WawonaNews.com - February 2024
AT&T Service For Wawona in Question
AT&T is applying to the California Public Utilities Commission for relief as the Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) in certain mountainous areas, for which YNPS and Wawona are included. This includes telephone service and possibly internet services.
The request is two-fold: 1) to enable AT&T to withdraw their COLR status and their service [blue area on the attached map], and 2) potential future withdrawal of their COLR status and service [violet area on the attached map].
Wawona falls in the second part of the request for potential future withdrawal. Again, it is not clear if this includes internet service, but the assumption is that it does.
Wawona property owners using AT&T service need to make their opinions known to the Public Utilities Commission. This may be done via online access or letter submission to the Commission – both online and mail addresses are provided in the attached letter.
Property owners should act on this if they rely on AT&T for their phone and internet services in Wawona.
AT&T is applying to the California Public Utilities Commission for relief as the Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) in certain mountainous areas, for which YNPS and Wawona are included. This includes telephone service and possibly internet services.
The request is two-fold: 1) to enable AT&T to withdraw their COLR status and their service [blue area on the attached map], and 2) potential future withdrawal of their COLR status and service [violet area on the attached map].
Wawona falls in the second part of the request for potential future withdrawal. Again, it is not clear if this includes internet service, but the assumption is that it does.
Wawona property owners using AT&T service need to make their opinions known to the Public Utilities Commission. This may be done via online access or letter submission to the Commission – both online and mail addresses are provided in the attached letter.
Property owners should act on this if they rely on AT&T for their phone and internet services in Wawona.
Other Internet Service Options at Yosemite
The options for internet service providers (ISP) in the Yosemite area are limited based on the service location.
AT&T is the fixed broadband ISP in the Yosemite area, with speeds that will support HD streaming video and casual gaming, and offers service to a significant area in the Yosemite Valley.
Satellite internet providers are another option for service in the area, offering coverage in remote areas with the potential for much higher data transfer speeds. HughesNet, ViaSat, and even Starlink are available in the Yosemite area.
Let’s review everything you need to know about each provider, including pricing, internet speed, and coverage provided by each ISP.
AT&T DSLAT&T DSL is the fixed broadband service in the Yosemite Valley area and the only internet option available (other than satellite). They provide coverage to about 88% of Yosemite Valley and can support up to 12 Mbps speeds. Most average internet users will find AT&T’s speed sufficient for their needs, including streaming services and casual gaming.
Here’s a look at the current AT&T plan and pricing:
The options for internet service providers (ISP) in the Yosemite area are limited based on the service location.
AT&T is the fixed broadband ISP in the Yosemite area, with speeds that will support HD streaming video and casual gaming, and offers service to a significant area in the Yosemite Valley.
Satellite internet providers are another option for service in the area, offering coverage in remote areas with the potential for much higher data transfer speeds. HughesNet, ViaSat, and even Starlink are available in the Yosemite area.
Let’s review everything you need to know about each provider, including pricing, internet speed, and coverage provided by each ISP.
AT&T DSLAT&T DSL is the fixed broadband service in the Yosemite Valley area and the only internet option available (other than satellite). They provide coverage to about 88% of Yosemite Valley and can support up to 12 Mbps speeds. Most average internet users will find AT&T’s speed sufficient for their needs, including streaming services and casual gaming.
Here’s a look at the current AT&T plan and pricing:
Satellite Internet Options in Yosemite National ParkFor residents in the most remote locations or addresses that are not served by AT&T DSL in the Yosemite Valley, satellite internet service providers may be the last option for reaching the World Wide Web in Yosemite National Park.
Your expectation should be for intermittent internet service with often slower speeds, based on historical customer reviews. Data limits between 15–100GB exist for all internet service in Yosemite Valley, for DSL and satellite alike.
However, for the motivated customer absolutely needing an internet connection in this region, satellite ISPs such as HughesNet and Viasat are worth a look.
A new option in the Yosemite National Park area gathering momentum is Starlink internet service. Park visitors using Starlink during summer 2022 reported great service, on par with 4G service from the big three mobile internet providers, anywhere the dish has a clear view of the sky.
Below is a summary of satellite internet service for address Yosemite Lodge Drive and ZIP code 95389:
Your expectation should be for intermittent internet service with often slower speeds, based on historical customer reviews. Data limits between 15–100GB exist for all internet service in Yosemite Valley, for DSL and satellite alike.
However, for the motivated customer absolutely needing an internet connection in this region, satellite ISPs such as HughesNet and Viasat are worth a look.
