Sign up for Neighbors Night Out

With the start of the new academic year comes a renewed call for students and their city neighbors to get acquainted, on their own or during the annual Neighbors Night Out. This year’s event is set for Sunday, Oct. 11.

The relationship-building event, now in its fourth year, is sponsored by UC Davis, the Associated Students and the city. Neighbors Night Out comprises block parties all over town, put together by neighborhood associations, Neighborhood Watch captains, apartment complexes, homeowner associations and individual residents.

Party sponsors pick the time that works best for them and their neighbors, from noon to 9 p.m. Activities may include barbecues or potluck dinners, ice cream socials, cake bakes or cookie exchanges.

People interested in sponsoring parties are asked to register online by Sept. 28. For more information, contact UC Davis’ Gary Sandy, (530) 752-9795 or gasandy@ucdavis.edu, or the city’s Stacey Winton, (530) 757-5661 or swinton@cityofdavis.org.

Firefighters travel to So Cal

Assistant Chief Wes Arvin of the UC Davis Fire Department is leading a Yolo County strike team that went to work Sept. 7 on the mammoth Station fire in the Angeles National Forest.

Arvin departed for Southern California on Sept. 6, two days after four other UC Davis firefighters returned safe and sound from a brief assignment on the 1,159-acre Oak Glen 3 wildfire in San Bernardino County.

Chancellor Linda Katehi greeted Capt. Davis Stiles, engineer Terry Weisser, and Jon Poganski and Nathan Potter upon their return at 5:45 p.m. Sept. 4. The four had been gone since Aug. 31, dispatched in a firetruck that belongs to the state Office of Emergency Services. The truck, designated OES 251, is UC Davis’ to use —except when the state needs the truck and a crew. For the Oak Glen 3 fire, the state dispatched OES 251 and Winters’ OES 333 as part of a southern San Joaquin Valley strike team.

The Arvin-led strike team’s assignment on the Station fire was expected to last through this week. The team comprises five trucks, one each from the city of Davis, Woodland, Willow Oak (outside of Woodland), West Sacramento and the Rumsey Rancheria.

Arvin reported that his 20-person team was taking care of hot spots and flare-ups, in support of hand crews on the east flank of the fire, due east of Mount Wilson.

As of 7 a.m. Sept. 10, fire officials listed the size of the Station blaze at 160,357 acres and reported that it was 71 percent contained.

Blue Devils play in Aggie Stadium

If there is a crowd at Aggie Stadium, and the lights are on, it must be an Aggie football game on Saturday, right?

Not necessarily. UC Davis is allowing Davis High School the use of Aggie Stadium for three football dates this month while the high school stadium is being renovated.

The first games — frosh, junior varsity and varsity — were scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, vs. Folsom. The other dates are Friday, Sept. 18, vs. Del Campo and Thursday, Sept. 24, vs. Wood. Gates open at 2:30 p.m., and kickoff times are 3 p.m. for the frosh, 5 p.m. for the JV and 7:15 p.m. for the varsity.

The campus is not charging for stadium rental, but there will be a $6 fee for parking.

The Blue Devils are due to play in their renovated stadium for the first time on Oct. 23, for homecoming against Valley.

New calendars for the new year

The UC Davis Bookstore is sold out of the unfolded version of the 2009-10 campus wall calendar, but folded copies are still available — and free delivery is offered on the Davis and Sacramento campuses.

The price is 80 cents each plus tax at all bookstores on the Davis and Sacramento campuses. Departments receive their standard 10 percent discount, bringing their cost per calendar to 72 cents plus tax.

Orders can be placed online (click on “Name Badges and/or Campus Calendar Info Request”). Or you can fax purchase orders to (530) 754-7819.

Grief support for young adults

The UC Davis Children’s Hospital Bereavement Program announced a Grief Support Group for Young Adults. The free support group for ages 17 to 24 is scheduled to begin Sept. 17 and continue on seven consecutive Thursdays through Nov. 5. Each session is set to take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the UC Davis Home Care Services Building, 3630 Business Drive, Suite F, Sacramento.

The size of the group is limited. People interested in participating should register by calling (916) 734-1139.