- Author: Deanne Meyer
Recently we received notification about the national broadband challenge. Thank you, Andy Lyons, for putting together a brief summary of the broadband challenge and WHY each of us should participate. We all know internet access is a requirement to be successful in business and life. How many minutes or hours go by (while you're awake) that you don't use wifi or internet? Living in California we also know our connectivity is less than desirable. Apologies for all the calls I've dropped over the last year! Please take a few minutes to read Andy's post and participate in the challenge. Currently the map makes California look great with connectivity meaning fewer federal funds will come to CA to improve connectivity. Since many of us realize this isn't true, it's worth reading the challenge and participating in it. Feel free to share with co-workers, family, friends, etc. for others to take the challenge as well.
Although many may be on vacation, others continue to work. Thank you to all our staff who keep ANR running day in and day out! Special thanks to John Bailey and Tom Seward (Hopland REC) for hosting Darren Haver, Jennifer Bunge, Danny Fung, Sinan Al Adhami, Felicia Johnson, Greg Gibbs and me as we reviewed the state of facilities at the REC a week ago (see photo). Hannah Bird joined the conversation as well. We enjoyed looking at building structural integrity and discussing infrastructure needs versus wants. It was a detail-oriented meeting and many of us left with homework.
The next day, Dustin Flavell hosted Darren at Sierra Foothill REC. We had a quick visit with Business officer Michelle Flavell as well as Nickolai Schweitzer (Ag Supervisor) who was preparing for a fire inspection the next day. We appreciated everyone's time given their busy schedules. By the way, Nickolai was a founding member of Staff Assembly and remains active with the group. If you're a staff member please check out opportunities with Staff Assembly!
Both of these RECs have unique opportunities for the scientist looking to answer questions on working landscapes. The hard work everyone puts into their jobs to keep the RECs working to answer tomorrow's questions with today's research is appreciated.
Enclosures and hoops modified to restrict rainfall from entering (simulated drought) and increase temperature (simulated climate change)
No doubt many people had travel challenges this last week. Hopefully, most were able to make something good come out of the disruptions. A good friend of mine would always remind me that the first thing to pack when going on a trip was patience. I take her words to heart every time I travel. Thankfully, my canceled flight was identified before I went to the airport. This provided a few extra days at home. My fruit trees appreciated the winter pruning and although my sewing area is not quite organized (nor will it ever be) I did get an opportunity to cut out many projects.
As the year comes to a close, we remember those we lost who enriched our lives and those who are new in our lives. Here's a shout out to all the new ANR hires in 2022. We welcome you to UC ANR where you help make change happen!
- Author: Wendy Powers
Reality has set in that I need to spend more days at a desk in front of a screen or on the phone. Ughhh. As a result, I spent the weekend trying to catch up; I've long since decided there's no point in thinking I can get ahead. I worked on an MOU to address feedback received, drafted several communications that will still need some more detailed follow up, cleaned out the Inbox a bit by responding to emails, gave some thought to next week's WebANR, and wrapped up some notes from the 2-day meeting last week that addressed some outstanding items on the REC 6-year financial plan. Ahhh, to be new again and have a short ‘to-do' list.
Speaking of new, we had some new academics start last week. Annemiek Schilder started on August 1 as the UCCE Ventura County and Hanson REC Director, headquartered in Ventura County. Also on August 1, Nathan Caeton began as the new CE 4-H Youth Development Advisor, based in Redding, with programmatic responsibilities in Shasta, Tehama and Trinity Counties. Previously, Nate was the 4-H program specialist in those counties. Tomorrow, Maggie La Rochelle starts as the Area 4-H Youth Development Advisor, based in Half Moon Bay, with programmatic responsibilities in San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. Please welcome Annemiek and Maggie to UC ANR and congratulate Nate on his new position!
There are 43 more prospective ‘new UC students' now, as a result of the UC ANR 4-H Latino Initiative 3-day Juntos Summer Academy that was held at UC Merced. High School students from Riverside, Orange, Kern, Santa Clara, Merced and Sonoma counties had the opportunity to experience college life. They lived in the dorms, ate in the college cafeteria and attended workshops on scholarships, financial aid, admissions, essays and a students' panel. The students heard from two very motivational Latino keynote speakers, who spoke about their experiences as Latino youth attending college and how they overcame obstacles to graduation. With the economic support of National 4-H and New York Life, the Juntos program includes: (1) family workshops and monthly check-ins, (2) afterschool 4-H club meetings, (3) one-on-one success coaching and access to college and community mentors, and (4) summer programming through 4-H camps, college-campus visits, and other educational conferences.
Many were busy this weekend dealing with fires. Several affected by the Mendocino complex fire are still out of their homes. Now that it is in Colusa County, I'm wondering how that will impact our visit to Colusa UCCE tomorrow. The trip to Lake County UCCE, scheduled for Tuesday, will be rescheduled. While I've visited with some of the Lake UCCE group before, this will be my first visit to the Colusa UCCE office.
To give us a better sense of how the fire in Mendocino County affected the Hopland REC, Shane Feirer of IGIS @HoplandREC put together this map. The red area shows existing vegetation; many of the oaks didn't burn. Brighter red indicates untouched green foliage, fainter red indicates some damage. The two separate black areas are where prescribed burn were conducted back in June. The white spots are ash indicating where a tree did burn. Thanks to Shane for sharing a visual story with us!
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