Division Updates
Administration
Final Edition of 2010's - By Derek Grant
This is the final edition of Tidbits of the decade and as you know this newsletter has seen some changes over the last few months. It's been a bit of a learning experience for me and I want to ask one last time for suggestions on ways to improve the content so it is more widely read and used by staff. Any time you have any suggestions on content or anything else, please don't hesitate to let me know and I'll do what I can to include those ideas in this newsletter. I thing the changes have gone well so far and I hope you do as well. Thanks everyone!
Analytical Services
Holiday Traditions Around the World - By Mercedes Thelen
As we all just experienced our own holiday traditions here are a few traditions from around the world.
Philippines: Giant Lantern Festival held each year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve in the city of San Fernando – the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” lanterns are made from a variety of materials and can be as big as 20 feet. They are illuminated by electric bulbs that sparkle in a kaleidoscope of patterns.
Sweeden: Gavle Goat 43ft tall Yule Goat made of straw has been built in the center of Gävle’s Castle Square, Slottstorget, for the Advent. This tradition was started by Stig Gavlen in 1966. The Yule goat is a target for vandalism and arson.
Iceland: The Yule Lads In the 13 days leading up to Christmas, 13 tricky troll-like characters come out to play in Iceland. For each night of Yuletide, children place their best shoes by the window and a different Yule Lad visits leaving gifts for nice girls and boys and rotting potatoes for the naughty ones. Each night a different Yule lad visits. Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod), Giljagaur (Gully Gawk), Stúfur (Stubby), Þvörusleikir (Spoon-Licker), Pottaskefill (Pot-Scraper), Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker), Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer), Skyrgámur (Skyr-Gobbler), Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage-Swiper), Gluggagægir (Window-Peeper), Gáttaþefur (Doorway-Sniffer), Ketkrókur (Meat-Hook) and Kertasníkir (Candle-Stealer).
Norway, people hide their brooms. It’s a tradition that dates back centuries to when people believed that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride on. To this day, many people still hide their brooms in the safest place in the house to stop them from being stolen.
Venezuela: Caracas, Venezuela Every Christmas Eve, the city’s residents head to church in the early morning– doing so on roller skates. This unique tradition is so popular that roads across the city are closed to cars so that people can skate to church in safety, before heading home for the less-than-traditional Christmas dinner of ‘tamales’
Colombia: Day of the Little Candles, (Día de las Velitas) marks the start of the Christmas season across Colombia. In honor of the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception, people place candles and paper lanterns in their windows, balconies and front yards.
Natural Resource and Policy
Office Clean-Up Day and the Benefits of Decluttering - By Lucy Pauley
The Friday before most of our started our holiday break, the Natural Resources & Policy Section came to work ready to clean up our office space. It’s a tradition that we’ve been following for many years now and it’s a great way to get ready for the New Year. We focused more on the shared spaces in our section, going through bookcases to recycle workbooks and binders full of paper that no one uses anymore. We filled up more than two recycling bins and we still have some additional files to go through. My office was in decent shape because I moved to a different space over the summer and I tried to clean before I moved. As both the wellness coordinator and the mediation coordinator (clutter leads to stress, stress leads to conflict, etc.) I encourage you to take a look around your workspace and do some decluttering in time for the New Year. Here’s a great article from Cubical Therapy to help get you started. https://cubicletherapy.com/declutter-organize-your-cubicle/
Consumer Health Services
Service Animals - Submitted by Ramona Moody
While out doing inspections, I have encountered many questions about service dogs. The Wyoming Food Safety Rule 2012 defines service animals as “’Service animal’ means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability”.
When I was researching about service dogs, I found the following link.
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
Some highlights from this link are the following:
“Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. “
Under the ADA, the service dogs shall be under control. They may be leashed or tethered. If that interferes with the dogs ability to do its job, then the dog shall still remain under control through voice or other controls.
“When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.”
It should be noted that pets that provide emotional support or companionship are not considered service animals as defined by the ADA. Below are a couple signs that may be displayed at businesses.
The following link is from the ADA about commonly asked questions about service animals in places of business.
https://www.ada.gov/archive/qasrvc.htm
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Jan. 1: New Year's Day
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