March, 2018

WAWONA RANGER UPDATE

Spring – 2018
Eric Scott ~ Wawona District Ranger

Due to the lack of snow in December and January, Yosemite Hospitality did not open the Yo-
semite Ski & Snowboard Area at Badger Pass this winter. We are all hoping that this weather
pattern will not be the “new normal” in the future. Due to the lack of heavy snow in the
mountains, the amount of snow runoff in the South Fork of the Merced may not be very heavy
this spring. This potentially could also mean that Wawona may have to start water conserva-
tion earlier in the summer than later.

The official opening of the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias to the public has been announced.
The Grove will fully open on June 15th. Due to delays with contracting issues, weather and
other factors, the Mariposa Grove opening kept being delayed over the last year. The Maripo-
sa Grove will have a contract shuttle bus running from the main parking lot up to the Lower
Grove. The shuttle service will be provided by Yosemite Hospitality. There are also large
new restrooms with flushing toilets at both the Shuttle Loading Area/Parking Lot, and at the
Lower Grove. Because the Mariposa Grove has not been open for almost three years, you
should expect it to be very busy this summer. Also, the park will not have a shuttle bus sys-
tem running between Badger Pass and Glacier Point this year.

Yosemite finally has a new permanent Superintendent. Michael Reynolds has been selected as
the new Park Superintendent. Superintendent Reynolds was the Acting Director of the Na-
tional Park Service during the last year in Washington D.C. He comes with 31 years of expe-
rience and has worked in Yosemite in the past. We also have a new Acting Deputy Superin-
tendent, Dave Moore. He is serving on a 120- day detail in this position until Superintendent
Reynolds is able to hire this position.

As always, please feel free to contact me at (209) 375-9520 or at Eric_Scott@nps.gov should

you have a question or concern.
 Wawona Fire Update: Spring 2018
This is the annual fire prevention message concerning property clearance and making your cabin
fire safe. The accumulations of vegetation from the past year are always a concern to fire crews
and the park’s fire marshal. This should include roof and under decks and around and out to
property lines.

There is the potential for a dry summer. Combined with the dismal water content of snow at
higher elevations, we may be facing a busy fire season. Wawona property owners have always
done an outstanding job clearing property and being diligent with all fire prevention efforts.
Please continue your efforts. More information will be made available as the spring progresses.

This is the time to focus on three areas for emergency planning reminders for our Wawona
community: property protection, personal emergency planning, and water conservation.

***Wawona is no different than the rest of California in terms of receiving scant moisture over
the winter. It is projected that the long term dryness over the region will prevail and continue
into the summer.
It is suggested that property clearance begin early and continue through the summer. Be sure to
safely check roofs near heater vents.

***Are you, your family and guests ready for any risk emergencies including fire, flood or
earthquakes? Recent California wildfires should be a constant reminder to all to have an emer-
gency plan. Do you have adequate supplies of emergency water, food, and medicines for you,
and including pets? Do you have a family communications and evacuation plan? What im-
portant family items can be quickly gathered and be evacuated with you at a moments notice?

***The last reminder is water use and conservation. The potential for continued drought condi-
tions is great. Wawona has only received less than half of normal precipitation. We all need to
conserve our water resources, including those residents supported by wells. Do your part to re-
pair leaky faucets and pipes inside and outside of your cabin. It is suggested that all faucets and
shower heads have water restrictors in place. Please conserve water for use by human and pet
consumption and by reducing water for ornamental vegetation and lawns. We may need that
water for drinking and fire protection.
The Yosemite Protection Division rangers and firefighters thank you for attention to these
items.

As a reminder community fire inspections will begin in May of this year. Fire officials are em-
phasizing early property clearance of dead brush and trees, and other vegetation material within
100 feet of homes or to property lines. More discussions of this will occur during the April
WAPOA meeting. Fire Management is looking forward to seeing you all again at this meeting.
 The Redwoods in Yosemite
Annual Homeowner Meeting
The Redwoods In Yosemite is very excited to see all of our homeowners for our annual
Homeowner Meeting!
The meetings and presentations are scheduled for April 13th and 14th, 2018. We look
forward to Willow Creek catering the delicious prime rib! Those of you who have not yet
RSVP’d, please do so by April 7th to Christian@RedwoodsInYosemite.com or by phone
to (209) 375-6269. Please be sure to include the total number of your parties attendance.
Please be sure to reserve your cabin for the annual meeting!