A new option in the Yosemite National Park area gathering momentum is Starlink internet service. Park visitors using Starlink during summer 2022 reported great service, on par with 4G service from the big three mobile internet providers, anywhere the dish has a clear view of the sky.
Below is a summary of satellite internet service for address Yosemite Lodge Drive and ZIP code 95389:
*Plan pricing is promotional for a defined period of time such as 3 months and/or requires contract agreement.
Any satellite ISP will be more expensive than AT&T’s DSL service, but for those working remotely while traveling to amazing places like Yosemite, they consider the cost of service worth the freedom it provides.
NPS Photo P.Bevington/ smoke rising from a burn pile covered in snow
Yosemite Pile Burning to Continue
Approximately 96 piles were burned last week in Wawona and Yosemite Valley, along with the El Portal woodlot and Foresta woodpile. Pile burning will continue in Wawona on Forest Drive on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. There are no plans to burn in the park over the coming weekend.
We also wanted to share the Yosemite Observer Dashboard for viewing current conditions and trends in weather, fires, air quality and more. Be sure to save and bookmark to your favorites.
Thank you for your support!
Yosemite Fire Information
[email protected]
go.nps.gov/yosefire
Facebook @YosemiteFire
X (former Twitter) .@YosemiteFire
Instagram @YosemiteFire
Approximately 96 piles were burned last week in Wawona and Yosemite Valley, along with the El Portal woodlot and Foresta woodpile. Pile burning will continue in Wawona on Forest Drive on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. There are no plans to burn in the park over the coming weekend.
We also wanted to share the Yosemite Observer Dashboard for viewing current conditions and trends in weather, fires, air quality and more. Be sure to save and bookmark to your favorites.
Thank you for your support!
Yosemite Fire Information
[email protected]
go.nps.gov/yosefire
Facebook @YosemiteFire
X (former Twitter) .@YosemiteFire
Instagram @YosemiteFire
Gregory receives a canvas print of the Wawona Post Office, the place where he worked for so many years, from Wayne Heringer. Gregory first started working in Yosemite in 1978. We will miss him and the jazz music he often played at the store.
Gregory — Postmaster Extraordinaire!
On behalf of WAPPOA (Wawona Area Private Property Owners Advocates) and the Wawona Community at large, the Board of Directors thanks you so very much for your decades of service as Wawona Postmaster, Wawona Store contributor and resident of our village. Your management and running of our Post Office were instrumental in the daily operations of the residents and employees of this community. Your humor, personality, wit and dedication to the success of the Post Office makes you one-of-a-kind, for which we were most fortunate. You contributed significantly to the success and beauty of our small and unique community nestled within Yosemite National Park. You will be forever missed! There will never be another like you — for that we are forever grateful!
Take Care, and we are always here for you! All our appreciation,
The WAPPOA Board of Directors,
On behalf of WAPPOA (Wawona Area Private Property Owners Advocates) and the Wawona Community at large, the Board of Directors thanks you so very much for your decades of service as Wawona Postmaster, Wawona Store contributor and resident of our village. Your management and running of our Post Office were instrumental in the daily operations of the residents and employees of this community. Your humor, personality, wit and dedication to the success of the Post Office makes you one-of-a-kind, for which we were most fortunate. You contributed significantly to the success and beauty of our small and unique community nestled within Yosemite National Park. You will be forever missed! There will never be another like you — for that we are forever grateful!
Take Care, and we are always here for you! All our appreciation,
The WAPPOA Board of Directors,
NPS photo of pile on Forest Drive in Wawona on January 5, 2024.
Burn Piles Update
Fire personnel plan to begin burning piles on Wednesday, January 10, 2023. In addition to the piles in Wawona on Forest Drive, fire personnel will be in Yosemite Valley near Valley View to burn piles and also plan to ignite the Foresta Woodlot.
Fire personnel plan to begin burning piles on Wednesday, January 10, 2023. In addition to the piles in Wawona on Forest Drive, fire personnel will be in Yosemite Valley near Valley View to burn piles and also plan to ignite the Foresta Woodlot.
Image of an internet speed test taken today along Spelt Rd. The device was connected to the ATT Basic plan of "up to 6 Mb" upload speed.
Wawona Internet Upgraded Recently
Connectivity to the Wawona Library has been challenging for many years, and while technology has progressed, the library has been limited to a 1960s era T1 connection (Basically, a communication transmission service that was invented before we all used internet.)
“This was unacceptable, and thankfully our consortium helped us do something about it,” said Mariposa County Librarian Matt Johnson.
