BGW
Feb 29, 2008, 12:59 PM
An era ends in El Portal
Friday, February 29, 2008
By Jill Ballinger (jballinger@mariposagazette.com (jballinger@mariposagazette.com))
Something will not be right in El Portal on Friday. People may not be able to put their finger on it, but they will know that something has changed in El Portal.
At 1 p.m. on Friday, Hugh Carter will lock the doors of the El Portal Market, effectively ending an era that spans decades of service to the community. Carter has held the National Park Service contract for the market since 1966.
Carter announced in September of last year that he intended to retire at the end of his contract, which was Dec. 31, 2007. Park Service officials were able to convince him to stick around a couple more months. Now it's over.
When Carter made his announcement, Yosemite's Deputy Superintendent Kevin Cann called him "an institution" in the river canyon. "Hugh could give lessons to the guys at Costco," he said.
The store will remain closed for 60 days, while the National Park Service seeks bids for restoration of the market and a new concessionaire to operate it.
Yosemite's Chief of Media Relations Scott Gediman said NPS knows that time is of the essence. He explained that the bids for restoration include a requirement that the work be completed in 60 days or less. The operator who is granted the contract can begin business at the conclusion of the construction.
The bid process for the operator is a separate issue and remains a "competitive process" according to Gediman. The new contract will be awarded for a period of six years. Cann said the process of selecting a new operator isn't about the low bid. "It's a 'best proposal' situation," he said, noting that the Park Service is well aware of the importance of having a family-run business in El Portal.
http://www.mariposagazette.com/news/contentview.asp?c=237361
Friday, February 29, 2008
By Jill Ballinger (jballinger@mariposagazette.com (jballinger@mariposagazette.com))
Something will not be right in El Portal on Friday. People may not be able to put their finger on it, but they will know that something has changed in El Portal.
At 1 p.m. on Friday, Hugh Carter will lock the doors of the El Portal Market, effectively ending an era that spans decades of service to the community. Carter has held the National Park Service contract for the market since 1966.
Carter announced in September of last year that he intended to retire at the end of his contract, which was Dec. 31, 2007. Park Service officials were able to convince him to stick around a couple more months. Now it's over.
When Carter made his announcement, Yosemite's Deputy Superintendent Kevin Cann called him "an institution" in the river canyon. "Hugh could give lessons to the guys at Costco," he said.
The store will remain closed for 60 days, while the National Park Service seeks bids for restoration of the market and a new concessionaire to operate it.
Yosemite's Chief of Media Relations Scott Gediman said NPS knows that time is of the essence. He explained that the bids for restoration include a requirement that the work be completed in 60 days or less. The operator who is granted the contract can begin business at the conclusion of the construction.
The bid process for the operator is a separate issue and remains a "competitive process" according to Gediman. The new contract will be awarded for a period of six years. Cann said the process of selecting a new operator isn't about the low bid. "It's a 'best proposal' situation," he said, noting that the Park Service is well aware of the importance of having a family-run business in El Portal.
http://www.mariposagazette.com/news/contentview.asp?c=237361