APRIL, 2017

WAWONA RANGER UPDATE

Spring – 2017
Eric Scott ~ Wawona District Ranger
This winter has been extremely challenging for Yosemite National Park. While we most cer-
tainly needed the snow and rain, we didn’t expect to receive a couple of year's worth over the
course of January-February.
As many of you know, in January we experienced heavy flooding in the Valley. The Valley
was evacuated of all NPS and Aramark employees except for personnel necessary to manage
the event and protect critical buildings and infrastructure. The Merced River rose to a level of
15.7 ft., which is almost 8 feet above flood stage. It continued to rain for about three weeks,
with one of two small snow storms.
February brought some major snow storms to the park with the arrival of more “atmospheric
rivers”, which produced heavy snowfall above the 6,000 foot range.
The result of all this precipitation, let to major damage of both Hwy. 41 and Hwy. 120. The
damage to Hwy. 41 occurred about one mile south of the park on a corner known locally as
“Big Icy”. A plugged culvert caused the roadway being undercut and threatening to collapse.
CalTrans hard closed the highway for two and half weeks to make emergency repairs.
The damage to Hwy. 120 inside the park just below Crane Flat was far more extensive. A
section of the road approximately 120 feet long suffered extensive damage from the hillside
destabilizing from all of the precipitation. The highway has been closed since the last week of
February and is likely to remain closed until mid to late May. Federal Highways is responsi-
ble for assessing the damage and making repairs.
Locally in Wawona, the extensive winter precipitation has also let to the delay of the Mariposa
Grove Restoration Project, and the Traffic Circle project at the South Entrance. The Park was
hoping to open the Mariposa Grove by Memorial Day Weekend this year. However we are
now looking at a delayed opening of September.
With this being the case, and heavy visitation use at Glacier Point again expected, the Park
will be contracting a Shuttle Bus operation again at Badger Pass to Glacier Point. The con-
tractor that will be awarded the Mariposa Grove Shuttle Operation, will be diverted to the
Badger Pass operation until the Mariposa Grove opens.
The good news is that the waterfalls will be spectacular this summer, as well as the wildflow-
ers after the snow melts In the high country.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the Wawona Ranger Office, (209)
375-9520, or by email: Eric_scott@nps.gov.
Eric Scott – Wawona District Ranger
 Wawona Fire Current Events:
Parker Bevington ~ Wawona Fire Captain
The Wawona fire crew moved into the new Wawona fire station in March of 2016. In Septem-
ber of 2016 we received our new four wheel drive wildland engine and four wheel drive 1,500
gallon water tender. It has been a very long time since Wawona had a water tender stationed
here in town. This will be a major benefit for future incidents as it will be able to access prop-
erties that are removed from the fire hydrant system. We are also looking forward to early
summer 2017 when our new Type 1 structure engine will be arriving. For anyone who hasn’t
seen the new station and equipment we highly encourage all Wawona residents to stop by and
meet the crew and see what the team and equipment are capable of.
For the 2017 fire season the Wawona crew will have its greatest number of permanent em-
ployees ever. There are four members of the permanent crew: Captain – Parker Bevington,
Assistant Captain – Aaron Ludwig, Assistant Fire Engine Operator – Kyle Cook, and Senior
Firefighter – Shanelle Saunders. Both Parker and Aaron started their careers here in Yosemite
on a hand crew that used to be based out of El Portal in 2003. They have both worked different
crews within Yosemite since then (except Aaron who moved to Hawaii for last fire season).
Kyle began here in 2010 with two fire seasons spent outside of Yosemite. Shanelle began here
March of 2016. She has worked for fire agencies spanning from Minnesota, South Dakota and
Nevada.
Currently the Wawona crew, in cooperation with the other crews from the Valley and El Por-
tal, are working on what is known as the Section 35 Project. Section 35 is the where the com-
munity of Wawona is on a USGS map. The project is aimed at reducing hazardous fuels on
Park Service land that surrounds the private community parcels. There is no doubt a vast
amount of work ahead for all involved, as anyone can see. Although most of what is seen
when driving or hiking through the community is the dead trees and debris from a winter’s
worth of tree felling and PG&E projects, the fire crews are focusing on smaller, finer fuels and
ladder fuels. These fuels cure and are available to burn much sooner than the large logs that
are lying throughout the community. With the thicker pockets of fine, flashy ladder fuels re-
duced, any responding fire fighters will have more time to safely attack a wildfire. This project
is the highest priority fuels project in Yosemite right now. Crews will be cutting and burning
as they go. Other means of fuels reduction may be used such as chipping but as long as burn-
ing is safe it is the preferred method. This project may take more than one year to complete.
As this year’s fire season approaches the Section 35 Project may take a back-seat to normal
fire operations. For any questions regarding this project you may contact the Wawona Fire
Station at: 209-375-9515.
We look forward to seeing you here at the new station.