The library is part of the San Joaquin Valley Library System, a system spanning seven counties in Central California, which has been on a mission over the last decade to improve connectivity to the 100+ branches in the system. The system covers 10 percent of the public libraries in California; the Wawona Library and its sister location in Yosemite Valley have the unique distinction of being the only two locations in the system that are located inside of a National Park.
Due to this unique location, options for improved connectivity have been limited as even the local provider AT&T has limited ability to improve service.
“It has put us in a difficult position,” Johnson said.
SJVLS has been working with the California State Library and CENIC (Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California) to bring in vendors that can help solve connectivity struggles for places like Wawona. The vendor selected for Wawona is a California-based company from Ventura called GeoLinks. They are experts in fixed wireless connections and they are willing to try any solution available.
They are also the same vendor that helped SJVLS improve connectivity to the El Portal and Red Cloud libraries in the region.
Currently, GeoLinks is trailing a combination of a business class Starlink service that uses a constellation of satellites and cellular service for backup as a solution for Wawona. While this solution is not on par with other branches in the system that are able to take advantage of fiber-based technology or fixed wireless, it is still an improvement.
While GeoLinks works on finding more bandwidth, SJVLS has been able to activate the new service for customers during the trial period as it is faster then the old T1 connection. Customers will also notice improved Wi-Fi coverage as SJVLS has been able to active its upgraded Wi-Fi system along with the new GeoLinks service.
“We are very excited about this,” Johnson said.
Connectivity to the Wawona Library has been challenging for many years, and while technology has progressed, the library has been limited to a 1960s era T1 connection (Basically, a communication transmission service that was invented before we all used internet.)
“This was unacceptable, and thankfully our consortium helped us do something about it,” said Mariposa County Librarian Matt Johnson.
The library is part of the San Joaquin Valley Library System, a system spanning seven counties in Central California, which has been on a mission over the last decade to improve connectivity to the 100+ branches in the system. The system covers 10 percent of the public libraries in California; the Wawona Library and its sister location in Yosemite Valley have the unique distinction of being the only two locations in the system that are located inside of a National Park.
Due to this unique location, options for improved connectivity have been limited as even the local provider AT&T has limited ability to improve service.
“It has put us in a difficult position,” Johnson said.
SJVLS has been working with the California State Library and CENIC (Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California) to bring in vendors that can help solve connectivity struggles for places like Wawona. The vendor selected for Wawona is a California-based company from Ventura called GeoLinks. They are experts in fixed wireless connections and they are willing to try any solution available.
They are also the same vendor that helped SJVLS improve connectivity to the El Portal and Red Cloud libraries in the region.
Currently, GeoLinks is trailing a combination of a business class Starlink service that uses a constellation of satellites and cellular service for backup as a solution for Wawona. While this solution is not on par with other branches in the system that are able to take advantage of fiber-based technology or fixed wireless, it is still an improvement.
While GeoLinks works on finding more bandwidth, SJVLS has been able to activate the new service for customers during the trial period as it is faster then the old T1 connection. Customers will also notice improved Wi-Fi coverage as SJVLS has been able to active its upgraded Wi-Fi system along with the new GeoLinks service.
“We are very excited about this,” Johnson said.
Hello friends,
We need your help; Chad needs a liver transplant. We don’t really know how to begin this process, so we will start towards the beginning to catch you up and hopefully together we can champion for Chad.
For some time now, Chad has been “navigating a progressively serious liver disease” (his words) called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. It is an autoimmune, terminal liver disease with no known cure. In 2017, he was diagnosed with Stage Four Cirrhosis of the Liver caused by PSC. If you have ever googled Stage Four Liver Disease, you will understand the absolute panic we experienced from such a diagnosis. The life expectancy is 3-5 years…WHAT?!?... meaning his liver was in the last stages of this disease before failure. He never seemed sick or ill, never had any of the complications associated with the disease, was working, working out and living his life as if nothing was wrong. We honestly thought all of the doctors and liver specialists were wrong…they must have made a mistake…his liver enzymes and blood cell levels are barely out of range…For YEARS we believed this, the DENIAL was REAL… until it wasn’t.
Over the past two years, Chad has been hospitalized multiple times for potentially life-threatening issues related to the disease. Due to these further complications, he is now considered to be in the “decompensated” stage of End Stage Liver Disease BUT his blood work continues to be in the lower levels making him an outlier with his disease. He is considered to be very sick but not quite sick enough to be really sick. When he’s good, which is most of the time, he’s good…but when he’s bad, he’s really bad. It’s a horrible cycle to be stuck in and at some point, sooner than later, he will need a liver transplant. This is the only remedy for liver failure.
