David Vela, former acting director of the National Park Service and the first Latino to head the Park Service, speaks about his book “Hola Ranger” during an author talk at Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor. Photo by Lily LaRegina/Friends of Acadia)

Via Mount Desert Islander (full story)

BAR HARBOR — Raymond “David” Vela, former acting director of the National Park Service, paid a visit to Jesup Memorial Library to give a book talk on Sunday.

The event, hosted by Friends of Acadia, featured the author discussing his new book, “Hola Ranger: My Journey through the National Parks.” In the book, Vela talks about growing up in southeast Texas, his first visit to a national park as a child and the influence that both had on his life.

While he was here on Mount Desert Island, Vela attended a National Park Foundation board meeting, along with Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider, who used to work for Vela. Schneider served as a deputy during Vela’s career as superintendent of Grand Teton National Park.

• Read the full story: National Park journey – via Mount Desert Islander