PG&E continues removing all dead/diseased trees in Wawona that are 100’ in
either direction from their power lines.

Yosemite Updates
Please note that the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is currently closed for restoration until
2017.in the fall. Learn more from the National Park Service: Restoration of the Mariposa
 The Redwoods In Yosemite UC Merced Yosemite
Donna Davis ~ Vice President & General Manager
Field Station
Stop by The Redwoods and say Hi! We've finished
our new lobby and have added some great items to
our gift shop!

We have several openings for full time, seasonal staff

in Housekeeping, Front Desk, Maintenance and
Grounds. Send resume to Ash-
ley@RedwoodsInYosemite.com or pick up an appli-
cation in our office.
Anne Kelly ~ Director
Spring lodging and Event Center specials are listed
on our website at RedwoodsInYosemite.com or give
us a call if you have friends or family coming to Yo- Workshop: Native plant gar dening
semite for a visit and we'll give you a great rate on in Wawona' hosted by the UC Merced
the cabin of your choice! Yosemite field station, following the
June WAPOA meeting.
Don't hesitate to reach out to: Email akelly5@ucmerced.edu for de-
Donna@RedwoodsInYosemite.com or tails or go to http://snrs.ucmerced.edu/
Christian@RedwoodsInYosemite.com wapoa"
if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions.

The Big Trees Lodge

Amanda Lee ~ General Manager
The Big Trees Lodge opens March 31st, 2017. We are excited for the new season and what the
season holds for the Hotel.

The dining room operating hours: Breakfast 7AM-10AM, Lunch 11AM-3PM, Dinner 5PM-
9PM. Tom Bopp will play at the Hotel Tuesday to Saturday from 5PM-9:30PM.

The Golf Course and Pro Shop are tentatively scheduled to open May 1st, but may be delayed
due to the damages to the course from the winter storms.

Easter is April 16th. We will be offering an Easter Brunch Menu (this will not be a buffet) from
10:30 AM to 3 PM. Reservations can be made at the Hotel. The annual Easter Egg hunt will be
Saturday, April 15th at 10:30 AM. Children will be able to have a picnic with the Easter Bunny,
box lunches are $10.00 per child and photos can be taken with the Easter Bunny.

Mother’s Day is May 14th. Mother’s Day Brunch will be served from 10:30AM to 3 PM. Din-
ner special will be available that evening. Reservations will be available at the Hotel.
 Yosemite Pioneer History Center
Dean Shenk ~ Division of Interpretation

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 Friday, May 26. Wednesday after-
noons as well as Thursdays will be added beginning June 7.
Blacksmithing Demonstrations will be offered Wednesday afternoons through Sundays be-
ginning Wednesday, June 7.
Ranger programs will return to The Redwoods in Yosemite beginning Tuesday, June 13.
Saturday morning “Coffee with a Ranger” (featuring free coffee and cocoa) as well as Junior
Ranger programs will return to the Wawona Campground on Saturdays beginning June 17.
Evening Ranger Programs will return to the Wawona Campground Amphitheater every
night beginning Friday, June 16.
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 Tuesday this year. As always, we will be cele-
brating an Old Fashioned 4th of July in the Pioneer Yosemite History Center on the 4th of Ju-
ly. The 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 obliga-
tory 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 in the Pi-
oneer Yosemite History Center.
Please don’t tell too many people, but the dates for our other Barn Dances of 2017 will be
on the evenings of July 22, August 5, August 19 and September 2. As always, music will be
provided by “The Wawona Philharmonic” and donations will be accepted. These dances
continue to exist due to the generous continued support of WAPOA and The Redwoods In
Yosemite.