Important Web Site: Check out local events and news on the
Wawona website: www.wawonanews.com

The Big Trees Lodge

Amanda Lee ~ General Manager

The Big Trees Lodge will open for the sea-

son on March 22, 2018.
We will have Easter Brunch, April 1st from 10:30 to 3 PM.
Advance reservations are requested and can be made at the hotel’s front desk once we
open. We will also have the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 31st at noon.

We are looking to open the Stables and the

Golf Course in mid May.
 Yosemite Pioneer History Center
Dean Shenk ~ Division of Interpretation

As you may have already heard, the Mariposa Grove is scheduled to re-open Friday, June 15
at 9:00 am. Shuttle Bus service will pick folks up at the new parking area near South En-
trance. Vehicles with Handicap Placards will be able to drive on the shuttle route and park
where visitors disembark the shuttle busses and drive closer to the Grizzly Giant and park
near a new small parking area where a new accessible trail will allow them to visit the Grizzly
Giant and California Tunnel Tree. Nature Walks in the Mariposa Grove will be offered by
NPS Rangers every day of the summer at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm beginning June 15.

Burrel “Buckshot” Maier and his Horse-Drawn Stage rides will be offered from 10:00 am to
2:00 pm Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning Saturday, May 26. Wednesday after-
noons as well as Thursdays will be added beginning June 6.

Blacksmithing Demonstrations will be offered Wednesday afternoons through Sundays begin-

ning Wednesday, June 6.

Ranger programs will return to The Redwoods in Yosemite beginning Tuesday, June 12.
Please refer to the current issue of the park’s free newspaper, the Yosemite Guide, for more
information.

Remember that the 4th of July will fall on a

Wednesday this year. As always, we will be
celebrating an Old Fashioned 4th of July in
the Pioneer Yosemite History Center on the
4th of July. Cabins will be open and Stage
rides will be offered from 10:00 am to Noon
the morning of the 4th of July. At 2:00 pm
we will begin the afternoon activities with
the obligatory speeches followed by three
legged races, gunny sack races and egg toss
for folks of all ages. The afternoon activities
will continue until 4:00 pm. The evening of
July 4, from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, we will
have our first Barn Dance of the season in
the Grey Barn at the Pioneer Yosemite His-
tory Center.

Please don’t tell too many people, but the dates for our other Barn Dances of 2018 will be on
the evenings of July 21, August 4, August 18 and September 1. As always, music will be pro-
vided by “The Wawona Philharmonic.” These dances continue to exist due to the generous
continued support of the Yosemite Conservancy, WAPOA and The Redwoods In Yosemite.
 March 29: Fr iends of the
Library Spring Board Meeting 3 p.m. in the Library
April 14 WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
April 14: Yosemite Wawona Elementar y Char ter School Fundr aiser
June 9: WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
June: Annual Fr iends of the Libr ar y Member ship Boar d Meeting in the Libr ar y TBA
June Pine Needle Pickup TBA
June9: WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
July 4: Squar e Dance Gr ay Bar n 8—10 p.m.
July 21: Squar e Dance Gr ay Bar n 8– 10 p.m.
August 4: Squar e Dance Gr ay Bar n 8—10 p.m.
August 18: Squar e Dance Gr ay Bar n 8—10 p.m.
September 1: Wawona Fr iends of the Libr ar y Book/Bake/Cr aft Sale
September 1: Squar e Dance Gr ay Bar n 8 –10 p.m.
October 13: WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.

Wawona Pine Needle Pile Pick Up:

Your pile must be ready by Monday, June ? (Date to be announced) If it is not
ready by the time the equipment is in your area, they will not go back and pick
up late piles. Remember, one pile per property along the road in front of your
property, in an unobstructed area where the equipment can easily access your
needle pile. Tree limbs and branches must be cut to a maximum of 3 feet in
length to be picked up. Only vegetation material will be picked up. No con-
struction materials or large branches, please.
Yosemite National Park, DNC & UC Merced properties are not included in pick
-up.
If your address is on an out-of-the-way street, you can call or e-mail GregOlliv-
ier , Solid Waste Manager 209-966-5165; gollivier@mariposacounty.org That
way your pile won’t be missed.

