Friday - June 15, 2007

Juneteenth 2006.
(Image courtesy of Diana Rogers.)

Juneteenth Celebration Today

by Ken Kingery

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived on Galveston Island to take possession of Texas and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. In commemoration of this anniversary, SLAC will celebrate Juneteenth today beginning at 11:30 a.m. with a program acknowledging the abolitionists and the Underground Railroad. The celebration will continue at 12:00 p.m. with a barbecue and live music provided by The Rick Baker Blues Band.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Celebrations for Juneteenth began in Texas in 1866, and have since spread throughout the country.

This year, the lab will also be recognizing SLAC Controls Systems Analyst Jim Knopf, the great-great-great-great grandson of abolitionist John Brown. Many historians believe Brown helped push the country into civil war. He led skirmishes in the Bleeding Kansas hostilities and the unsuccessful raid on the Harper's Ferry Armory in Virginia, a campaign intended to arm southern slaves.   Read more...

Register Now for Summer Exercise Classes at SLAC

by Kelen Tuttle

This year's summer Health Improvement Program (HIP) classes start soon, and registration has begun. There are several programs that take place at SLAC and many others at Stanford.

The full HIP schedule is available on the Stanford HIP website. For this summer, the following courses are available at SLAC:

Cardio Dance & Core Strength
A fun workout that blends rhythmic movement and strength exercises with the elegant precision of Pilates and the dynamic flow of yoga. You will burn calories, build muscle, and improve coordination and stamina, while enjoying beautiful music! Wear athletic shoes or dance shoes and comfortable clothing. Bring a mat or towel, and a water bottle.
Monday & Wednesday
   12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday
   11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday
   5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Mat Pilates
Pilates classes address posture, mind/body awareness, strength, and flexibility training. Emphasis is placed on deep breathing and strengthening the abdominal, shoulder stabilizer, pelvic floor, and back muscles, and on improving mobility. All levels welcome, including those with back problems. Bring a mat, towel, & a water bottle.
Monday
   5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Wednesday
   5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Mid-Day Yoga
Take a mid-day break to relax and renew your body and mind. This class combines feel-good stretches, breathing exercises, and guided relaxation to release morning stress and refresh you. Bring a yoga mat.
Friday
   11:00 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.
Friday
   12:00 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.

Register right away! Some classes have limited enrollment. HIP cannot hold a spot in a class without your registration and payment. 

Riggers Find Solidarity
in Unexpected Way

by Ken Kingery

Lead rigger Davey Engesser wears an American flag helmet while riggers Scot Johnson, Will Anderson, Lionel Loskamp, and Tom Serafini show off the white version.

When objects weighing thousands of pounds need to be moved at SLAC, a call goes out to a team known as "the Riggers." Working with heavy machinery and lifting heavy objects can be dangerous, so the group is always required to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment, including safety helmets. The Riggers decided somewhere along the way to make a statement with their safety equipment.

"We always try to wear the same helmets," said rigger Scot Johnson. "It helps us identify each other on the job site and is also a form of solidarity."

The group first began following the helmet design of lead rigger Dave "Davey" Engesser, who has been at SLAC the longest and knows all the ins and outs of hoisting and rigging.

"He has a mind like an elephant," said Johnson. "He can remember where he put equipment in the grass from 20 years ago."

Engesser began wearing an American flag helmet to work everyday, and soon the rest of the Riggers did as well. And when Engesser's helmet had to be retired because of chips and cracks, the whole team ordered white helmets to wear instead. Because stickers are not allowed on the helmets (they can hide cracks and defects) wearing the same helmet is one way the team can still express their camaraderie.

None of them know how the tradition began or who came up with the idea. "It just sort of ended up that way," said Johnson.

Recently Engesser has gone back to an American flag-style helmet, though the rest of the team still tends to wear their white ones.

"He just likes to get saluted," joked Johnson.

Events (see all | submit)

• June 15: (12:30 p.m.) Theory Seminar: Physics Possibilities with the Indian Neutrino Observatory
• June 18: (7:30 a.m.) Ultrafast Summer School

Access (see all)

• Parking and traffic barricades near Building 50
• Alpine Gate & PEP Ring Road closed
• Gates 17 & 30 open 24-7
• Research Yard bisected

Announcements
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 Lab Announcements

• Understanding and Applying Cultural Sensitivity In the Workplace
• New Publication: SLAC University Technical Representative Requirements
• New Publication: ESH Manual, Chapter 42, Subcontractor Construction Safety
• Ergonomics: Safe Material Handling

Community Bulletin Board

• SLAC Blood Drive - June 27
• Karen Kruger's Retirement Party

News (see all | submit)

• President Would Veto House Version of FY 2008 DOE Funding Bill FYI
• High-energy Detectors Might Find 'Unparticles' Nature

• Flea Market
• Linear Café Menu
• Employee Milestones
  
  
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