June, 2017

YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL

Y-WECS Annual Silent Auction & Luncheon Fundraiser

Join us on Saturday, June 3rd
for an event the whole family will enjoy!
@ Yosemite Wawona Elementary Charter School
in the multipurpose room

Games! Prizes! Luncheon! Silent Auction!

EVENT SCHEDULE:
Silent Auction Bidding.................11:30am - 2:30pm
<< Bidding closes at 2:30pm // Item pick-up @ 4:30pm >>

Box Lunches Available.................12:00pm - 2:00pm

<< $10 / adult & $5 / child >>

Inflatables, Games & Contests.....11:30am - 4:30pm

Admission for Activities:
$10 - Age 5 & up
$5 - Age 4 & under

If you would like to donate an item for the auction,

please contact us:
Phone: 209-375-6383
Email: admin@yosemitewawonacharter.org
 The Redwoods In Yosemite
Donna Davis ~ General Manager
Dear Wawona Community;

I am excited to announce that we have a new General Manager at The Redwoods as of June
1st! Christian Mueller (our Director of Operations the past two years) has accepted this
role. Christian has been a part of the mountain community for over 25 years. He has vast ex-
perience in the hospitality industry, having worked for Erna's Elderberry House when he first
arrived in the states and managed operations at The Pines Resort and Yosemite Lakes Park.
Christian loves our area (he was married at the Wawona Hotel) and has an award winning hob-
by of photography (you'll often see him pulled over on the roadside taking pictures). We wish
him all the best in his new role!
Being a part of The Redwoods has been quite an adventure for me. I began working here in
July of 2010 and have been a part of many, many challenges and changes. We've experienced
just about every disaster imaginable, completed a 3-year remodel project to improve the safety.
efficiency and aesthetic appeal of our operations and event space, and have improved guest
and owner satisfaction to its highest levels. I've been fortunate enough to have had a fantastic
team and supportive owners who shared my vision. Without the support of the staff and own-
ers, our journey would not have had the positive outcome that it did!
And I can't say enough about the unique and special community of Wawona. You welcomed
me from day one and have patiently put up with our whirlwind of changes over the past several
years. You always gave me your honest opinion and constructive criticism when needed and
gave us an opportunity to right any wrongs. Thank you for accepting us as your neighbor!
A new focus for me moving forward is to grow our group business to include off peak season
retreats, strategic planning, motivation and team building events and training meetings. Our
new General Manager and our Redwoods Board of Directors have asked me to stay on part
time working remotely in this effort as well as in a consulting capacity. This will allow me to
stay a part of The Redwoods In Yosemite and Wawona while spending a little more time with
my husband (who retired last year) and my 5 grandchildren!
I will miss the daily fellowship with my staff and the Wawona residents and guests as I will
only be onsite sporadically, but will always consider myself lucky to have been a part of the
best neighborhood in Yosemite National Park and the surrounding mountain area!

Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this Community!

Donna Davis

Wawona News Website

For the latest Wawona information, check the Wawona News Website at:
www.wawonanews.com
We no longer send emails with Wawona and Park updates, so please keep up-to-
date with community and park happenings, calendar of Wawona events,
fire news and drought news at our Wawona News Website.
 Wawona Large Item Pick Up
The Mariposa County Public Works will
again pick up large items in Wawona on
Saturday, September 9, 2017 – the same
date as the September WAPOA meeting.
The truck will arrive in the Wawona mainte-
nance yard at 9 a.m. that morning and depart
at 3 p.m. Large household furnishings, ap-
pliances, deck furniture, etc. will be accept-
ed. No hazardous waste or electronics will
be accepted. Our trash pick up fee has al-
lowed Wawona property owners to continue
having our annual needle pick up and our
large item pick up.
Golf Course in Wawona
Yosemite’s Big Trees Lodge Golf Course
was the first regulation course in the Sierra
Nevada when it opened in 1918, and has
provided golfers challenging but rewarding
rounds ever since. Designed by Walter G.
Favarque to blend seamlessly into its spec-
tacular surroundings, this nine-hole, par-35
national park golf course measures 3,050
yards and includes two par-five holes and
three par-three holes. Different tee posi-
tions per side provide a par-70, 18-hole for-
mat.
Check www.wawonanews.com for
information on the opening dates for
this golf course!
CALENDAR
June 3: WAPOA Wawona Community
Center 9 a.m.
June 3: School Fundr aiser 11:30 a.m.
June 5 - 9: Pine Needle Pickup
June 5: Annual Member ship Meeting
Wawona Friends of the Library
5 p.m. in the Library
June 30: WTPAC Wawona Community
Center 9 a.m.
July 4: Squar e Dance Gr ey Bar n
8 p.m.—10 p.m.
July 22: Squar e Dance Gr ey Bar n
8 p.m.—10 p.m.
August 5: Squar e Dance Gr ey Bar n
8 p.m.—10 p.m.
August 19: Squar e Dance Gr ey Bar n
8 p.m.—10 p.m.
September 2: Squar e Dance Gr ey Bar n
8 p.m.—10 p.m.
September 2: Wawona Fr iends of the
Library Book/Bake/Craft Sale
9 a.m. Library parking lot
(rain moves the sale to the Community
Center.)
September 9: WAPOA Wawona
Community Center 9 a.m.
September 9: Lar ge item pickup Wawona
Maintenance Yard 9 a.m.—3 p.m.
 WAWONA RANGER UPDATE
Eric Scott ~ Wawona District Ranger