School Website:
http://www.yosemitewawonacharter.org/
School Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteWawonaCharterSchool
 Friends of the Bassett Memorial Library in Wawona

NEWSLETTER
PO Box 2008, Wawona, CA 95389 March, 2018

Extra Summer Hours Challenge

This is an appeal to Wawona residents and property owners to support the ad-
dition of extra summer hours for 2018. Without your donations the library will
have to reduce the hours that the library is open during the 2018 summer to the
County funded 3 days a week.
Thanks to everyone who made donations towards the Extra Summer Hours
Challenge in the past. Sara Miller McCune matches the dollars donated and
we are able to keep the library open 6 days a week from Memorial Day to La-
bor Day—adding 3 days to the County funded 3 days a week.
The Wawona Friends of the Library fund the 4th day a week from Labor Day
to Memorial Day.

Join the Wawona Friends of the Library!

The Wawona Friends of the Library publish this
newsletter four times a year. Your membership in
the FoL pays for the printing and postage as well as
new circulation materials for our library patrons.
Is your membership up-to-date? An up-to-date
membership assures that your address is current
and you receive the newsletter in a timely manner.
Return the form on the back page with your mem-
bership. All dues and donations are tax deductible.
The membership year runs from April 1 through
March 31.

Friends of the Library Board of Directors Vacancy

Would you like to be a member of the Friends of the Library Board of Directors?
When you join the Wawona Friends of the Library, you can become a member of
the Board of Directors. We have 2 meetings a year and we hold our annual
Book/Bake/Craft Sale on Labor Day Saturday. Let the librarian know you are
interested.
 Friends of the Library Book/Bake/Craft Sale

The 2017 21st annual sale was canceled due to the Railroad Fire. We are look-
ing forward to planning and preparing for the 22nd annual sale in the library
parking lot on September 1, 2018. Book sale income provides circulation mate-
rials and programs. The book sale is also an important community event that
promotes reading, and offers affordable books and audiovisual items for property
owners, local families, park guests, and individuals.

“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit

back and relax, all you need is a book.”
~Dr. Seuss

Wawona Bassett
Memorial Library Hours
November 2017 ~ March 2018 Memorial Day 2018
through
Memorial Donations Labor Day 2018
209-375-6510
Free Internet & Wi-Fi Available
Monday: 1 PM - 6 PM
Tuesday: 1 PM - 6 PM
Wednesday: 1PM - 6 PM
Thursday: 1 PM - 6 PM
Dr. Lawrence Gershon Friday: 1PM - 6 PM
Dudley and Jane Goul Saturday: 10 AM - 3 PM
Max Stauffer
Closed Sunday & Holidays
 Wawona Community Newsletter
P.O. Box 2008
Wawona, CA 95389

2018 MEMBERSHIP WAWONA FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

Please print information for mailing list: April 1 ~ March 31

Name_____________________________________________________ Phone___________________

Address_________________________________________ City_____________________Zip________
Membership Categories: Email Address_______________________
___Individual $ 5.00 ___Gold Friend $15.00
___Family $ 10.00 ___Gold Panner $25.00
___Business $ 50.00 ___Gold Miner $50.00
___Life $ 100.00 ___Gold Strike $75.00
___Golden Patron $ 500.00 ___Wawona Fund Booster Unlimited
Additional Contributions: (Include address for acknowledgement)

$_____Memorial for (Name)_________________________________________________________________________

$_____Gift in honor of (Name)________________________________________________________________________

$_____Extra Hours Donation_________________________________________________________________________

I am interested in assisting with the following:

___Membership ___Telephoning ___Volunteering in library
___Serving on the Board of Directors ___Fundraising ___Book Sale
___Help at Special Events ___Newsletter ___Other

Make checks payable to:

WAWONA FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ALL DUES AND DONATIONS ARE

P.O. Box 2008 TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
WAWONA, CA 95389