Minimal loss of trees

The Davis campus lost a handful of trees and experienced two power failures in the Oct. 13 storm.

“We have lost only five medium-size trees thus far, which is fantastic,” grounds Superintendent Cary Avery said the morning after.

The storm brought wind gusts of up to 40 mph and about 3 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. Facilities Management reported taking 125 calls regarding roof leaks.

Avery said his crews dealt with more than 35 reports of large limbs that came down and blocked roads or paths, or limbs hanging in trees. “We cleaned up 224 yards of debris yesterday, but I expect double that in the next couple of days,” he said.

David Phillips, utilities director, said a power pole came down part-way along Hutchison Drive, cutting power to most of the west campus around 4 p.m. At about the same time, a problem at the campus’s main substation cut power to parts of the central campus, including the Tercero housing complex, traffic signals at Hutchison and La Rue Road, and parts of the Health Science District.

Crews restored power to the west campus at about 5:30 p.m. and finished up with the central campus restoration shortly before 7 p.m.

H1N1 reminder

With the number of cases of H1N1 climbing on campus, Student Affairs Vice Chancellor Fred Wood and Academic Senate Chair Bob Powell are reminding faculty and students of their obligations during the health crisis.

Students who come down with the flu have the responsibility to initiate conversation with their instructors. In turn, faculty are expected to provide reasonable accommodations for students who are unable to attend class and-or complete assignments in a timely manner.

“We are looking for the faculty and students to work constructively together, during what we hope is a temporary health event, to ensure that students follow the recommendations of their health care providers,” Wood and Powell wrote in an Oct. 13 e-mail.

More information on the campus response to H1N1: ucdavis.edu/emergency/h1n1.

Sustainability Vendor Fair

Contracting Services is putting on the fourth annual Campus Sustainability Day Vendor Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 21, at the Activities and Recreation Center. Admission is free.

Organizers said vendors and UC Davis business units will be showcasing a variety of environmentally preferable products (laboratory, custodial, facilities and maintenance, office supplies and equipment) and services (catering and zero-waste event planning, uniforms, bottled water,· printing and alternative transportation).

Emeriti-retirees meeting

A joint general meeting of the UC Davis Emeriti and Retirees association is set for next week, with a program that includes discussion of the UC Post-Employment Benefits Task Force.

The meeting is scheduled from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 19 in Ballroom A at the Activities and Recreation Center. The program starts at 2:30 p.m.

The meeting is open to all. People who are still working but have retirement in their near-term plans are especially invited and encouraged to attend.

UC Davis has four representatives on the systemwide Post-Employment Benefits Task Force, and all of them are due to attend next week’s meeting. The task force is charged with studying and recommending alternatives for post-employment benefits policy, design and funding.