President's Park (White House) (DC)
Park Police Manage Large White House Demonstration
On Friday, February 20th, Park Police officers were assigned to a large demonstration in President's Park. This demonstration involved participants from two groups concerned with issues in Sri Lanka. Both groups received permits to demonstrate on the Ellipse and in front of the north side of the White House. With conditions unstable in Sri Lanka at the time of the demonstration, including military action between both parties near Sri Lanka's capital city of Colombo, the Park Police recognized the need to allow all parties to exercise their rights while preventing passions from disrupting the peaceful event. A significant force commitment of SWAT teams, mounted officers, intelligence officers, and uniformed patrol officers was able to guarantee that all parties desiring to express their viewpoints were able to do so safely. No arrests or significant incidents occurred during this event. This operations was supported by personnel from the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department, who handled activities related to the event that occurred off National Park Service jurisdiction, and by staff from the Secret Service and the District of Columbia Fire Department. [Submitted by Sgt. David Schlosser, Public Information Officer, US Park Police]
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (CA)
Victim Of Fall From Mori Point Cliffs Recovered
The park received a request for assistance from Pacifica Police Department on the afternoon of February 18th. A hiker had spotted a body floating in the water below the coastal cliffs at Mori Point and contacted police. Unsure of the jurisdiction in the area, a Pacifica police captain called the park. Mori Point trails have become very popular with the public due to improvements made on them and the impressive views of the Pacific Ocean along them. Four field rangers and a supervisor responded along with a Park Police detective. Supervisory ranger Pat Norton was IC and coordinated the recovery efforts. Indications were that the victim had fallen from the cliffs and had suffered severe head trauma. The body was packaged by rangers and extricated with the assistance of a California Highway Patrol helicopter. It was determined that the victim was not within NPS jurisdiction, so Pacifica PD will investigate. [Submitted by Kim Coast, Operations Supervisor]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Southeast Regional Office
Regional Office Closed Today Due To Power Failure
Due to a power failure that knocked out the HVAC, fire and emergency systems and elevators in the Rich Building, Southeast Regional Office will be closed today. Regional Director David Vela has approved administrative leave for all SERO Atlanta employees, who've been told not to report to work on Wednesday. Employees have been asked to contact their supervisors for further information, and to call the GSA hotline number at 877-734-4911 for additional information and updates.
It is at present unclear when employees will be able to return to work.
[Submitted by Mike Anderson, Regional Chief Ranger]
Harpers Ferry Center
February Issue Of HFC onMedia Now Available
New exhibits highlight portions of the entire story of Great Falls Park, Virginia, including cultural and natural history, resource protection, recreation, and safety. The exhibits include low-tech touchable objects, tactile models, interactive rotating and flip panels, and flip books to engage visitors of all ages. See how Great Falls Park staff, HFC exhibit specialists, and subject matter experts worked together to create the comprehensive new exhibit in a relatively small space.
In January 2009, Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, Philadelphia, unveiled their own new exhibits at a reception marking the celebration of Poe's 200th birthday. Capturing the genius of Poe in the park's small exhibit area, however, was a tremendous challenge. See how visitors can learn about "The Many Sides of Genius," including an oversized illustration of Poe's head inspired by "Monty Python's Flying Circus." The large face, which is a focal point of the new exhibits, includes small compartments and cupboard doors that visitors can open to discover things that relate to many of Poe's stories.
Finally, the rehabilitation of historic Hermit Road at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, includes a new wayfinding and sign system for the Hermits Rest shuttle system. Work on the sign plan went hand-in-hand with the creation of comprehensive new standards for the entire NPS Sign Program.
Since 1970 Harpers Ferry Center has created a variety of interpretive tools to assist NPS field interpreters. These tools include audiovisual programs, historic furnishings, museum exhibits, publications, and wayside exhibits. HFC also provides a variety of services including graphics research, interpretive planning, media contracting, artifact conservation, revision and reprinting of publications, and replacement of wayside exhibits. To contact Harpers Ferry Center for media assistance or to start a media project, call 304-535-5050 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/hfc .
To retrieve a copy of the February issue of HFC onMedia, select the "More Information" link below. The 12-page newsletter is furnished in Acrobat PDF format (3.12 MB).
[Submitted by Don Kodak, Don_Kodak@nps.gov, 304-535-6104]
More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
National Capital Region
GS-13/14 Superintendent
Dates: 02/19/2009 - 03/11/2009
National Capital Region has issued a vacancy announcement for a GS-0025 park ranger or GS-0340 park manager to serve as superintendent of Prince William Forest Park. It is open to current and former competitive service Federal employees and people eligible under special hiring authorities. The announcement number is NPS-NCR-09-20. Click on "More Information" below for a link to the announcement and application instructions.
[Submitted by National Capital Region, 202-619-7234]
More Information...
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IN)
GS-0390-6/7 Supervisory Telecommunications Operator
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is seeking a GS-0390-6/7 supervisory telecommunications operator. This is a permanent, full-time position. The announcement, which closes on March 10th, is open to all candidates and also through merit promotion.
For a copy of the announcement, with details on duties and the application process, please click on the link below.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is located at the southern tip of Lake Michigan, approximately 50 to 60 miles southeast of Chicago. Excellent public and private schools in grades K through 12 and several nationally renowned colleges and universities are found within commuting distances. The area has some of the finest medical facilities in the nation. Weather for the region is typical of the Midwest, with cool springs, warm summers, crisp colorful autumns, and snowy winters. Many reasonably priced houses and rental properties exist in the surrounding communities.
For additional information about this position please contact the park's chief ranger, Mike Bremer, at 219-395-1644.
[Submitted by Terry Martin, Human Resource Officer]
More Information...
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Bill Delaney Has Retired
Bill Delaney, chief of project management at Yosemite, retired on January 31st after more than 30 years with the National Park Service.
Bill began his NPS career in 1978 as a structural engineer co-op student with the Denver Service Center. From 1980 to 1988, Bill performed structural engineering work for western parks, including Skagway, Glacier Bay, Denali, Mt. Rainier, Crater Lake, Hawaii Volcanoes, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Lake Mead and Golden Gate.
Bill transferred to Yosemite in 1993 and served as the chief of professional services, providing design work for the park. After the 1997 flood that caused severe damage to the park's infrastructure, Bill worked in flood recovery, completing emergency repairs to facilities. Bill later became chief of flood recovery, then went on to become chief of project management, overseeing all design and construction in the park.
Significant projects completed during Bill's tenure included the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, the redesign of Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, the reconstruction of the El Portal Road, new employee housing at Curry Village, a complete redesign of Valley utilities, and the complete renovation of Tunnel View, a signature Centennial Challenge Project.
Overall, Bill was responsible for over $300 million worth of construction at national park units across the country.
Bill and his wife, Kathy, will remain in the Mariposa area, where Bill will continue to enjoy golf, motorcycle riding, and his new passion, fly fishing.
[Submitted by Scott Gediman, Public Affairs Officer]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type;=Announcements&id;=3363
All reports should be submitted via email to Lane Baker in the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services in the Washington Office and to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with copies to your regional office.