We are fortunate that he is otherwise “healthy” and continues to take care of his body as well as he can while the disease progresses. He exercises regularly, eats whole foods, and stays active. In June, Chad retired from Federal Park Service, largely because of his condition, but also so he could spend more time with Lusa at home and have time to visit Lasen in Oregon. This major lifestyle change has been wonderful but as his condition is likely to continue to worsen, getting a transplant while the rest of his body is relatively healthy will give him the best outcome.
In October of 2023, we got the best news! He was called into UCSF to be evaluated by the liver transplant team and was APPROVED for living donor transplant. Unlike deceased donor transplant, living donor transplant is just that – donation from a living person. This is an amazing procedure and one of the wonders of the human body. A willing donor can have part of their liver removed and given to the recipient. Both parts of the liver will then regenerate, or regrow, in the respective person. Amazing! The donor will fully recover in just six to eight weeks and go on to live their normal life with a full-sized liver. The recipient can also go on and live a long, healthy life with a new liver!
So, we need your help finding a liver donor. Chad has so much more living to do and is determined not to let this get in the way. If he were to wait, become sicker and hope for a deceased donor, we could be waiting anywhere from 1-10 years. With a living donor, he could be transplanted within months. We are confident that this is the right thing and have absolutely no doubt that it will work out, we just need to find a donor. If you are blood type O and this email speaks to you, please consider testing for donation. Start by completing a health history survey here - ucliverdonor.org. Otherwise, I’d just like help getting the word out. You can visit our Facebook page ChampionsForChad to learn more about living liver donation and the donation process, and for updates on his journey. Please “like” and “share” the page will all of your Facebook friends and followers.
Thank you all for your time and caring to spread the word.
Forever grateful,
Esme & Chad
Chad's Instagram page
Chad's Facebook page
Liver Transplant Information Resources:
· OPTN: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/
· For potential living donors and transplant recipients:
o Living with transplant: https://transplantliving.org/living-donation/organs/
o Living donation process: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/patients/about-donation/living-donation/
o Financial assistance: https://www.livingdonorassistance.org/
· Transplantation data: https://srtr.org/
· Organ Donation: https://www.organdonor.gov/
· Organ Donation: https://www.thedonorapp.com/donors/
· Organ Donation: https://matchingdonors.com/life/
· Organ Donation: https://livingdonorsonline.org/general-information/
· UCSF Specific Information: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/lp/living-organ-donors
We need your help; Chad needs a liver transplant. We don’t really know how to begin this process, so we will start towards the beginning to catch you up and hopefully together we can champion for Chad.
For some time now, Chad has been “navigating a progressively serious liver disease” (his words) called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. It is an autoimmune, terminal liver disease with no known cure. In 2017, he was diagnosed with Stage Four Cirrhosis of the Liver caused by PSC. If you have ever googled Stage Four Liver Disease, you will understand the absolute panic we experienced from such a diagnosis. The life expectancy is 3-5 years…WHAT?!?... meaning his liver was in the last stages of this disease before failure. He never seemed sick or ill, never had any of the complications associated with the disease, was working, working out and living his life as if nothing was wrong. We honestly thought all of the doctors and liver specialists were wrong…they must have made a mistake…his liver enzymes and blood cell levels are barely out of range…For YEARS we believed this, the DENIAL was REAL… until it wasn’t.
Over the past two years, Chad has been hospitalized multiple times for potentially life-threatening issues related to the disease. Due to these further complications, he is now considered to be in the “decompensated” stage of End Stage Liver Disease BUT his blood work continues to be in the lower levels making him an outlier with his disease. He is considered to be very sick but not quite sick enough to be really sick. When he’s good, which is most of the time, he’s good…but when he’s bad, he’s really bad. It’s a horrible cycle to be stuck in and at some point, sooner than later, he will need a liver transplant. This is the only remedy for liver failure.
We are fortunate that he is otherwise “healthy” and continues to take care of his body as well as he can while the disease progresses. He exercises regularly, eats whole foods, and stays active. In June, Chad retired from Federal Park Service, largely because of his condition, but also so he could spend more time with Lusa at home and have time to visit Lasen in Oregon. This major lifestyle change has been wonderful but as his condition is likely to continue to worsen, getting a transplant while the rest of his body is relatively healthy will give him the best outcome.
