WawonaNews.com - May 2014
Yosemite National Park Reopens Areas Affected by Rim Fire
White Wolf Lodge
Yosemite National Park reopens areas that were previously closed because of the Rim Fire. All areas previously closed, including the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias and hiking trails in the Hetch Hetchy area, are now open to the public. Visitors traveling in the areas impacted by last year’s Rim Fire should be aware of potential risks including hazardous trees, uneven ground, potential rockfall, and down and dead debris on trails.
Fire restrictions put in place last summer and fall have also been rescinded. It is possible, however, that fire restrictions may be needed later this year due to the extreme drought conditions found in California.
The Rim Fire, which started on August 17, 2013 in Stanislaus National Forest, burned approximately 255,000 acres, with approximately 77,000 acres within Yosemite National Park. The affected areas have been closed to the public since the start of the fire.
For a detailed closure area and a map of all affected areas, please visit http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/rimfire.htm.
Fire restrictions put in place last summer and fall have also been rescinded. It is possible, however, that fire restrictions may be needed later this year due to the extreme drought conditions found in California.
The Rim Fire, which started on August 17, 2013 in Stanislaus National Forest, burned approximately 255,000 acres, with approximately 77,000 acres within Yosemite National Park. The affected areas have been closed to the public since the start of the fire.
For a detailed closure area and a map of all affected areas, please visit http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/rimfire.htm.
The Senior Project of Wawona’s Adam Scott, son of Kathy and Eric Scott, is the Yosemite High School Jazz and Percussion Concert slated for Thursday, April 3 at the Yosemite High Theater. Adam and Gregory Royce from Fish Camp will be performing with the Jazz Band. Also performing with the beginning percussion are Hannah Scott and Georgie Royce. The concert will benefit Children’s Hospital of Central California.
Wawona Events 2014
For your reference, this events calendar can be accessed year-round by clicking on the "Events, entertainment, schedules, Meetings, etc." link above.
April 11: Wawona Hotel reopens for the season
April 11—13: Redwoods scheduled owners’ meetings and dinner. See your Homeowners’ Newsletter for scheduled times.
April 12: WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
April 12: Wawona School Fundraiser Silent Auction and BBQ 11:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m.
June 6 : WTPAC Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
June 6: Wawona Friends of the Library Annual Membership Board meeting in the library 3 p.m.
June 7 : WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
June 9—13: Wawona Needle Pickup by Mariposa County Public Works
July 4: Square Dance at the Gray Barn 8-10 p.m.
July and August Square Dances: Additional dates to be announced! Check this website.
August 30: Wawona Friends of the Library Annual Book/Bake/Craft Sale: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Library parking lot~ Rain moves the sale to the Wawona Community Center
August 30: Square Dance Gray Barn 8 -10 p.m.
September 6 : WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
September 6: Large item pickup. Wawona District Maintenance Yard 9 a.m.
September 20: Wawona School Celebrity Golf Tournament
April 11: Wawona Hotel reopens for the season
April 11—13: Redwoods scheduled owners’ meetings and dinner. See your Homeowners’ Newsletter for scheduled times.
April 12: WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
April 12: Wawona School Fundraiser Silent Auction and BBQ 11:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m.
June 6 : WTPAC Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
June 6: Wawona Friends of the Library Annual Membership Board meeting in the library 3 p.m.
June 7 : WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
June 9—13: Wawona Needle Pickup by Mariposa County Public Works
July 4: Square Dance at the Gray Barn 8-10 p.m.
July and August Square Dances: Additional dates to be announced! Check this website.
August 30: Wawona Friends of the Library Annual Book/Bake/Craft Sale: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Library parking lot~ Rain moves the sale to the Wawona Community Center
August 30: Square Dance Gray Barn 8 -10 p.m.
September 6 : WAPOA Wawona Community Center 9 a.m.
September 6: Large item pickup. Wawona District Maintenance Yard 9 a.m.
September 20: Wawona School Celebrity Golf Tournament
County ballots go to property owners
William Davis
Thursday, March 27, 2014 - 4:30 p.m. - The county today mailed close to 7,200 special-assessment-fee ballots to property owners. If re-approved by voters, the $80 annual fee will continue to fund 15 county firefighting vehicles.
The special election is costing the county $26,500. The fee has also helped the county build several new fire stations for the Mariposa County Fire Department.
Property owners first approved the fee in 2008. The fee, however, has since been challenged by a lawsuit filed by county auditor Bill Davis in Mariposa County Superior Court in November. The suit contends that the fee violates California's state constitution.
Asked about the suit this week, Auditor Davis said the key issue is "proportionality." The fee, called the Mariposa County Service Area No. 3, or CSA No. 3, levies a flat $80 annual fee on propertyowners. California's Proposition 218, passed by voters in 1996, mandates higher fees for expensive properties and lower fees for less-pricey properties, Davis said. The county contends that the flat-rate fee is legal and constitutional. The election ballots are due at county offices by Tuesday, May 13.
