Website:  http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/current_fire.htm
-Air Quality:  http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/aqmonitoring.htm
-Twitter:  http://twitter.com/YosemiteFire
-Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yosemite-Wildland-Fire/124632964255395 (G. Wuchner - 1/13)
_______________________________________________________

Ansel Adams Gallery Reception
The Ansel Adams Gallery is having a reception on the 14th from 2-4. Our Staff Photographers will be available for questions. (M. Reeves - 1/13)
_______________________________________________________

The Village Store Will be Closed for Renovations From January 17 - February 16 at Noon
Delaware North Companies has invested $950,000 in capital funds to renovate the Village Store. The project will result in new and updated fixtures, equipment, and refrigeration units.   The renovation al so includes a complete interior "refresh" with new flooring, paint, displays and light fixtures.   While the store is temporarily closed for renovations, we are offering a few different locations for groceries.
 
-Degnan's Deli: Open seven days a week with extended hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the remodel. Degnan's Deli will feature a selection of fresh made sandwiches, coffee, groceries, dairy, frozen foods, snacks, beverages and  healthy food options. 
-Yosemite Lodge Gift Shop: Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Yosemite Lodge Gift Shop will carry a wide selection of snack foods, fresh fruit, dairy, beverages, and gift shop items.
-Curry Village Gift Shop: Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. featuring a good selection of snack foods, fresh fruit, dairy, frozen food, beverages, and gift shop items. (K. Prichard - 1/13)
_______________________________________________________

Tioga Corridor
Since Yosemite National Park has been keeping records on the opening and closing of Tioga Road in 1933, this is the longest the road has ever stayed open.  Park Rangers have already responded to multiple ice-related medicals on Tenaya Lake and one search and rescue operation in the Tuolumne area.  Visitors and park employees are urged to exercise extreme caution while recreating in the park at the higher elevations, especially while on Tenaya Lake, as ice can be very dangerous.
You can view photographs of visitation on Tenaya Lake last weekend at:
http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/prot/Pictures/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2Fprot%2FPictures%2F2012%20Tenaya%20Lake%20photos&View={4ACC8E19-722C-4355-9CBB-6DF0FDAA0F4A } (J. Shields - 1/13)
_______________________________________________________

Please Welcome Peter Lindstrom
Peter will EOD on March 25th as the new Data Manager in the IT branch, filling the vacancy left by Paul Gallez's retirement. He comes with 10 years of NPS GIS and data management experience, having worked at Grant Teton, Carlsbad Caverns, and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. His wife Becky has a background in public education, science, and program management, and will be investigating job opportunities in the area.  Welcome aboard Peter! (R. Watson - 1/13)
_______________________________________________________

Potluck for the Gabriel Family
Eric Gabriel has accepted a new challenge as the Branch Chief of Ranger Activities at Glacier National Park. Please join us in wishing the family farewell and best of luck. Bring your own table service and a dish to share. Saturday, January 14 at 5:00 p.m. East Auditorium, Yosemite Valley. (C. Cuvelier - 1/12)
_______________________________________________________

Arrowhead for Cyndy Pendergast
Cyndy Pendergast has moved on to Acadia National Park in mid-December. If you would like to sign Cyndy's arrowhead it is located at Pat Lendvay Humphrey's desk (in El Portal), Administration Division. (P. Lendvay Humphrey - 1/12)

*************************************************

EMPLOYEE NEWS

Attention Supervisors - Monthly Charge Card Review Reminder
If any of your staff had charges on their government charge card (purchase or travel) in December please ensure review, by cardholder and yourself, of the statement and all supporting documents in a timely manner. Charge card applications, directions and a variety of other related information can be found on SharePoint at http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/admn/contract/default.aspx. (L. Schafer - 1/13)
_______________________________________________________

Annual/Refresher Fire Extinguisher Training
Training will be conducted at the Valley Library/Girls Club on January 27th at 1130 hours. Weather permitting, participants will have the opportunity to do hands on use with a live Fire Extinguisher. Contact Fire Prevention at 375-9541 if you have questions or would like to schedule your Fire Extinguisher training. (J. Alviso - 1/13)

*************************************************

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Hazard Tree Clean-up at Crane Flat
Scott Timber Company will be cleaning up previously cut hazardous trees along roadsides from Crane Flat to Big Oak Flat Entrance while weather permits. Intermittent traffic control may result in brief delays. Contact 490 on Park Net for emergency traffic. (B. Mattos - 1/5)
_______________________________________________________

Utility work at the Tecoya Dormitories
The contractor has completed the installation of the sewer mains and is now completing the new manholes. No work will occur during the Christmas week. When the contractor returns on January 3rd, 2012 the individual buildings will be connected to the new sewer which will require short term shutdowns of the water/sewer utilities to each building. Work is expected to be completed by mid-January. (G. Rothell - 12/22)
_______________________________________________________

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)

*************************************************

ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Lou Summerfield will be acting Chief of Facilities Management Division on Friday, January 13th. He can be contacted at 209-379-1075.

Erin "Echo" Davenport (379-1067) will be Acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance on Friday, January 13.
Deron Mills will be acting Chief of Fire and Aviation Management through Jan 13th. He can be contacted at 209-375-9572.
Julie Byerly will be acting Deputy Chief Ranger from January 2 for the next several weeks.
Donna Dean will be acting Human Resources Officer while Cindy Whitten is on leave through January 16. You may contact Donna at 209-379-1814.
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.
**************************************************

COMMUNITY NEWS

DNC Announces Special Local Discount for Chefs' Holidays
Going strong since 1985, Yosemite's world-class Chefs' Holidays include a Meet the Chefs reception (featuring some of America's most talented chefs from up-and-coming restaurants), three culinary demonstrations and tastings, and a behind-the-scenes tour of The Ahwahnee's newly renovated kitchen. The event then concludes with a five-course gala dinner prepared by the headliner chef, complete with wine pairings. This year, the 27th Annual Chefs' Holidays features two sessions starring select male and female competitors from Bravo TV's Top Chefs .
DNC is pleased to announce a special discounted Chefs' Holidays offer for local residents at $99. The local rate of $99 is available for sessions 4,6 and 7 and does not include lodging or taxes. Please note that the local discount is available for residents who live within 50 miles of Yosemite Valley. Limited number of spaces available.
For more information on Chefs' Holidays at The Ahwahnee or to make reservations, call 801-559-4884 or visit online at YosemitePark.com/Chefs. Make sure to reference LOCALCHEFS promotion code to receive the special local offer. (L. Cesaro - 1/13)
_________________________________________________________

Focus on Fire Safety: Fire Escape Plans
In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts , so you and your family must always be prepared. Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly. In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a house to fill with thick black smoke and become engulfed in flames. Prepare and practice your fire escape plan twice a year with everyone in your household, including children and people with disabilities. It's also a good idea to practice your plan with overnight guests.
Some tips to consider when preparing your escape plan include:
-Draw a map of each level of your home and show all doors and windows. Find two ways to get out of each room. Make sure all doors and windows that lead outside open easily.
-Only purchase collapsible escape ladders evaluated by a recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Use the ladder only in a real emergency.
-Teach children how to escape on their own in case you cannot help them.
-Have a plan for everyone in your home who has a disability.
-Practice your fire escape plan at night and during the daytime. (J. Alviso - 1/12)