In October of 2023, we got the best news! He was called into UCSF to be evaluated by the liver transplant team and was APPROVED for living donor transplant. Unlike deceased donor transplant, living donor transplant is just that – donation from a living person. This is an amazing procedure and one of the wonders of the human body. A willing donor can have part of their liver removed and given to the recipient. Both parts of the liver will then regenerate, or regrow, in the respective person. Amazing! The donor will fully recover in just six to eight weeks and go on to live their normal life with a full-sized liver. The recipient can also go on and live a long, healthy life with a new liver!
So, we need your help finding a liver donor. Chad has so much more living to do and is determined not to let this get in the way. If he were to wait, become sicker and hope for a deceased donor, we could be waiting anywhere from 1-10 years. With a living donor, he could be transplanted within months. We are confident that this is the right thing and have absolutely no doubt that it will work out, we just need to find a donor. If you are blood type O and this email speaks to you, please consider testing for donation. Start by completing a health history survey here - ucliverdonor.org. Otherwise, I’d just like help getting the word out. You can visit our Facebook page ChampionsForChad to learn more about living liver donation and the donation process, and for updates on his journey. Please “like” and “share” the page will all of your Facebook friends and followers.
Thank you all for your time and caring to spread the word.
Forever grateful,
Esme & Chad
Chad's Instagram page
Chad's Facebook page
Liver Transplant Information Resources:
· OPTN: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/
· For potential living donors and transplant recipients:
o Living with transplant: https://transplantliving.org/living-donation/organs/
o Living donation process: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/patients/about-donation/living-donation/
o Financial assistance: https://www.livingdonorassistance.org/
· Transplantation data: https://srtr.org/
· Organ Donation: https://www.organdonor.gov/
· Organ Donation: https://www.thedonorapp.com/donors/
· Organ Donation: https://matchingdonors.com/life/
· Organ Donation: https://livingdonorsonline.org/general-information/
· UCSF Specific Information: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/lp/living-organ-donors
Pile Burning in Wawona
Yosemite National Park is experiencing cooler temperatures and precipitation is in the forecast. With these favorable conditions, fire managers are planning to burn piles in the Wawona community as early as Monday, January 8, 2024. Work will likely begin on Forest Drive and may continue for the rest of the month if conditions are favorable. Burning of these piles is an efficient and effective way to decrease fuel build-up in Wawona and helps to reduce future fire intensity.
Smoke will be present during and after burning operations. Smoke impacts are always a consideration in the decision to begin any burning operations. Air quality and smoke information in Yosemite can be found online: Current Air Quality and Smoke Monitoring - Yosemite National Park
Please watch for firefighters and equipment in the community.
Thank you for your continued support,
Yosemite Fire Information
[email protected]
go.nps.gov/yosefire
Facebook @YosemiteFire
Twitter @YosemiteFire
Instagram @YosemiteFire
Yosemite National Park is experiencing cooler temperatures and precipitation is in the forecast. With these favorable conditions, fire managers are planning to burn piles in the Wawona community as early as Monday, January 8, 2024. Work will likely begin on Forest Drive and may continue for the rest of the month if conditions are favorable. Burning of these piles is an efficient and effective way to decrease fuel build-up in Wawona and helps to reduce future fire intensity.
Smoke will be present during and after burning operations. Smoke impacts are always a consideration in the decision to begin any burning operations. Air quality and smoke information in Yosemite can be found online: Current Air Quality and Smoke Monitoring - Yosemite National Park
Please watch for firefighters and equipment in the community.
Thank you for your continued support,
Yosemite Fire Information
[email protected]
go.nps.gov/yosefire
Facebook @YosemiteFire
Twitter @YosemiteFire
Instagram @YosemiteFire
YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
5:30 P.M.
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA
MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS
3.1- Approval of Agenda
3.2– Approval of Minutes of the special meeting of December 12 and the regular meeting of December 12
3.3 - Approve Warrants/Payroll
3.4 – Accept Donations to YWECS
ACTION ITEMS
INFORMATION ITEMS
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
5:30 P.M.
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA
- CALL TO ORDER
- ROLL CALL
MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS
- CONSENT AGENDA
3.1- Approval of Agenda
3.2– Approval of Minutes of the special meeting of December 12 and the regular meeting of December 12
3.3 - Approve Warrants/Payroll
3.4 – Accept Donations to YWECS
- HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
ACTION ITEMS
- APPROVAL OF THE 2022-23 AUDIT REPORT
- APPROVAL OF A MOU WITH ATLAS TO PROVIDE A STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
- APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT
INFORMATION ITEMS
- STAFF REPORTS
- BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS PROJECTS UPDATE
- FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
- BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
- FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
- NEXT BOARD MEETING
- ADJOURNMENT
