Fire crew heads to Santa Barbara

A truck and a crew of four from the UC Davis Fire Department departed campus Thursday (May 7) for wildfire duty in Santa Barbara County, at the request of the  state Office of Emergency Services.

This report will bee updated as more news becomes available.

Maximum subsidy climbs for bus, train commuters

Transportation and Parking Services, or TAPS, announced a $5 increase in the maximum subsidy given monthly to transit pool participants.

The TAPS transit pool program offers discounted fares for travel by bus or train. The new maximum subsidy is $23 a month for employees who commute by bus or train at least three times a week.

Payroll deduction forms have been e-mailed to transit pool participants, so they can adjust their deductions. The forms are due by May 15 if people wish to take advantage of the new maximum subsidy on the effective date of July 1.

Train pool participants also must submit new monthly order forms.

People interested in signing up for transit pool benefits should contact TAPS regarding the necessary paperwork.

Besides fare discounts, transit pool participants who commute by bus or train at least three times a week receive two complimentary parking passes each month, for days when they drive to work; and rides from campus to home, in the event of emergencies.

More information. Or contact Mary Maffly, (530) 752-6453 or mlmaffly@ucdavis.edu.

Sign up for computers and writing workshop

Are you interested in how technology is changing the way we communicate? If so, think about attending a University Writing Program conference titled “Computers and Writing 2009: Ubiquitous and Sustainable Computing @ School @ Work @ Play.” It is scheduled from June 18 to 21.

The conference offers “a sustainable perspective on lifelong computing and communication,” one that challenges participants to think “within broader social and cultural dynamics across our lifespans and across learning institutions,” according to the conference’s Web site.

The University Writing Program is hosting the conference with assistance from the School of Education and the Davis Humanities Institute.

Registration fees through May 15 are $195 for faculty, and $125 for graduate students, K-12 teachers and adjuncts. Late registration is permitted at additional cost.

Registration and more information: writingprogram.ucdavis.edu/cw2009.

Ceremonies scheduled at old barn, new winery

A naming ceremony and a ground-breaking are planned next week, the former for the historic Hog Barn and the latter for the new winery.

Hog Barn — It is in a new location (south of the Silo) and it has been converted to offices and a classroom for Staff Development and Professional Services — which moved in late last year.

The barn is called the Hubert Heitman Jr. Staff Learning Center, in memory of an animal science professor and swine researcher. The classroom is named after Janet Hamilton, who retired in 2003 as vice chancellor of administration after a 28-year career at UC Davis.

The naming ceremony and ribbon-cutting are set for 1 p.m. May 14, followed by an open house and light refreshments until 3. The campus community is invited.

Heitman’s son, Bill, is expected to be in attendance.

Winery — This time the groundbreaking is official: at noon May 15. A ceremonial groundbreaking took place last fall in conjunction with the opening of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. The winery (and brewery) will be built next door to the RMI.

The official groundbreaking will come amid a daylong program for viticulture and enology alumni.