Bears are out and active, and there has been recent bear activity in Wawona, resulting in prop-
erty damage. This resulted in Park Wildlife Management trapping a bear, fitting it with an
GPS tracking collar and identifying ear tag. The bear was released and caused more damage
at the SDA Camp. So Wildlife came back and hazed this bear until they verified that it left the
park. The message here is that everybody needs to help protect our bears by maintaining prop-
er food storage and ensuring no food is left on house porches, vehicles, etc.. This also in-
cludes things like bird seed, hummingbird feeders and such. Please contact the Wawona
Ranger Office if you have any questions about your food . You can learn more with this park
website: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm

The Glacier Point Road opened to the public on May 11th, with still 3-6 feet of snow on the
ground in some places. All of the trails on the Glacier Point Road corridor are currently still
covered in some snow.
Hikers are highly encouraged to contact the Hill Studio Visitor Center in Wawona, or the
Wawona Ranger Office for current trail conditions. Roads crews are continuing their snow
removal operations on the Tioga Road. There is anywhere between 12-16 feet of snow they
are removing, and the road will open after it is safe to do so.

The Wawona Rangers welcome three new seasonal patrol rangers to the staff this summer.
They are,
Byron Atkinson, Franceska Sena, and Roberto Cueva. Many of the park’s seasonal employees
have delayed arrivals in the park this summer due to the temporary hiring freeze implemented
by the White House, as well delays in processing background checks. But various park opera-
tions should be fully staffed by mid-June.

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.

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. Remember, one pile per property along
the road in front of your property, in an unobstructed area where the equipment can easily ac-
cess 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.
Our pine needle pickup is paid for along with the service for the community dumpsters.
Yosemite National Park, Aramark & 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 GregOllivier , Solid
Waste Manager 209-966-5165; gollivier@mariposacounty.org That way your pile won’t be
missed.
 UC Merced Yosemite Field Station
Anne Kelly ~ Director

UC Merced’s Yosemite Field Station is gearing up for a busy summer! We are hosting re-
searchers from across the globe, studying topics from river restoration to bumblebee nutrition.
We are also hosting the Yosemite Leadership Program, which brings twenty UC Merced stu-
dents to live and work in the National Park. The Adventure-Risk-Challenge program will be
camped behind Wawona Elementary School again this summer, while high school students
from the Central Valley learn scholarship, leadership, and outdoor skills. University of Califor-
nia field courses will be visiting regularly as students learn the scientific method and writing as
they investigate environmental problems across the state. Writers, artists, and social scientists
will also be passing through, looking at the ways Yosemite influences and is changed by our
culture and politics. Please drop in to the Field Station office during most business hours, at
7799 Chilnualna Falls, across the road from the stables, to say hello and meet our guests! Con-
tact the station director, Anne Kelly, with any questions or concerns: 209-628-1064

CAMP WAWONA SUMMER SCHEDULE

 Annual Membership Board Meeting
The annual membership meeting of the Wawona Friends of the Bassett Memorial Library will
be held in the library, Monday, June 5 at 5 p.m.. All dues paying members are invited to at-
tend. Memberships may be paid at the meeting if you haven’t already renewed your member-
ship.

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.

April 2017 ~ May 2017

Memorial Donations

Dudley Goul
Max Stauffer
Anne Wieseltier

Friends of the Library

Board of Directors
Members include Larry Duke, Kathy Sanders, Pierce Loberg, Colleen Murray, Susan Robert-
son, Kathy Scott, Pat Sischo, and Jennifer Wuchner. Chairpersons are: Larry Duke, Art and
Kathy Scott Book/Bake/Craft Sale.
 Friends of the Bassett Memorial Library in Wawona

Library News
PO Box 2008, Wawona, CA 95389 June, 2017

The 2017 Wawona Friends of the Bassett Memorial Library

21st Annual Book/Bake/Craft Sale

The 21st annual sale is on Labor Day Saturday, September 2, 2017 Are you available to vol-
unteer? Wawona community bakers have the best recipes! What are you going to bake for the
sale? Call the library at 209-375-6510 or stop in and let one of the librarians know you can
help. We already have a great selection of books that have been donated and sorted for the
sale. If you are a crafter, please consider donating an item for the sale. Books will be accept-
ed until August 25th.

Thanks to Wawona Property Owners who donate the dollars for our summer
Extra Hours!!
Since the library opened in 1997, the Friends of the Library members have donated dollars to
be matched by Sara Miller McCune’s Extra Hours Challenge. This enables the library hours to
be extended to 30 hours a week from the County’s funded 15 hours a week . The library is
open 5 hours daily: Monday through Friday, from 1 p.m.—6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.
—3 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The library is closed on Sunday. Our heaviest use
is in the summer when the Redwoods cabins are occupied. Thank you for helping keep the
library open 30 hours weekly!

Wawona Bassett Memorial Library Hours

Memorial Day 2017 through Labor Day 2017

Monday ~ Friday 1 PM—6 PM ** Saturday 10 AM—3 PM ** Closed Sunday and Holidays

Internet & Wi-Fi Available

 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_________________________________________________________________________

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