You don’t have to wait until the big picnic (Wednesday, May 18) to get into the TGFS spirit. Tennis, volleyball and golf events are scheduled in advance — and sign-ups are underway. The TGFS logo contest is also underway, not for this year’s event, but for next year’s.   

Here’s a rundown on the sports events:

• Tennis — As the organizers say, TGFS also stands for Tennis is Good for the Soul! The tournament is scheduled to take place at the Marya Welch Tennis Center on Saturday, May 7 (rain date May 14). More information is available online.
• Golf — Join your fellow staff for a friendly round of golf at Davis Municipal Golf Course, Saturday, May 7. Check-in 7 a.m., shotgun start 7:30 a.m. Four-person scramble with a blind bogey format. Details and registration information are available online.
• Volleyball — Back by popular demand! First day of play is Monday, April 11, from 12:10 to 1 p.m. in The Pavilion, upper level west. General information and rules. Fill out the entry form and send it to Dan Colvin by email, decolvin@ucdavis.edu.

Guess the Weight — Be on the lookout for this year's  photo showing a group of people with a campus prop (a Unitrans bus, for example), and start considering your guess for the total weight. Whoever comes closest will win a Southern California vacation with hotel stay.

Spot the Pin — Be sure to wear your Staff Pin to TGFS, because, when a volunteer sees you with your pin, you'll get a raffle ticket. Don’t have a pin? No problem. Buy one at the bookstore or through campus mail for $10. Pin sales support the Staff and Staff Dependant Scholarship Program, plus, with your pin, you can can benefit from a whole raft of on- and off-campus discounts. More information is available here.

Be a Soaring to New Heights volunteer

The Soaring to New Heights Committee has put out a call for volunteers for this year's event, scheduled from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, in The Pavilion at the ARC. And note this: If you're a volunteer, you'll receive a lunch ticket for this event that is otherwise sold out (considering the venue can accommodate only 600 people).

Soaring to New Heights recognizes UC Davis and UC Davis Health System staff members who have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and the Principles of Community in the workplace.

People interested in volunteer can sign up here. Questions? Send an email to Kristina Do-Vu, volunteer chair; or Stephanie Hartfield, Soaring to New Heights chair.

Sketch shows Stebbins Cold Canyon assault-robbery suspect

A composite sketch of the suspect is now available as authorities continue to search for the armed man who may be living in or near UC Davis’ Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve and who is wanted in connection with an assault and attempted robbery there on March 25.

The Solano County Sheriff’s Department released the sketch on April 1 in a renewed appeal for the public’s help in identifying and-or locating the man. Two days earlier, UC Davis police and natural reserve staff joined deputies in searching for the man.

The reserve near Lake Berryessa, west of Winters, is officially closed, and has been since fire swept through it last summer,  but that isn’t keeping people away. So, if you’re going, beware the assault-robbery suspect is still at large.

The investigation began with a report from two women, ages 59 and 18, who said a man approached them on a trail at about 3 p.m., displayed a handgun and forced them to a secluded area. He then assaulted one of the women, demanded money and fled on foot.

The women described the man as Hispanic, about 25 years old and 5-foot-6, with short brown hair and no facial hair, or perhaps a very light mustache. He spoke in broken English with a thick accent.

Deputies said they found evidence indicating the man may be living in the area. They asked people to report any suspicious activity, by calling the dispatch center, 707-421-7090. (Note: Cellular reception is commonly unavailable in the canyon area.)

Anyone with information about the case, or who might know the man’s identity or whereabouts, is asked to call Detective Andrew Hendrix, 707-784-7058. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers, 707-644-STOP (7867).

TANA is in spring silkscreen mode

UC Davis’ TANA community art center presents a silkscreen printing demonstration this week for people interested in participating in the center’s spring quarter silkscreen workshop.

The step-by-step demonstration, by Malaquias Montoya, professor emeritus and TANA co-founder, is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday (April 6). Montoya is an emeritus in the Department of Chicana/o Studies, which runs TANA, or Taller Arte del Amanacer (Art Workshop of the New Dawn), at 1224 Lemen Ave., Woodland.

The demonstration and the workshop are free. TANA holds its silkscreen workshop quarterly for ages 13 and up, encouraging the exploration and representation of culture.

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