Camp Wawona News

Camp Wawona would like to introduce Matt and Tess Morgan, Year Round Staff Members!
Matt Morgan serves as Camp Ranger and Tess Morgan as Office Manager. Matt has an exten-
sive construction background and can fix just about anything. He worked his way up through
the ranks of Campbell Concrete Inc. from laborer to running the local division. Tess has loved
summer camp since she was a child. She was a camper for eight summers at Pine Springs
Ranch (in Southern California) and on staff for three more summers. Tess was even a camper
at Camp Wawona one year! Her grandparents, Leland and Dale Cottrell were cooks in the
Camp Wawona Kitchen for about 12 years in the 1970’s and ‘80’s. Together Matt and Tess ran
onsite operations at Mills Spring Ranch in Wyoming. They helped at Glacier View Ranch in
Colorado for a few years. Their children, Robby and Cassie, are world travelers. Robby taught
outdoor education leadership at Avondale College and is now a Bible Worker in Australia.
Cassie taught English as a Student Missionary and now studies Applied Theology in Thailand.
The Morgans feel honored and humbled by God’s grace in allowing them to be partners in
ministry here at Camp Wawona. They look forward to getting to know more of you in the
community!
 Community Mourns The Loss Of Max Stauffer

Max Stauffer, longtime Mountain Area businessman, school trustee, tourism industry leader,
and Wawona resident died March 10, following a long fight with cancer.
Stauffer, the owner of the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad in Fish Camp, was born
June 7, 1947 in Switzerland. The railroad celebrated its 50 years of operation last year and
Max Stauffer oversaw the unique and historical business for more than 40 years.
Stauffer is well known in the community, having served as director of the Mountain Area Ski
School for 20 years, past president and 30-year board member of the Yosemite Sierra Visitors
Bureau (now called Visit Yosemite/Madera County), 22-year trustee of the Bass Lake Joint
Union School District, and a board member and supporter of the Yosemite Wawona Elemen-
tary Charter School.
Max Stauffer is survived by his mother Luce, wife Michele, three daughters, Heidi Stauffer,
Gretchen (Stauffer) Barriere and her husband Steve, and Shannon Artl; two brothers, Guido
and Bob, nephew Max Stauffer, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Services at this time are pending.
The family’s immediate plans are to continue the business with the railroad opening for the
summer season April 1.
Max was a major part of the mountain community for many decades, and will be deeply
missed.

Wawona Pine Needle Pile Pick Up: June 5—9 2017

Your pile must be ready by Monday, June 5 If it is not ready by the time the
equipment is in your area, they will not go back and pick up late piles. Remem-
ber, one pile per property along the road in front of your property, in an unob-
structed 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 construction 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 April, 2017

Extra Summer Hours Challenge

This is an appeal to Wawona residents and property owners to support the ad-
dition of extra summer hours for 2017. Without your donations the library will
have to reduce the hours that the library is open during the 2017 summer to the
County 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 membership.
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.

Important Web Site: Check out local events and news on the
Wawona website: www.wawonanews.com
 Friends of the Library Book/
Bake/Craft Sale
The 21st annual
sale is in need of volunteers to
assist at the sale on Labor Day
Saturday, September 2, 2017.
Are you available to volunteer?
Call the library at 209-375-6510
or stop in and let one of the li-
brarians know you can help. We
already have a great selection of
books that have been donated
and sorted for the sale. We con-
tinue to accept books and craft
items.
November 2016 ~ March
2017
Memorial Donations
Jane Goul
Kay and Joseph Rossi
Max Stauffer
April 8: WAPOA Wawona Community Center
9.a.m.
April 13: Fr iends of the Libr ar y Spr ing Boar d
Meeting 9:30 a.m. in the Library
June: Annual Fr iends of the Libr ar y Member ship
Board Meeting in the Library TBA.
June 3: WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9
a.m.
June 3: Yosemite Wawona Elementar y Char ter
School Fundraiser
June 5 - 9 Pine Needle Pickup
July 4: Squar e Dance Gr ay Bar n 8—10 p.m.
July 22: Squar e Dance Gr ay Bar n 8– 10 p.m.
August 5: Squar e Dance Gr ay Bar n 8—10 p.m.
August 19: Square Dance Gray Barn 8—10 p.m.
September 2: Wawona Fr iends of the Libr ar y
Book/Bake/Craft Sale
September 2: Squar e Dance Gr ay Bar n 8 10 p.m.
September 9: WAPOA Wawona Community Cen-
ter 9 a.m.
September 9: Lar ge item pickup
Wawona Bassett
Memorial Library Hours
Memorial Day 2017
through
Labor Day 2017
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
Friday: 1PM - 6 PM
Saturday: 10 AM - 3 PM
Closed Sunday & Holidays
 Wawona Community Newsletter
P.O. Box 2008
Wawona, CA 95389

2017 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_________________________________________________________________________

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Make checks payable to:

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