Read the Thursday, April 3 MARIPOSA GAZETTE for more on the special-assessment fee, lawsuit and ongoing poll.
The special election is costing the county $26,500. The fee has also helped the county build several new fire stations for the Mariposa County Fire Department.
Property owners first approved the fee in 2008. The fee, however, has since been challenged by a lawsuit filed by county auditor Bill Davis in Mariposa County Superior Court in November. The suit contends that the fee violates California's state constitution.
Asked about the suit this week, Auditor Davis said the key issue is "proportionality." The fee, called the Mariposa County Service Area No. 3, or CSA No. 3, levies a flat $80 annual fee on propertyowners. California's Proposition 218, passed by voters in 1996, mandates higher fees for expensive properties and lower fees for less-pricey properties, Davis said. The county contends that the flat-rate fee is legal and constitutional. The election ballots are due at county offices by Tuesday, May 13.
Read the Thursday, April 3 MARIPOSA GAZETTE for more on the special-assessment fee, lawsuit and ongoing poll.
Proposition 218 fire protection assessment
Program Description
The County Service Area #3 was established to account for revenue and appropriations associated with the property owner approved Proposition 218 fire protection assessment for the entire county with the exception of the area within the Mariposa Public Utility District. The protection assessment is to provide funding for the lease purchase of fire engines and repairs/remodel of existing county fire stations. In response to a lawsuit filed against the legality of the Mariposa County CSA Area#3, County property owners will be asked to vote within the next few weeks reaffirming the previous vote.
See Bullet Points document for a timeline of events
See Bullet Points document for a timeline of events
For additional information contact: District 5 Supervisor, John Carrier at 209-966-3222 or email: [email protected]
Yosemite High School Students Teach International Cooking Class at Wawona School
Norwegian cooking class (click to enlarge)
Wawona resident and former Wawona School student, Azani Pusina and her friend Sharon Warmerdam chose for their high school senior project to teach cooking classes at Wawona School and to help raise funds to support the school. Four classes are scheduled, each class focuses on an individual country and its cuisine; Norway, Chile, Thailand and Morocco. Azani and Sharon believe this project will be beneficial to the students because it will introduce them to other cultures and cuisines and will give them hands-on cooking experience.
To help support Wawona School, baked goods will be prepared and sold at the WAPOA meeting and during the Wawona School Silent Auction on April 12, 2014.
To help support Wawona School, baked goods will be prepared and sold at the WAPOA meeting and during the Wawona School Silent Auction on April 12, 2014.
Enjoying Norwegian food (click to enlarge)
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Norwegian dish
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Wawona Road Detour at the South Entrance Station
Beginning Friday, March 14, 2014 a short (500-ft.) detour will be installed in the new kiosk area of the Wawona Road. The inbound and outbound traffic will be detoured through the two easternmost kiosk drive lanes. The new kiosks are not open, however there will be Stop signs placed at each kiosk to help protect the construction workers as they will need to cross these same drive lanes that traffic is being detoured through. So please obey all traffic signs and drive slowly through the construction zone. This detour is necessary to complete construction of the third new kiosk and will remain in place through the end of May, 2014. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Michael Pieper (209) 200-1131. (M. Pieper)
WAWONA TOWN PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Wawona Community Center
Friday March 21, 2014
1. Call to Order 10 a.m.
2. Introductions
3. Amend/Approve May 18, 2013 meeting minutes
4. Public comments on non-agenda items. Note: The public may speak on any item not on
the printed agenda. No action may be taken by the Committee. The public will also be given the
opportunity to comment before or during the committee’s consideration of items.
5. Discussion/Action Items – the Committee may act to make a recommendation to the Board of
Supervisors, the Planning Commission, the Yosemite National Park Superintendent, and/or the Planning
Director on these items:
a. Wawona Water Supplies and Systems
i. Yosemite-Mariposa Integrated Regional Water Management
(IRWM) Plan
ii. Alternative Water Sources
b. Wawona Waste Water Treatment Plant
c. Mariposa/NPS MOUs
d. County Code Amendment No. 2014-005 to County Code Title 2
6. Information and Report Items
a. Supervisor, District V
b. Planning Commissioner, District V
c. Wawona District Ranger
7. Election of Chair and Vice Chair for 2014
8. Next meeting; date and agenda
9. Adjournment
In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, if you need spec
Wawona Town Planning Advisory Committee Meeting
Water and the treatment of waste water in Wawona has been and issue for many, many years. Entering into the third year of a drought, sufficient water for us is even more critical. The Wawona Town Planning Advisory Committee with have a public meeting On Friday, March 21 at 10 AM in the Wawona Community Center to discuss possible solutions. Mariposa County will be taking no action, but we will be working with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Yosemite-Mariposa Integrated Regional Water Management and others to identify all possible solutions. Any and all Wawona residents are encouraged to attend and participate in these and other important Wawona issues.
